General Format

• All dates, bullets, sections are aligned evenly and consistently throughout the resume.
• is easy to read, with proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Avoid the use of personal pronouns (i.e. “I”, “me”, “you”, “we”)
• Your 1-page resume does not use a template with tables to separate each section.
• Your document does not change font sizes, or use multiple colors
• Omit personal information such as marital status, social security number, or include a photograph.

Heading

• Includes Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address
• Avoid large/distracting heading elements (lines, bars, graphics, etc.) Your name should dominate the heading.

Objective Statement (optional)

• It is optional to use a clear and specific job objective directly related to the position.
• Avoid creating a generic objective that does not state how you are uniquely qualified for the position.
• A resume for networking events or career fairs does not need an objective statement.

Highlights Section (optional)

• If you create a “Highlights”, “Summary of Qualifications” or “Profile section” it includes approximately 3-10 statements
  (depending on your skills and space on your document) of your unique qualifications.
• Avoid the following terms: team player, excellent verbal and written communication skills, hard-working, flexible,
  people-person, easy to work with, fast learner, managed people, seeking challenging position etc.
• The “Highlights” section is not a long paragraph summary about your overall goals.

Skills Section (optional)

• List all your skills based on the most relevant specific you acquired that is most relevant to the position and industry
  (you can include anything you have learned from class or on your own).
• This section can include various skills such as computer hardware/software, programs, machine operation, licenses,
  certificates, design tools etc. that directly relate to the position.

Education

• Write out the official title of your degree you are receiving (Master of Science in Computer Science).
• List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree and work backwards.
• If you want to list your coursework, make sure you include the entire name of the course and provide a minimum of 2-3 statements that highlights a skill, knowledge or experience that is relevant to the position you are seeking.

Experience/Internship/Volunteering

• Under each experience, include the name of organization, job title, location, and dates.
• Provide a minimum of 2-3 statements for each position that demonstrates a skill, experience or ability.
• Begin each phrase with an action verb and avoid repeating the same action verbs throughout the document.
• Emphasize results produced, significant achievements, and recognition from others.
• Quantify when possible and use specific examples of impact or purpose to your accomplishment
• Avoid listing unrelated or generic duties or start phrases with “my responsibilities (or duties) included”
• Use past tense verbs (helped, assisted, provided, etc.) for positions you no longer work for, and current tense for any current employment.

Cover Letter Format

• Include a heading (top contact information) that is identical to the resume
• Includes: Contact name and title (if you have this information, otherwise, address the letter to "hiring manager") name of company/organization. Full mailing address of company/organization
• Confirm that the cover letter is free from typos and uses proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. Cover letters may be in first-person (ex: I, me, my)
• The document includes three paragraphs and should be approximately 3/4 page in length and no more than one page.

Introduction paragraph

• 3-4 sentences indicating the exact position interested, and any particular information that you uniquely provide to the
  position (personal brand).
• If a friend, family, or networking contact referred you, mention the person in the first few sentences.
• If applicable, provide a reason why your contact believes you would be a good fit for the organization.

Main Body

• Select information you researched regarding the company’s mission, values goals, accomplishments and opportunities to explain how you share the organizations approach or perspective.
• Identify a main ability, skill or experience you have as the reason why you are interested in their organization or position.
• Use this example in specific terms. For example: "Your position notes a competitive candidate should have strong research experience. During my internship at USC last summer, I managed three separate research projects and delivered the results to leadership. While managing the research projects, I..."
• Provide details explaining how your qualifications and interests align to benefit the employer using specific examples.
• Identify a specific responsibility from the position description, and explain how your previous position or project will bring expertise knowledge or experience to their organization.
• Organize the sentences according to themes, placing the most relevant concepts first.

Final paragraph

• Indicate how you personally feel connected to the company or industry. This provides the reader with an example of how you may stand our from other applicants with similar experience. This also demonstrates how you align with a company's culture.
• Provide a final reminder sentence that clearly indicates why the combination of your education, skills and experience is match for the position.
• Mention that you would like to meet and discuss the position further.
• End your letter with confidence and a way to follow-up for an interview (email and phone number). Thank the reader for their time and consideration/

Resume Tips

• Avoid the use of “fancy” cursive fonts, graphics, italics, and tables, your resume should look simple
• Try to organize your document based on how relevant the information applies to the position. (There is no typical set order, the placement of each section should vary in the order of most relevant information from top to bottom.)
• Explain your exact actions and include at least one of the following: purpose, impact or results (what you learned/changed) of the action. For Example: "Coordinated the timeline of XYZ project and delegated the responsibilities of seventeen members in order to improve future ABC processes"
• Customize your document to a specific position when applying to a job posting, or a resume that focuses on job types for career fairs.

Cover Letter Tips:

• Research the company (You can use LinkedIn, the company website, Google) and connect how their mission/goals or objectives align with your own approach or professional interests.
• The document is short and gives a deep dive, only conveying one or two concepts that is either unique and or most relevant to why you are interested in their organization.
• Does not repeat the exact same information provided on the resume.
• Avoid sentences that indicate how you would benefit, learn, grow, or use the position as a stepping-stone or temporary
  position for your other future goals or achievements.
• Avoid "pitching" yourself by simply re-describing your skills and experience. Instead, draw line between your skills and experiences and interests, and the company's needs, goals and mission.
• Focus on how your experience, skill, or interest in the organization will benefit the employer if you are selected.
• Highlight any skills, experience or talent you have, that uniquely enhances you as a standout candidate (What you have
  that others might not).
• Avoid trying to explain why you do not have a specific skill, instead identify skills you do have that is very similar.
• Explain which parts of your educational experience are relevant to the position, rather than simply stating what major/degree you are completing.