Resumes and Cover Letter Guides
Make a Strong First Impression
Your resume and cover letter are your first introduction to an employer. They show your skills, experiences, and potential鈥攚hether you鈥檙e applying for a part-time job, internship, or your next career step. Use the tips and samples below to create polished documents that highlight your strengths.
A strong resume is clear, concise, and tailored to each job.
- Keep it to one page (unless you have extensive experience).
- Use a clean, consistent format鈥攅asy-to-read font, clear section headings, and bullet points.
- Start bullets with action verbs (e.g., 鈥淥rganized,鈥 鈥淒esigned,鈥 鈥淟ed鈥) to show impact.
- Highlight transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving.
- Match keywords from the job posting to show you鈥檙e a strong fit.
- List education, relevant experience, and skills in reverse chronological order.
- Save and send as a PDF to keep formatting intact.
Your cover letter connects your story to the job.
- Address the hiring manager by name when possible.
- Open with a strong first sentence that shows enthusiasm for the role.
- Connect your experiences to the job description鈥攄on鈥檛 just repeat your resume.
- Use one page or less, with 3鈥4 short paragraphs.
- End with a clear call to action (e.g., 鈥淚 look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications.鈥).
Need Help?
Not sure where to start, or want feedback on your documents?
with a career coach to get personalized tips and make your materials stand out.