Résumé Excellent - 7 pts Good - 5 pts Fair - 3 pts Poor - 1 pt

Lists all the required components: Lists most of the required Some of the required Most of the required
personal information, experience, components. Descriptions of components missing. components missing.
education, skills, honors. Descriptions work experience and Descriptions of work Descriptions of work
of work experience and education education background are experience and education experience and education
Content background highlight applicant’s somewhat vague and background are vague and background are minimal and
pts strengths while matching the job insufficient, and not clearly insufficient. Résumé is generic irrelevant to the position.
qualifications. targeted to the position. and not tailored to the
position.

The most important items listed on
the top half of résumé. Items listed
Organization in reverse chronological order.
pts Very easy to identify key
ideas and skills.
Listing important items in Several sections or items are Sections and items are not
reverse chronological order is not in reverse chronological well-organized (in random
inconsistent. Relatively easy to order. Difficult to identify key order). Key skills and ideas are
identify key ideas and skills. ideas and skills. very difficult to find.

Uses formal (academic, Uses mostly formal (academic, Frequent use of informal and Frequent inaccuracy in word
specialized) vocabulary to describe specialized) vocabulary to generic vocabulary. Some use or selection. Word usages
work experience and education describe work experience and word usages correspond to mostly correspond to
Vocabulary &
background precisely and concisely. education background. applicant’s first language. applicant’s first language. Only
Grammar
Strong action verbs are used. Occasional use of colloquial informal vocabulary is used.
pts
vocabulary remains. Some
strong action verbs are used,
but some are generic.
Minimal (1-3) grammatical 4-6 grammatical errors, 7-10 grammatical errors, Sentence structures mostly
errors, punctuation errors, and punctuation errors, and typos. punctuation errors, and typos. correspond to applicant’s first
Grammar typos. Some sentence structures language. Over 10
pts correspond to applicant’s first grammatical errors,
language. punctuation errors, and typos.

Consistent in choice of layout and Shows appropriate Page appears crowded but Exceeds one page or does not
font style/size. Fills only one page, appearance. Some does not exceed one page. fill the majority of the page.
Visual
but not overcrowding. Overall inconsistencies in choice of Many consistencies in choice Font style/size is unreadable.
Appearance
visually appealing and very layout and font style/size of layout and font style/size.
__ pts
professional. remain. Does not exceed one
page.
Cover Letter Excellent - 7 pts
Includes all the required
components: appropriate
salutation and closing
statement, personal
information, position sought,
Content and purpose of the letter.
pts Mentions attached résumé.
Highlights
strengths/qualifications
related to the job. Elaborates
on reasons for applying for
this position.
Uses formal (academic,
Vocabulary specialized) vocabulary and
pts expressions.
Minimal (1-3) grammatical
errors, punctuation errors,
Grammar
and typos that do not impair
pts
comprehension.
Uses appropriate font style
Format & and size. Format is
Style consistent. Layout (e.g.,
pts margin, line spacing) is
visually appealing.
Good - 5 pts
Includes most of the required
components. Mentions
attached résumé. Highlighted
strengths/qualifications are
not convincing or clearly
targeted to the position.
Mentions reasons for applying
for this job, but not in detail.
Uses some formal (academic,
specialized) vocabulary and
expressions. Occasional use of
informal vocabulary remains.
4-6 grammatical errors,
punctuation errors, and typos
that do not impair
comprehension.
Some inconsistencies in choice
of font style/size remain.
Layout is clear.
Fair - 3 pts
Includes some of the required
components. Does not
mention attached résumé.
Strengths/ qualifications are
not tailored to the position.
Listed reasons for applying for
this job are generic and not
targeted to the position.
Frequent use of generic
vocabulary and colloquial
expressions.
7-10 grammatical errors,
punctuation errors, and typos
that may impair
comprehension.
Many inconsistencies in choice
of font style/size. Choices in
layout may affect readability.
Poor - 1 pt
Most of the required
components are missing. Does
not mention attached résumé,
strengths/ qualifications, or
reasons for applying for this
position.
Uses mostly informal
vocabulary and colloquial
expressions.
Over 10 grammatical errors,
punctuation errors, and typos
that may impair
comprehension.
Very inconsistent in choice of
font style/size. Some font
size/style does not appear
professional. Unclear layout
affects readability.