resume and cover letter guidance
what is a resume?
A resume is a snapshot of your education, experience, and skills that demonstrate your value to an employer. When crafted effectively, it becomes your ticket to an interview. Employers use resumes to screen applicants and identify those whose backgrounds best align with their needs. A strong resume answers three key questions: Have you? Can you? Will you do the job?
Before you write your resume, you should:
- Research the industry and position to understand the employer’s expectations.
- Identify the key skills required for the role and highlight your relevant experience.
- Familiarize yourself with industry-specific terminology to communicate effectively.
- Stay current on trends and changes within your chosen field.
To craft a successful resume, you should:
- Capture an employer’s interest quickly—most reviewers spend only 30 seconds on a resume.
- Emphasize and quantify your accomplishments instead of listing tasks. For example: “Designed and delivered 20 math tutoring lessons to a group of seven fifth- and sixth-grade students.”
- Highlight transferable skills—such as communication, teamwork, and organization—that are valuable across industries.
- Maintain a master résumé that includes all your experience. When submitting, tailor your résumé to each opportunity and limit it to two pages.
what should my resume look like?
Apply a consistent format.
Whatever format you choose, keep it consistent and easy to read. Use formatting to organize your document effectively and highlight key details. Apply bold text sparingly for emphasis—and use it consistently throughout your resume.
Read more: Resume Formatting Do’s & Dont’s
Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to review resumes before a recruiter ever sees them. These systems scan for keywords to match skills and qualifications listed in the job description. To improve your chances of passing ATS screening, align your resume language with the terminology used in the posting.
Top 3 tips:
- Avoid templates. ATS software often can’t read columns, tables, or text boxes. Use a clean Word document instead.
- Keep formatting simple. Avoid headers, footers, borders, shading, and symbols (basic bullet points are fine).
- Customize your resume. Use keywords and phrases from the job description. Be specific—say “Adobe Photoshop” instead of “image-editing software.”
Read more:
Navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands
Start with a new document or use a template.
Begin by opening a new Word or Google document—or download one of our Bellevue University resume examples. Review the What Should I Include in My Resume? section below, and organize your experiences into sections that best represent your background. Remember: your resume should be a reflection of you—unique, focused, and authentic.
What should I include in my resume?
Before you start writing, take time to brainstorm all your experiences—you can decide what to include later. You can include:
- Experience: paid or unpaid jobs, internships, research, volunteering, and community service.
- Education: current degree program, study abroad, honors, awards, scholarships, certifications, conferences, or presentations (include high school only if within one year of graduation).
- Activities: clubs, sports, community groups, and leadership roles.
- Projects: academic, personal, or professional projects, publications, self-paced learning, or professional development.
Need help getting started? Use the Resume Writing Worksheet to organize your ideas.
Resume Sections
- Contact information: include your city, state, ZIP code, phone number, and a professional email address.
- Summary: write two to four sentences highlighting your key strengths and the value you bring to an organization. Avoid personal pronouns and “objective” statements.
- Technical knowledge and skills (IT-focused): list computer applications and relevant technical proficiencies.
- Education: start with Bellevue University, listing your degree (bolded), major/minor, expected graduation date, and GPA (if 3.75 or higher). Include academic honors, scholarships, or honor societies.
- Certifications and training: include current and relevant certifications or professional training.
- Professional experience: list the past 10 years of employment and internships, beginning with the most recent. For each role, include your title, organization name, location, and dates. Add three to five bullet points focusing on accomplishments, skills, and responsibilities that align with your target position.
- Volunteer experience: include your role, organization, location, and dates of involvement.
- Leadership and activities: highlight leadership roles, student organizations, athletics, or community involvement.
APR-formatted bullets
Strong resumes use accomplishment-driven bullet points based on the APR format: Action + Project/Problem + Result. This structure helps you clearly show your impact by answering three key questions: What did you do? Why did you do it? What was the outcome?
For example: Developed a digital filing system (Action + Project) that reduced record retrieval time by 40% (Result).
To learn more, review the Writing Effective Summary Bullets in APR Format step-by-step guide.
Ready to get feedback on your resume?
- Start by reviewing the Resume Checklist to see how your draft aligns with resume best practices.
- Use the free online tool Resume Worded to evaluate your resume. This platform provides instant feedback based on key criteria recruiters and hiring managers look for.
- For a detailed review, email your resume (Word or PDF format) to careerservices@bellevue.edu. Reviews are conducted electronically, and you can expect feedback within five business days unless otherwise noted.
- Prefer a quick review? Schedule a Speed Resume Appointment on Handshake for immediate feedback from a Career Coach.
Upload to your Handshake profile.
In Handshake, the job search works both ways—you’re five times more likely to be contacted by employers when you upload your resume and make it visible on your profile.
Follow the Handshake upload instructions to post the most recent version of your resume and help employers find you when they’re ready to hire.
Additional resources
Navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Resume formatting do’s and don’ts
Resume checklist
Resume examples
cover letters
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a short, professional document that accompanies your resume and highlights specific examples of your skills, experience, and interest in a position. It gives you the opportunity to explain how your background aligns with the employer’s needs.
Do I have to write one?
If a cover letter is required, then yes—it’s essential. Even if it’s optional, we highly recommend including one. In a competitive job market, a thoughtful cover letter helps hiring managers better understand your qualifications, enthusiasm, and fit for the role. Writing a cover letter allows you to:
- Convey your interest in the position and company.
- Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences.
- Explain how you’ll contribute to the organization.
Read more: Finally, an Answer To: Are Cover Letters Still Necessary? from The Muse.
Cover letters are especially helpful if you:
- Have limited experience and want to show how your transferable skills align with the role.
- Are changing careers and need to connect past experience to a new field.
- Possess strong writing skills and want to stand out by showing personality while maintaining professionalism.
- Have gaps or transitions in your employment history—address them briefly and focus on your readiness for the role.
Do I have to write a new one for every, single, application?
Ideally, yes. However, if you’re applying for two or three types of roles, create a few tailored versions of your cover letter that highlight your most relevant strengths for each type. Then, simply update the employer contact information and position details before submitting. This approach saves time while still demonstrating genuine interest and effort—far more effective than sending a generic letter.
What should I write about?
Let the job description guide you. Your cover letter should highlight your most relevant experiences, accomplishments, and skills—and demonstrate how they meet the employer’s needs as outlined in the job description. Think of it like an equation. Your skills and experiences + the requirements listed in the job description = the focus of your cover letter.
Pro tip: avoid writing a “general” cover letter.
Writing a cover letter without a job description is like writing an essay without a prompt. Always start with a real job posting that reflects the type of opportunity you want. The job description identifies what the employer values—your letter should highlight those same skills and experiences.
Get help writing your cover letter.
- Follow our Cover Letter Writing Guide with examples.
- Review the Cover Letter Checklist.
- Read The Muse’s Complete Guide to Writing a Cover Letter.
- Submit your cover letter (Word or PDF format) to careerservices@bellevue.edu for a comprehensive review. Feedback is typically provided within five business days.
- Schedule an appointment through Handshake for additional one-on-one support.
Cover letter resources
Cover letter checklist
Cover letter writing guide with examples
References
Should you include references on your resume? It depends. For current industry recommendations, review How to List References on Your Resume for helpful guidance on best practices.