Resumes, Cover Letters & References

• What employers expect: Employers want clear, tailored, and professional resumes. That means using keywords from the job description, focusing on relevant experience, and keeping the format clean and easy to read.
• Get past the bots: Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – software that scans your resume before a human sees it. To get past ATS filters, use a clean layout, simple formatting, and specific keywords related to the role.
• Keep it short and clear: The goal of your resume is to land the interview—not the job. Most recruiters spend just 6–10 seconds scanning a resume, so keep it to one page (two only if you have lots of relevant experience), and make key information easy to spot.
• Want a deeper look? View our full Resume Guide. 

• Keep it clean and simple: Use a professional font like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman (10–12 pt), with your name slightly larger (14–18 pt).
  
• One page is usually best: Especially for students and recent grads. Two pages only if you have a lot of relevant experience.
  
• Use reverse chronological order: List your most recent experiences first under clear headings like Education, Experience, Skills.
  
• ATS-friendly formatting: Avoid complex templates, graphics, or tables that can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Stick to simple layouts and standard section titles.
  
• Headers matter: Include your full name, professional email, phone number, and optionally LinkedIn URL. Avoid personal info like photos or marital status.
  
• White space & readability: Use consistent spacing and margins to make your resume easy to scan quickly (most recruiters spend less than 10 seconds per resume).
  
• Want more detail?
  Check out our full Resume Guide for tips on formatting, ATS, sample resumes, and templates, or log in to Hiration to build or update your resume using professional templates and AI feedback to make sure your resume meets today’s hiring standards.

So, what counts as experience? Experience isn’t just paid jobs. It includes anything where you gained skills, knowledge, or growth, such as:

• Class projects or research
• Internships or co-ops
• Volunteer work or service-learning
• Student organizations or leadership roles
• Job shadowing or mentoring
• Part-time or full-time jobs

Start with a master resume. Create a master resume with all of your experiences, accomplishments, and skills. You won’t submit this document, but it makes customizing each application easier.

Writing strong bullet points shows employers the impact you made in your role—not just a list of tasks you completed. Impact can include things like improving a process, helping customers, organizing an event, solving a problem, or contributing to a team goal.

Use this formula when writing your bullet points to highlight your experience effectively: Action Verb + What You Did (Task) + Result, Purpose, or Impact

Quick Tips:

• Start each bullet with a strong action verb
• Quantify when possible (How many? How often? What improved?)
• Want help turning your experience into strong bullet points? Click here to check out resume-ready bullet points..

Before you submit your resume, give it a final check:

• Proofread for typos, grammar, and formatting.
• Stick to clean, consistent formatting — same fonts, spacing, margins.
• Highlight impact, not just tasks.
• Save and submit as a PDF, unless told otherwise.

Before applying to jobs in Handshake or other job platforms, make sure your resume meets professional standards.

• Start with Hiration: Upload your resume for an AI-powered review in seconds, as well as the option to submit it to our Career Services team for expert feedback.
• Need help using Hiration or want a general resume review? Email us at [email protected]
  
• Want a deeper review? Schedule a one-on-one appointment in Handshake or contact us at [email protected].

References are individuals who can speak about your qualifications and support your application. Good references usually include supervisors, instructors, or leaders who have seen your work or involvement firsthand.

• Employers typically request references after the interview or during the application process. 
• Don’t include a references page with your initial resume submission. 
• Skip the phrase “References available upon request” on your resume—it’s no longer necessary.

• Use the same header as your resume (your name and contact info).
• Title the page “REFERENCES” below your header.
• List 3 to 5 references. Include each reference’s name, job title, employer, city/state, phone, email, and your relationship to them.
• Always ask permission before listing someone and share your resume with them so they know what you’ve been working on.

• Pick people who know your work well—like supervisors, professors, or volunteer managers. 
• Avoid personal references (friends, family, clergy) unless specifically requested.

• Most employers want a references page, not letters of recommendation. However, some graduate or professional programs require letters. 
• For tips on how to get letters for grad school, see this guide.