Resume Writing

All Duke staff interested in a job change receive consideration for current job openings by submitting a resume online . You may choose to cut and paste an electronic resume.

If you do not have access to a computer and would like to submit a resume, you may utilize computer kiosks available at the main HR office located at 705 Broad Street, the Duke Hospital HR office, the Duke Raleigh Hospital HR office, the Durham Regional Hospital HR office, or at any University library.

Call the Recruitment Resource Center at Duke Clinic if you wish to schedule time for their kiosks in Duke Clinic, 919.684.5406.

Prepare a Cover Letter**

Some hiring departments at Duke may ask candidates to submit a cover letter to express interest in a specific position. The cover letter is an expression of your sincere interest and special qualifications for a position. We recommend you keep the letter two to three paragraphs long.

  • State why you are writing
  • Tell where you heard about the job
  • Mention your major qualifications for the job
  • Italicize or underline the newspaper name or website
  • Mention one or two facts about the department
  • Relate educational accomplishments to the job
  • Relate experience to the job
  • Match your qualifications with the needs of the department
  • Ask for an interview
  • Include a phone number where you can be reached
  • Indicate the best time to call
  • Sample Cover Letter (PDF format)

Before mailing, review the cover letter. Make sure the letters is compelling. Ask yourself, "Does this letter make the hiring manager want to meet me?"

** Adapted from "Professional Secretaries International Complete Office Handbook: the Secretary's Guide to Today's Electronic Office"

Important Points for the Duke Jobs Website

  • Complete all fields in each section of the Duke Jobs web site.
  • List all duties, skills and experience from each job you have held; use keywords to enhance your opportunity for a match within this system.
  • When cutting and pasting an electronic resume, some formatting may be lost. This does not affect the content or consideration of your resume.
  • If you wish to update your resume, simply resubmit it via the Duke Jobs web site, using the same first and last name as in your previous submission.
  • You may submit up to 5 copies of your resume.

Avoid the Resume Black Hole

Concerned about getting the silent treatment when you submit your resume to a company online? This article provides some insight on where your resume goes and how to get it into the hands of a hiring manager.

Checklist for Coverletters

  • Is it on one page?
  • Is it printed on good — quality bond paper?
  • Is the layout attractive?
  • Are spelling, grammar, and punctuation correct?
  • Is it addressed to an individual?

NSOE Communications Studio

Cover letter.

Cover Letter Overview

Cover Letter Rubric

Handshake Resources from CPDC

  • Power Words – alternatives to help you avoid re-using the same verbs
  • Template and Sample Cover Letters

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Career & Professional Development Center

The advantages of attending a small, nationally renowned law school like Duke University School of Law are profound in the area of career and professional development. The mission of Duke Law School is to help every graduate launch their career with the right job—not just any job. While data paint only a very small part of the picture, Duke Law School enjoys one of the strongest employment records among US law schools.

Duke Law School teaches first-year students that relationships are a building block of their careers, and the school creates opportunities for students to develop them. Through these relationships, students learn about their future profession, explore career possibilities, and grow as individuals. By fostering this interpersonal development early on, the school encourages its students to become active and engaged members of the Duke Law community.

It is a firmly held belief within Duke Law School that the alignment of personal values and professional aspirations is at the core of a meaningful career. During students’ three years at Duke, the school’s philosophy is to help students learn about themselves, what they value most in a career, and to introduce students to the universe of possible career opportunities. Every 1L is assigned a Career Counselor, who meets with the student at least three times during the first year. Duke Law School wants each graduate to leave the school with professional opportunities that match their unique values and goals, and to be informed decision-makers about their careers—a skill many lawyers may never develop. Duke structures the pursuit of the “right” job into three broad steps and collaborates with students to help them skillfully execute each one. The three steps are:

Learn about your strengths and values.

Engage in the law school beyond the classroom.

Serve the community.

Risk trying something new.

Learn about the universe of jobs and careers.

Ask questions to which you don’t know the answer.

Build relationships with professors, classmates, and alumni.

Take advantage of the opportunities Duke brings you.

Match your strengths and values with a corresponding position within the universe of careers.

Students enter Duke Law School at differing points along their career paths, and the Career and Professional Development Center is eager to support them at any stage. What is clear is that individuals who can determine where their passions lie and what interests them are most readily able to achieve those goals.

The Career and Professional Development Center, along with the Office of Public Interest and Pro bono, provide the following:

individualized career advising—every student works one-on-one with one of the Center’s experienced career advisors;

extensive programming, including as part of the 1L PD Credit designed to teach valuable professional development skills such as professional communication, interviewing, and networking;

multiple practice interview opportunities, including around the country and abroad, to improve communication and interpersonal skills;

comprehensive resources, including career guides, access to job databases, and an exclusive job board;

a robust recruiting program; and

a dedicated Director of Clerkships who meets individually with every student interested in pursuing a judicial clerkship.

In addition, basic skills, such as writing and drafting legal résumés and cover letters, are covered. The Center also provides counseling conversations about goals and values. An integral part of Duke’s professional development program is the involvement of alumni and other practitioners from around the world. Recent events at the law school include the Business Law Career Symposium, Government & Public Interest Speakers Series, Sharing Our Affinities—the 1L Diversity Reception, 1GP Networking Events for students who are the first in their family to attend college, the 1L Blueprint for Professional Success, the Public Interest Retreat, the International Lawyers’ Series, and numerous other speaker events. Equally important are programs where upper-level students describe their experiences to newer students or organize educational events for their classmates.

In the summer following the first year of law school, Duke students engage in a diverse array of jobs. Many choose to work with public interest organizations such as those involved in children’s rights advocacy, Native American rights, or the development of legal systems in developing countries around the globe. Students also experience government legal work, with entities like the Securities & Exchange Commission, a US attorney’s office, or the EPA. Others choose to collaborate with a Duke professor over the summer, doing research and writing and cementing a personal and professional bond with a member of the school’s outstanding faculty. Some students decide to experience life in a law firm for the summer. Other students find jobs abroad and/or participate in Duke Law School’s summer program in the Netherlands. The goal of Duke Law School is to work with students starting early in their first year so they can identify a summer opportunity that they believe is in line with their values and objectives.

Rising second-year students typically pursue 2L summer opportunities while simultaneously working for their first-year summer employer. Again, students engage in many different types of summer jobs, although typically a large number are interested in law firm work. Whatever one’s goals, Duke encourages students to work closely with the Career and Professional Development Center, and in many cases with the Office of Public Interest and Pro bono, as well. Every student needs to pursue opportunities through multiple channels, including networking, research, and letter writing to employers; contacting alumni; and on-campus interviewing. The Center helps students identify employers to contact and prepare them to meet the employers that typically interview at Duke annually. These include:

law firms and offices from the largest legal markets such as Atlanta, California, Chicago, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC;

firms and offices—large and small—from Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Denver, Florida, Phoenix, Raleigh, Seattle, and many other cities and states;

law firms hiring students for Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, and Tokyo;

public interest organizations in fields ranging from environmental policy to legal aid;

the federal government, including the Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, as well as the EPA, FDA, IRS, and others;

county attorneys; and

emerging technology companies and big corporations.

With hundreds of employers coming to campus each year and actively soliciting Duke applicants through regional job fairs, résumé collects, and other channels, Duke students are able to interview with a broad array of employers. The law school has also organized Regional Receptions in several cities around the country to provide students with additional opportunities to meet employers. Beyond these, there are thousands of professional opportunities available to Duke Law students, so the school strongly encourages students to investigate the world beyond on-campus interviewing and Duke-organized events. As a point of reference, students working in law firms for the summer typically earn between $1,500 to $4,100 per week, depending on the firm and city. Students who work for public interest organizations or judges during the summer are eligible to apply for guaranteed summer public interest funding and fellowships sponsored by the law school and other organizations. All students who want to receive funding for summer public interest work are eligible to do so.

Duke Law School graduates launch their legal careers throughout the United States and around the world. Typically, approximately half of Duke students choose to work in either New York or Washington, DC, following law school. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of each graduating class choose to practice in North Carolina—from Charlotte to Raleigh and beyond—with a similar amount heading to Texas, primarily Houston and Dallas, and to California and cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Seattle, as well as cities in Florida, draw the interest of up to 10 percent of Duke’s students, too. Indeed, few law schools match the dispersion of their graduates that is found at Duke, and the law school today has more than 11,000 alumni living and practicing law in almost every state in the country. Duke Law School also has a significant alumni population who live and practice law abroad. Duke’s extensive alumni network is very active and supportive of students who are seeking employment during and after law school.

The Career and Professional Development Center prides itself on introducing students to the practice of law and giving new attorneys the tools they need to make educated career decisions for years to come. The Center and its colleagues have an outstanding team of extremely dedicated and talented professionals with multiple advanced degrees and professional experience in private and public legal practice, business, consulting, counseling, and other fields.

Regulatory Resources

Template documents.

These template documents are meant to serve as a guide for preparation of regulatory submissions to the FDA.  Additional regulatory tools and educational resources for academic researchers are available on the ReGARDD website .

Please note that all Duke-sponsored regulatory submissions to the FDA (or other federal regulatory agency) must be reviewed and submitted by the Duke Office of Regulatory Affairs and Quality (ORAQ).  To request ORAQ review of your submission, please contact the ORAQ Regulatory Affairs Scientist assigned to the project.  For assistance with a new project, please complete the Regulatory Affairs (RA) Service Request Form . Please refer to the Regulatory Service Request webpage for additional information on ORAQ review timelines.  

When sending regulatory documents to ORAQ for review and submission, please provide the documents in Word format (vs. PDF) to facilitate review.  You are encouraged to reach out to the ORAQ Regulatory Affairs Scientist assigned to the project for assistance with preparation of your submission or with any questions on the submission.

When preparing a new submission, we recommend downloading a new template to ensure you have the latest version.

Investigational Drug and Biologic Templates

Interact meeting templates.

  • INTERACT Meeting Briefing Package Template
  • INTERACT Meeting Request Cover Letter Template

​Pre-IND and End-of-Phase (EOP) Meeting Templates

  • Meeting Request Template
  • Pre-IND Meeting Package Template  
  • EOP Meeting Package Template
  • Meeting Package Cover Letter Template

Initial IND Submission Templates

  • Sponsor Investigator Initial IND Template (simple version)
  • Sponsor Investigator Initial IND Template (expanded version)  
  • Initial IND Submission Cover Letter Template
  • Initial IND Submission Cover Letter with Exemption Rationale Template

Note: If you are planning to submit a commercial IND (i.e. an IND for a drug or biologic that you intend to commercialize in the future), please contact your assigned ORAQ Regulatory Affairs Scientist to discuss the appropriate format and template documents.

Investigor's Brochure Template

  • Investigators Brochure Template

IND Maintenance Templates

  • IND Maintenance Cover Letter Template
  • IND Annual Report Template (single-study)
  • IND Annual Report Template (multi-study)
  • IND Safety Reporting Instruction Sheet

Transfer of IND Ownership Templates

  • Sponsor Transfer Cover Letter Template
  • Sponsor Acceptance Cover Letter for Sponsor-Investigators Template
  • Sponsor Acceptance Cover Letter for Multi-Investigator Study Template

Orphan Drug Designation Templates

  • Orphan Drug Designation Initial Request Cover Letter Template
  • Orphan Drug Designation Annual Report Template
  • Orphan Drug Designation Annual Report Cover Letter Template

Investigational Device Templates

Pre-submission templates.

  • Pre-Submission Instruction Sheet
  • ​​ Pre-Submission Template (general)
  • ​ Pre-Submission Template (IVD)
  • ​ Pre-Submission Cover Letter Template
  • ​ ​Pre-Submission Meeting Minutes Template  

Study Risk Determination Templates

  • Study Risk Determination Template
  • Study Risk Determination Cover Letter Template  

Original IDE Templates

  • Original IDE Template Instruction Sheet
  • Original IDE Template  
  • Original IDE Cover Letter Template (CDRH)
  • IDE Investigator Agreement Template

IDE Maintenance Templates

  • IDE Maintenance Submission Cover Letter Template
  • IDE Progress Report Template
  • Overview of Supplements, Reports, and Amendments

Investigational Tobacco Product Templates

  • Investigational Tobacco Product (ITP) Template
  • Investigational Tobacco Product (ITP) Cover Letter Template
  • Financial Disclosure Template
  • Notes on Financial Disclosures

Protocol Templates

  • Clinical Protocol Template  
  • NIH FDA Protocol Template
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210 Science Drive | Durham, NC 27708 | 919-613-7006

Public Interest Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

January 17, 2024 • 12:30 pm • law school 3171.

Join GPS for an open-house resume and cover letter review session. Upper-level students will be available to review materials and provide general application and interview advice. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Sponsored by GPS and co-sponsored by DBA. Please contact Maggie Ash at [email protected] with any questions.

In this section

  • Event Planning
  • Policies & Templates
  • Conferences

IMAGES

  1. Cover Letter Guide

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  2. College Graduate Cover Letter Examples

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  3. Applying To University Cover Letter

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  4. Undergraduate Student Example Cover Letters

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  5. Phd Cover Letter Political Science Duke Alumni

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  6. Creating a Cover Letter Duke University School of Law

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VIDEO

  1. How To Write An INCREDIBLE Cover Letter

  2. The PERFECT Cover Letter In 5 MINUTES Or Less

  3. How To Write An AMAZING Cover Letter

  4. How to: Write a Graduate Cover Letter

  5. Cover Letter Example For College Student

  6. COVER LETTER FOR FRESH GRADUATES! (How to write an APPLICATION LETTER with No EXPERIENCE!)

COMMENTS

  1. Cover Letter Guide

    This is standard practice. Also, if you are applying online and have a small text box in which to provide additional information, consider this an opportunity for a mini-cover letter. Steps to Success Make a strong first impression in the first sentence of the first paragraph.

  2. PDF Cover Letter Template

    1st Paragraph • • Expr ess enthusiasm and demonstrate (Introduction) that you are a serious candidate. concern" or "Dear Sirs." of If you were by and your previous research, most document a specific about the work or program by going beyond here. (connect person in the website to job description the company to the relevant

  3. Writing Sample Guide

    What is a writing sample? A writing sample is a supplementary document for an application often requested for positions and programs that require frequent writing or research. It is used to gauge a candidate's writing skills.

  4. Create a Resume / CV / Cover Letter

    Published on January 5, 2024 After reviewing thousands of resumes at Exponent, we've compiled a definitive checklist for what the best of them have in common. Run through this brief checklist to be sure you're putting your best foot forward. Read the full article here. … By Catherine Allen (she/her) Read more » Design Your Duke Experience

  5. PDF Career Center

    Abigail T. Cheng enclosure Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708 Example Cover Letters

  6. PDF Cover Letter

    A cover letter has four parts: heading, introduction, argument, and closing. Heading: includes your contact information and the address of the company to which you are applying. Introduction: includes the greeting ("Dear Mr. Smith"), a statement of who you are and the position to which you are applying.

  7. Engineering Master's Cover Letter Advice

    Engineering Master's Cover Letter Advice - Career Hub | Duke University Engineering Master's Cover Letter Advice ­ Decide What to Write Using This Three-Sentence Method ­Save time and frustration! Before you write, answer these two questions, writing three critical sentences:

  8. Resume Writing

    Some hiring departments at Duke may ask candidates to submit a cover letter to express interest in a specific position. The cover letter is an expression of your sincere interest and special qualifications for a position. We recommend you keep the letter two to three paragraphs long. First Paragraph State why you are writing

  9. PDF Graduate Student Example Cover Letters

    Postdoc Example Cover Letter. I am writing to express my interest in pursuing postdoctoral studies in your laboratory, par-ticularly to investigate how pathogens adapt to a range of intracellular environments, and how cells respond. I am a graduate student in the laboratory of Raphael Valdivia at Duke University, where I investigate mechanisms ...

  10. PDF PurPoSe of the cover letter It'S not about You, It'S about theM

    PurPoSe of the cover letter • To make it easy for the reader to connect your resume to the specific job description. No generics! • To tell the reader how you found out about the position and a little about you with a personal touch. • To give the reader a short writing sample in your own voice. It's your first writing sample for them.

  11. Cover Letter: Insights from Recruiters

    Published on November 22, 2021 Do I really need to include a cover letter? … I've heard no one reads them! This is a common sentiment, but a recent article mentioned a Resume Worded poll that 87% of HR professionals prefer candidates to send a cover letter with their job application.

  12. Resume Guide

    This guide is designed to break resume writing into steps based on where you might be in the process. If you're starting from scratch or with an outdated resume, making updates to a draft, tailoring to a specific industry, or transitioning from a CV to a resume, this guide has you covered. |

  13. CV-Curriculum Vitae Guide

    Steps to Success Look at a variety of CVs within your field to build your personal awareness of how professionals communicate their value in today's marketplace. The sample vitas below suggest formats. They are not meant to legislate what the content or length of your CV should be.

  14. PDF Résumés&&&Cover&Letters&for&Master's&Students&

    Résumés & Cover Letters for Master's Students Duke University Department of Economics Fall 2016 What is the purpose of a résumé? A résumé is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience.

  15. Undergraduate Student Example Cover Letters

    1. Career Center Undergraduate Example Cover Letters Duke Student 321 Chapel Watch Dr. Durham, NC 27701 [email protected] Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708 September 5, 2013 Cecil Company 124 Maple St. Stamford ...

  16. Cover Letter

    Cover Letter. Cover Letter Overview. Cover Letter Rubric. Handshake Resources from CPDC. Power Words - alternatives to help you avoid re-using the same verbs; Template and Sample Cover Letters; Proudly powered by WordPress ©2024 Nicholas School of the Environment | Duke University | Durham, NC, USA

  17. Career & Professional Development Center

    In addition, basic skills, such as writing and drafting legal résumés and cover letters, are covered. The Center also provides counseling conversations about goals and values. An integral part of Duke's professional development program is the involvement of alumni and other practitioners from around the world.

  18. 1Ls: Cover Letter Overview

    SHARE THIS EVENT 1Ls: Cover Letter Overview November 08, 2016 • 12:30 PM • Law School 3041 Cover letters are not just an essential part of your job application materials. They are also your first writing sample that a prospective employer will see.

  19. Regulatory Resources

    Meeting Package Cover Letter Template Initial IND Submission Templates Sponsor Investigator Initial IND Template (simple version) Sponsor Investigator Initial IND Template (expanded version) Initial IND Submission Cover Letter Template Initial IND Submission Cover Letter with Exemption Rationale Template

  20. Cover Letter Workshop

    Does your cover letter still need work? Career Counselors will provide feedback and guidance on cover letter drafts in small groups. Sign-ups are required and space is limited.

  21. Summer 2024 Editorial Internship

    Cover letter that includes the following information: When are you available to begin your internship? What days/schedule are you able to work? ... Duke University Duke Career Hub. Facebook Instagram X (formerly Twitter) YouTube. Suite 036 Bryan Center 125 Science Drive Box 90950 Durham, NC 27708 9-5 Monday-Friday [email protected].

  22. Careers

    The combined efforts of our Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC), Office of Public Interest and Pro Bono (PIPB), Office of International Studies, staff, faculty, alumni, and even fellow students play an integral part in helping students shape their career path.It is a firmly held belief within Duke Law that the alignment of personal values and professional aspirations creates the ...

  23. LLM Career Resources

    Duke Law has attorney-counselors dedicated to meet the needs of our LLM students. The counselors are available to meet with LLM students one-on-one to discuss career planning and job search techniques, including everything from advice on resume writing to more in-depth discussions about career choices. LLM Career Resource Site.

  24. Public Interest Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

    January 17, 2024 • 12:30 PM • Law School 3171 Join GPS for an open-house resume and cover letter review session. Upper-level students will be available to review materials and provide general application and interview advice. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Sponsored by GPS and co-sponsored by DBA.