Writing a Resume & Cover Letter
Create professional application documents that get you noticed and land you an interview.
Resume Structure
A resume (also called a CV in some contexts) is a document that summarises your skills, experience, and education. For a student, it should be one page, cleanly formatted, and tailored to the role you are applying for.
Jordan Lee
[email protected] | 0412 345 678 | Melbourne, VIC
Riverside Secondary College — Year 10 (Expected graduation: 2027)
Subjects: English, Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Business Studies
Volunteer Library Assistant — Riverside Public Library (Jan–Jun 2025)
- • Organised shelving system for 200+ new arrivals
- • Assisted visitors with borrowing and returns
- • Managed the children's reading corner during school holidays
Customer service | Microsoft Office | Teamwork | Time management | Cash handling
Available upon request
Contact
Education
Experience
Skills
References
Resume Formatting Rules
Do
- ✓ Keep it to one page
- ✓ Use a clean, professional font (Arial, Calibri, Inter)
- ✓ Use consistent formatting (same font sizes, spacing)
- ✓ Use bullet points for experience
- ✓ Include dates for all experience
- ✓ Proofread for spelling and grammar
Do Not
- ✗ Use fancy fonts, colours, or graphics (unless creative field)
- ✗ Include your age, photo, or religion
- ✗ Write long paragraphs instead of bullet points
- ✗ Lie or exaggerate your experience
- ✗ Use an unprofessional email address
- ✗ Leave typos — they are an instant rejection
Power Up with Action Verbs
Start each bullet point with a strong action verb that shows what you did. This makes your experience sound more impressive and professional.
Weak Phrasing
- • "Was in charge of the cash register"
- • "Helped with stacking shelves"
- • "Was responsible for emails"
- • "Did some social media stuff"
Strong Action Verbs
- • "Managed the cash register during peak hours"
- • "Organised and restocked 500+ items weekly"
- • "Coordinated email correspondence with 20+ clients"
- • "Created social media content reaching 2,000+ followers"
Action Verb Toolkit:
The Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page letter that accompanies your resume. While the resume lists your experience, the cover letter tells the story of why you are right for this specific role.
Why This Job?
Show you have researched the role and explain what excites you about it. Be specific — not generic.
Why You?
Connect your skills and experience to what the role needs. Use specific examples that prove your claims.
Call to Action
End by expressing enthusiasm and availability. Invite them to contact you for an interview.
Annotated Example Cover Letter:
Dear Ms Chen,
I am writing to apply for the Retail Assistant position advertised at Greenfield Books. As an avid reader and someone who loves helping others find their next great book, I was excited to see this opportunity.
Paragraph 1: Why this job — specific to the company, shows genuine interest.
Through my volunteer work at Riverside Public Library, I developed strong customer service skills, including helping visitors locate books, processing returns, and managing the children's reading corner during busy school holiday periods. I am comfortable working independently and as part of a team, and I take pride in being reliable and punctual.
Paragraph 2: Why you — connects real experience to what the job needs.
I would love the opportunity to bring my enthusiasm for books and my customer service experience to the Greenfield Books team. I am available to start immediately and can work after school and on weekends. I look forward to hearing from you.
Paragraph 3: Call to action — enthusiasm, availability, invites next step.
Kind regards,
Jordan Lee
Tailoring Your Application
The biggest mistake applicants make is sending the same generic resume and cover letter to every job. Tailoring means adjusting your application to match each specific role.
How to Tailor Your Application:
Key Vocabulary
Resume / CV
A document summarising your education, experience, skills, and references.
Cover Letter
A letter explaining why you are applying and why you are suited to a specific role.
Action Verb
A strong verb that begins a bullet point (e.g., "managed," "created," "organised").
Tailoring
Customising your resume and cover letter to match the specific requirements of each job.
Referee
A person who can vouch for your character and work ethic (e.g., teacher, employer, coach).
Call to Action
A closing statement that invites the employer to take the next step (e.g., scheduling an interview).
Worked Examples
See the difference between weak and strong application writing.
Example 1: Resume Bullet Points
- • "Helped out at the school canteen"
- • "Did some filing"
- • "Was in charge of the social media"
Vague, passive, no measurable detail, no action verbs.
- • "Served 50+ students daily at the school canteen during lunch service"
- • "Organised and maintained a digital filing system for 200+ client records"
- • "Managed the school Instagram account, growing followers from 300 to 800 in 6 months"
Starts with action verbs, includes specific numbers, shows impact.
Example 2: Cover Letter Opening
"To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to apply for the job you advertised. I think I would be good at it."
No specific company or role name, no enthusiasm, vague claim.
"Dear Ms Nguyen, I am excited to apply for the Weekend Crew Member position at Bay Burger. I have been a loyal customer for years, and I would love to join the team that creates such a welcoming atmosphere."
Names the hiring manager, specifies the role, shows genuine connection to the company.
Example 3: Email Address
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of resumes and cover letters. Select the correct answer and click "Check Answer".
Question 1
Which resume bullet point is the strongest?
Question 2
What are the three key paragraphs in a cover letter?
Question 3
What does "tailoring" your application mean?
Question 4
Which of the following is an appropriate email address for a job application?
Question 5
Which cover letter opening is most effective for a cafe barista position?
Key Concepts Summary
- ● A resume has five sections: contact details, education, experience, skills, and references.
- ● Keep it one page, cleanly formatted, with action verbs and specific numbers.
- ● A cover letter tells the story: why this job, why you, and a call to action.
- ● Tailor every application to the specific role — never send a generic copy.
- ● Use a professional email address and proofread everything before sending.