cover letter for resume examples for students

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Cover Letter Examples

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Use these student cover letter examples as a guide for formatting and general writing guidelines. Each example includes a copy of the job description with key qualifications in bold to highlight the connection between the skills and experiences in the description and those included in the letter.

Example #1: On-Campus Job | Front Desk Attendant

Example #2: part-time job | medical scribe, example #3: internship | data science intern, example 4: full-time job | analyst, related resources, resume & cover letter guides.

• Resumes with Some College Experience
• How to Write Your First Resume
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• Cover Letter Checklist
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• What is a cover letter?
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• Write Your Elevator Pitch (with examples)

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• Templates for Sending Messages
• Arts & Media Example Resumes
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Cover Letter Examples for Students and Recent Graduates

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What to Include in Your Cover Letter

College graduate cover letter example, student / recent graduate cover letter templates, student and recent graduate cover letter samples, how to write a cover letter, cover letter format and presentation tips.

If you're a student or a new grad, you may not have much experience in the workforce. This can make building a resume and writing a cover letter challenging. After all, if you haven't worked previously, what information can you include in these two documents?

Fortunately, on-the-job experience is not the only thing that shows your abilities. Here's guidance on what to include in your resume and cover letter, along with cover letter examples and cover letter templates are designed especially for high school students, as well as for college students and recent graduates seeking employment.

Academic Achievements and Extracurricular Activities

You can mention volunteer work, academic achievements, participation in clubs or activities (particularly those in which you held leadership roles), and internships. Your academic background is also an asset. Include details that are relevant to the position you want (use the job description as your guide to the qualities and training the employer seeks).

GPA and Honors

If you are an honors student with a GPA higher than 3.5, it is a good idea to mention this on a cover letter as well, along with any honors societies you have been inducted into.

Skills and Abilities

Other things you can mention are soft skills—interpersonal “people” skills like creative thinking, communication, teamwork, or time management that will help you to adapt easily to the people and clients or customers you will be working with.

Your goal in this cover letter is to show how you would be an asset to the company, describing the skills you bring that would allow you to perform well in the position.

Below, you'll find a list of student cover letters, listed by position and level of experience, to help you develop your own cover letter. 

Watch Now: 7 Tips for Finding Your First Job

You can use this sample as a model to write a college graduate cover letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

College Graduate Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Lucy Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345

555-555-5555 lucy.applicant@email.com

October 18, 2021

Eric Lee Media Director Kansai Collaborative Arts 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lee:

I am writing to you to express interest in the graphic design position as advertised on Indeed.com. As a recent graduate with experience in 3-D animation software and the Adobe suite of software, I believe I am a strong candidate for a position at Kansai Collaborative Arts.

 During my time at the University of Northern State, I was awarded the top prize in the student design competition for my version of an app that would allow students to learn Japanese characters on their own time.

In addition to graduating with a 3.75 GPA, I spent a semester at a university in Japan, and I have strong conversational skills in the Japanese language. I believe this would be an asset, as I know your studio does a lot of collaborations with major design studios in Japan.

 Although I am a recent college graduate, my maturity, artistic skills, ability to work with others, and knowledge of the Japanese language and culture will make me an asset to your studio.

 I have enclosed my resume and will email you within the next week to see if we can arrange a time to speak further. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signature  (hard copy letter)

Before you can begin writing your cover letter, it's important to know the guidelines governing these letters. Unlike a casual email to a friend, there are set standards for how to greet recipients, organize the letter's content, and much more. That's where templates can help: they allow you to know what information to put where, and they help you format your letter correctly. Review the templates below: 

• Cover Letter Format
• Cover Letter Template
• Email Cover Letter Template
• Email Cover Letter Sample
• Cover Letter Sample: General
• Cover Letter Sample: Block Format
• Microsoft Word Cover Letter Templates

These lists of cover letters include both general examples that will help you format your letter, as well as sample cover letters used to apply for specific positions, such as roles as a nanny or a marketing assistant.

Do not copy these sample letters—instead, use them as a guide to help you know what kind of information to include, and how to format your letter. 

Entry-Level Cover Letters

Have a look at these samples to see how best to present your experience when applying for an entry-level job.

• Entry Level Inquiry Letter
• Cover Letter Sample: Entry-Level

Student Cover Letters

As a student, the information you should emphasize in your cover letter will vary depending upon your level of education. Here are examples of effective cover letters created for students at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

• Recent College Graduate Sample #1
• Recent College Graduate Sample #2
• Response to Job Posting
• College Senior
• Graduate Student
• Networking Letter

Job-Specific Cover Letters

These cover letter samples target specific career fields. They demonstrate how to incorporate industry-specific keywords into your narrative.

• Email Cover Letter - Psychology Job
• Internship Cover Letter
• Finance Internship Program
• Entry Level Marketing

Cover Letters for Summer and Part-Time Jobs

Being able to write an enthusiastic and informative cover letter will set you apart from your competition when you apply for summer or part-time jobs while you’re still in school.

Make sure you send your cover letter and resume as soon as possible after a job is announced—these opportunities are snatched up quickly.

These samples can be modified to both summer and part-time work.

• Part-Time Job
• Summer Assistant Job
• Email Summer Job
• Summer Job #1
• Summer Job #2
• Summer Job Email Message
• Camp Counselor
• Email Editorial Assistant
• Sales Associate
• Summer Camp

This guide to writing a cover letter will walk you through everything you need to know to write a cover letter, including what to include in the letter, how to write it, and the proper cover letter format. Plus, find out about how to write a targeted cover letter and browse through additional cover letter samples and examples.

Here are cover letter tips and techniques for writing top-notch cover letters to send with your resume, including information about cover letter format and presentation, choosing a type of cover letter, writing custom cover letters, and cover letter examples and templates.

• Marketing Cover Letter Example and Writing Tips
• Student Resume Examples, Templates, and Writing Tips
• Teaching Assistant Cover Letter Samples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples and Writing Tips
• Admissions Counselor Cover Letter and Resume Examples
• Speech Pathologist Resume and Cover Letter Examples
• Consulting Cover Letter Samples and Writing Tips
• Academic Recommendation Letter Examples and Writing Tips
• Social Worker Cover Letter and Resume Sample
• Resume and Cover Letter Examples Listed By Job
• Tutor Resume and Cover Letter Examples
• Academic Advisor Cover Letter Sample and Writing Tips
• Entry-Level Finance Cover Letter and Resume Samples
• Software Developer Cover Letter and Resume Example
• Receptionist Cover Letter Examples and Writing Tips
• Cover Letter Examples for Sales and Marketing Jobs

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Student Cover Letter Examples

How to craft a great student cover letter.

Unlocking the doors to your dream job as a student? It's time to unleash the power of a stellar cover letter!

While your resume showcases your qualifications, a well-crafted cover letter adds that extra punch of personality and passion. Don't let your student cover letter be an afterthought—let it be your secret weapon to make employers go "Wow!"

In this guide, we'll show you how to captivate employers, land interviews, and prove that even as a student, you've got what it takes to make a lasting impression. 

And so, whether you’re at the beginning or nearing the end of your academic journey, a great student cover letter presents the ideal introduction and an extended interpretation of your experience.

1. Start your student cover letter with a proper greeting

A cover letter should always include a heading that contains your name, address, professional websites or portfolios, and date in a similar format as other professional letters.

Most LinkedIn job posts will include the name of the hiring manager to whom the letter should be addressed to, so make sure you obtain this information from the get-go.

Here are 2 examples of personalized student cover letter greetings

• Dear Mr. Jack Green,
• Dear Hiring Manager Joe Johnson,

If a name is not provided, start your letter with Dear Hiring Manager , or Dear Sir or Madam .

In this day and age, the outdated To Whom It May Concern phrasing is no longer acceptable, so make sure to do your research!

2. Open your student cover letter with a strong introduction

Your introduction should be strong and captivating in as little as one to three sentences.

Express your enthusiasm for the role and why you would be an ideal candidate. Some companies may have multiple job postings at a time, so make sure to address the specific position you are applying to within the first sentence.

As a good rule of thumb, make sure to submit an original, tailored-made cover letter to each job you are applying to.

Here are a few examples of strong student cover letter introductions

• As a motivated and ambitious student with a passion for [field of interest], I am thrilled to apply for the [position] at [company]. With a strong academic foundation and a drive to learn and grow, I am confident in my ability to contribute to the success of your team.
• As a highly motivated student with over 3 years of experience in the digital arts, I am excited to apply to [insert role name].
• As a third-year undergraduate student with an extensive background in accounting, I am eager to pursue the [insert role name] at your organization.

Create your cover letter fast with artificial intelligence.

3. mention what attracted you to the role.

Before applying to a job, it is best practice to commit some time to researching the company or organization you are applying to.

What is their mission? Do their values align with yours? What attracts you to their particular industry? Is there something you admire about their line of work?

This information will offer a bit of insight into your interests and will help recruiters determine if you fit into their company culture . Include this information within your introductory paragraph.

Here’s an example to get you started

I am eager to take part in your company’s mission to provide high quality products while advancing sustainable, eco-friendly home solutions.

4. Detail your previous work and academic experience in a student cover letter

The second paragraph of your cover letter should be devoted to explaining what makes you a great candidate for the role .

Detail the relevant experience that you’ve gained from previous jobs, internships, or volunteer positions concisely. Don’t be modest. Even that three-month administrative internship at your local library taught you an array of customer service and organizational skills.

Detail your most recent, and most impressive accomplishments first and avoid being redundant.

Tailor your responses to the specific skills and experience the recruiter is looking for in any specific job post.

Here are a few examples of how to detail your previous experience

• During my summer internship at [Company Name], I had the opportunity to work closely with a cross-functional team, where I developed strong problem-solving and communication skills. I contributed to various projects, including [specific project], where I successfully implemented [specific task], resulting in [positive outcome]. This experience taught me the value of collaboration and adaptability in a professional setting.
• As a volunteer at [Organization Name], I honed my leadership skills by organizing and leading fundraising events for local charities. Through my involvement, I developed exceptional event planning and coordination abilities, managing a team of volunteers and ensuring seamless execution of initiatives. This experience not only deepened my commitment to community service but also strengthened my organizational and interpersonal skills.
• At my previous sales associate role, I leveraged customer service skills and time management to help achieve our daily sales goals.
• At my previous role of editor for the student-run newspaper, I gained valuable skills in writing, proofreading, time management and communication.

Find out your resume score!

5. Highlight your best hard and soft skills in a student cover letter

Think of hard skills as your trusty toolbox, filled with technical expertise and knowledge, ready to tackle any challenge.

But hold on, don't forget about the secret sauce: your soft skills ! These are the magical ingredients that add flavor and finesse to your professional recipe. From communication sorcery to problem-solving wizardry, your unique blend of hard and soft skills will impress any potential employer.

Here are a few examples of hard skills to mention in your student cover letter

• Graphic design
• Deep knowledge of utilizing scientific equipment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Technical skills in programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, HTML)
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Research and analytical skills
• Knowledge of project management methodologies

On the other hand, soft skills are those that come naturally and can vary by individual.

Here are a few examples of soft skills to mention in your student cover letter

• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written)
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Leadership and decision-making
• Time management and organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn

Make sure to add a little bit of both to your second paragraph as a means to enhance your range and versatility.

Feeling stuck? It’s always good practice to refer to the original job post to see pinpoint the specifics skills required for the role and highlight those you already possess.

6. End your student cover letter with a strong concluding statement

The concluding paragraph is almost as important as the introductory paragraph. The goal is to leave a memorable impression that stands out from other applicants.

In a few sentences, summarize your experience and enthusiasm for the role and remind them why they should consider you for the role.

Don’t be afraid to ask for an interview and make sure to thank the recruiter for their time and consideration. Include the best way for the recruiter to contact you, whether it be your phone number, email address, or both.

At the end, use a professional sign-off phrase like “ Sincerely ” or “ Best Regards .”

Here’s an example of an effective concluding statement for your student cover letter

Finally, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my qualifications in further detail. I can be reached at 555-555-55555 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.

[Applicant Name]

Martin Poduška

Martin is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. In his five years at Kickresume, he has written nearly 100 in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles and, as chief editor, he has also edited and revised every single article on this website. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. He holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam .

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Cover Letter Sample

The purpose of a cover letter is to capture the reader’s attention and entice them to continue to read your resume.

Never use a generic cover letter; always write an original letter to the specific job and company. Use good sentence and paragraph structure. Avoid copying information from your resume. Recap and highlight your relevant skills for the employer. Use confident language. Avoid the words feel, think, try, hope, and believe. Do not use cliché or gimmicky phrases.

Use the AIDA principle of effective marketing to formulate your letter. Capture Attention, generate Interest, create Desire, inspire Action.

Format in full block style. All lines begin at the left margin. One page in length. Use the same letterhead, font, and margin as your resume or use the business letter format for your address.

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Resumes and cover letters.

Resources to help you write your resume, cover letter and other communications.

Telling your story is an essential component in working toward a fulfilling career path. Your story will be conveyed in many ways, both written and verbal, and is a great way to form a positive first impression to potential recruiters, graduate schools and other connections. Once you have utilized VMock, we encourage you to visit your Career Consultant to have your documents reviewed.

Your resume is one of the best marketing tools you can use in finding a career, and often one of the first things asked of you in the job or internship search process. This is your chance to convey your communication abilities, fit, skills, and strengths for the position you’re targeting. See the resources below to create a well-crafted resume.

Resume Quick Tips  [pdf]

Resume Action Verbs  [pdf]

Writing your Curriculum Vitae Quick Tips  [pdf]

Sample Resumes by College (PDF Format)

• College of Engineering - Undergraduate students 
• College of Engineering - Graduate students 
• College of Fine Arts 
• Dietrich College  
• Mellon College of Science 
• School of Computer Science - Undergraduate students
• School of Computer Science - Graduate students 
• Tepper School of Business 
• Booth/Buggy Resume  

Cover Letters

Cover letters are another essential piece to telling your story through professional, written communication. Since your resume will describe your experience in detail, your cover letter will tell the reader exactly why you want the position and provide in-depth examples to back up your experiences.

Cover Letter Quick Tips  [pdf]

General Cover Letter Sample with Bullets [pdf] 

Sample Cover Letters by College (PDF Format)

• College of Engineering - Undergraduate
• College of Engineering - Graduate 
• College of Fine Arts
• Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences  
• Mellon College of Science  
• School of Computer Science - Undergraduate
• School of Computer Science - Graduate
• Tepper School of Business  

Online Portfolios

Online portfolios are a wonderful supplement to a standard resume, often showcasing the visual side of your story. They can be in many forms, including links to your work, visual representations, and videos.

Portfolio Quick Tips  [pdf]

Professional Communications

Aside from your resume and cover letter, there are other forms of communication that can enhance your story. Here are examples of letters and emails that may help you throughout your career.

Reference Letters & Lists Quick Tips  [pdf]

Declining an Offer Letter  [pdf]

Follow-Up Email  [pdf]

Job Acceptance Letter [pdf]

Request for Extension of Time  [pdf]

Response to Rejection Letter  [pdf]

Thank You Email [pdf]

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Résumé For current students and recent graduates, the résumé is typically a one-page document that highlights educational background, experiences, accomplishments, skills, and interests. This length could vary depending on the industry and depth of your experiences, so knowing expectations within your field is critical for résumé success. Ultimately, your résumé is a guide and marketing tool about you and your abilities.

Cover Letter A cover letter is a formal business letter that serves as an introduction to your résumé and as a tool to market yourself to employers. A cover letter may accompany résumés you submit to employers during the job search process but is not necessary to distribute at career fairs or other networking events. A good cover letter will describe the reasons why the employer should consider inviting you for an interview.

Documents for Graduate Students Your professional materials are the supporting documents for anything to which you apply. Perhaps you are applying for a job or internship, another graduate program, a fellowship, research funding, etc.  Your professional materials can include: Résumé and/or CV, Cover Letter, Writing Sample, Personal Statement, Research Statement, Diversity Statement, Teaching Statement, or Sample Syllabus. See all resources for Grad Students below .

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Résumé & Cover Letter Guide

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Just starting a career? Thinking of transitioning to a new one? Use this guide to improve your resume, CV, or …

Résumé Sample Binder

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The résumé sample binder contains sample résumés organized by content area and career interests. This resource also includes an undergraduate …

Résumé Templates

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These pre-formatted résumé templates can be found in our Résumé Sample Binder . Use the links below to ownload the template …

Résumé Section Samples: Skills, Certifications, Qualifications & Licenses

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The skills section of your résumé can be used to showcase your specialized knowledge. It is strongly recommended that all …

Job Posting, Résumé, and Cover Letter Sample Sets

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Please Note: These are only samples. They are not to be copied and are meant to generate ideas for any …

The Résumé – On-Demand Webinar

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Wondering how you can improve your résumé? Or perhaps you’re a bit stuck on how to get started? Have no …

Featured Articles

Résumé Advice for Non-Profit Organizations that Benefit the Common Good 

The One Thing: Qualifications

Formatting Your Cover Letter

The Biggest Resume Mistakes For Veterans

Chavi Agarwal Of CView On How To Create Ceiling-Shattering CVs In Post-Pandemic World

Featured videos, getting started with your cv, tips and strategies for résumé writing, types of résumés, the ins and outs of cvs and résumés, email etiquette, additional resources for grad students.

Graduate Student Résumé & Cover Letter Guide

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Writing Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)

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If you are seeking a faculty job or an industry research position, you will most often be required to submit …

Academic Job Application Resources

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The information provided is designed to complement the advice, resources, and guidance that you receive from your department. Your department …

CV to Résumé Conversion – On-Demand Webinar

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Within the U.S. expectations for CVs and résumés can differ, which means if you have an academic CV you might …

Applicant Tracking Systems: Tips You Need – On-Demand Webinar

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An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) allows employers to collect, sort, scan, and rank job applications. Nearly every employer uses an …

Developing Your Academic Job Application Materials – On-Demand Webinar

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Gain tips and strategies for putting together your application materials for faculty positions. The primary focus of the session includes …

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A resume is a brief, informative document summarizing your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and differentiate you from other candidates.

Used most frequently in academic settings, a CV (curriculum vitae) is also a summary of your experience and abilities, but a CV will include more credentials relevant to academia and research, such as publications, presentations, and references.

Your cover letter is a way to introduce yourself to organizations in a narrative form that will accompany your resume. Use your cover letter to describe your qualifications as well as your interest in both the job and organization so the employer will want to interview you. Since the primary purpose of a resume and cover letter is to “market” you, always keep the organization’s hiring needs in mind.

Featured Articles

The resume vs. curriculum vitae (cv).

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Have you ever wondered what the differences are between a resume and curriculum vitae? In college, you may have heard about them both, yet since graduating, you probably have heard less about the CV and more about the resume. Though …

What Are Software Engineering Recruiters Looking For on Applications?

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As you will begin to notice in your job-hunting adventures, no two application processes are the same. When you’re preparing to apply to more than one company it is important to adjust your strategy accordingly.

Application processes tend to vary …

Should I Put My Pronouns on My Resume?

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by Amber Rorris-Crow, originally published at The Muse

While we now use online job boards and Zoom meetings in place of classified ads and formal handshakes, one thing remains the same: A good  resume  can speak volumes about you, before …

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Harvard College Resources

Harvard college resumes & cover letter guide.

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A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and …

Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Template

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Use this bullet-point template to build out your first draft of your resume.

Harvard College Paragraph Resume Template

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Use this paragraph template to build out your first draft of your resume.

Harvard College Resume Example (Engineering)

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Use this template as reference to build out your engineering resume.

Harvard College Resume Example (Tech)

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Use this template as reference to build out your computer science resume.

Harvard College How to Write a Resume Tutorial

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This nine-minute tutorial will help you get started writing your resume.

Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Resources

Harvard griffin gsas phd resume & cover letter guide.

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When applying to most non-research-oriented, non-academic jobs, you will want to use a resume instead of a CV.

Harvard Griffin GSAS Master’s Resume & Cover Letter Guide

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A resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and …

Harvard Griffin GSAS CV & Cover Letter Guide

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Every graduate student needs a curriculum vitae, or CV. Your CV represents your accomplishments and experience as an academic and …

Harvard Extension Resources

Hes resume & cover letter guide.

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How to Write a Great Resume Video Tips

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Check out this three minute video for some quick tips.

Firsthand Vault Guides

Vault guide to resumes and job-hunting skills.

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The  Vault Guides to Jobs  series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

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Below are several resume examples which may provide guidance or inspiration for crafting your own resume. These are intended to serve only as samples, so please do not use the exact wording featured in any individual sample.

For All Students and Majors

• Career Guidebook on Personal Branding (Resumes, Cover Letters, and More!)
• Sample Resume - for Students with Little to No Experience
• Sample Resume - Suitable for Many Majors

Student Athlete Sample Resumes

Bagwell College of Education 

• Bagwell College of Education Resume Template (Undergraduate)
• Bagwell College of Education Resume Template (Graduate)

Coles College of Business

• Coles College of Business Resume Sample
• Coles College of Business Cover Letter Sample

College of Architecture and Construction Management

• Architecture Resume Sample
• Construction Management Resume Sample
• Architecture Cover Letter Sample
• Construction Management Cover Letter Sample

College of Computing and Software Engineering 

• CCSE Sample Resume

Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences 

• Anthropology Resume Sample
• English Resume Sample
• History Resume Sample
• Curriculum Vitae Sample

College of Science and Mathematics 

• Biology Resume Sample
• Chemistry Resume Sample

College of the Arts

• Music Performance Resume Sample
• Theatre & Performance Studies Resume Sample

Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

• SPCEET Resume Sample
• SPCEET Resume Checklist

WellStar College of Health and Human Services

• Exercise Science Resume Sample
• Human Services Resume Sample
• Integrated Health Science Resume Sample
• Nursing Resume Sample #1
• Nursing Resume Sample #2
• Public Health Education Resume Sample
• Sport Management Resume Sample

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Resumes & Cover Letters

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Most internships, research opportunities, and full-time jobs require you to submit a resume and cover letter as part of your application.

These documents introduce you and your experiences in a professional, succinct format to a potential employer or reference. Their purpose is to market you as an excellent fit for the position.

Explore this guide to craft or refine your resume and cover letter:

Cover letters

Resume tips, tailoring your resume, writing an effective bullet, submitting your application materials.

• Sample resumes by industry

Your cover letter answers the employer’s question, “How does this candidate meet my needs?” A concise, focused letter of 3-4 short paragraphs demonstrates your ability to clearly and specifically communicate in writing. It also gives you the opportunity to show that you’ve done your homework. You can state why you want the position, how you fit with the organization’s culture and how your passion or goals work to the employer’s benefit. As with your resume, it is critical for your letter to be error-free.

How to Structure Your Letter

In addition to researching the organization, the job description is your key to writing a convincing letter. Begin by underlining or highlighting the skills, experience, and characteristics the employer is seeking and then use your letter to prove that you have those things. The middle paragraph(s) of your letter should be organized by the 2-3 most related, valuable skills you can offer. Resist the common mistake of talking all about your story without relating to their needs. Likewise, rather than stating what you hope to learn, talk about how your enthusiasm to learn will benefit them.

The Difference Between Confidence and Arrogance

Avoid using strong words (“I’m a perfect fit”) or referring to skill sets (“my excellent analytical skills”) without backing them up with specific examples. Here is where you can expand on your resume to describe how a past experience has directly prepared you for something specific that is listed in the job description.

It may not be meaningful if you simply state you are great at something. On the other hand, if you outline a situation where you used specific, desired skills with great results you’ll be able to relay your abilities in a confident yet objective way that demonstrates what you have to offer. This is what people mean when they say “show, don’t tell.”

The Importance of Tailoring

It will be blatantly obvious to employers if you try to use a general cover letter with only minor tweaks. Your research, initiative, and knowledge about the position and organization will make you stand out. For example, if you’re applying to work in a research lab, read and reference articles about the work in your letter to show that you’re following progress in the field. Make the most of referrals and connections by naming the person who referred you or any previous encounters you’ve made with the recipient or his/her colleagues. The familiar name will grab the reader’s attention.

Cover Letter Samples (PDF)

As a first-year or sophomore, your resume will be broad in scope; it’s okay to list leadership roles and experiences from high school. Over time you will become more focused on professional interests and goals, and your materials will become more tailored to highlight the experiences that best represent the skills needed for positions you target.

What Your Resume Says About You

Your resume is a visual tool that markets who you are and what you have to offer to employers. The content and format represent your personal brand. A document that is error free, easy to follow, and visually clean indicates your attention to detail and clear communication skills. Strive to include and describe experiences in the way that is most meaningful to your audience.

What to include or not include

The following guidelines will help you make smart decisions about whether to include commonly seen content.

• Mailing address: Listing a physical address is no longer considered necessary. Expect employers to contact you by email or phone. If you are looking in the city where you are located, you can include an address to indicate availability. Otherwise, consider listing your LinkedIn profile or other career-related portfolio instead.
• Blog, portfolio, LinkedIn address, website: If you have these, include links to show examples of your abilities, but be sure to edit and manage your online brand. Everything you put online says something about you. Control the message.
• Summary statement: Most college students can skip this and instead use a cover letter or introductory email to describe the fit between the employer’s needs and what you have to offer. However, a summary is highly recommended for technical/ engineering resumes (in which case, it may serve the purpose of the cover letter) and for resumes of highly experienced people. A good summary statement focuses on specific accomplishments and skills related to the position you’re seeking.
• Education: List institution, degree, major(s) and minor(s), graduation date, and location. Include additional degrees, coursework, or special programs in reverse chronological order. Transfer students with significant experience at another school can also list that institution; however, it’s not necessary if the bulk of your degree was completed at WashU. Dual degree students should list both institutions. Study abroad can also go in this section.
• GPA: List your GPA in the Education section if you are proud of it or if the employer asks for it. You can list your cumulative GPA, major GPA, or science GPA depending on your goals. GPA should be written X.XX/4.00. This information is more important in some fields than others. Ask a career coach if you’re unsure.
• High school experiences: It is okay to list your high school and related activities as a first-year or sophomore. The closer you get to graduation, the more important it becomes to replace this information with more recent experience. You want employers to see you as a young professional.
• Relevant coursework: Avoid long lists of typical classes. Include this section only if you wish to highlight a few specific advanced, technical, or elective courses that directly relate to the position you’re seeking.
• Job experience: Restaurants, retail, camps, and work study all give you transferable skill sets including valuable experience managing information and relationships.
• Internships, research, co-ops, leadership, service, shadowing: Paid or unpaid, these are excellent ways to build your Experience section. Describe them in terms of your accomplishments. As your resume becomes more robust, you may want to break these into more tailored sections (e.g. Teaching Experience, Research Experience).

The position description and/or organizational research will help you identify the employer’s needs and the characteristics they desire in an ideal candidate. Make it easy for them to see how you fit the bill with the following strategies:

Show them where to look

Devote the most real estate on your document to the experiences that will resonate the most with the recipient. You probably don’t need 4 bullets to describe your summer experience at Banana Republic, unless you’re gunning for a buyer role there.

Use headings that highlight critical skills

Within each section, list experiences in reverse chronological order. As you develop more skills and experience, you can replace one main Experience section with more specific headings that highlight skills or specialties that will draw the employer’s attention or address their needs (e.g. Theater Design Experience, Project Management Experience).

Use key words

Notice and match the language from the position description and the organization’s web site. This might mean slight tweaks to the way you describe your experience (saying “taught” vs. “coached”, for example), but shows that you understand their goals and culture. You could also work in key words by adding relevant coursework. Some companies use software to cull through applications based on key word recognition. Check out this list of 205 Resume Words (PDF)  for ideas.

Be judicious about what you include

In most cases, as a college student, your resume shouldn’t go on for pages. You may have to cut out some things to make it easier for the recipient to focus on the most important things. It can be difficult to be objective about this, so seek opinions from others.

The Difference between a resume and a CV

A curriculum vitae (CV) is very similar to a resume in terms of most key formatting. Some countries refer to the CV the same way we refer to a resume. In the US, a CV is distinct from a resume in the sense that it is used primarily in academic and research circles or in medical careers. CVs are more comprehensive than resumes because they can go beyond one page, and therefore do not need to be as tailored. They typically include academic research, publications, and presentations. For some good examples, look for the CVs of some of your professors to see how they’ve represented their body of experience. For most undergraduate students, the difference between a resume and CV is negligible.

Employers spend just seconds reviewing each resume so it’s critical to make your information easy to absorb.

• Aim for one page: Most employers prefer one-page resumes. If you have more relevant content, two full pages is preferable to an odd half page.
• Margins and typeface: Margins should be even on all sides, but can go as low as .5 inch. With the exception of your name, which should be bigger, your typeface should be 10-11 point font. It’s generally smart to use the same professional typeface throughout.
• Make each line count: You might be able to slim down your name and contact information, or remove your mailing address. Rephrase bullets that have one or two words that run to a second line. Condense words and phrases to make them more concise without losing meaning.
• Eliminate old or irrelevant experiences: This is especially important if they can be trumped by recent, similar ones.
• Consistency and visual balance: Check for consistency and parallel structure in the way you list key information such as headings, titles, dates, and locations. Also ensure your document is visually balanced, meaning you fill the page evenly and leave enough white space.
• Use reverse chronological order: In most cases employers expect to see your most recent experience at the top of each section. If you have two concurrent experiences, list the most relevant first.
• Be wary of templates: These lock you into formatting that can be restrictive as your document evolves.
• Tailor section headings to showcase skills or group types of experiences: Rather than listing one giant Experience section, consider using more specific headings (e.g. Teaching Experience, Social Media Experience, Volunteer Experience).

Your goal is to make it easy for a future employer to see your capabilities, based on what you’ve done in the past. Are you good on the phone? Comfortable fielding questions from the public? Reliable with major projects requiring organization? Experienced at analyzing data on Excel? Employers will only know if you tell them.

• Say what you actually did: It does no good to use fancy words if your description is unclear or doesn’t make sense. When the employer initially reviews your document, you won’t be there to provide explanations or insight. Avoid vague phrasing and state your contributions accurately, simply, and clearly. Review this list of resume action words (PDF) to help you craft your messaging.
• Helped plan sorority social
• Collaborated with 5- member executive team to plan, promote and execute a social event that raised $5,000 for a St. Louis nonprofit. (Depending on your goals, it may be wise to explain your contributions more specifically: Managed project timeline for executive team by sending weekly goal reminders and organizing update meetings to ensure progress leading up to the event. Facilitated debrief meeting afterwards to note what we can improve for future events.)
• Focus on accomplishments: When possible, state the results of your efforts rather than just your responsibilities.
• Describe your experience through the lens of transferable skills: Determine which aspects of your previous work most relate to the employer’s needs, and describe your qualifications accordingly. For example, customer service skills your gained in retail could be valuable in other client-based work.

Prepare a list of references on a separate page instead of writing “References available upon request.” That way, you will have them ready to go if an employer asks for them. Copy and paste your name and contact information from your resume onto a second page and list the name, title, address, phone, and e-mail of three to four people. Great people to list include professors, employers, student group advisors, and internship supervisors. Contact all references before you submit your list to ensure that they are comfortable acting as a reference for you. Once you have provided the reference list to an employer, contact each reference and provide him/her with the job title, description, company name, and the name of the person who may be in contact.

Pay close attention to what the position description says about submitting your materials.

It’s rare that you’ll give someone a hard copy of your materials, but some people remember when it was important to print them on quality heavyweight paper. Most employers at a career fair are fine with typical copy paper. If you’d like to use resume paper, it’s available at the campus bookstore or office stores.

It is extremely important to exercise professionalism when corresponding with employers through email. Be sure to use a concise, business-like style and check for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Choose an appropriate subject line. When applying for a job, an example of an appropriate subject is “Alex Wiseman, Assistant Account Executive.”

When you send your cover letter and resume via email, we recommend that you send them as one PDF attachment. State the position you are applying for and introduce your attachment in a 3-4 sentence email that also includes your phone number.

If you choose to make your cover letter the body of the email, we suggest you draft it in a Word document first to ensure thoughtfulness and professionalism.

Online Application Forms

Some employers require applicants to paste resume information into online application fields. In this case, you may want to remove your resume formatting so that the information is organized and easy to read in electronic form. If an application requires you to list your skills, carefully consider those you wish to include and provide a comprehensive list. Applicants are often sorted by the skills and experiences provided on the application.

Most electronic resumes are sent in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf). However, some guidelines might ask you to submit your resume as text-based or ASCII format. A text-based resume will eliminate most of the formatting such as bold, italics, bullet points and underlining. Review your text-based resume before you submit it to the employer. Be sure to check spacing and page alignment if you are pasting it from a Microsoft Word document.

Employers in some industries use computer systems that use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to scan and screen resumes. You may want to work with someone at the Center for Career Engagement if you have questions about preparing a scannable resume. Electronic and scannable resumes are only to be used at the employer’s request.

Resumes samples by industry

• Reverse Chronological Style Resume Examples (PDF)
• Pre-Medical Style (PDF)
• Technical Style Resume Samples (PDF)
• STEM Sample Resume (PDF)