Resume Guide (2021)
Resume Guide (2021)
Resume Guide (2021)
COVER LETTERS
IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON YOUR RESUME
Many of you had your summer plans abruptly cancelled – and everyone had their plans changed – due to COVID-19. Here are
a few ways to describe your summer on your resume:
Independent Study & Projects – Summer 2020 Completed in place of rescinded offer
Specialized Training
• Completed Java Basics and HTML intermediate courses through LinkedIn Learning
• Developed website to compile sample work here: samplewebsite.com
Career Development
• Conducted 5 informational interviews with media industry experts to learn more about SEO, Google Ad words and
topics relevant to the field
• Practiced case studies with a small group of peers and had findings evaluated by a current expert; received positive
feedback on solutions shared
Projects & Research
• Contributed to Professor ____'s research focused on media accuracy, fact-checking and misinformation basics by
identifying news sources to investigate for common themes
• Compiled an article and submitted to AdAge for review sample posted on the NACE Community
Intern, Florida Health Justice Project – Summer 2020 remote (SwatWorks micro-internship)
• Completed a micro-internship focused on healthcare policy in the face of COVID-19, responding to the twin healthcare
and economic crises of COVID-19.
• Researched new policies and created Know Your Rights materials for healthcare consumers, while also researching
policy opportunities presented in the midst of the pandemic.
FEDERAL RESUMES
Federal resumes are generally lengthier than their private sector counterparts, ranging from 1-5 pages. Applicants can upload an
existing resume or create their resumes with the USAJOBS Resume Builder, on the USAJobs.gov website, by completing the
questions in the template. Applicants are asked to submit all required information and the answers must be highly structured
with specific data. Be advised that excluding this information may mean that the resume will not be considered.
When filling out a Profile, the information must be specific. In the education section, specify the major subjects and the total
credits earned for each diploma/degree awarded. If your education does not meet the qualifications, work experience may be
an appropriate substitute. Make sure to mention language proficiencies and work/educational experiences abroad if applicable.
Related qualifications and concrete examples of their similarity to the job listing (e.g. using SPSS to analyze data), along with
listings of memberships and awards can also strengthen your resume.
ALUMNI RESUMES
The alumni resume follows the same rules as a student resume. Highlight skills, accomplishments and ultimate levels of
responsibility. A Professional Highlights or Skills/Qualifications Summary section with short, dynamic sentences at the top
of your resume can be effective, e.g. 10 years of nonprofit administration experience or Strong communication and management skills.
Now that you have professional work experience, it is time to pick and choose from your experiences to make the best targeted
resume you can. Not every experience or accomplishment is going to add value to your resume; the goal is to communicate the
skillsets for your desired job. Even the most seasoned professional can have a concise resume.
Career changers or those coming back to the workforce after time off may find that they need to emphasize skill sets more than
work history. This functional approach to resume writing emphasizes the skill sets that the desired job will require. A work or
project history can be added in the resume to show where the skills were acquired. Make sure to identify your transferable skills
and know your desired industry’s keywords. If you are returning to the workforce, include any volunteer work done during
your paid work hiatus.
TECHNICAL RESUMES
General Guidelines:
• Focus on results and impact, listing metrics that measure impact rather than long job descriptions
• Add LinkedIn and GitHub links to heading of resume; also include any open-source project links
• Register the domain of any personal website with GoDaddy.com so it won't expire
• Make sure any embedded links in the resume are functional
Education Section:
• List key courses, including Discrete Math, Data Structures, Algorithms, Advanced Algorithms, Databases, Machine
Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Systems, Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus and other math classes
• Include important projects and group research you have completed in your courses; can include under Education or in
a separate Projects section
• Can include prizes won at hackathons in an Awards section within Education (or separate section)
• Can include training and other education outside Swarthmore in subsection of Education after Swarthmore degree
Technical Skills:
• List immediately after Education in its own section; can include foreign languages
• List object-oriented programming languages (e.g. Java, JavaScript, C++, C, C#, Python, Swift) in order of proficiency
from most proficient to least proficient; indicate level of proficiency, e.g. Proficient in Java; Familiar with Python
• Be ready to conduct your interview in any of the languages you've indicated you're proficient in; you don't need to be
proficient in every language on your resume, but know at least one well
Experience Section:
• Showcase your academic research, open-source projects (e.g. Contributed x line of code to y open-source project and
include a GitHub link), mobile app & web development, hackathons/coding competitions, leadership in student
groups, participation in programs like Google Summer of Code
• Publications, presentations, papers and patents are great to include but not needed if you don't have
• First bullet under an experience is typically your thesis statement, i.e. what you did
• Next bullets describe your impact, quantified if possible; your impact indicates that without you, this wouldn't have
happened, e.g. I accomplished x by doing y, measured by z
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COVER LETTER CHECKLIST
1) Personalize for Each Employer
q This business letter accompanies your resume; even when not required, it is always recommended
q Answers two questions: why them? (why are you interested in this opportunity and organization) and why you?
(why should they hire you)
q Address to an individual using the correct title or full name, e.g. Dear Senator Schumer, Dear Dr. Perawi, Dear
Ms. Obed, Dear Amber Green
q Focus on how you meet their needs rather than on what the employer has to offer you
Sample Job Description: Council on Foreign Relations: Research Associate, Asia Studies
The Council's Studies Program is one of the country's largest foreign policy think tanks with a widely respected and influential
research staff. The Studies Program's aim is to advance the discussion of American foreign policy and international affairs
through its writing, publications and public outreach. Major responsibilities for the Research Associate include:
• Researching specific areas as requested by the Fellow. Tracking news and data sources on China's economic and
political developments, as well as issues related to U.S.-China relations, energy and environment, and Asian regional
security concerns.
• Assisting with writing assignments, including articles, book chapters, presentations, research briefs, and business
writing
• Managing budgets, including preparing budgets and tracking monthly statements, monitoring grant information, and
preparing vouchers for reimbursement
• Coordinating events, including arranging mailings, preparing invitations, travel arrangements, scheduling,
corresponding with speakers and presiders, helping to prepare background papers and materials for distribution, and
providing other logistical support
• Providing administrative support to the Fellow, including answering telephones, arranging travel for speaking
engagements, handling correspondence, filing, and responding to requests for info
Preferred Qualifications:
• BA in relevant field; 1-2 years related internship, administrative and/or research experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Mandarin
• Strong research, proofreading, and editing skills
• Proficiency in statistical software and digital scholarship
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work under tight deadlines
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Matching Cover Letter:
I write to apply for the Research Associate position in the Asia Studies program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). I
have read and cited many publications by the program director Dr. Elizabeth Economy. With a profound interest in the
Chinese political economy and US-China relations, I believe that working as a Research Associate in CFR’s Asia Studies
program would be a very rewarding next step.
My research and writing experiences have thoroughly prepared me for the research that is central to this position. As a political
science and environmental studies student in the Honors Program at Swarthmore College, I am skilled at conducting research
using various kinds of digital databases as well as written texts. For an honors seminar on comparative Chinese politics, I wrote
a research paper on China’s state interests and historical lessons as shaping forces of Chinese foreign policy, accepted for
publication by the Sigma Iota Rho Journal of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania.
During my research internship with the Foreign Policy In Focus (FPIF) program at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), I
worked on security-related research projects that involved research in digital databases and libraries, interviewing scholars and
journalists, and attending relevant policy events in order to produce reports on U.S.-Australia joint military facilities in
Australia, Taiwan’s military spending, and U.S. bases in Japan. My work on these projects acquainted me with aspects of
conducting research in a professional environment and it spurred my interest in working at a research-oriented think tank.
Organizing workshops, events, and conferences has sharpened my organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
During my internship with the US-China Energy Cooperation Program in Beijing, I acted as a liaison among the U.S. agencies
and their Chinese counterparts in organizing two U.S.-China high-level energy forums. I not only gained more insight into
Sino-American government relations and large-scale event planning from this experience, but also improved my ability to
multi-task, prioritize and pay close attention to detail. This experience bore fruit in my subsequent internship with the Think
Tanks and Civil Societies Program. Program Director James McGann appointed me to head the Program’s China project. As
the project lead, I worked with other team members to develop a conference on Chinese think tanks in Beijing in October 2019.
My research, writing, organization, and administrative experiences have prepared me for the responsibilities of a Research
Associate at CFR. With a keen interest in the Asia-Pacific region and China in particular, I believe that working at CFR will be
a truly enriching and growth-filled next step before starting my graduate school education in government or international
relations. In the meantime, I hope to contribute my previous research and event management experiences to the research and
administrative work at CFR. Thank you very much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Alice Paul ‘21
Swarthmore College
REFERENCES
Type your references on a separate sheet of paper with your resume header (name and contact information) at the top. You will
present references when asked but need not note this on the resume. See the end of this handout for a sample reference list.
Thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the Research Associate position. I enjoyed meeting you and
learning more about the work of CFR. Our conversation about the impact of new international trade regulations
further heightened my interest in the position. Through my research experience and the Honors Program at Swarthmore,
I have developed skills that will enable me to make a strong contribution to CFR. I am particularly interested in applying
my research experience gained at the Foreign Policy in Focus program. Please let me know if you would like me to
provide any additional information or writing samples. Again, thank you for the interview and I look forward to
speaking with you soon.
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RESUME SECTIONS AND SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS
Begin with Education
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Candidate for Bachelor of Arts with anticipated majors in Religion and Philosophy, May 2024
John Jay High School, New York, NY International Baccalaureate Diploma, June 2020
• Valedictorian. GPA: 4.0/4.0
• National Merit Scholar and Presidential Scholar Semifinalist
• SAT: Verbal: 800 Math: 770 Writing: 720
NOTE: first years and sophomores can include high school, juniors and seniors typically omit it in favor of more recent experiences
Research
Developmental Economics, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
• Perform regressions of GDP data on several different poverty indicators for 25 countries using STATA.
• Write scripts in STATA to change variables and perform a series of multivariable regressions to provide quantitative
evidence for a critique of an academic research paper.
Professor Ayse Kaya, Swarthmore College Political Science Dept, Research Assistant
• Developed and implemented research plan for collaborative paper for publication focused on the relationship between
environmental aid and geostrategic concerns
• Supported the professor’s research through multivariate regression analysis, topic modeling, and graphical presentation
of data using RStudio and Excel
Swarthmore College, Candidate for BA in Neuroscience & Economics, May 2024 GPA: 3.48/4.00
James Island Charter School, Charleston, SC, IB Diploma, June 2020 ACT Composite: 35/36
INTERNSHIPS
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Mary Lyon SOPHOMORE
805 Harvard Avenue ˑ Swarthmore, PA 19081 ˑ [email protected] ˑ (222) 333-4444
Education
Editorial Experience
Jr. Technical Writer, Bowhead Systems Management, Patuxent River, MD May 2020—July 2020
v Consulted with Navy flight test personnel to correctly classify and revise flight test reports
v Followed and implemented rhetorical and stylistic rules of government’s publication guide
Writing Mentor, College Access Center, Chester, PA January 2020— May 2020
v Coordinated with fellow writing associates and the staff of the CAC to design lesson plans and lead
after-school classes for high school students on writing for the SAT and college applications
v Instructed students on writing techniques, from grammar to brainstorming to drafting to revising
v Developed the individual skills and interests of students during one-on-one discussions in class;
encouraged students to write creatively and from their own experiences and feelings
Management Experience
Researcher & Program Manager, Early Novels Database, Philadelphia, PA June 2019—August 2019
v Managed the collection and organization of large sets of bibliographic metadata from collection at
UPenn library; inputted data into research database; created and updated electronic tracking sheet
v Coordinated and directed the day-to-day activities and progress of fellow student researchers across
two libraries in Philadelphia using electronic media such as Skype and Zoom; checked in daily with
program director to discuss and troubleshoot progress
v Conceptualized and implemented platforms for internally and publicly sharing END’s progress and
content; created Google account to generate and maintain shared content among team members;
created and edited content for END’s WordPress, Tumblr, and Twitter accounts
v Assisted program director and library staff in training of new researchers
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Maria McCabe Junior
Permanent Address • 5256 Smithbridge Road • Minneapolis, MN 55410 • [email protected] • (555) 555-5555
Education
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
• BA, May 2022. Major: Honors Political Science, Minor: Honors Chinese. GPA: 3.63/4.0.
CET: China’s Globalization Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
• Semester abroad, Fall 2019. GPA: 4.0/4.0
• Coursework in Chinese language, contemporary Chinese politics, and the history of Shanghai.
Internships
Policy Intern, National Security Network, Washington, DC June-August 2020
Communications and advocacy organization that works with experts to develop progressive national security solutions
• Researched quotes and background info on foreign policy topics for inclusion in NSN Daily
Update, a daily policy brief sent to over 800 scholars and policymakers.
• Prepared digests of quotes from commentators, politicians and news sources on current affairs.
• Participated in Congressional conference call briefings on Russia, Africa and North Korea.
• Researched, wrote blog posts on Bagram detention facility, Iraqi Palestinian refugees and the Congo.
• Copy-edited NSN Daily Update, posted it to mailing lists, NSN website and NSN blog.
• Created intern guide, with step-by-step illustrated instructions for intern tasks. Trained new interns.
Intern, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China September-
Second-ranked think tank in the People’s Republic of China December 2019
• Researched and wrote a paper on scenarios for succession in the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea, and implications for peninsular stability and the six-party talks.
• Worked closely with the Vice President of the SASS Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, Dr. Liu Ming.
• Attended the 3rd World Forum on China Studies, hosted by SASS and welcoming over 400 scholars.
• Provided editing services for SASS staff, checking for grammar, spelling and usage in English-
language materials, including Dr. Liu’s latest paper on a China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Intern, Office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minneapolis, MN June-August 2019
• Worked with constituent advocacy staff to manage over 175 cases in Medicare, Social Security,
OWCP and the postal service. Helped lower caseload in those areas by 1/3.
• Made calls to constituents and agencies, and wrote letters to go out under the Senator’s signature.
Independently worked several cases from start to finish.
• Coordinated a service project for the office with Feed My Starving Children, preparing enough food
aid to feed 17 children in the Philippines for a year.
• Answered phones, assisted constituents with requests and helped handle administrative duties.
Activities
Reporter, Darfur Radio Project, Swarthmore, PA
Student-run monthly radio broadcast that seeks to give listeners a balanced, in-depth analysis of the violence in Sudan, 2019-2020
• Researched the political, social and economic conditions in Sudan. Conducted telephone and in-person interviews with
experts on the issues to include in radio pieces. Topics included: life in refugee camps, Sudanese weddings, arrest of UN
journalist Lubna Hussein, female combatants.
• Used ProTools to prepare short radio pieces on topics related to Sudan or Darfur.
• Helped prepare 2019-2020 budget, drafted 2020 yearly report and request for future funding.
• Program has received national attention through a Reuters PRNewswire Press release, my appearance on Air America’s
The Lionel Show, and guest posts on the Enough Project’s blog.
Education
Technical Skills
Experience
Information Technology Intern | Keystone Human Services | Harrisburg, PA | July 2019-August 2019
q Implemented various hardware and software solutions for employees
Selected Projects
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Creative & Performing Arts Resume
Anya Artist
[email protected]
410-724-5678
DESIGN EXPERIENCE
Toutson Uniaercity Stephens HalI Theøtre - Towson, MD
Scenic Designer Tlrc Arknnsazu Benr Kamala Krusxka, Director Fall20XX
Lighting Designer Scepter in tlæ Sand Mandy Rees, Director Spring 20XX
Asst. Lighting Designer Eueryman Chris Eicher, Lighting Designer Fall20XX
Props Designer Anna in tlrc Tropics Maria-Tania Becerra, Director Summer 20XX
Props Designer Lend Me s Tenor ZoeSaba, Director Fall20XX
PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Hall Theøtre - Tozuson, MD
Tozuson Uniaersity Stephens
Master Electrician Picasso..,Lapin Agtle Chris Eigher, Lighting Director Summer 20XX
Stage Manager Opern Scenes Ray Finnell, Designer Spring 20XX
Stage Manager Doll's House Anne Bogart, Director Spring 20XX
Stage Hancl Opera Scenes Ray Finnell, Designer Fall20XX
Sound Board Op Bh.LeWindou Dale Becherer, Director Fall20XX
Carpenter Electricidad Chris Eicher, Technical Director Spring 20XX
Stage Manager Picnic Trevor Nunn, Director Fall20XX
WORK EXPERIENCE
Sales Associate, Target, Towson, MD iune 20XX - present
- Ensure a quality customer service experience by assisting customers and resolving concerns
Cashier, loe's Coffee Shop,Towson, MD August 20XX - May 20XX
- Completed transactions at the register efficiently while maintaining accurate record keeping
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, Design and Production Track May 20XX
Towson University, Towson, MD
' Related Coursework: Stage Craft, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design
Scenery Automatiory Towson Summer Arts Workshop June 20XX - August 20XX
Towson University, Towson, MD
Study of stage machinery/technology with Daniel T. Brinker, Jon Lagerquist, and Fritz Schwentk
SKILLS
Special Skills: Metalworking, Basic Woodworking, Light Board Operator
Computer Skills: AutoCAD, Vector Works, Adobe Photoshop, SFX, Cool Edit Pro, Protools Logic, Maclux Pro
Creative & Performing Arts Resume
TRISH MILLER
123 James Drive
0 0
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Cell: 917- 123-5678
[email protected]
Height: 5'8"
HERE
Weight: 130lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
PERFORMING EXPERIENCE
Show Role Theatre
Lughnasa
Dancing at Rose Sarah Lawrence College
It
As You Like Rosalind The British American Drama Academy
Our Town Stage Manger The Lovett School
Lady
My Fair Chorus The Lovett School
DIRECTING EXPERIENCE
Insert title Director Sarah Lawrence College
TRAINING/EDUCATION
Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, Bachelor of Arts, anticipated May 2006'
Theatre concentration
The British American Drama Academy, London, England, Study Abroad Program,
Spring 2005. Norman Ayrton, Mick Barnfather, Christopher Cook, Daniel Evans, Lynn
Farleigh, Nick Hutchinson, Mike Loades, Jackie Matthews, Fiona Shaw, Michael Thomas,
Ian Wooldridge.
A\ilARDS
Insert name of award, date received
SPECIAL SKILLS
Proficient in Alexander Technique, Stage Fighting, Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Dramatic
Criticism, Improvisation, Guitar, Voice, British (London) Dialect
Science CV
Kendra Kemp
College Address: 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081 Phone: (610) 328-8352 Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
B.A. with a major in Biology and minor in Psychology, May 2021 GPA: 3.4
HONORS and AWARDS
● NSF REU / Blinks / BEACON Internship at Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Summer 2019
● Swarthmore Meinkoth Field Funds for summer research in marine biology and biomechanics, Summer 2019
● Induction in Sigma Xi Honors Research Society, Spring 2020
● Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant to support summer research, Summer 2018
● National Merit Scholarship, Spring 2017
PUBLICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS
Poster Winter 2020
Kemp, K.A. & Hardy, E.R. Sediment properties and the burrowing abilities of two species of lugworm in False Bay, WA.
The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA. (Also published in Friday Harbor Laboratories
Library, University of Washington, 2020, presented at Friday Harbor Laboratories, 2019, and presented as a poster at the
Sigma Xi Poster Session, Swarthmore College, 2020)
Poster Summer 2019
Srinivasan, U. & Kemp, K. The role of executive function in children’s language comprehension and production. 42nd
Annual Meeting of the Jean Piaget Society, Toronto, Canada. (Also presented as a poster at the Sigma Xi Poster Session,
Swarthmore College, 2019)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Burrowing and Sediment Mechanics 5/2019 – 8/2019
Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA
REU conducted with Dr. Ellen Hardy
• Applied new laboratory findings about burrowing techniques to understand animal distribution in the field
• Examined relationships between material properties and grain size composition of sediment, distribution of
Abarenicola, and worm burrowing success
• Collaboratively designed experiment, collected data in the field and laboratory, and carried out data analysis
• Designed new research technique to test material properties of sediment in the field
• Findings suggest each species lives in sediment with distinct material properties and grain size distributions, and
burrowing abilities may limit the distribution of one species
Biomechanics Project on Effect of Light on Cassiopea Behavior 3/2019 – 5/2019
Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Independent Research, advised by Dr. Ellen Hardy
• Measured changes in pulsating rate of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea at different lights and temperatures to
examine the function of bell movement, incorporating published models of fluid movement around Cassiopea
• Worked collaboratively with an engineering student to design experiment, carry out research, and analyze and
interpret results
• Findings suggest that pulsating increases with higher light and temperature, possibly removing toxic byproducts of
photosynthesis, and that flow patterns produced at different pulsating rates may correspond to distinct functions
• Research for double-credit honors seminar in biomechanics that culminated in a paper and presentation for the class
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Kendra Kemp page 2
EDUCATION
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Bachelor of Arts expected May 2021. Pursuing Honors Major in Computer Science, Course
Major in Behavioral Economics, Honors Minor in Psychology.
GPA: 3.45; Computer Science GPA: 3.56
HONORS
First Place Winner, SPLASH Conference ACM Undergraduate Student Research Competition
Runner-Up, 2020 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award
Recipient of the William Randolph Hearst Scholarship
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Carnegie Mellon University Summer Researcher Summer 2020
Carnegie Mellon University, Institute for Software Research, Pittsburgh, PA
● Wrote code generator and runtime for compilation from CMU's Plaid language to JavaScript
● Developed novel representation for state at runtime, optimized state change
● My work on this project won first place in the undergraduate division of the ACM Student
Research Competition at the SPLASH Conference
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Shania Tarble page 2
Games and Strategies Teaching Assistant Fall 2018-Present
Swarthmore College Department of Economics, Swarthmore, PA
● Hold office hours, guide students in Game Theory/Strategic problem-solving process
● Write answer keys and evaluate student work
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Computer Science Hiring Committee Member, Swarthmore College, Spring 2021
● Selected as the only student member of the search committee to hire a new professor
Drama Board Co-Coordinator and Web Master, Swarthmore College, Spring 2019-present
● Manage the $15,000 Drama Board budget, allocate to student-run productions; designed DB
website
SKILLS
Operating Systems: Linux, UNIX, Mac OSX, Windows, Android, iOS
Programming Languages: Python, C++, C, Objective C, Racket, Java, HTML, CSS, PHP,
JavaScript, MATLAB
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Environmental Studies/Policy CV
Anika Bep
Mobile: +1 610-328-8352 · Email: [email protected] · 500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Education
Swarthmore College · Swarthmore, PA August 2017 – May 2021
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies & Political Science. Overall GPA: 3.62.
Relevant Coursework: Statistical Methods II; US Environmental Policy; Globalization; Water Policy in China & the US;
Poverty Alleviation; Organismal & Population Biology; Climate Change & Global Warming; Sustainability Research Methods.
Relevant Experience
Founder · Nagar Mitra’s E-waste Initiative · Kathmandu, Nepal December 2018 – present
• Established an e-waste advocacy, education, and collection campaign with three local partners: the Himalayan Climate
Initiative (HCI), Doko Recyclers, and Karkhana.
• Created a network of 50+ stakeholders from the private, government, non-profit and informal sectors.
• Designed enriching e-waste extra-curricular programs for students at Karkhana, an education company.
• Led workshops on e-waste management principles such as Extended Producer Responsibility, a policy approach for
producers to be held accountable for the end-of-life of their products.
Co-editor · Climate and Society Journal · Swarthmore, PA September 2018 – December 2018
• Edited four papers for publishing in an intercollegiate, undergraduate student-run journal focusing on the intersection of
climate change and international politics
Research Intern · Sandec, Eawag · Dübendorf, Switzerland May 2018 – September 2018
• Assessed Kathmandu’s solid waste management system using Wasteaware, a benchmark set of indicators on the
governance framework and physical value chain of solid waste, for its database.
• Published major findings of unsustainable financial infrastructure, previously reported inaccurate data, and a total
municipal solid waste generation rate for Kathmandu in Sandec News (2018), an annual publication on its research
activities in affordable water treatment and solid waste management in developing countries.
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Anika Bep -2-
Publications:
• Zabaleta, Imanol, Anika Bep, and Christian Zurbrügg. 2019. “Monitoring Waste SDGs in Kathmandu: A Need for
Standardised Methods.” In Sandec News, 14, Dübendorf: Sandec: Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for
Development, 20.
• Bep, Anika. 2018. “The Missing Men.” The Kathmandu Post. (January 28, 2018).
• Bep, Anika. 2018. “The Unspoken Migration.” Insight. (March 11, 2017).
Research Interests
Resource scarcity and interstate cooperation
Presented a paper comparing transboundary cooperation and scarcity in the Mekong River Basin and between the United States
and Mexico in front of Swarthmore College’s Political Science Department.
Relevant course work: Water Issues in China and the US; Environmental Policy; International Politics; Comparative Politics.
Richard Rubin Summer Grant (2019): Received $2,250 as stipend for my research on China and the Arctic.
James H. Scheuer Environmental Studies Grant (2019): Sole recipient of this $4,500 scholarship to support my internship
assessing Kathmandu’s solid waste management system.
Li-Chiang Chu Scholarship (2018): Received a merit scholarship of $7,000 based on academic performance, community
service, leadership and demonstrated financial need to pay for college tuition.
Languages: Proficient in reading, writing and speaking English, Nepali and Hindi, conversational in Spanish and Newari.
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Psychology CV
VALENTINA SHARPLES
[email protected] | Cell: 610-328-8352 | 500 College Ave | Swarthmore, PA 19081
EDUCATION
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Practicum in Clinical Psychology, Swarthmore College Spring 2021
Will observe group therapy of adolescent and adult patients with obsessive compulsive and related
disorders, case consults with mental health professionals, and participate in a support group for families of
children with severe early onset OCD. Conducting an extensive literature review of OCD and anxiety-related
disorders.
Seminar in Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Swarthmore College Fall 2020
Examined a wide range of mental illnesses with a specific focus on experiment-based treatments including
CBT. Analyzed the Beckian model of CBT and its efficacy in treatment of phobias and panic disorder,
generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, OC spectrum disorders,
eating disorders and depression. Researching innovative approaches to parent management training for
oppositional, aggressive and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents.
Senior Resident Assistant, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Santa Cruz Summer 2020
Collaborated with program psychologist to ensure the academic and social success of students with autism
spectrum disorder, ADHD, and severe diabetes. Developed daily health protocol and accommodations for
these students. Designed and implemented emotional support training for the counseling staff in their work
with students who experienced homesickness, social isolation and academic withdrawal. Advised counselors
with mandatory reporting of abuse and suicidal ideation among students. Supervised and mentored 17 staff
members and provided support to 500 students.
Forensic Psychology, Danish Institute for Study Abroad Spring 2019
Accompanied forensic psychologist on site visits to psychiatric evaluation centers, shelters for women and
children, and the Kibble Education Centre, a rehabilitation and education facility for at-risk youth who have
committed violent crimes. Met with professionals and experts across the field of forensic psychology with a
specific focus on rehabilitation and recovery. Conducted a critical analysis of psychological effects of coercive
interrogation techniques in the “Central Park Five” murder case of 1989.
Human Trafficking and the Sex Trade, Danish Institute for Study Abroad Spring 2019
Analyzed policies promoting emotional and psychological support of trafficked persons and designed to
combat human trafficking in the EU. Researched human trafficking rates and policies in Arizona and
developed recommendations for more effective victim protection and support.
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Valentina Sharples page 2
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
Design Thinking | Problem-Solving | Microsoft Office | Graphic Design | Russian Fluency | IPA Transcription
Some Spanish and Swedish | Photoshop| CPR certification
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Neuroscience CV
Janice Kohlberg
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081 · [email protected] · (610) 328-8352
EDUCATION
Swarthmore College ‒ Swarthmore, United States Expected May 2021
B.A. Candidate: Honors Major in Neuroscience GPA: 3.90 / 4.00
• GRE: Quant 169/170, Verbal 166/170, Analytical Writing 5.0/6.0
RESEARCH
PSYCHOLINGUISTICS LAB ‒ Dr. Daniel Grodner ‒ Swarthmore, United States Jul 2020- present
• Conducting a thesis comparing the performance of long short-term memory (LSTM) and probabilistic
context-free grammar (PCFG) models against human reading times on items from psycholinguistic
experiments
• Used machine learning library Torch to implement language models and train them on corpora such as
WikiText2 and Natural Stories Corpus
LANGUAGE, ACTION, & BRAIN LAB ‒ Dr. Jeremy Skipper ‒ London Jan 2019‒ Aug 2019
• Designed and conducted an fMRI research project investigating brain networks involved in the processing of
linguistic ambiguities to test the hypothesis of predictive coding in the brain at UCL
• Collected fMRI data and processed data using Analysis of Functional Neuroimaging (AFNI) and Python
• Created a transcript of all the speech in a movie using the Google Speech-to-Text API
• Labeled each word in the movie as high and low ambiguity based on polysemy scores calculated using NTLK
Toolkit on Python
• Experimented with word similarity and semantic disambiguation models such as WordNet::Similarity, GloVe
and Word2Vec
SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE LAB ‒ Dr. Catherine Norris ‒ Swarthmore, United States Jan 2018 ‒ Aug 2018
• Led a research project on probability game outcomes and ambivalence in collaboration with Dr Jeff Larsen at
the University of Tennesse
• Collected ERP data on subjects, attended an ERP workshop by Dr Steve Luck, processed ERP data using
ERPLAB Toolkit on MATLAB
22
Janice Kohlberg page 2
RESEARCH SKILLS
Event-related potential (ERP)
• Trained to collect ERP data from subjects using a 128-electrode cap in sophomore year
• Attended a week-long workshop on ERPs by Steven J. Luck, PhD
• Pre-processed data using ERPLAB Toolkit on MATLAB
Electrophysiology
• Patch-clamp recording, Instrumentation including electrophysiology rig, such as digital storage
oscilloscope, stimulator, neuroprobe amplifier, differential AC amplifier, and digital oscilloscope
Coding
• Proficient in Python
• Knowledge of Javascript, R, SPSS, Unix
• Knowledge of machine learning libraries such as Torch, Tensorflow and Keras
• Completed online courses including:
o EdX.org MIT: Introduction to computer science and programming in Python
o EdX.org Microsoft: Learn to program in Java
o Coursera John Hopkins: The Unix workbench
o Coursera Deeplearning.ai: Neural networks and deep learning
o Coursera Deeplearning.ai: Improving deep neural networks: hyperparameter tuning, regularization
and optimization
SKILLS
STAGIAIRE ‒ A Wong ‒ London, United Kingdom Mar 2019 ‒ May 2019
• Line cook at a 1 Michelin-starred modern Chinese restaurant, under Eater London Chef of the Year
Languages
• Native English, fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese
23
Federal Government Resume
Abraham Lincoln
111 President Drive / Washington DC 20005
Evening Phone: 202 200 2222 / Email: [email protected]
DESIRED US-DC-Washington/Metro
LOCATIONS US-VA-Northern
24
EDUCATION Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA US
Bachelor’s Degree – 5/20XX
35 Semester Hours
Major: Economics, Spanish Language (double major)
GPA: 3.50 out of 4.0
LANGUAGES Spanish
Spoken: Advanced
Written: Advanced
Read: Advanced
Spanish
Spoken: Advanced
Written: Advanced
Read: Advanced
AFFILIATIONS National Spanish American Member
Foundation
REFERENCES George Washington Swarthmore College Professor, Spanish Language
Phone Number: 610-328-8000
Email Address: [email protected]
Reference Type: Personal
ADDITIONAL Skills:
INFORMATION -Strong written and oral communication skills
-Strong analytical abilities and problem solving capabilities
-Grant writing experience (awarded “Dream Catchers Award” by Community and
Recreation Services, Delaware County Government, Dec. 20XX)
-Regional expertise in Balkan, Post-Soviet, and Western European political issues
(including extensive regional travel )
-Proficient in Microsoft Office programs
Leadership and Service Roles:
Tri-College Winter Institute: Diversity Workshop Facilitator Sep. ’XX-May ‘XX
-Developed forums for dialogue between diverse student groups
-Built partnerships between student groups through cultural programming
Swarthmore Business Society, President Sep. ‘XX-May ‘XX
-Recruited executive committee members, planned meetings
-Managed a membership base of 40+ students
-Organized club involvement in business related workshops/events
25
Alumna/us Resume
Kyra Alumna
[email protected] · linkedin.com/in/kyalumna · 610-328-8352
SUMMARY
• Professional with five years of experience creating and facilitating programs to support the leadership and
professional development of fellows and students from the US, Latin America, and Asia.
• Skilled in workshop delivery, event planning, multicultural mentorship, and fellowship programming.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Watson Foundation, Journal Reader New York, NY, US Current
• Provide individualized mentorship via weekly journal correspondence with four Jeannette K. Watson Fellows
completing internships to enhance their personal, professional, and cultural growth.
U.S Embassy Seoul, American Center, Lecturer Seoul, South Korea Spring 2019
• Created first youth program on gender equality that reached 150 college students by designing and
facilitating 10 culturally-sensitive workshops, and preparing engaging presentations and activities.
FELLOWSHIPS
Henry Luce Foundation, Luce Scholar 2018-2019
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Cambridge Scholar 2017-2018
Thomas J. Watson Foundation, Watson Fellow 2015-2016
EDUCATION
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
MPhil in Multi-Disciplinary Gender Studies, February 2019
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
BA in Sociology & Anthropology, minors in Gender & Sexuality Studies and Psychology, May 2015
26
May 13, 2021
I am writing to apply… So begins nearly every sample cover letter in Swarthmore’s “Guide to Writing
Resumes, CVs and Cover Letters,” which sprawls before me with all the promise and terror of ‘real life.’ I find
that this phrase isn’t just a job-snagging platitude; it speaks to my experience of writing as a process of self-
application, of leaving my unique mark using the written word. Admissionado seems to value the same
outlook on writing to apply for college. So here goes: I am writing to apply for the Senior Editor position!
When I saw Admissionado’s posting on Swarthmore’s Handshake website, the shiny job title of Senior
Editor caught my eye. Hey, I’m qualified for that! I thought. I’ve spent the past four years editing the zany yet
brilliant written creations of Swatties, the raw but passionate essays of high-schoolers, and the technical
reports of Naval test flight personnel. But what really got my attention was the posting’s welcoming,
enthusiastic tone and emphasis on storycrafting as an essential feature of this position. After exploring
Admissionado’s website, I got an even better sense of your company’s commitment to creativity and
excellence. I see this as an exciting opportunity for me to aid clients in crafting their collegiate journeys as I
grow into my graduate boots and reflect on my own collegiate journey.
As an Honors student and Writing Associate at Swarthmore, I did not simply read, write, and edit;
instead, I was constantly challenged to creatively (re)envision the writing process as a cooperative creative
endeavor. In Honors seminars, my classmates and I shared sometimes crazy but always creative seminar
papers with each other each week, learning not just how to write, say, a lyrical narrative about Blues poetry,
but how to tell and react to our experiences in writing. As a Writing Associate, I learned that editing is a
dynamic process that changes according to the unique needs of each writer and each piece. I developed the
skills to accommodate this and to empower students to ‘write to apply’ themselves, or to tell their own story
even as they write about history or politics.
While working as a researcher and student program manager for the Early Novels Database, I honed the
telecommunication and time management skills required by this position. I managed researchers across two
and sometimes three different locations using a shared Google account that I created as END expanded in its
third year of development. On END’s two blogs and Twitter account, I whetted my social networking skills
and began to write and edit for a totally new audience: the Web. Using these tools in collaboration with my
fellow researchers, we began to tell a virtual multimedia story of END and its content.
I’ve had a lot of fun preparing this application — or writing to apply, so to speak — and am excited to share
the same experience with your clients. Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Alice Paul ‘21
Swarthmore College
27
January 5, 2021
Jamie Massey
Director of Human Resources
RAND Corporation
58 Pennsylvania Street
Washington, DC 20006
I am currently a senior at Swarthmore College and I will be graduating this May with a degree in Psychology and a strong
research background. After RAND was recommended to me by two professors who are familiar with my career
aspirations, I investigated the organization further and discovered that I share RAND’s commitment to improving policy
through rigorous, nonpartisan research. I perused the reports listed on RAND’s education and health division webpages
and was very impressed that all the research is geared toward promoting social justice. Furthermore, I have spoken with
several alumni of my college who work at RAND and they have been unanimous in their praise of the organization. In
particular, RAND’s flat organizational structure and opportunities to pursue diverse and interdisciplinary research areas
make RAND extremely appealing to me given my interests and career goals.
I have significant experience in both quantitative and qualitative research. This past summer, I served as the principal
investigator on a research project analyzing Medicaid claims data of enrollees diagnosed with Major Depression. The
project was largely quantitative and relied heavily on statistical analyses, compelling me to become expertly familiar with
Excel, R, Tableau, and the art of making data tables and graphs. My project was selected for an Outstanding Research
Award by an independent panel of faculty reviewers, and I am the first author on the resulting manuscript, which has
since been submitted for publication.
I also have extensive experience utilizing qualitative methods, including conducting an action-research project for an
Educational Studies Honors seminar that involved interviewing teachers and students, transcribing the interviews, and
analyzing the data to produce practical recommendations for how a college preparation program could be improved. This
spring, I will build on these quantitative and qualitative skills during an internship at the Office of Evaluation and
Inspections in Philadelphia. As a Research Analyst, I will be working with a research team to design studies, conduct
evaluations, and produce recommendations geared toward eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse from programs funded by
the Department of Health and Human Services.
I am enthusiastic about bringing my energy and skills to RAND. I am enclosing my resume in case you anticipate any
openings for a research assistant with significant research experience. While most of my experience is in the fields of
education and health, I am interested in all areas of social policy that RAND studies. If you would like to know more
about my credentials, please contact me and I will provide you with any necessary information. I am available at any time
for an interview in Washington, DC.
Sincerely,
Anita Ville
Swarthmore College Class of 2021
[email protected]
28
Cameron Clothier
Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Email/Phone: [email protected] / (610)-328-8352
February 1, 2021
Dr. Jorge Martinez, Principal Investigator
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
7700 Sandholdt Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Dear Dr. Martinez:
I am a junior at Swarthmore College working towards a BS in engineering with a minor in biology. I am writing to apply for the
MBARI summer internship program for the summer of 2021. I discovered this program while searching for employment
opportunities in fields related to ocean physics or AUV design and I was delighted to see a number of MBARI programs that
perfectly match my interests.
One of the benefits of studying engineering at a liberal arts college is that I have been able to maintain a balance between
technical skills and a well-grounded understanding of the theoretical concepts that drive engineering. In the course of
pursuing this balance I’ve often been drawn to the intersections of different disciplines. As the coursework on my cv indicates,
I have developed expertise in topics spanning both mechanical and electrical engineering while also following my interest in
biology. In the early stages as a student of engineering, I planned on working primarily in the field of sensor design. Many of
the courses that I have elected to take have been with this specific vision in mind. I didn’t anticipate how strong the courses I
took in biology would resonate with my interests, however, and I see working at MBARI as an ideal way to explore how my
interest in sensors could integrate with my love of biology.
I am particularly drawn to working on the two projects suggested by Jim Bellingham based around the LRAUV missions. While
I would primarily be interested in exploring novel sensing approaches or evaluating other sensors to be added to the system, I
believe I could also strongly contribute on the team developing LRAUV diagnostic procedures. I also see the project proposal
by Gene Massion on the profiling float as an interesting opportunity to not only work with sensors, but also to gain experience
dealing with the product lifecycle, reusability of equipment and potentially fatigue and failure analysis.
As the courses I have studied suggest, I am well equipped to address many of the challenges that might arise from one of these
projects such as stress and strain analysis, rigid body dynamics, circuit design and modeling and controlling linear systems. I
also have extensive programming experience with Matlab and am familiar with many other programs including Solidworks,
ANSYS, and Microsoft Office. Prior internships demonstrate my experience in project management, working both individually
and in a team, working with sensor interfaces and calibration, and most importantly that I am capable of familiarizing myself
with a new environment and producing useful and meaningful results in a short time span. Through my work and studies I
have picked up many practical skills such as working in a machine shop, familiarity with common equipment such as
oscilloscopes and multimeters, and even some experience working as deckhand on a research vessel, all of which I see being
useful in this internship.
My desire to work alongside biologists resonates strongly with the goals of MBARI, and I am particularly looking forward to
the opportunity to interact with and learn from individuals who share interests similar to my own. Please let me know if you
require any additional materials, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Cameron Clothier ‘22
29
Elise Ashton
Swarthmore College • 500 College Avenue • Swarthmore PA 19081
Phone: (610) 328-8352 • [email protected]
September 5, 2020
In my conversations with Swarthmore alumna and McKinsey BA Susan Smith, I was excited to learn more
about the opportunities at McKinsey and confirm my interest in the BA role. I am currently an Honors Major at
Swarthmore College, concentrating in English Literature with a minor in Art History.
I am extremely interested in pursuing a career at McKinsey. I strongly value the defining principles of
McKinsey’s collegial atmosphere and would thrive with colleagues who continually challenge me to succeed
and achieve to my highest potential. Particularly attractive to me is the prospect of being able to meet and work
with different clients and people from around the world through a shared experience. McKinsey’s dedication to
working directly with their clients for lasting and effective change is singularly conducive to my personal and
professional growth. I am certain that I would be an invaluable and eager contributor to this initiative.
My coursework at Swarthmore has prepared me to write clearly using argumentation techniques to persuade
and demonstrating analytical reasoning to draw conclusions. Being a part of the Honors program at
Swarthmore, I participate in small group seminars in which I must rapidly gain an in-depth understanding of
complex and varied subject matter, analyze and synthesize the information, and then defend my position to my
colleagues. The Honors experience has left me confident in my skill to question convention and assumption as
well as accept and implement constructive criticism from my professors and peers.
I believe that my Swarthmore experience has prepared me for the demands of a challenging environment. I
have balanced a rigorous, full-time workload while serving as Captain of two varsity sports. As a student-
athlete at Swarthmore, I have become accustomed to working under pressure and multi-tasking, while honing
my interpersonal and communication skills. I enjoy being part of a team and am capable of functioning as both
a contributing member, as well as an effective leader.
I am enthusiastic about bringing my energy and abilities to McKinsey. Thank you for your consideration and I
look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Elise Ashton
Elise Ashton ‘21
30
June 5, 2021
I am writing to apply for the Associate Director of College Retention position listed on the Philadelphia Futures
website. As a recent graduate of Swarthmore College, I am eager to translate my passion for education into a
meaningful contribution to the improvement of college graduation rates.
Beginning in my junior year, I worked as a coach for Swarthmore College's Women's Volleyball team. Serving
as a mentor to my peers strengthened my ability to motivate students by building relationships in which they
saw themselves as partners in pursuit of their personal growth and development. My younger players sought me
out as a mentor because I understand the pressures that a college environment can exert on students from
different backgrounds and how to navigate them. I worked with students from a broad spectrum of races,
religions, sexual identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds because I used my strong presentation skills to
recruit actively from the entire community and cultivate a welcoming environment. A thorough appreciation for
the particular challenges that my first generation students faced was crucial in order to support them effectively.
I accomplished this through direct guidance and by facilitating their access to campus resources such as deans
and administrators with whom I maintained relationships.
The organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills which I developed through my
liberal arts studies at Swarthmore are my strongest areas. Through extensive work with the campus' writing
center and disability services office, I gained firsthand experience with different writing strategies and learning
styles. I recently used my writing ability and familiarity with the admissions process to help a transfer student
successfully apply to Occidental College by editing application essays and guiding him through the financial aid
process. Because I am familiar with different learning styles, I am adept at evaluating how a student's individual
strengths and needs will function in a college environment.
Philadelphia Futures' Sponsor-A-Scholarship and College Connection Programs resonate deeply with my
personal values and opinions about the state of higher education. Because my family has little direct experience
with higher education, I benefited from the support of various administrators and staff who acted as mentors. I
am determined to have the same constructive impact on future students from similar low income backgrounds. I
want to serve students in need as an Associate Director of College Retention and Success with Philadelphia
Futures because I firmly believe that every student is capable of rising to the formidable challenge of graduating
when they are given proper support. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Janelle Kohlberg ‘21
Swarthmore College
31
Jonathan Ashton
College Address: 500 College Avenue ∙ Swarthmore, PA 19081 ∙ (610) 654-3210 ∙ [email protected]
Permanent Address: 1100 Petal Way ∙ Kenton, Harrow ∙ United Kingdom ∙ Cell phone: (610) 328-8352
Vikram Urumapthy
Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities
Goldman Sachs
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Sincerely,
Jonathan Ashton
Jonathan Ashton ‘23
32
Omari Eldridge
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Mobile: (610) 328-8352|[email protected]
I am a first year student majoring in economics at Swarthmore College writing to apply for the Research Analyst
internship at the Tobin Project.
My experience so far has been framed by three themes: adapting to change; working in new environments; and
building relationships with people from different cultures. I have been able to make academic and social
adjustments successfully after having lived and been to school in India, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the
United States all in the space of seven years. I believe the skills I have developed in response to these challenges will
help me quickly integrate into the entrepreneurial work culture of the team at the Tobin Project.
I developed my interest in the social sciences by seeking to understand the historical and sociopolitical factors that
have led to the different narratives of the Asian cities I grew up in. With the financial crisis and its aftereffects also
becoming the defining event of my generation, I elected to study economics at the undergraduate level in order to
make sense of the important trends that continue to shape the world I live in today. At Swarthmore, I have
complemented my economics major by taking psychology and political science courses to help me think critically
about interactions between groups and individuals, while also taking computer science and mathematics courses to
hone my quantitative abilities. In addition to being selected as a Writing Associate on campus, I am currently
coauthoring a research paper for the UN in order to further sharpen my writing.
After I graduate, I intend to do work that aligns with my interests while adding value to the academic and
professional training I have already received. I am applying to the Tobin Project because I think it will help meet
these post-college objectives. I thoroughly enjoyed the research and data analysis-heavy projects I did during my
internships with PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Planning Commission of India and I hope to continue to test my
critical thinking skills in exciting research areas at the Tobin Project. The scale of resources available for research
analysts at the institution - with multiple possibilities to learn from some of the brightest scholars and policymakers
in the country - makes this opportunity a very valuable one for me.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
33
Oscar Clothier
610-328-8352 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/oscarclothier
January 5, 2021
I enthusiastically submit this application for your full-time Research Assistant position. As a math major and
public policy minor at Swarthmore College, I am pursuing a career in urban policy, with a particular interest in
affordable housing, economic development, and public transit. I believe my strong interest in these topics, my
analytical and quantitative capabilities, and my skill as a writer make me a strong Research Assistant candidate.
As a co-founder of the student group Swat Cities at Swarthmore, I have arranged on-campus lectures by
academics like Dr. Edward Glaeser and Dr. Aseem Inam who have helped solidify my belief that fostering
sustainable, vibrant, and affordable urban communities is a global imperative. During my semester abroad in
four global cities, I engaged in conversations with policy leaders from housing developers to transit planners
and produced a self-guided field research paper about the necessity of inclusive development planning around
transit stations. A week-long internship at The Neighborhood Developers, a Massachusetts community
development corporation, inspired me to look towards affordable housing as a means of creating prosperous
communities in my career.
In my studies at Swarthmore, I consistently scored highly, achieving a 3.86 GPA, and sought out new
challenges in a rigorous curriculum that emphasized both quantitative reasoning and writing. As a reporter and
later Editor-in-Chief at The Phoenix, Swarthmore’s college newspaper, my thorough story research and daily
deadline management raised the paper’s reputation as a trusted source of news. As editor, I led our team to
increase page views 22% and ad revenue 41%.
As a summer press intern on an Illinois gubernatorial campaign, I quickly and resourcefully produced thorough
research for internal memos and surrogate talking points while monitoring social media for breaking news.
Several memos I wrote, on topics ranging from field operations to tax policy, directly influenced senior staff’s
responses to issues driving the campaign. Working in the internal consulting unit of the Chicago Transit
Authority, I used data analysis skills to deliver meaningful metrics for C-level meetings and support
implementation of data-based workflow processes. Working at the transport consulting firm Cambridge
Systematics, I applied my quantitative skills to complex data analysis, including one price model I helped
construct which drove a public client’s 10% fare revenue increase.
In these experiences, I’ve grown as a thorough researcher and effective communicator while performing under
pressure. I am convinced that the Urban Institute is the ideal place to apply my skills alongside an incredibly
talented team, while supporting research into issues that I am passionate about.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Oscar Clothier ‘21
34
October 4, 2020
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me during our meeting yesterday. The consulting analyst position
you outlined sounds both challenging and rewarding and I look forward to your decision concerning an on-site
visit.
As mentioned during the interview, I will be graduating in May with a Bachelor's degree in Economics.
Through my education and experience I have gained many skills, as well as an understanding of sophisticated
economic and mathematical quantitative concepts. After speaking with you, I believe that I would be a strong
candidate for your firm, offering the quick learning and adaptability that is needed for a position in consulting.
In addition to my enthusiasm to contribute to your firm, I would bring the technical and analytical skills
necessary to get the job done.
Thank you again for the opportunity to interview with CRA International. The interview served to reinforce my
strong interest in becoming a member of your team. I can be reached at (610) 328-8352 or by email at
[email protected] should you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Franklin
I look forward to hearing from you in the next few weeks, and please do not hesitate to contact me if
I can provide additional information.
Sincerely,
Deborah Read ‘21
610.328.8352
35
Sample Reference List
Carl Crum
Swarthmore College | 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore PA 19081 | 610-328-8352 | [email protected]
Reference Relationship
Katie Wood Supervisor
Campaign Coordinator Ms. Wood supervised my work in Amnesty’s submission to the
Amnesty International Australia Australia-Senate Select Committee. It was through subsequent
29 Shepherd Street conversations with her that I created the position of Research
Chippendale, NSW 2008 Assistant in 2019.
Australia
Office: (+612) 9217 7626
[email protected]
Due to various commitments, Dr. Reeves occasionally travels during the semester. In the event that he cannot be
reached, please contact Dr. Jeffrey S. Murer, a political science professor at Swarthmore College.
36