Be Prepared

Ready-to-use templates for your resume and cover letter. Download, fill in your own details, and you're ready to apply.

Cover Letter Template

A four-paragraph structure (motivation, relevant experience, additional value, closing) plus a quick checklist, so you know what to say and how to say it.

Download the Cover Letter Template →

Resume Samples, All Programs

One document, eight programs. Each sample starts on its own page: General, Sciences, Arts and Design, Arts Administration, Performing Arts, Business, Nursing, and Education. Pick whichever format reads better for your field.

Bullet-Point Format

Every program's experience section written as short, scannable bullets.

Download Bullet-Point Samples →

Paragraph Format

The same seven programs, with experience written in short narrative paragraphs instead of bullets.

Download Paragraph Samples →

How to Read Your Resume

Resume ATS Check

Will your resume make it past the screening software?

Upload your resume as a PDF and our checker will scan it the way an employer's applicant tracking system (ATS) does, flagging formatting or layout issues before you hit submit on a real application.

Check My Resume →

Don't have a resume yet, or need to update one?

Use Hiration, Wagner's resume-building platform. It walks you through building a resume section by section with built-in, real-time feedback on your wording, formatting, and ATS-friendliness, so you can fix issues as you go instead of guessing.

Build My Resume in Hiration →

Writing Tips

Resume

Keep it to one page.
Start every bullet with a strong action verb: Led, Built, Analyzed, Coordinated.
Quantify results wherever you can (numbers, percentages, scale).
Skip personal pronouns; each line is a phrase, not a full sentence.
Tailor your resume to each position; mirror language from the job description.
List experience in reverse-chronological order (most recent first).
Keep formatting consistent: one font, consistent spacing and headers throughout.
Proofread closely. A typo undercuts your credibility fast.
Save and send as a PDF unless a Word doc is specifically requested, so formatting doesn't shift.

Cover Letter

Address your letter to a specific person whenever you can.
Tailor each letter to the specific role or organization; research before you write.
Keep it concise and factual, no more than a single page. Skip the flowery language.
Back up your skills and qualifications with real examples.
Put yourself in the reader's shoes. What would convince them you're ready?
Don't overuse the pronoun “I.”
Remember this is a marketing tool, so use strong action words.
Have a Career Planning & Development advisor review it before you send it.
Echo language from the job description and draw direct lines to your experience.
Use the same font and size as your resume.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can measure or demonstrate, often tied to a tool, technique, or certification. Soft skills are how you work with people and handle situations. They're harder to quantify, but just as important to employers. A strong resume includes both.

Hard Skills

Examples:

Data analysis & statistical software (Excel, Python, R, SPSS)
Laboratory techniques (PCR, micropipetting, titration)
Foreign language proficiency
Graphic design or video editing software
Coding & programming languages
Bookkeeping & financial reporting
Certifications (CPR, Adobe, project management)
Technical or grant writing

Soft Skills