Guides

Résumé and cover letter guides

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Plain, practical advice for writing a résumé and cover letter that get read, by the software that scans them first and the person who reads them next. Like everything here, the guidance is honest: present your real experience well, never invent it.

How to write an ATS-friendly résumé

Format a résumé that applicant tracking systems can read: clean single-column layout, the right sections, honest keyword matching, and a checklist.

How to write a résumé with no work experience

Build a strong first résumé from school, projects, volunteering, and transferable skills, honestly, without inventing jobs you have not held.

How to write a cover letter

What to include, how long it should be, how to open it, and how to tailor it to a job, plus handling a gap or a career change.

Résumé examples for different situations

Real example résumés and cover letters (general, job-tailored, senior leadership, and a career-changer with an honest gap), and what to notice in each.

Want to see the real output instead? Read the sample résumés and cover letters, or build a profile from a few questions.