Resumes & Cover Letters
Resumes and cover letters are crucial in the job application process, showcasing a candidate's skills, experiences, and qualifications to potential employers. A strong and personalized resume and cover letter are essential to make a lasting impression and secure a job. Below are sample resumes for every Huntsman School of Business major.
Resumes
Crafting an effective resume is an essential step toward landing your dream job. A well-written and polished resume will showcase your skills, experience, and impact to potential employers, setting you apart from other applicants.
Format & Design
Based on employer feedback and alumni success, we encourage you to use the Huntsman School of Business resume template. Recruiters and hiring managers can quickly scan this template while seeing your accomplishments and impact. Using other resume templates is discouraged for multiple reasons; different templates can be visually cumbersome, painful to format, may not look professional, may not pass applicant tracking systems, etc.
- Length: Limit resume to 1 page (post-graduate school resumes may exceed 1 page)
- Margins: No less than .5 inches wide all around
- White space is important for appearance and readability
- Font size: Between 10-12 points; "Name" between 14-16, to increase visibility
- Font style: Use Serif Fonts (Book Antigua, Georgia or Garamond) or Times New Roman or Sans Serif (Arial, Verdana, Calibri); ATS (applicant tracking system) software may not be able to process more stylized fonts
- Bullets: Separate accomplishment statements with bullets to allow the reader to scan your resume quickly. Choose traditional-style bullets and use a single style throughout; ATS (applicant tracking system) sofware may not be able to process untraditional styles
- Spaces: Insert only one space after a period
Sections of a Resume
Resumes have defined areas of content. The content below provides an overview of each section and at least two different examples for each section.
Contact Information
Put your contact information at the top of your resume. We recommend using the same contact information format on all your professional documents (resume, cover letter, and reference sheet). Include your phone number, email, personalized LinkedIn URL, and other relevant links (such as a linked portfolio). Spell check won't catch errors in your contact information, so double-check this section.
Education
As a student, the education section is typically the most relevant and marketable content. Consequently, it should be located directly under your contact information. Include the institution’s name and location, your degree (i.e., Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.), major, minors, anticipated graduation date, and grade point average (GPA). You may also include bullet points with honors and impactful experiences such as relevant courses or co-curricular activities like clubs, competitions, study-abroad programs, awards, or scholarships.
Technical Skills
Data Analytics and Information Systems resume' put their technical skills in this location – other majors typically include this information within the Skills and Interests section.
Showcasing your technical skills prominently on your resume is essential for technical roles. Doing so ensures recruiters will notice your relevant strengths within the first few seconds they scan your resume.
Projects
Projects can include but are not limited to, notable class assignments, competitions, personal projects, or Huntsman experiences such as Global Learning Experiences.
Experience
The experience section of a resume is crucial in demonsrating to potential employers the value you can bring to their organization. Tailor your resume to the job description by showcasing your past successes and impact, highlighting how they align with the company's needs.
Include all of the following in this section:
- Company name, location, position/title, start, and end dates
- Start each bullet with "skill-based" verbs such as those listed on Strong Verbs or Power Verbs
- Avoid using personal pronouns: I, me, my, we, us, our
- Avoid using articles where possible: a, an, the
- Quantify your experience as much as possible, and put numbers in digit format, such as "25" rather than "twenty-five"
- Use the following "APR" formula to structure your accomplishment statements: Action Word + Project + Result = Accomplishment
- Make your accomplishment statements specific and include the impact of what you did
Service & Leadership
Leadership and service opportunities are ways to demonstrate your involvement outside the classroom and work environment and help you stand out to recruiters. For each role, follow the guidelines provided in the Experience section above.
Experiences to include are:
- Off- and on-campus clubs and organizations
- Community and volunteer work
- Leadership roles
- Religious service
Skills & Interests
The Skills/Interests section on your resume is the place to highlight the technical skills that make you a perfect fit for the job. It’s not just about work skills; include a personal interest too. Your interests help you be more memorable, demonstrate you are well-rounded and can be a talking point to build and strengthen rapport during your interview.
Sample Resumes
The following resumes are samples, by major, within the Huntsman School of Business. Use the resume samples as a guide while creating your resume and elarn what industry leaders expect from applicants.
Use the Word template below as a starting point to create your resume.
Data Analytics/Information Systems students, use the DAIS Resume Template in the Data Analytics and Information Systems, MMIS, & MDATA section.
Marketing Students, use the Marketing Design Resume Template for a design-focused resume.
Cover Letters
Write a captivating cover letter that grabs the employer's attention. Avoid duplicating your resume; provide context, address gaps or career changes, and use specific examples. tailor your letter to ensure it is engaging and encourages the reader to take notice. Below are guidelines to help you craft your cover letter.
Components
View a visual descriptive explanation of the sections of a cover letter.
Format
- Use Serif Fonts (Book Antigua, Georgia, or Garamond) or Sans Serif (Arial, Verdana, Calibri); ATS (applicant tracking system) software may not be able to process more stylized fonts
- Include the following:
- Your name and contact information (use the same information and format from your resume)
- Date
- Opening/closing salutations
- Signature block
- Be consistent in abbreviations, spacing, margins, etc.
Mechanics
- Review spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Remember, spell check won't catch any spelling errors in your name, telephone number, email, or LinkedIn URL
- Use Professional wording appropriate for your audience
- Include a variety of language and avoid repetitive phrases
- Avoid confusing, ambiguous, and cumbersome sentences
- Create logical and effective paragraph transitions
- Take your cover letter to one of USU's Writing Centers
Content
Follow the instructions below to create an impactful cover letter.
Introductory Paragraph:
- Start with a captivating sentence that grabs the reader's attention.
- Introduce yourself and mention the specific position you are applying for.
- Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity and briefly mention why you are interested in the company or organization. If you have a name to drop, this is an excellen place to include that.
- Conclude the paragraph by providing a preview of what the employer can expect from your application.
Body Paragraph:
- Highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
- Connect your skills and experiences, tailor your content to align with the job requirements, and emphasize how your qualifications make you a strong candidate.
- Use specific examples and concise language to demonstrate your expertise and achievements.
Closing Paragraph:
- Restate your interest and enthusiasm in the position.
- Mention any additional documents or materials you have included with the application, such as a resume or portfolio.
- Express your eagerness for an interview to discuss how your qualifications align with the company's goals.
- Thank the reader for considering your application.
Proofread your cover letter before sending it. Keep the letter concise, typically within one page, and maintain a professional tone. Customizing your cover letter for ech application will significantly increase its impact, so take the time to research the company and position to make your letter even more compelling.
Sample Cover Letters
Use these examples as a guide while creating your cover letter and to learn what industry leaders expect from applicants. Take your letter to one of USU's Writing Centers for them to proofread and provide feedback
Backpack to Briefcase
Backpack to Briefcase: Step up your game with Backpack to Briefcase professional workshops! Get ready to shift gears from classroom to workplace. Our experts will dive into essential career development topics, boosting your resume, nailing cover letters, acing interviews, and more.