resume help asu

Résumés & Cover Letters

Write your résumé.

Use your own individual experiences, projects and strengths. Reflect keywords from software and responsibilities listed in the job description in your résumé.

Résumé Example: First-Second Year Student Résumé Example: Software-related majors Résumé Example: Engineering and other majors Résumé Example: Experienced Engineer WATCH Résumé Basics in 10 Minutes Resume & cover letter presentation

Build Your Summary Statement Use Action Verbs Build Your Accomplishment Statements Use the Résumé Checklist for common issues

Get Your Résumé Reviewed

Now that you have written a solid résumé, have it reviewed.

SkillsFirst – Make an account, select your academic level, upload your résumé. It will be reviewed in 2-3 days, peak periods around career fair may take 7-10 days.

Handshake – Make an appointment with a peer career coach. Bring a paper copy to your appointment, not all locations have printers.

The Engineering Career Center does not offer walk-in appointments.

Write Your Cover Letter

Every customized résumé should have a customized cover letter, unless you are at a career fair. Cover Letter Example Evaluate your letter with the Cover Letter Rubric Cover Letter Samples from Job Choices Magazine The Art of Writing Job Letters Search through Decline

Request Letters of Recommendation

Be ready with references and letters of recommendations for jobs, graduate school, and scholarships. Letters of Recommendation request template and tips, including how to ask instructors to be your reference.

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Resources to help enhance your resume, cover letter and references so you can land that interview.

Resume: education.

In applying to your desired position, be sure to include a comprehensive educational history. Learn how to format this critical part of your resume.

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Additional Resources

Resources to highlight your skills and expertise effectively.

Checklist for effective resumes and cover letters

Ensure your resume and cover letter are error-free and highlight your standout skills. Learn how to speak directly to your audience, tailor your resume to your industry, make your resume easily legible and stand out above other candidates.

Writing a successful resume

A successful resume is one that describes your past experience in detail and showcases the contributions you have made in previous roles. The best way of showcasing your experience is by writing accomplishment statements.

Providing professional references

Employers may ask for a list of references when considering you for a position. Before you start your reference list, learn how to identify the best individuals to attest to your skills and how to present those references.

Example resume

Are you looking for guidance in building your resume? Use this template to get started.

View template

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Resume Drives

Accepting applications now through October 16th, 2023 at 11:59PM.

Do you need support making your resume stand out in a competitive job market? Would you like your resume to be shared with employers who are actively hiring? If you answered YES to these questions, we encourage you to submit your resume!

ASU Career Services is hosting online Resume Review Drives via Handshake to collect resumes from students and alumni for an opportunity to include their resumes in a digital resume book. The digital resume book is a collection of resumes that will be shared with employers hiring Sun Devils across business, sales, and finance related jobs and internships. The ASU Career Services team will help you prepare your best resume and then share your resume with employers who are interested in hiring ASU Sun Devils!

You are encouraged to participate in all of the Resume Drives that interest you! Resume Drives are open to all majors.

• Business & Finance Handshake Resume Drive
• Business Administration, General Management, Operations, & Marketing Handshake Resume Drive
• Logistics & Supply Chain Handshake Resume Drive
• Data & Analytics Handshake Resume Drive
• Software Engineering Handshake Resume Drive  

President Crow invites you to join ASU and advance your career.

Writing your resume.

Your resume should tell hiring managers how your skills and experience meet the needs for a potential job. Use these tips and resources to help craft a resume and a cover letter.  

Resume formats

Chronological is a preferred format at ASU and can be used for most positions. It is easy to format, write and read. This format focuses on time and job continuity. Any gaps in your work experience are immediately noticeable. 

Combination uses both chronological and functional elements. This format can tailor skills and abilities to a particular job. Work history with job titles and company names are listed. 

Curriculum vitae is two or more pages primarily used by faculty. It provides specific information about teaching and research experience, including published articles, presentations, awards and affiliations.

Cover letter 

Your cover letter should be written in a natural tone, and the receiver should be: Dear Search Committee. Use an active voice and consider writing from the potential employer's point of view. 

Visit Career and Professional Development Services for additional resources and tips for resumes and cover letters.

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Resume and Application Materials

Creative career services.

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Application Materials

Application materials are your way to show other people that you have the qualifications and desired skills for the opportunity to which you are applying.  Whether it is an internship, job, grad school, grant, artist in residence, freelance gig, or other opportunity, your application materials are typically the first impression you make.

Resume Resources

Use the resources and handouts below to make a successful resume. It is important to tailor your resume to each and every position to which you apply. You will be more successful if you apply to a few positions with stellar resumes for each, rather than applying to many positions with the same unrelated resume.

Starting Out:

• First-year student resume
• Part-time resume
• Transferable Skills
• Writing accomplishment statements
• Resume action verbs
• Checklist for effective resume and cover letters
• Introduction to portfolios
• Tailor your resume
• Job tracking worksheet

Even more resources!

Resume Review

Submit your materials online any time! We review resumes, cover letters, CVs, and other application materials. You will get feedback emailed to you within 5 business days. Please list "Communications and Media" or "Arts, Design, and Performance" as your career interest community. For more precise feedback, please also send us the link to the opportunity to which you are applying. Email your application materials to [email protected] . 

Cover Letters

Cover Letters are an important aspect of an application packet.  Whether you are applying for an internship, job, graduate school, grants, or something else, a cover letter is how you bring a human element to your application packets and showcase anecdotes that work in tandem with your other application materials.

• Sample cover letter

Preparing for an Interview

The point of a resume is not to get a job, it's to land an interview. The point of an interview is not just to get the job, but to make sure it is the right job for you. Prepare for interviews using these resources.

• Types of interview questions
• Prepare your answers
• Practice your virtual interview
• More resources

Grants are another way that independent artists and small arts businesses are able to make money. ASU has many grant writing materials on campus and online for students to use, including certificates offered to grow a student's confidence while learning how to write grant proposals for their future career.  

• Grant Proposal Writing Resources  
• Edson College Hub: Grant Writing Resources  
• Grant Development & Proposal Writing Certificate

ASU also has grant writing courses at various levels for students to learn in-depth about what it takes to draft an effective grant proposal and essay. These can be found within the Class Search  under the keyword 'Grant Writing'.  

Skill Share is an online learning community where people can discover, take, or instruct a class. They supply a variety of resources and videos which could help you develop professional materials and skills related to grant writing. There is a 7-day free trial to give subscribers an opportunity to explore what Skill Share has to offer.

Learngrantwriting.org is a free online learning community with a series of videos and courses. Its mission is to instruct individuals in the fundamentals of writing successful grant proposals.

Career Interest Communities

Your major is just one piece of the puzzle! Click the options below to learn more about each career interest area such as job-lists, upcoming events, industry trends, and more.

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