Resumes & Cover Letters

What to Include

Your resume is a one-page snapshot of your education, experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Use a clear format, include your contact information at the top, and organize sections so they’re easy to find.

Headers:

• Education – degree, school, and expected graduation date
• Experience – jobs, internships, volunteer work, leadership roles, and projects
• Skills – technical, software, or language skills
• Involvement – clubs, athletics, or community service/volunteer experience

Pro-Tips:

• Resumes are typically one page for students and early-career professionals. However, two pages can be acceptable if you have extensive, relevant experience, research, or certifications.
• Resume headers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Additional sections such as Projects, Certifications, or Leadership Activities can be included if they strengthen your application.
• The order of sections can also vary depending on what you want to emphasize. For example, students or recent graduates may list Education first, while experienced professionals may start with Experience.
• A Professional Summary at the top can be especially helpful for seasoned professionals and those with related experience or advanced skills to highlight key strengths.

Accomplishment Statements

• Begin with an action verb (e.g., Designed, Led, Coordinated)
• Show what you did, how you did it, and the result
• Quantify your accomplishment statements with numbers, amounts, $, % increase, outcomes/results, etc. to show clear results
• Include keywords from the internship or job description
• Example: Analyzed company website to provide recommendations for improvements, increasing user traffic by 50% in one month

Pro-tip: Use this formula to write a strong accomplishment statement: Action verb + job duty/skills + result or goal accomplished

• Keep formatting simple and consistent. Avoid tables and text boxes that can interfere with ATS scanning.
• Use Microsoft Word to create a one-page document (two pages are acceptable if you have extensive experience, research, or certifications).
• Include sections in reverse chronological order based on dates.
• Never use headers, footers, or resume templates, such as Microsoft resume templates or Canva.
• Do not use personal pronouns.
• Match verb tense to the experience: past tense for previous roles, present tense for current roles.
• Use a consistent date format (e.g., May 2022 – Present or 05/22 – Present).
• For your address, include only city/town, state, and zip code only.
• File Format: Submit resumes in Word or PDF to ensure readability. For creative resumes, consider submitting both a clean Word version (ATS-friendly) and a designed PDF (for human readers).
• Include a Portfolio Link: If applicable, add a hyperlink to your portfolio, personal website, or LinkedIn project section so employers can easily view your work. Unsure what to include or where to start? Our Portfolio Guide will walk you through the steps to showcase your creativity and skills.

Pro-Tip: Employers often spend less than 30 seconds on a first read – make it easy to scan.

Make Your Experiences Stand Out

Studying abroad, completing international internships, or volunteering in meaningful ways are experiences that can set you apart in the job market. These experiences help you develop transferable skills like adaptability, problem-solving, communication, and cross-cultural competence – all highly valued by employers.

Tips for Showcasing Unique Experiences:

• Focus on transferable skills: Adaptability, teamwork, leadership, and communication.
• Quantify when possible: Use numbers or outcomes to highlight impact.
  • Example: Led a project team of five international students, improving event attendance by 40%.
• Connect to the role: Highlight how the experience prepared you for the job you’re applying to.
• Incorporate into your cover letter: One or two sentences can demonstrate how the experience shaped your skills and perspective.

Pro-Tip: Even short-term experiences can be impactful. Focus on the skills gained and results achieved, not just the duration of the experience.

What to Include

Make sure your cover letter touches on these essentials:

• Opening: Who you are and the role you’re applying for
• Middle: Highlight 2–3 skills or experiences that connect to the job
• Closing: Show enthusiasm, thank them, and invite next steps

Here’s how to organize that content into paragraphs:

Opening:

• Introduce yourself and reference the role (or a mutual connection if you have one).
• Include 1–2 sentences on why you’re drawn to the role or company.
• Share a quick preview of your fit (e.g., your background in ___ or passion for ___).

Middle (Storytelling)

• Why You: Share 1–2 accomplishments or skills that make you a strong candidate. Use specific examples or outcomes.
• Why the Organization: Show how your values or interests align with the company’s mission or goals.
• Connect to the Role: Link your background directly to the responsibilities listed in the job posting.

Closing

• Reiterate enthusiasm for the role and company.
• Thank them for their time/consideration.
• Invite next steps (e.g., looking forward to the possibility of an interview).

Pro-Tip: Each paragraph is part of your story – show how your skills, experiences, and interests align with the role and organization.

What is a bulleted cover letter?

A bulleted cover letter can help showcase your most relevant accomplishments while keeping your letter easy to read. Use bullets to highlight specific experiences and skills that directly align with the job description.

• Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself, the position you’re applying for, and express your interest in the role.
• Bulleted Highlights:
  • Include 3–4 bullets describing your relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments.
  • Each bullet should focus on a skill or area of expertise, provide context, and show impact or results.
• Tell Your Story:
  • Why You: Focus bullets on your most relevant experiences and accomplishments.
  • Why the Organization: Include bullets that show your understanding of and connection to the company.
  • Connect to the Role: Each bullet should demonstrate a skill or achievement that matches the job description.
• Closing Paragraph:
  • Reiterate enthusiasm for the role.
  • Highlight your readiness to contribute.
  • Include contact information and express interest in next steps.

Pro-Tip: Use bullets to tell your story succinctly – emphasize results, skills, and alignment with the company’s mission.

• Typos or grammatical errors
• Using the same generic document for every job
• Adding too much detail (keep it concise)
• Forgetting to proofread

Ways to Use AI Effectively:

AI can be a helpful tool to generate ideas, get feedback, and identify skill gaps, but it should supplement your own work, not replace it.

Generate Ideas and Examples

• Resumes: Ask AI for ways to improve your resume for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) or to generate sample bullet points that include the most important keywords.
• Cover Letters: Use AI to brainstorm strong opening sentences, ways to connect your experiences to a company’s mission, or examples of how to structure your paragraphs.

Get Feedback

• Resumes: Have AI review your resume and provide suggestions to make it more attractive to recruiters.
• Cover Letters: Ask AI to review your draft for clarity, flow, and tone. It can suggest where to add more detail or where your enthusiasm for the role could come through more strongly.

Identify Skill Gaps

• Resumes & Cover Letters: Use AI to research current job market trends and in-demand skills. This can help you identify areas for self-study or online courses and highlight which skills to showcase in your application materials.

Example Prompts to Try:

• “Help me write a strong resume summary for a [Job Title] role highlighting my experience in [Skill/Project].”
• “Suggest bullet points for my internship experience that emphasize leadership and teamwork.”
• “Provide ideas for how to make my resume more ATS-friendly for a [Job Title] position.”
• “Draft an opening paragraph for a cover letter for a [Job Title] role that shows my enthusiasm and highlights my background in [Field/Skill].”
• “Review my cover letter and suggest ways to make it flow better and connect more directly to the job posting.”

Pro-Tips:

• Use AI to generate ideas and examples, but always make the content accurate and reflective of your own experience.
• Don’t provide confidential information in AI prompts.
• Tailor AI suggestions to each job – avoid generic content.
• Keep your voice authentic; AI should help brainstorm, not write the final document.
• AI can sometimes produce inaccurate information, so use it thoughtfully and verify its suggestions. For tailored guidance, meet with your Career Advisor to ensure your materials and strategies truly reflect your strengths.