Resumes and Cover Letters

There are common formats for writing a resume: the Chronological Resume, Combination Resume, and the Functional Resume. Remember, even with a common format, layout, and/or structure, your resume will still be unique!

Which Resume Format Should I Use?

Other Recommended Formatting, Structure, and Layout Tips:

• One-page to two-page resume is most common (two pages for years of relevant experience)
• Use consistent formatting throughout the resume: bolding, italics, font size, font style, date format (mm/yyyy or month year), etc.
• One column format
• Font size: 10-12 point (note: your name will be larger) and using a common font style (Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond)
• Use 0.5-1.0-inch margins
• Avoid using tables, grids, lines, and graphics
• Use templates only if it fits your needs
• Be concise with wording and make sure to proofread– don’t just rely on spell check! (Microsoft Word does not catch ALL CAPITAL misspelled words)

Check the below section to find resume samples.

Headings include how the employer can contact you.

• Name - largest text on the resume (it is all about YOU!)
  • If you go by your middle name/preferred name, consider using an initial (E. Thomas Jones for Eugene Thomas Jones)
• Professional EMAIL - recommend to use your UMICH.EDU email if you are a current student
• Phone Number - make sure your voicemail is set up professionally and not full; you do not need to include the +1 when listing your phone number
• Other Options to Include:
  • LinkedIn Customized URL (be sure to keep profile your up to date; more about using LinkedIn on our Networking page)
  • City and State (full street address is not needed)
  • Other Websites or Professional Portfolios (specific to your field)

Your academic credentials are important to an employer, particularly if you are relatively new to the working world or if you are pursuing a job that requires specific training.

• Express your educational background clearly
• Avoid abbreviations (except for states).  Only abbreviate your degree if it is necessary to fit the space
• List your institutions in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Be sure to include:
  • The school name, city, and state
  • Type of degree (Ex: Bachelor of Science)
  • Major(s), any minor(s)/concentration(s)
  • Month and year granted or Expected Graduation month and year
  • Optional: Overall GPA or Major GPA if 3.0 and above
• Optional: Relevant Coursework (Other common titles: Relevant Courses, Related Courses, etc.) is sometimes found within the Education section. Usually any courses level 200 or higher that are specific to the position/career field or departmental concentrations are included; foundational courses do not need to be listed.
• Optional: Certifications, teaching endorsements, or honors

An objective is a brief sentence that clarifies any skills, abilities, or experience that align with the position you are applying for. Use your objective to answer the question "what can I do for the employer?" Consider having an objective statement when you do not have a cover letter or you are attending a recruiting event/career fair.  

A powerful objective can be broken down into three parts:

1. The title or function desired
2. The skills that the job seeker brings to the position
3. The results that the employer can expect

Objective Statement Examples

Experiences can be highlighted in one section or broken up in a variety of ways. These sections indicate your value to the employer by highlighting accomplishments and skills you have developed through previous experiences. 

• Common section headings include: Experience, Work History, Work Experience, Relevant Experience, Professional Experience, Experience in [specific field]
• Other experiences to include (that may be their own section): Volunteer Experience, Practica, Field Experience, Internships, Military Experiences (check out the Other Resources section at the bottom of this page or meet with a career coach for tips on translating your military skills to civilian terms)
• Within any "Experience" section you create, include the following:
  • List experiences in reverse chronological order
  • Include each job title and employer name (no supervisors or addresses needed)
  • List city, state (or country), and accurate dates for each position
  • Use bullet points with descriptive statements displaying skills, abilities, and professional accomplishments (begin with a power verb and utilize transferable skills when appropriate) Here are some tips on writing strong bullet points.
  • If present work, use present tense, if past use past tense (stay away from active tense)
  • Try to include quantifiable results (number of people on a team, cost reductions, etc.) 

Adding additional sections is strongly recommended if you have experience that has not been reflected through the rest of your resume. Some of these items might work well in previously mentioned sections and there may be other sections you include based on your personal experiences.

• Projects (other common section headings) Academic Projects, or Projects in [Specific Field])
  • Include any presentation, group projects, papers, etc. that highlight your skills related to a specific field (helpful for those with limited to no formal work experiences in their field)
  • List in most relevant order (dates are not important here)
  • Structure these similar to the "Experience" section or with a Project Title and a few descriptive statements
• Activities and Affiliations (other common section headings: Leadership, Campus Involvement, Co-Curricular Activities, etc.)
  • Include organizations, clubs, professional memberships, associations, leadership roles, etc.
  • Organization's name and/or positions held (could be a similar design to an "experience" section)
  • Highlight a descriptive statement of accomplishments (using power verbs) rather than stating "member"
  • Employers are more concerned with what rather than when here (dates are not as important)
  • Provide explanations for the names of organizations, if they are not self-evident
• Honors and Awards (if all are academic related, they could be placed in the "Education" section)
  • Include awards, recognitions, scholarships, etc.
  • Consider honors and awards from employment, volunteer experiences, co-curricular activities, and academics
• Skills (other common section headings: Special Skills, Technical Skills, Skills in [Specific Field], etc.)
  • Include any specialized knowledge - relevant/industry-related skills (equipment or programming specific to the field/job)
  • Foreign Languages
  • Computer Programs/Software - if the job description lists programs or software that you have experience with you should be including those on your resume in a skills section and/or within your bullet points
  • Certifications (these could be listed within another section or in their own section)
• Certifications or Endorsements
  • For specific software or industries (such as SAS, or CPA)
  • State of Michigan (Elementary or Secondary) Provisional teaching
  • Teaching endorsements (find your Michigan endorsement code): Math (EX), Early Childhood (ZA)

Applications by Email and Digital Copies

Applications by Email:

• Always include a brief note in the body of the email stating what you’re applying for, what materials you have attached, and how to contact you.
• This can also be a good opportunity to reiterate your excitement for the position.

Application File Names and Saving Documents:

• Employers receive dozens of cover letters and resumes a day. Saving your documents with clear and appropriate file names will ensure your materials don’t get lost.
  • Example: JonathanWolverineResume.pdf or JonathanWolverineCoverLetter.docx
• When sending by e-mail or posting on your LinkedIn, saving as a PDF prevents your formatting from getting jumbled; some online application systems cannot process PDFs, so always follow specific system instructions.

Other Tips:

Additional tips provided by Career Services, Talent Gateway, ICMC, CASL Internships, and CECS Co-op Staff

• This is not easy, this can be overwhelming, and you are not alone in this process!
• Use a template only if it fits your needs (Ex: BA 300)
• There's no such thing as a “perfect” or “finished” resume; a resume is a working document
• Consider all experiences: classes, projects, student orgs, volunteer, leadership, awards, publications, presentations, certifications, special skills, etc.
• All resumes are different (even if formatting looks similar)
• POWER VERBS & transferable skills - use them! (see Resume Power Verbs and Transferable Skills)

A resume template designed to help incoming college students highlight their education, academic achievements, involvement, volunteer experience, skills, and early work experiences as they begin exploring career opportunities on campus and/or off campus.

In the section above is an outline of the various parts of a resume (not all sections required). This resume provides a general outline and example of a place to start when first building your resume.  This second example is filled in with sample information to see the outline completed.

A combination resume is a format that allows for highlighting relevant experiences that may otherwise get buried in the list of work or professional experience. It is important to clearly share roles and descriptions that are relevant to the job description and this format helps to accomplish that goal.

As a transfer and/or graduate student you will want to share your multiple institutions that you have attended. Here is sample resume to show how to list more than one college or university that you have attended. This is a similar format, for example, to also show an undergraduate and graduate degree.

Many employers have an appreciation for students and alumni who have been introduced to new and different perspectives through experiences such as study abroad. This resume provides an example of where to list a study abroad experience and ways to highlight your experience to relate to an internship or full-time role.

Many students complete projects within classes or on their own that can help to highlight skills and things like software or industry specific tools. For students who don't have work experience, this is a great option to highlight hands-on learning. Here is an example showing how you might incorporate projects into your resume.

Students who are active military or Veterans have many skills and experiences that are unique and need to be translated for employers to understand. This resume provides an example of where and how to add those experiences in a resume.

For students in the College of Business, the Business Career Center is here to support you. They help students explore careers, assist with resume and internship prep, host networking events and much more!

They also provide templates for cover letters and resumes that you can customize to make your own.

While similar to the resumes described above, if you're seeking a job in education there are a few additional tips to consider.

Elements to Consider when Describing Teaching Experience
When describing your teaching experience, include any teaching experience such as substitute teaching, student teaching and practical/observations as well as your classroom experience. Specify if you have special skills such as

• Multi-level subjects taught – ex: reading groups, math groups
• Integrated curriculum/cross-disciplinary teaching/team teaching
• Special methodologies – ex.: Math Their Way, Hunter Units
• Special testing, ex:  the Iowa Basic
• Teaching endorsements

Also include related experiences such as:

• Tutoring
• Camp counseling
• Coaching or other extracurricular activities (plays, fairs, etc.)
• Aide experience
• Extra duties (e.g.,) playground, lunch room, study hall, bus duty
• Internships and assistantship
• Volunteering
• Social service work involving youth
• Supervising field trips

... or other experiences demonstrating transferable skills or work history.

Include elements that make your teaching experience unique, such as the populations you've worked with:

• Students with physical disabilities
• Students with visual impairments
• Students with hearing impairments
• ESL/Bilingual
• Mainstreamed students
• Inclusion students
• Exchange students
• Gifted students
• Students with learning disabilities
• ADD/ADHD

When looking to enter a field within the health professions, schools and employers are often looking for information and experiences that are not found on a traditional resume. You will find an example resume recommended by the director of Health Professions Advising (located within the START office).  Additional tips to follow when creating and updating your resume can be found in this document.

A cover letter is an introduction to your resume and your qualifications. An employer uses cover letters to determine your interests in the position and to assess your written communication skills. It is important to remember that a cover letter is not just a copy of your resume; it should intrigue the employer enough to read your attached resume.

A cover letter should answer the following questions:

• What is the position?
• Why are you applying for it?
• What do you hope to gain from the position?
• Why are you qualified?
• What unique skills or experiences do you have?

Cover Letter Guide

Cover Letter Sample