As a former student-athlete, I know the challenge of balancing sports and career planning. That’s why I’m here to share what I’ve learned about making LinkedIn work for you.

LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool and can be invaluable in a job search, especially for busy student-athletes!

You spend countless hours in the weight room, at practice, games, meets, etc. Spending time creating a student-athlete LinkedIn profile that highlights transferrable employability skills is an excellent investment of your time. The goal is to get LinkedIn working for you in your job search while you are competing, doing homework, or sleeping!

The Value of Student Athletes Being on LinkedIn

Did you know the skills employers most desperately seek are hard work ethic, resilience, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills? As a student-athlete, you have organically honed those skills over the years to the point they are ingrained in you!

Employers are willing and ready to teach you the hard skills or technical skills required for your job; however, they can’t easily teach the soft skills or employability skills you have already mastered in your athletic career. Showing up on time, working hard, and being a great teammate and leader are invaluable skills you can highlight on your LinkedIn profile to stand out to employers and recruiters.

Once Your Profile is Set Up, LinkedIn Will Start Working for You!

That’s right. Recruiters are on LinkedIn daily, searching for the best-fit candidates who will, hopefully, become their company’s next employees.

As recruiters and employers search for keywords, your profile will appear based on matched keywords. As you draft your student athlete LinkedIn profile, there are some strategies to help optimize it and maximize your visibility!

Read on for more tips specific to creating each section of your profile.

Game Plan for Success: How to Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile

Your student-athlete LinkedIn profile will have these key sections:

• profile picture
• headline
• about
• featured
• experience
• education
• skills
• endorsements
• recommendations.

Before you begin working on each section of your LinkedIn profile, here are some things to remember.

Tell Your Story

Aa a student-athlete, a huge part of your story is your athletic career and accomplishments.

We want to highlight those well on your profile in a relevant way. While being a student-athlete has been a big part of your identity, we don’t want it to be the sole focus of your profile. There needs to be a nice balance.

Write in First-Person

By writing in first-person narrative, we humanize ourselves to readers. We become more approachable and can tell our story more compellingly. We want our profile to connect with visitors and inspire action.

Be Concise

Your profile is not your resume, but we still want to be concise. Visitors will skip over long paragraphs. Be brief, but be personable. It will help with readability and visibility!

How to Choose a Profile and Background Photo

When you choose photos for your student-athlete LinkedIn Profile, make sure you choose a high-quality headshot in professional clothing for the profile photo. Some student-athletes have a headshot in a college-branded athletic polo. Such photos make great profile photos!

Alternatively, you can choose a nice profile photo in business casual or business attire. The background photo that is a banner across the top of your profile could be a team photo, a photo relevant to the industry you are pursuing, etc. Using a team photo for your background photo is a subtle way to display the student-athlete part of your story while also demonstrating your experience working in teams!

How to Craft an Engaging Headline

Your LinkedIn Headline is visible practically everywhere. It will appear in searches (even on Google!), each time you comment, and it is one of the first components of your profile. As a result, it is important to get this right! Well-written headlines and great profile photos are what draw visitors to your profile for a closer look.

My most popular online resource is a blog about writing the best LinkedIn Headline! I provide two formulas to help students and recent graduates craft the most compelling headline to connect with recruiters, employers, and LinkedIn users.

When writing your student-athlete LinkedIn profile, use your headline to highlight your skills and goals rather than exclusively state that you are a student-athlete. If your headline only reads “Student-Athlete at XYZ University,” you will miss the opportunity to highlight key skills and keywords employers are searching for. Instead, we will highlight the student-athlete experience later in your profile.

How to Connect with Visitors in Your About Section

Remember that your profile should tell your story and establish your brand. As a result, your “About” section must impact your audience. If your About section is written effectively, visitors will read more. If it isn’t, they often leave your profile.

Components of a Good “About” Section

The About section should tell visitors:

1. Who you are and how you got to where you are
2. What you want to do professionally
3. Explain why this work is important to you
4. Provide the outcomes and evidence of your successes

You can assume visitors to your profile want to know what you can do for them. Focusing on why your work is essential and the outcomes you provide will help ensure the vital emotional connection that we have discussed in this guide is made with visitors.

The About section is where a student-athlete’s LinkedIn profile can shine compared to a college student with little involvement. Tell part of your athletic story here and help employers understand how the skills you have developed as an athlete will serve their team, organization, and customers/clients well!

How to Choose Content for Your “Featured” Section

The featured section of your LinkedIn profile is optional; however, this is an exceptional opportunity for student-athletes to highlight accomplishments!

Here, you can link news articles, leadership accomplishments, link websites and more! If you have been recognized for athletic accomplishments demonstrating hard work, named a leader on your time or across your campus, or featured in any other publications and websites, this is your chance to link that content!

How to Detail your Experience and Education as a Student Athlete

The experience section is a great opportunity for you to list your athletic team and provide insight into your accomplishments and the skills you demonstrated.

For example, if you have been named a Team Captain, you can list that and expand on your leadership responsibilities and duties. Did you lead a team, and how many? Did you mentor young athletes? Did you represent the team to officials and communicate with the press? See how quickly we can demonstrate leadership and communication skills with your athletic experiences!

In addition to your athletic experience, please list any job shadows, internships, or part-time work experience you have. While it is understood that many student-athletes have limited work experience, it is possible that you completed some volunteer work, held a part-time job, etc. All of that experience is great to put on your student-athlete LinkedIn profile.

Don’t Skip the Skills, Endorsements, and Recommendations Sections on Your LinkedIn Profile

Many students skip over the last three parts of the LinkedIn profile; however, these three sections can be extremely valuable! If you list skills relevant to employers and then get endorsements from your LinkedIn connections, you raise your visibility and the odds of appearing in employers’ searches! Don’t skip this step when setting up your profile.

As a young professional, recommendations can be powerful. Have your coaches, professors, and teammates write recommendations for your profile. Three is sufficient and can help set you apart from more generic profiles!

Networking as a Student Athlete

You may or may not know it, but your network of student-athlete peers and the alumni who were student-athletes at your university can be extremely valuable connections on LinkedIn!

Athletes look back on their years as student-athletes very fondly. Alumni who graduated a decade or more ago student feel deep ties to their university and are usually happy to connect with and potentially even help young student-athletes. Searching for graduates of your university and connecting with alumni you meet at events are significant actions for student-athletes preparing for their careers!

My Advice for Student Athletes: Be Active on LinkedIn

Aside from creating an outstanding student-athlete LinkedIn profile, one of the best things you can do to increase your visibility is to be active on LinkedIn. Download the app and try to spend 10 minutes on it three times a week.

Here are easy ways to be active on LinkedIn and raise your visibility:

1. Follow hashtags – determine keywords and terms for your industry and follow those hashtags on LinkedIn. The platform will show content related to that term in your newsfeed. Then you can like, comment, and share content that aligns with your industry.
2. Follow companies – Determine companies of interest in your industry. Who would you like to work for? What companies exist in the areas you’d like to live? Follow those companies so their posts, updates, and jobs appear in your newsfeed.
3. Like, comment, and share relevant content—When you like, comment, or share content, you will appear in other connections’ newsfeeds, which raises your visibility!
4. Endorse others’ skills – As you build connections, endorse skills appropriately. If you connect with a teammate, you can endorse their leadership and teamwork skills! Doing so will increase your visibility and help you gain endorsements in return.
5. Join groups and organizations – There are infinite groups to join on LinkedIn! You can find student-athlete groups, alumni groups, and groups and organizations relevant to your industry! Join them for more networking opportunities!

In addition to being active on LinkedIn, it is important to keep your profile up to date. Please make sure you look at it closely once per semester and make necessary updates. When you make a profile update, you can share that update with your network and boost your visibility!

In short, we want your LinkedIn profile to have the right academic, athletic, and professional content balance.

Your LinkedIn Profile should tell your story, explain your aspirations, and connect with your audience. Student-athletes have unique skills that are highly sought after by employers!

I have a unique passion for helping student-athletes thrive professionally because I was a student-athlete myself! As a professional resume writer, I can help you craft a resume and/or student-athlete LinkedIn profile that stands out. Let’s connect so I can help you get your dream job out of college!

Schedule a free consultation with me today!

About Loren

I am a passionate career coach with over ten years of experience helping student-athletes and students with job searches! I specialize in highlighting your best skills and accomplishments in relevant and valuable ways! It is hard to write about yourself without feeling like you are bragging. Conversely, it can be difficult to connect your athletic accomplishments to what the employer seeks! Leave the strategizing and writing to me! Let’s chat today to see how I can help you land your dream job!

More Helpful Content for Student Athletes

• Winning Strategies: Writing a College Athlete Resume
• Real Case Study Examples of Student-Athlete Resumes
• The Key to Communicating Athletic Experience in a Job Interview
• How to Write a Standout Cover Letter as a Student Athlete

How to Write a LinkedIn Profile for Student Athletes
Loren Kelly

I have worked with many student-athletes who feel like they have very little information to highlight on a resume or cover letter.

If you want help translating your achievements into great content on a student athlete’s cover letter, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, I’ll help you relevantly communicate your athletic and academic achievements in a cover letter for a job or internship!

Most student-athletes have limited work experience because playing a collegiate sport is a full-time job! I have worked with many student-athletes who feel like they have very little information to highlight on a resume or cover letter. If you can relate to this struggle, fear not. You have developed a plethora of transferrable skills as a student-athlete. You simply need the strategy in this article to help you relate your skills and accomplishments to future employers.

The Value Student-Athletes Bring to Employers

Do you know what skills and characteristics employers value most? 

Surprisingly, it isn’t technical skills or knowledge about how to do a certain process, etc. Employers will teach you the skills you need to know to do the job how they want. What they cannot teach, however, are skills like time management, a hard work ethic, how to be a good team player, etc. And guess what? As a student-athlete, you have demonstrated all of these skills daily, plus more!

Time management

You managed a full class schedule (12 or more units) while playing a college sport, which probably meant about 20 hours of work or more a week with weights, practice, study hall, games, etc. You had to ensure you scheduled time for studying and homework amidst a busy class and sports schedule. This is just one example of how you have demonstrated excellent time management.

Work ethic

A hard work ethic cannot be taught. And you didn’t become a successful collegiate athlete just because of talent. You had to work hard to get where you are, and then you had to work harder to maintain your athletic career in college. Many graduates don’t know the work ethic that athletes possess because they have never dedicated such a vast amount of time and energy to a skill or endeavor. You are unique, and employers want the work ethic that you possess!

Team player

Regardless of your sport, you have had to learn to work as a team, support others, and collaborate for a common goal. Again, many graduates have not been a part of such a cohesive team and do not understand the level of support and sacrifice it takes to get a group of people to work together tirelessly for a common goal. Your ability and willingness to put a team’s goal above your own agenda is of great value to employers.

Understanding the Cover Letter for Student Athletes

We must discuss the purpose of the cover letter.It is a one-page document for candidates to describe how they have demonstrated the skills the employer is seeking. Along with the resume, the cover letter is a persuasive piece that will, hopefully, result in an invitation to interview for the position. 

I like to be really clear with clients. The resume and cover letter are used to get an interview, not to tell your entire story. So, content should be chosen carefully so it is most relevant to that employer. Specific, relevant content is better than a broad overview of who you are professionally.

In addition to selling yourself with relevant skills and accomplishments, the cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your written communication skills. Applicants often overlook this benefit of submitting a great cover letter. Written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are among the most sought-after by employers. So, a well-written cover letter can make an exceptional first impression!

How Student-Athletes Should Structure a Cover Letter

The first paragraph of a cover letter should always “hook” the reader. 

What do you offer that will be of immediate interest to the employer? How can you capture their attention and persuade them to keep reading? Much like the resume, you have only a few seconds to get the reader’s attention.

I typically recommend three body paragraphs for a student-athlete cover letter. The first two body paragraphs should address two key skills the employer has written in the job description. For example, if the job description emphasizes collaboration and communication skills, you would write two body paragraphs providing evidence of how you have demonstrated those skills. The third body paragraph can highlight courses, projects, and aspects of your education that are most relevant to the job and employer.

Finally, end your paragraph with a confident, compelling conclusion paragraph. Express excitement for the opportunity to discuss the position and your qualifications in a formal interview. Remember that they want a great fit for the position just like you want to find the best-fit job for you!

Highlighting Athletic and Academic Achievements

There are many ways to highlight your athletic and academic achievements in a student-athlete cover letter. 

My favorite strategy is to list the skills the employer is seeking on a piece of paper. Then, next to each skill, note how you have demonstrated it. For example, if they are looking for public speaking, perhaps you list that you have spoken at an athletic banquet, recruiting event, or fundraising event for your athletic team or college. You can list your academic and athletic accolades if they seek a results-driven salesperson. Perhaps you maintained a 3.7 GPA while earning all-conference athletic honors.

Customizing your Cover Letter for Each Application

The best approach for student-athlete cover letter writing is tailoring your letter to each employer. 

It is great to have a cover letter “template” that is a basis for each cover letter you write; however, you must make sure each body paragraph is tailored to the skills and experience each employer is seeking, and that you are using the language that the employer uses in the job description and on their website.

A thorough analysis of the job description is critical when writing a cover letter, and research on the company website, social media pages, and LinkedIn can also give you valuable insight as you write a compelling cover letter. The more you know about the company’s brand and mission, the more persuasive you will be when you write each cover letter.

Dos and Don’ts of Student-Athlete Cover Letters

Do This:

• • Tailor your cover letter for each position

• • Use the language the employer uses

• • Give tangible evidence of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments

• • Write confidently and enthusiastically

• • Have your letter proofread by someone else to check for grammar and clarity

Avoid This:

• • Use the same generic cover letter for all positions

• • Vaguely describe transferable skills without tangible examples and evidence

• • Write hopefully; be confident!

• • Don’t forget to get a second set of eyes (or even a third!) to proofread your cover letter

• • Putting content in the cover letter that isn’t on your resume

Final tips & finishing touches

After you have written a standout cover letter, it is important to ensure it is polished and ready to submit! 

I recommend making your cover letter’s header match the resume’s header. These documents go together and should be cohesive. As reiterated in the section above, having someone else (or multiple people) read your cover letter is important. They will likely catch errors that you have not noticed and will be able to identify any unclear examples or phrases in your letter. Feedback is extremely valuable as you strive to get the most compelling cover letter in front of each employer!

As a former student-athlete, I can assure you that you have the skills and character traits employers crave! Confidently, write cover letters that sell who you are and what you have to offer! If you desire help writing a standout cover letter, let’s chat! I offer cover letter writing services and will personally meet with you to collect the best, most relevant information to include in your cover letter. If you aren’t getting the traction you want in your job search, I can help!

About Loren

I am a passionate career coach with over 10 years of experience helping student-athletes and students with job searches! I specialize in highlighting your best skills and accomplishments in relevant and valuable ways! It is hard to write about yourself without feeling like you are bragging. On the flip side, it can be difficult to connect your experiences to what the employer is seeking! Leave the strategizing and writing to me! Let’s chat today to see how I can help you land your dream job!

More Resume Resources for Student Athletes

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If you are looking for help with your resume writing strategy, check out this Student Athlete Resume Case Study which comes with three free downloads. 

More Helpful Content for Student Athletes

• Winning Strategies: Writing a College Athlete Resume
• Case Study Examples of Student-Athlete Resumes
• How to Write a LinkedIn Profile for Student Athletes
• The Key to Communicating Athletic Experience in a Job Interview

How to Write a Standout Cover Letter as a Student Athlete
Loren Kelly

In the 2024 job market, LinkedIn is more crucial than ever for recent graduates. I hope your accomplishments are getting the publicity they deserve. If they aren’t, let’s change that! We can begin by writing a standout LinkedIn headline for recent graduates!  Use the tips and guidelines below to make sure your LinkedIn profile isn’t skipped over by busy employers and recruiters.

Download the LinkedIn Guide For Recent Graduates | $20

My 6-page guide to the perfect LinkedIn Profile for recent graduates, with application exercises, templates and tips from the perspective of an employer.

LinkedIn Headline for Recent Graduates:

Four Foundational Tips!

1. Make your first impression count!

Many recruiters use the search feature on LinkedIn. Do you know what information shows when you appear in a LinkedIn search? A LinkedIn user will see the following:

• Profile photo
• Name
• Headline
• Location

Based on that information, the employer/recruiter will decide whether or not to invest valuable time taking a closer look at your profile. As a result, a professional photo and a compelling headline are so important! 

Here’s an example of how a profile appears in a search. Notice the job seeker’s name, profile image, open-to-work feature (discussed below), location, and headline appear in a search.

 

 

 

2. Use keywords

If you have followed other professional writing tips I have published, you know I am not a fan of using terms like “motivated,” “hardworking,” or “leader” on a resume. I am much more interested in HOW you demonstrated these skills. Give me tangible examples rather than a list of adjectives. The same applies with a LinkedIn headline.

Additionally, a keyword-rich and precise LinkedIn headline will ensure that recruiters’ are seeing your profile in LinkedIn’s automated searches. LinkedIn is using AI to help connect recruiters and job seekers, which benefits you! However, you must have keywords in your headline to appear in these automated results.

So, a LinkedIn headline for recent graduates should include keywords that speak to your target audience. For example, maybe you are pursuing a career in graphic design. Using the keyword “Illustrator” in your headline will speak to an employer as he will be looking for someone savvy with graphic design software. A great way to identify keywords for your headline is to look at job descriptions and find trends. What skills are in demand that you possess?

3. Keep it short and sweet

A LinkedIn headline for recent graduates should be concise. LinkedIn helps you with this as a 220-character limit is in place. Suppose you can write a compelling headline in fewer characters; even better. Using solid keywords and being concise will help make you more visible on LinkedIn!

4. Use the “Open to Work” feature 

A few years ago, it was common practice for job seekers to state they were looking for work in their headline. Avoid doing this! It will only hurt you. Additionally, avoid making your headline “Recent graduate of South State University” or something similar. If you take this approach, you lose the opportunity to focus on your skills. Also, advertising that you just graduated communicates less experience. 

Use the “Open to Work” feature that places a small banner over the bottom of your profile photo. Selecting this option also helps your appearance in a LinkedIn search. It lets you use your valuable headline space for keywords and the formulas below. 

Formulas for LinkedIn Headline for Recent Graduates

The tips above are great, but you might wonder how to implement them. Let’s talk about examples of LinkedIn headlines for recent graduates.

Option 1: What you do + What you hope to do

Example 1: “Digital Marketer passionate about helping small businesses with audience-centered strategy”

A LinkedIn headline for recent graduates should include aspirations. I see some young students with headlines like, “Recent graduate looking for a job in Digital Marketing.” It isn’t compelling, it isn’t focused on the audience, and it communicates desperation instead of optimism and enthusiasm.

Option 2: Who you help + outcomes

Example 2: “Empowering students to pursue the future with confidence and clarity”

Disclaimer, the above headline is mine! I’ve chosen to make my headline entirely audience focused. The “who you help + outcomes” formula works well if you are in a service-related industry or role.

Example 3: “Giving travelers world-class service on each flight, adventure, and business trip”

The example above was written in collaboration with a recent graduate from flight attendant school. Notice it follows the “who you help + outcomes” formula slightly differently. The “outcomes” portion is a vision that includes the keywords.

Examples of LinkedIn Headlines for Recent Graduates

Here are a few examples of LinkedIn headlines for recent graduates using the two formulas from the section above.

• Teaching underserved kids and creating equitable futures for all (education example)
• Developing innovative AI apps to save professionals time and money (software developer)
• Creating premium experiences for adventurous families | Former Disney Intern (hospitality management)
• I help people move past trauma, embrace the present, and hope for the future (counseling professional)
• Bringing new energy and ideas to digital sales | Top 10 National Sales Intern (sales professional)

LinkedIn Headline Generators 2024

With AI tools and generators exploding, you may consider using a LinkedIn Headline Generator tool. The pros of these tools are they save you time, give you a starting point for editing your headline, and are free. AI can give you help with keywords as well.

The cons are that LinkedIn headline generators cannot possibly personalize your headline. Formula two above uses “who you help + outcomes.” AI cannot know of outcomes you achieved, and AI also won’t be able to personalize your headline to whom you help. Looking at formula one above, “What you do + what you hope to do,” also poses problems for AI. A generator won’t be able to speak to your passions and goals as a recent grad.

Simply put, a LinkedIn Headline generator can generate ideas; however, I strongly caution recent grads from using this tool solely. You must edit and perfect your headline so it represents you AND speaks to your audience on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways for Crafting a Compelling LinkedIn Headline

• First impressions count! And a LinkedIn Headline + your profile photo are your first impression
• LinkedIn’s search feature relies on keywords in a headline — make sure you include key terms so you appear in employer searches!
• Keep it short and sweet – you’re limited to 220 characters, but quick and easy-to-read headlines are best!
• Formulas for LinkedIn Headlines specifically for recent grads:
  • What you do + What you hope to do
  • Who you help + outcomes
• AI can be a helpful starting point, but you must personalize your headline

I love helping recent grads with job search strategies to ensure they get the best start to their professional career! Reach out for a free consultation today!

Need help with your LinkedIn headline?

Both of the formulas above are great starting points for recent graduates. But, if you are still feeling a bit uncertain about your LinkedIn headline, get the guide above to make your headline and profile stand out to LinkedIn users! In the guide, I will give you step by step instructions and tips for each section of your profile. If your LinkedIn profile currently mirrors your resume, don’t miss this inexpensive, all-inclusive guide!

Learn more about me and my services!

LinkedIn Headline for Recent Graduates
Loren Kelly

Is there a best time of the year to apply for jobs? In some industries, yes. But the answer to this question largely depends on you, your situation, and what you are looking for in your next role.

When is the best time of the year to apply for jobs?

If you are wondering about the best time of the year to apply for jobs, consider these factors when planning your job search.

Industry Trends and Peak Seasons

If you are in education or the agriculture industry, for example, you may see an increase in the number of available jobs due to peak seasons coming. If you are interested in accounting or bookkeeping work, you may see jobs posted at the end of the year or the beginning of the year as firms prepare for tax season. If retail or hospitality is your industry, seasonal hiring will likely increase in the fall and late spring in preparation for the holidays and summer travel, respectively. Analyze your industry and identify when roles related to your niche skills see an increase in demand.

Budget and End-of-Year Spending

Hiring surges can occur near the end of an organization’s fiscal year to help spend down budgets and prepare for the next fiscal year. Many organizations follow a calendar year for their fiscal year, but this is not always true! Take the government for example. A fiscal year is from October 1^st to September 30^th. As a result, figure out the industry norm for a fiscal year and watch the job market during the fourth quarter to take advantage of end-of-year hiring surges!

Personal Needs

The most significant factor I urge clients to consider when they ask about the best time of the year to apply for jobs is their situation and needs. Do you need to get to work immediately to pay bills, etc.? Or are your needs currently met, but do you feel it is time for more challenge, opportunity, etc.? The approach and urgency in a job search vary significantly from person to person.

If you are a working parent with school-aged children, perhaps the best time of the year to apply for jobs is January-April so you can secure a job and move during the summer so your children begin a school year at a new school. Or, maybe you are a sales professional and want to see the job through to end-of-year commissions and bonuses. Every job seeker’s situation is different and should be carefully considered when deciding how aggressively to pursue a job search.

Best Tips for Deciding the Best Time of the Year to Apply for Jobs

1. Assess your situation. How urgent is your search?
2. Analyze your industry, the fiscal year, and peak seasons.
3. Carefully determine your needs for your next role. Articulate them clearly in a list.
4. Update your resume and LinkedIn, and notify your references and network of your search.
5. Set up job board notifications. Let Indeed, LinkedIn, etc., work for you in your search!
6. Tailor your resume carefully for each job to meet applicant tracking system keywords.
7. Keep a record of each position you apply to and save the position descriptions.

As you prepare for your next job search, realize the game has changed significantly with artificial intelligence and applicant tracking systems. I get inquiries from so many job seekers who are frustrated because they have applied to numerous positions and haven’t received any invitations to interview. The number one reason applicants get no response early in the job search is that their resumes never make it past the applicant software. To ensure your resume gets in front of the hiring manager, it must be carefully written and tailored.

Get Professional Help with Your Resume

Getting professional help with your resume is important to ensure you are visible among applicants. A lot of strategy goes into a well-written resume that appeals to both applicant tracking systems and human eyes. As a professional resume writer, I can optimize your resume for both! I analyze your experience and the job description to carefully craft questions and gather key information about your unique experiences and skills. Then, I write a tailored resume to appeal to human eyes and software! Together, we will review your new resume to check for accuracy and finalize the awesome new resume! Book your free consultation today to hear how I can help you get your next great role!

Click here to book a free resume consultation!

When is the Best Time of the Year to Apply for Jobs?
Loren Kelly

When looking for summer internship opportunities, many ask about writing cover letters for interns. Today, I’m answering that question by providing a basic cover letter template for students to highlight their skills, experience, and education when writing a tailored cover letter! Use the tips and examples outlined in this article to make your cover letter stand out! I’ve also provided a video explanation for you!

Cover Letters for Interns

I suggest cover letters for interns have four paragraphs. Each one serves a unique purpose and should be tailored each time you apply for a position. Here is a cover letter template for students and an outline with a description of the information you should include.

Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph should identify the position for which you are applying and hook the reader. Remember writing essays in middle school? Your English teacher probably told you, “You have to hook the reader in the introduction!” The same applies. Ask yourself, “What is the one thing that I can do, that I possess, etc. that would be most impressive and valuable to an employer?” That one thing is your hook to keep them reading.

Body Paragraphs

Cover letters for internships should include two body paragraphs. These paragraphs are your opportunity to really stand out amongst other candidates. For young students, I suggest writing one paragraph about your education and one paragraph about your experience and skills. For professionals with more experience, choose the two positions (or one position and education) that best highlight the skills outlined in the position description.

The biggest mistake I see candidates make is using one generic cover letter template to apply for all jobs. This is a huge mistake! The paragraphs of your cover letter, specifically these body paragraphs, should be revised and tailored each time you apply for a position.

Be as specific and tangible in your body paragraphs as possible. Include the words and language that the employer utilized in the position description. Utilize numbers as frequently as possible to communicate your achievements to the hiring manager. For example, if a job description stresses the importance of good customer service skills, make sure you provide some very specific examples and information that demonstrate those skills. Anyone can write, “I have developed exceptional customer service skills” in a cover letter. What the employer is more interested in reading is, “During my two years as a Customer Service Associate at Target, I had a secret shopper satisfaction rating of 95 percent.” Providing a number and statistic makes this statement strong, relevant and impressive to the employer.

If you writing cover letters for internships and feel as though you lack the experience to highlight, don’t worry! It is wise of you to highlight your education or training. You can state the degree you earned, or are pursuing, as well as titles of specific courses you took that relate to the job duties outlined in the description. Campus and community involvement can also be described to highlight soft skills you have demonstrated that are relevant to the position.

Closing Paragraph

The closing paragraph of a cover letter does not need to be lengthy; however, it should communicate confidence and request action. Instead of, “I hope to hear from you soon,” write, “I look forward to further discussing how my knowledge and experience will contribute to the continued success of XYZ company. To schedule an interview, I may be reached at (559) 432-1111.” Confidence and clarity are key!

Cover Letter Template for Students

So, what do the parts of the cover letter template for students look like when they are all put together? Here is an example cover letter from a student applying for a summer internship program. Notice how he has chosen to predominately highlight his part-time work experience in the body paragraphs but also finds ways to include his education as well.

It can be very beneficial to engage in the cover letter writing process with a professional. If you begin writing a cover letter but feel as though you are struggling to really highlight yourself, I offer resume and cover letter writing and revision services! Let’s chat!

Finalizing Your Cover Letters for Internships

After you have used this cover letter template to write your letter, be sure to let your work sit for a while before jumping into the revision process. When you go back and read your work, ask yourself these questions:

• Will my audience be hooked after reading the first paragraph?
• How well did I address the skills and requirements listed in the position description?
• Did I include specific examples or is my content general?
• Is my word choice confident and clear throughout the letter?
• Have I communicated passion and enthusiasm for this particular position/company?

Would you like expert eyes on your cover letter? I can help you tailor and polish your cover letter to ensure you get an interview. Confidently put yourself forward for the job of your dreams by getting assistance tailoring your professional documents! Learn more about my services here and see what others have to say about my resume and cover letter help!

Want help with your resume, cover letter, or job search?

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one with their career endeavors! Whether you want tailored resume help or assistance finding and landing your dream job, I can help!

Book a free consultation today!

Cover Letters for Interns: A Free Template!
Loren Kelly

Resume Writing Tips for 2025
Loren Kelly

Congratulations on your invitation to interview! You are wise for preparing in advance and thinking about potential interview questions you might be asked. 

A common topic that you will likely be asked to discuss is your weaknesses. It’s a tough one, no doubt! You are being asked to be vulnerable and expose something you may not be proud of. So, how do you answer the job interview weakness question professionally and honestly without making yourself sound bad in front of hiring managers? Here are a few steps to take and tips to keep in mind.

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Designed to help you prepare for your upcoming interview by providing you with essential steps and tips to ensure you’re ready to impress.

How to Answer the Job Interview Weakness Question

First, understand what they are trying to identify when asking about weaknesses.

This question isn’t about judging you for your weaknesses. We all have them because we are all human! The wrong answers to this question include, “I work too hard,” “I care too much,” or choosing a weakness or issue that you’ve already overcome (ie. Lack of education as a weakness when you’ve just graduated with a bachelor’s degree. It doesn’t count if you’ve already addressed it!).

Instead, understand what is really being asked with this question.The hiring manager is checking for your level of self-awareness and, dare I say it, maturity. A self-aware, mature professional already knows their faults and weaknesses. We aren’t afraid to admit them, and we are always striving to improve in those areas. By addressing a real weakness and showing a bit of vulnerability, you will really appeal to hiring managers. Answering a job interview weakness question with confidence and true honesty takes courage and self-awareness!

Prior to the interview, closely evaluate your weaknesses.

I want you to grab a piece of paper or open a note on your phone and quickly list a few of your weaknesses. Write down whatever comes to mind. Now, do the same with your strengths. When you’ve finished both lists, I want you to look for connections between the two. Here are a few examples:

Strength: highly disciplined and organized

Weakness: uncomfortable with last-minute changes

Strength: caring and compassionate

Weakness: difficulty setting boundaries and saying “no”

Strength: laidback and easy-going

Weakness: procrastination

Shift your mindset, and change how you think about your weaknesses.

Did you notice anything when you were evaluating your strengths and weaknesses? Typically, we can link our weaknesses to an overuse of a strength. The first example I shared was one of my own. I am a very disciplined and organized person. Every Saturday, you can count on a blog post, and I have them written and scheduled at least a week in advance. However, a weakness of mine is that I don’t like last-minute changes or unforeseen issues that interrupt my “plan.” An overuse of my strength can cause weakness.

Use your analysis to address any job interview weakness question posed.

Now that you have an analysis of your strengths and weaknesses and can articulate their relationship, use that information to answer any job interview weakness question. If I were asked about my weaknesses, I could use my analysis and example from above. See my example below for a detailed illustration of this practice.

Provide examples of how you have been working to improve the weakness.

Remember, we will never totally rid ourselves of weaknesses because we are human. We can work on them over time and adjust our natural tendencies, making us more effective, efficient, and easier to work with. Again, know that the hiring manager is checking for your level of self-awareness with a job interview weakness question, so demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and really address a weakness rather than evading the question.

Example of a Response to a Job Interview Weakness Question

Describe one of your professional weaknesses.

“One of my weaknesses is responding and adjusting to last-minute changes. I am a very disciplined and organized person. I diligently plan and prepare for professional events as well as my workload. Early in my career, I would panic inside when things did not go to plan. My anxiety and blood pressure would rise, and it was difficult for me to keep a level head. I had to learn to manage this tendency more effectively at my position at XYZ Company. I organized and coordinated a large dinner event that was dependent upon high-level executives attending and contributing. It was inevitable that some of these very busy professionals would have last-minute obligations or obstacles arise that would prevent them from attending—sometimes without any notice. My colleague and I would be scrambling at the event to make arrangements for last-minute cancelations and no-shows. It was extremely stressful; however, I did not have time to panic. I had to keep a level head and problem solve. Although I have improved my initial responses to unforeseen challenges, I’ll admit I still struggle when they first appear. This is a weakness that I’ll continue to work on throughout my career and in my personal life.”

Other Interview Preparation Resources

Are you ready for more great interview preparation tips and materials? I’ve got several other resources to help you knock your next interview out of the park!

• Common Job Interview Questions & Answers – This post is devoted to how to structure interview questions so you stand out as the top candidate! Don’t make the all-to-common mistake of ambiguous answers. Don’t miss this article!
• Questions to Ask a Hiring Manager – What questions should you ask them? A crucial part of interview preparation is having good questions prepared for your hiring manager. I’ve outlined 10 questions to ask during your next interview.
• Interview Preparation & Coaching – A coaching call prior to an interview can make all of the difference! Remove the anxiety around interviewing and replace it with confidence with a one-hour coaching call. Let’s make sure you are prepared and ready to ace the interview!

FREE GUIDE: How to Prepare for a Successful Interview

Preparing for a job interview can be done in these five, easy steps. Get the freebie!

Do you have an interview? I can help!

I love helping candidates prepare for an interview! If you have an interview, let me help you prepare interview answers and stories that will make you stand out and adequately illustrate your skills and experience. Are you short on time? No problem! An hour session is all it takes to help you confidently knock your next interview out of the park! Book a coaching call now!

 

How to Answer the Job Interview Weakness Question
Loren Kelly

I am a big fan of the functional resume. Why? The functional resume is flexible. While I promise to provide you with a functional resume sample pdf, let’s take a closer look at what a functional resume is and when to use one.

What is a functional resume?

A functional resume emphasizes skills and accomplishments and deemphasizes work history. A reverse chronological resume is a traditional way of highlighting oneself to an employer. The issue with the reverse chronological resume is valuable experience, skills, and accomplishments can hide toward the bottom of a document. A functional resume could be a great option if you are changing careers, niching down within your industry, or have a disjointed work history.

Benefits of a functional resume

The benefits of a functional resume are flexibility, uniqueness, and a deemphasis on short or disjointed work history.

1. Flexibility – Functional resumes are very flexible. You can choose what you want to highlight to the employer, and it can be very easily tailored from position to position.
2. Uniqueness – I often choose the functional layout for clients who are niching down to a specific role within an industry. Why? Because you can make your resume very tailored and unique with a functional resume. Part of the uniqueness of a functional resume is the ability to choose very tailored resume headings. Headings are one of the first elements of resumes readers look at, and those headings either entice them to read on or cause them to move on to the next document.
3. Deemphasize work history – A functional resume can deemphasize short employment or disjointed work history. If you have gaps or lack longevity, you may want to deemphasize the career timeline that a reverse chronological resume highlights. If you do choose a functional resume, I usually recommend having your full work history available. Employers will want to see it.

Drawbacks of a functional resume

If you’ve searched around, you have seen some bad press on functional resumes. Some say recruiters dislike functional resumes, many candidates find them hard to write, and functional resumes can be more difficult to review.

1. Some recruiters dislike functional resumes – This can be true if you completely leave off your employment history. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I advise against this practice. Keep your work history listed, but you can deemphasize it by moving it toward the bottom of the page.
2. Too much freedom – Another drawback of a functional resume can be too much freedom. Candidates often struggle to write a functional resume because there isn’t as clear of a structure for this type of resume. The flexibility perk of a functional resume could be a drawback if you don’t have experience writing this style of resume.
3. Difficult to review – because there is so much flexibility with the functional resume, they can be more difficult to review. If a hiring manager has a stack of reverse chronological resumes and then one functional resume pops up, it will take them a moment to compare the candidate because the information is presented differently. On the flip side, the difference in the organization can also cause the eye to pause since it is different and unique.

Functional Resume Sample PDF

One of the benefits of a functional resume that I mentioned above is flexibility. I love that I can pull the best highlights from my career and showcase them using a functional resume. Telling my entire professional story is long and sometimes irrelevant. The functional resume sample pdf I’m sharing allowed me to highlight three of my most important, relevant, and impressive projects to the employer.

LorenKelly_Functional_resumeDownload

Notice that although I used the functional format, I still included my work history. My strategy was to hook the hiring team with my tailored heading. After impressing them with the relevant experience, I can draw their eyes to my work history, so they have a glimpse of my professional journey.

Utilizing elements of a functional resume and a reverse chronological resume is called a combination resume. I advocate for combination resumes because they still include the work history for employers’ review.

Tips for writing a functional resume

1. Figure out your strategy – will you use a strictly functional format, or would a combination format be more appealing to your audience?
2. Choose your headings – resume headings hold a lot of power. Choose heading titles that will draw your audience in and convince them to take a closer look.
3. Highlight key accomplishments – notice my functional resume sample pdf includes bolded phrases. Strategically emphasizing information in bold helps draw attention.
4. Provide tangible outcomes over generic skills – a functional resume is skill-based. But anyone can write that they have excellent communication or relationship-building skills. Instead of writing your skills, prove them by sharing evidence and outcomes. “Acquired and onboarded five new clients in first quarter of employment” speaks to employers far more than “excellent relationship building skills.”
5. Include your work history – as I mentioned, employers still like to see your work history. Deemphasizing it and moving it down the resumes is fine, but I recommend including it.

Get help with your resume!

Professional resume writing is worth it! Just ask my clients. Bragging about yourself can be hard, and determining your resume strategy can be difficult too! My job is to analyze your experience, uncover hidden gems you hadn’t thought of including, determine the best strategy, and deliver a customized solution tailored to the job or niche you’re targeting! Let’s chat. Book a no-strings-attached free consultation today!

Book a free consultation for your resume!

 

 

 

 

Functional Resume Sample PDF
Loren Kelly

I love helping students prepare for internship interviews and, part of this is identifying questions you need and want to ask. Many people think of a internship interview as a high-stakes question and answer session where they must impress and convince the company to hire them. Before we jump into questions to ask at an internship interview, I want to challenge you to begin to think of the interview differently. It is a two-way conversation. While the company will want to make sure you are a good fit for the position and company culture, you (as the intern candidate) need to make sure the company and position are a good fit for you! Make sure an internship position and the company are a good fit by asking good questions during an interview!

10 Questions to Ask at an Internship Interview

1. What have been past interns’ favorite experiences with your company?

This question will keep the conversation light and give you great insight about past inters’ experiences. In fact, you may even have a past intern on the interview panel! Many companies will hire interns to be full-time employees after graduation. If you are fortunate enough to get a former intern on your interview panel, you’ll definitely want to hear about their experiences!

2. Can you provide examples and stories of the company culture?

By asking this question, you will get insight regarding the work environment. Company culture is very important and needs to be a good fit for you. Personally, I find that work environment and company culture make up 50 percent or more of my overall job satisfaction. A perfect-fit role with a toxic work environment will still leave you miserable. Ask this question, and another drill-down question if needed, to ensure the company culture is a good fit.

3. How closely does this role work with colleagues? Can you tell me about the team size?

These questions will provide additional insight about the culture but on a more intimate level. Try to gather information about who you will be working with most closely and how frequently collaboration occurs. Then, gauge how that fits with your work preferences and personality. If you are an extrovert, you might like a high level of collaboration and team interaction. If you are more introverted, perhaps you are looking for a more autonomy.

4. May I have a tour of the company/workspace?

First-hand perspective is extremely valuable. If you are interviewing in the HR office, ask for a tour of the company or workspace! Being able to observe the operation, environment, and workspace will help you make an informed decision about whether or not the company culture is a good fit.

5. I would enjoy learning more about you. Will you tell me about your professional journey?

This question is a great way to get a glimpse of the supervisor’s personality and background. If the manager responds with a history of working his/her way up within the company, you can probably assume that he/she is well-respected and/or that the company promotes from within and might offer you similar opportunities in the future. If he/she as worked for a lot of different companies, you might try to find out more information through your network following the interview.

6. Please tell me about the onboarding process for this role.

This is one of the most crucial questions to ask at an internship interview! I like this question because it provides information about structure and planning. I appreciate when an organization has already thought ahead to what the training will look like for the chosen candidate. Will it be a formal training off-site by the third party? Will it include travel to another corporate location? Will all training take place on-the-job? Get a feel for how thoroughly you will be prepared and trained.

7. Growth and development are foundations of internship programs. How are these elements included in this experience?

Life-long learning is important. Stagnation creates boredom for many and can lead to dissatisfaction. Asking about professional growth and development can be a good gauge for how heavily the company prioritizes growth and investing in interns. You want to ensure you will be doing more than grabbing coffee and filing papers.

8. What does success look like in this position? How will it be measured?

This question can provide insight to expectations and targets. Depending on the role you are interviewing for, this question can be reworded to fit the job and industry. I like to know that emphasis is placed on quality work over quantity. Perhaps you like a challenge or benchmark to work toward. The answer to this question will help you determine if your preferences and values align with the company’s!

9. What is/will be the biggest challenge in this role?

If you ask the previous question and still feel like you need more insight about the role, ask about the biggest challenges. It is ok to ask tough questions!

10. When do you expect to make a decision? What is the anticipated start date?

Don’t leave yourself wondering…ask these two questions! It will put your mind at ease just in case you don’t hear anything for a few days. These questions also express a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the potential to accept an offer.

Final Tips for Questions to Ask at an Internship Interview

Many times, intern candidates plan on asking their list of questions at the end of the interview. Rather than making it such a structured and rigid question and answer session, I encourage you to make it as conversational as possible. It will be more comfortable for both parties. In fact, you will likely be able to work some of the questions above into in the interview conversation as topics arise rather than waiting until the end and going down the list.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help preparing for your interview. You can prepare interview stories in advance and get feedback on responses to common interviewing questions by scheduling a career coaching call! I really enjoying helping candidates prepare for an interview so they walk in with confidence! Let’s chat and ensure you are ready to make a lasting impression!

Want help with your resume or internship search?

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one with their career endeavors! Whether you want tailored resume help or assistance finding and landing your dream job, I can help!

Book a free consultation today!

Questions to Ask at an Internship Interview
Loren Kelly

It may seem early, but if you are wondering when to start applying for summer internships, now is the time to start! I am here to help you navigate the search and get an internship you are truly excited about!

When to Start Applying for Summer Internships

January

The first thing I recommend is identifying when the campus Career Fair will be held and get it on your calendar (February is a popular month). Spend about 30 minutes a week on Google and Indeed identifying opportunities and forming a list of maybe 5-10 companies you’d ideally like to work for and learn from next summer. Knowledge is power! If you want to make an informed decision when accepting an internship offer, you must be knowledgeable about the job market. Putting in the time to research and become familiar with what internships are available and what employers expect. The compensation range for interns in your field and geographic area is important! Last year I wrote a post with many tips about what makes a good internship.

Another important step to complete in January is writing (or revising) your resume. If you have never written a resume, I suggest getting a rough draft on paper and then working with a resume expert to help you stand out in a crowded market. Having a second set of eyes on your document will help ensure you have a tailored resume that best represents your knowledge and skills on paper. So, if you are wondering when to start applying for summer internships, the answer is January or even during the fall semester!

February

February is the month to get serious if you want to get a summer internship! Go to the career fair and try to talk to as many companies that made your list as possible and get business cards so you can follow up a couple of days later. Spend about 15 minutes a week online looking at a summer job and internship opportunities.

As you apply for internships, make sure you are writing a tailored cover letter for each opportunity. A generic cover letter submitted to every opportunity will be noticed and not appreciated by hiring managers. Ensure you use keywords and highlight skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the job. Get help tailoring your resume and cover letter to ensure you land the interview and get an internship you are truly excited about!

March

During March, keep up the 15 minutes per week of looking at opportunities online and submitting applications to get an internship. Make one more follow-up attempt with representatives you spoke with at the career fair using the info on their business cards if you had a good lead that has not materialized into an opportunity.

While you continue your search and internship applications, document all the jobs and internships you apply for. Save each position description (to help you prepare for interviews) and keep a spreadsheet of the job titles, company names, application deadlines, and any notes you have from the application. Check your spreadsheet periodically and follow up with companies regarding the status of your application if two weeks have passed since the deadline.

April

Interviews for summer internships will usually happen in late March or during April. April’s main focus will be preparing for the interview by reviewing position descriptions that you wisely saved when you applied! Look at lists of common interview questions and brainstorm other questions you expect to be asked. Glassdoor is a great resource for this! The best preparation for interviews includes specific examples of when you demonstrated skills and knowledge related to the positions you’ll be interviewing. It is important that you can provide specific examples and stories during your conversations and interviews with hiring managers. Interviewing can be intimidating; however, if you start early and get proper help preparing, you’ll feel confident and comfortable marketing yourself to the hiring manager!

May

Ideally, a summer opportunity will be lined up on or around the first of May. Tasks that will be important this month will be communicating with the hiring manager regarding the start date and orientation/training. Being proactive by keeping the lines of communication open demonstrates enthusiasm, excitement, and professionalism. Some companies may also request a copy of your transcript and pre-employment paperwork. May is a great time to complete these requirements ensuring you are ready to work on the first day of the internship!

How I Can Help You Get an Internship

Gone are the days of a college degree being the ticket to a good job after graduation. Employers value and expect candidates to have industry-relevant work experience during college. I help students navigate the career planning and job search process to ensure they are set up for success after graduation. Learn more about my services and former client successes!

When to Start Applying for Summer Internships
Loren Kelly