Resume Templates

RESUME CHECKLIST

GENERAL FORMAT

YES YES YES NO NO NO

Is the resume one page, single-spaced?

Is the name at the top of the page in bold? Are address, phone number, and email easy to read?

Does the ‘Education’ section follow directly after the contact information?

Conservative font style? Same font size throughout (except name slightly larger)?

Are top/bottom, left/right margins equal and between 0.5” –1.0”?

Size, shape, alignmentof bullets consistent throughout?

Dates formatted and aligned consistently?

Are section headers in all CAPS, bold font?

Are there approximately 1 -4 statements in bulleted format under each item in the ‘Experience’ section?

CONTENT

REVIEW

Are verb tenses present tense for current experiences, past tense for past experiences? Does the resume include the required sections (Education, Experience, Skills) and as many optional sections as applicable? Does the Education section state official degree and graduation date? Is the cumulative GPA included if higher than 3.0? Is the GPA accurate to two decimals and not rounded up? Do the bulleted descriptions demonstrate major accomplishments rather than routine tasks/duties and are they quantified when possible?

Do the bulleted descriptions start with action verbs and demonstrate the use of key skills?

Is the resume free of personal pronouns (e.g. no references to “I”, “we”, “me”, “us”, “my”)?

Is the resume completely free from spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, and grammatical errors?

Have you uploaded your resume to VMOCK and achieved a minimum overall score of 75, including 25 for Competencies, 25 for Impact and 25 for Presentation?

(transfer) TEMPLATE 1

Permanent Address:

Address Street City, State Zip Code Phone Number

AME N

School Address:

175 Forest Street, Box #XXXX Waltham, MA 02452 Email Address

EDUCATION:

Waltham, MA

, Bentley University

May 20XX Major, Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies Major in LSM Name City, Country

ty, Study Abroad Universi

Study Abroad Program, Spring 20XX Brief description of program (subjects studied, travel)

RELEVANT COURSEWORK:

l Name of Course • Two – three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) • Avoid using the course description from the syllabus

Ful

ame of Course Bullet #1 Bullet #2 Full N • • 05/20XX-08/20XX

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

City, State

, Name of Employer

Position Title • Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %) • All bullets should be results - oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?) • Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on 12/20XX-04/20XX 09/20XX-12/20XX Present 09/20XX- Present 01/20XX- Present 09/20XX-

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:

ate City, St

, Name of Employer

Position Title • Bullet # 1 • Bullet #2 • Bullet #3 City, State

, Name of Employer

Position Title • Bullet # 1 • Bullet #2

ACTIVITIES:

Organization Bullet # 1 Bullet #2 Name of • • Name of Organization • Bullet # 1 • Bullet #2

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

Name of Organization • Bullet # 1 • Bullet #2

COMPUTER SKILLS:

NAME

Email Address ● Phone Number ● Street Address, City, State Zip Code ay M Major, EDUCATION Bentley U niversity , Waltham, M A Candidate for B achelor o f S cience, 20XX GPA: 3.XX Academic H onors: Transfer University, City, State 40 Credit Hours Towards Bachelor of Science GPA: Fall 20XX Spring 20XX

URSEWORK CO RELEVANT

Full Name of Course • Two – three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) • Avoid using the course description from the syllabus Full Name of Course • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2

EXPERIENCE WORK

Name of Employer, City, State June 20XX – August 20XX Position Title • Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) a nd b e quantitative where possible ($, #, %) • All bullets should be results - oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?) • Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on 20XX December – 20XX September

City, State Name of Employer, Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 • Bullet #3 Present – September 20XX Present – September 20XX May 20XX – September 20XX

AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP

Name of Organization Position Held • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 • Bullet #3 Name of Organization Most Recent Position Held ( January 20XX – May 20XX) • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 Older Position Held (September 20XX – December 20XX) • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 Name of Organization Position Held • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2

GE SKILLS COMPUTER AND LANGUA

only include if English is not first language] [ Program 1, Program 2, Program 3, etc. Fluent in [FIRST LANGUAGE] and English

Computer Skills: Language Skills:

TEMPLATE 3

Address: Street City, State ZIP

Name

student@bentley.edu Email:

XXXX - (XXX) XXX Phone: Waltham, MA May 20XX

EDUCATION XX Bentley University Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major • Major GPA: 3. XX ; Cumulative GPA: 3. • Academic Honors: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Name of Emp loyer City, State Position Title June 20XX –August 20XX • Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %) • All bullets should be results - oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?) • Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on City, State –May 20XX

January 20XX active) if indicate Name of Emp loyer Posit ion Title • Bullet #1 • Selected Transaction Experience: - Summary of deal (type, i.e. sale, majority buyout; $ value; type of company;  Bullet #1 to describe YOUR contribution to the deal  Bullet #2 to describe YOUR contribution to the deal City, State December 20XX –20XX September

Name of Employer Posit ion Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 • Bullet #3 City, State August 20XX –June 20XX

Name of Employer Posit ion Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 • Bullet #3 City, State September 20XX - Present City, State 20XX - Present January City, State September 20XX –May 20XX City, State February 20XX

LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Name of Organization Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 • Bullet #3 Name of Organization Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 Name of Organization Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 CASE COMPETITION Name of Competition Captain of 1 st Place Team • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 SKILLS AND INTERESTS Skills: Program 1 | Program 2 | Program 3 | Etc. Interests: Interest 1 | Interest 2 | Interest 3 | Etc.

Phone Number | Email Address | NAME 175 Forest Street, Box #XXXX, Waltham, MA 02452 Waltham, MA May 20XX

EDUCATION

Bentley University Candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major Minor: Major GPA: 3. XX ; Cumulative GPA: 3. XX Academic Honors:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Name of Emp loyer City, State Position Title Summer 20XX • Two or more bullets to describe your role / responsibilities • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating verbs) and be quantitative where possible ($, #, %) • All bullets should be results - oriented (i.e. how did you make an impact? why were you doing this task? for whom?) • Lead with the most impressive tasks, not necessarily the tasks you spent the most time on City, State Summer 20XX City, State Summer 20XX

loyer

Name of Emp Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 • Bullet #3 • Bullet #4 Name of Employer Position Title • Bullet #1 • Bu llet #2 • Bullet #3 • Bullet #4 Fall 20XX

RELEVANT PROJECT

Name of Project • Two –three detailed bullets to describe the key project / course content • All bullets should start with strong action verbs (avoid repeating ver bs) • Avoid using the course description from the syllabus Present - Fall 20XX

EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES LEADERSHIP

Name of Organization • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 Present - Spring 20XX

Name of Organization • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2 List organizations here that you participate in, but are not a significant time commitment

Additional:

Present - Fall 20XX

ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Bentley University Men’s / Women’s XXXX Team Captain (20XX –20XX Season) • Bullet #1 • Bullet #2

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Etc. Etc. | | Program 3 | Interest 3 Skills: Program 1 | Program 2 | Interests: Interest 1 | Interest 2

WRITING YOUR COVER LETTER

Cover letters serve as a bridge between your resume and the specific job to which you are applying. A well-written, organized cover letter helps to introduce your resume and directs the reader to key areas of your experience and background that specifically pertain to the open position. Therefore, there is not a “one size fits all” cover letter. A cover letter is also a reflection of your writing skills, so take time and care to proofread and review your document.

SEND A COVER LETTER WHEN:  Applying through BentleyLink or another online database and

o Following up on a referral  State WHO you are

the employer has requested it  Responding to a job posting via email  Sending a response to a referral from a friend or acquaintance

GUIDELINES

A COVER LETTER SHOULD BE:  Formal, polished, concise and confident  ONE page, grammatically correct, and free of typos  Formatted similarly to your resume (font style / size, margins)  Written in the active voice  Varied in sentence structure –don’t begin all sentences with “I”  Targeted to the needs of the company and requirements of the position  Highlight experiences or academic achievements that

 A way of connecting the job description with your resume and skills

ADDRESS COVER LETTERS TO A SPECIFIC PERSON: If you do not have a contact name:  Investigate the company website and other online resources for contacts and addresses  Call the company and request the name of the person responsible for hiring interns / college graduates in your area  If all efforts fail, use a proper salutation such as “Dear Hiring

Manager” or “Dear Campus Recruiting Team” FOURTH PARAGRAPH –“NEXT STEPS” further discuss your qualifications and potential

ADDITIONAL TIPS

A cover letter is not a repetition of the wording on your resume An effective cover letter is well-rounded; it highlights both the hard skills and soft skills relevant to the position, and is supported by a variety of experiences (academic,

CONTENT

FIRST PARAGRAPH –“WHY THEM?”  State WHY you are writing o Responding to an advertised opening o Inquiring about a possible opening o Year at Bentley University and major / minor  State WHY you are applying to, or are interested in, this employer / position o Find something about the company that speaks to you…but not something generic, such as “your firm is one of the largest, most prominent firms in the industry”

SECOND AND THIRD PARAGRAPHS –“WHY YOU?”  State WHAT qualifications you bring to the position directly relate to the qualifications the employer is seeking  Prove through examples of experiences and activities that you have the key skills for the position –i.e., leadership, communication, problem-solving ability, analytical skills  May close with a summary sentence of your qualifications and a confident statement that you can make a contribution to the organization

 State WHAT you WANT –an interview or opportunity to professional, extracurricular)

opportunities  May reference your enclosed or attached resume  Let the employer know how to reach you  Thank the person and indicate that you look forward to speaking to or meeting with him/her

COVER LETTER CHECKLIST

GENERAL FORMAT

YES YES YES NO NO NO

Is the cover letter one page, single-spaced?

Are top/bottom, left/right margins equal and between 0.5” –1.0”?

Does the font and formatting of your cover letter match the font and formatting of your resume?

Is the header properly formatted (your address, two blank lines, current date, two blank lines, company contact / address)?

Is the cover letter addressed to a specific person (“Dear Mr./ Ms. Last Name”)?

Does the cover letter follow a four paragraph format(introduction, two supporting paragraphs, conclusion)?

CONTENT

REVIEW

Does the cover letter include an appropriate sign off (“Sincerely,” a few blank lines, your full name)? Does the first paragraph state WHY you are writing and WHO you are?

Does the first paragraph include a thoughtful, personalized statement about WHY you are interested in the company / position?

Do the second and third paragraphs highlight skills and accomplishments relevant to the role?

Are the second and third paragraphs well-rounded, i.e., do they include both hard and soft skills, supported by a variety of experiences?

Does the fourth paragraph clearly state what you want?

Does the fourth paragraph let the reader know how to reach you and thank them for their time?

Is the cover letter completely free from spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, and grammatical errors?

Have you met with your Career Coach for a final review?

BUILDING YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE

Employers use social media to targetapplicants and learn more aboutthem. Make sure your social media presence is professional and targeted.

REQUIRED CONTENT

Make sure your LinkedIn profile covers all of the basics.

HEADSHOT  Be sure you are nicely dressed, alone in the photo, in front of HEADLINE  Short, memorable, professional slogan that highlights your skills and accomplishments as well as what you are seeking  “Student at Bentley University” is not a strong headline because it does not promote your unique strengths SUMMARY  Concise, confident statement about your skills, qualifications and goals  Include information about your education and experience and build on your headline EXPERIENCE  Treat this section as you would the Experience section on your resume  Include any job, internship, research or leadership experience that is relevant or significant  Include the names of the organizations, job titles, dates and locations  Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments  HINT: If you have done a great job on your resume and it has been reviewed, copy / paste the bullets directly into LinkedIn –no need to recreate the wheel! EDUCATION  List all of your institutions of higher education, including study abroad and schools transferred from (if applicable)  Include your Degree, Field of study, Dates attended, and

Activities and Societies a non-distracting background SKILLS  Include both hard and soft skills  Research phrases most associated with certain industries and highlight key words  Endorse people you know well or have worked with for their

skills –they may return the favor GROUPS AND COMPANIES OF INTEREST  Join the Bentley University Community LinkedIn Group  Follow companies of interest to learn more about the company, stay up-to-date on company news, find jobs, and

 Approximately 3-6 sentences and written in the first person

review connections at the company

OPTIONAL CONTENT

Take your LinkedIn profile to the next level by including any of the following sections that are applicable

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE  Highlight your passions and how you like to give back  Include the names of the organizations, job titles, dates and locations  Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS • Showcase your expertise with any relevant credentials you have earned

ACCOMPLISHMENTS  Can include Publications, Courses, Projects, Honors &

Awards, Test Scores, Languages, Organizations and more

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  Did you know you can ask your connections to write you a recommendation?

LINKEDIN PROFILE CHECKLIST

IS ALL REQUIRED CONTENT INCLUDED?

YES NO

Appropriate headshot (professional attire, non-distracting background)

Interesting headline, i.e., NOT “Student at Bentley University”

Engaging summary (3-6 sentences highlighting achievements and goals)

Experience (all past and present experience with bulleted descriptions)

Education (Bentley University, Study Abroad University, Degree, Field of study, Dates attended, and Activities and Societies)

Skills (include both hard and soft; endorse as appropriate)

Groups and Companies of Interest (join groups and follow companies relevant to career interests)

IS ALL APPLICABLE OPTIONAL CONTENT INCLUDED?

YES NO

Volunteer Experience (all past and present volunteer experience with bulleted descriptions)

Licenses & Certifications (include any relevant credentials)

Accomplishments (Publications, Courses, Projects, Honors & Awards, Test Scores, Languages, Organizations and more

Additional Information (ask a former manager or colleague for a recommendation!)

REVIEW

YES NO

Is the LinkedIn profile completely free from spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, and grammatical errors?

Have you reviewed the “Profile Strength” indicator to help you identify areas of your profile for improvement?

Have you met with your Career Coach for a final review?

LET RECRUITERS KNOW YOU’RE AVAILABLE!

Go to your LinkedIn dashboard. Click on ‘ME’ > View Profile. Scroll down to ‘Career interests’. Click ON for ‘Let recruiters know you’re open’. Write a ‘Note to recruiters’ (a couple of sentences about what you’re interested in, skills, knowledge, etc.). Complete the rest of the fields: Where are you in your search?, What job titles are you considering?, Where would you like your next job to be located?, What types of jobs are you open to?

WRITING SAMPLE GUIDELINES

Many applications for opportunities that include analysis, research, or direct communication with clients will require a writing sample as part of the initial application package. Consider the following when preparing or sending a writing sample:

Usually 2-3 pages in length.

If you already ha ve a well-written writing example longer than the recommended 2-3 pages, write an abstract for the first page summarizing the hypothesis, main points, and conclusion. Let the reader know the following pages are an excerpt of the same document. Include page numbers, your name, and the title of the paper on each following page.

It’s ideal that the paper combines both a topic of interest to, or relates well with, the employer.

Most importantly, the paper must demonstrate your best writing whether or not the topic relates with the employer.

If you expect to have writing samples as part of the application process, select one or two ahead of time and ask a faculty me mber to review and s uggest improvements. Incorporate the edits and prepare the abstracts ahead of time; this will help you get an application out quickly if meeting a tight deadline.

When considering what writing sample to send, look at the work of the employer. What are the underlying skills most needed in the internship or jo b for which you are applying (critical thinking, research, academic writing, persuasive writing, etc.)? Select a writing sample that best exemplifies the skills the employer is seeking.

Writing samples must not contain confidential information, grammatical errors, or misspellings.

Your writing sample must have been written solely by you. A group project paper is not acceptable and submitting one would be a misrepresentation .

Provide a “roadmap” for your reader. The recruiter is reading a lot of writing samples. At the top of your document, include your name, date yo u wrote the document, why (for what class or project), and what you think it demonstrates about you; no more than three sentences.