The following information will assist you in writing effective resumes and cover letters. A prospective employer
should be able to quickly and easily view your education, work experience, and other essential elements that
help you stand out as a candidate. Resume and cover letter writing is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Meet with a Career Education Coach to receive feedback on your materials. To schedule an appointment,
visit the AYCSS website, call 406-994-4353, or stop by the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success,
located in Strand Union Building 177.
See the end of this guide for resume, cover letter, and references page examples.
Preparing Your Materials
Prospective employers and search committees will look at your documents through the lens of their
organization and position for which you are applying. Your resume and cover letter will be compared to other
individuals who are applying for the same position. Your goal is to create the most competitive application
package that demonstrates your qualifications, knowledge of the organization and position, and why you would
be a good fit. Therefore, it is important you know who and what you are addressing with these documents.
Organization Research & Job Descriptions
Research of an organization is a crucial step in tailoring your documents. Some points to consider as you
prepare:
• How does this position contribute to achieving the mission or goals of the organization?
• What commonalities exist between the position/organization with your current or past work experience?
• What specifically do you like about the organization?
• How does the organization’s work and the position align with your career goals?
• How do your experience, skills, and abilities align with the required qualifications?
Study the position description to determine which skills and qualifications you need to address. This includes
selecting “keywords” from the position description to incorporate into your documents. Including keywords is
also important as some organizations use applicant tracking systems (see below) to determine which resumes
proceed to the next level. If you know someone within the organization, conduct an informational interview, as
they may be able to share details about the organization that you may not find online or through other sources.
Researching the organization in this manner will also help you determine if the position is a good fit.
Applicant Tracking Systems
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software used by organizations to help manage applications during their
hiring process. They are used to evaluate candidate applications and prioritize which ones will be reviewed
first. These systems scan your resume and cover letter before an organization representative sees your
document. As every online job postings use ATS, it is important that you create your documents with the
understanding that a computer will likely read it first. While you may be qualified for a given position, the way
you write and format your documents can play a major role in determining whether you are further considered
for the job after applying. To ensure your resume is ATS-ready, follow these steps:
• Create your resume and cover letter in a blank word processing document. Avoid templates.
• Include keywords and phrases from the job description wherever you are able. DO NOT simply pull
words from the position description and put them in your documents. Integrate them thoughtfully and
strategically with context.
• Format your documents without columns, tables, headers, and footers.
• Use a professional, readable font (e.g. Arial, Times New Roman).
• Do not use images and graphics.
• Upload your resume and cover letter in an acceptable format (e.g., doc, .docx, etc.) PDF may
not be the best format. Follow the instructions listed by the employer to determine the format.
• If you met a recruiter at an event such as a career fair, let them know you are applying. This human
point of reference can help the recruiter identify your application during the screening process.