From Application to Interview (Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn)

Resume

your story on one page

Purpose of Resume

showcase strengths and accomplishments and earn an interview

Resume Essentials Sections

Education, Experience, Additional

Formatting Matters

clean layout, consistent spacing, easy to skim

Education Section

Include specific college + degree

First Bullet in Education

GPA

Academic Achievements

Include academic achievements / awards

Relevant Activities

Include relevant activities not shown elsewhere

Engineering Resume

include coursework + technical skills

Experience Section

Most important section — where interviewers spend the most time

Focus of Experience Section

Focus on content, impact, and results

Number of Experiences

Include 3-5 experiences, each with 2-4 bullets

Order of Experiences

Reverse chronological order (most recent first)

Engineering Variation in Experience

include projects

ACR Bullet Structure

Action → Context → Result

Action in ACR

start with strong action verb (not "observed" or "helped")

Context in ACR

explain what you did + numbers/quantitative detail

Result in ACR

demonstrate impact/value — most important part

Additional Section

3-5 bullets, short (1-2 lines each)

Content of Additional Section

Can include: Skills (programming, languages), Activities, Interesting facts, Upcoming experience (e.g., "Incoming Summer Analyst ...")

Final Resume Tips

Know your resume word-for-word, Maintain professional tone, Be able to walk through your resume concisely, Never speak negatively about past employers/experiences

Cover Letter

A cover letter is targeted — written for one specific company

Cover Letter Structure

Standard structure: Introduction → Body → Next Steps

Cover Letter Introduction

Include: education, connections to company, understanding of role, thesis of why you add value

Cover Letter Body Paragraph

Highlight one skill, Show actions you took, Explain results, Connect why this matters for that company/role

Cover Letter Next Steps

Reaffirm interest, Provide contact info, Thank them for their time, End on positive/professional note

LinkedIn

LinkedIn = professional profile + connections + networking

Purposes of LinkedIn

Three purposes: exposure, connect, learn

Building LinkedIn Profile

Headshot: business casual, professional, Title: "Student at the University of Michigan" or internship title, About section: short intro to who you are, Experience: internships + clubs that involve real work (align with resume), Education: college above high school; include extracurriculars, Accomplishments: skills, awards, certifications

Viewing / Announcement Settings on LinkedIn

Choose private viewing mode to hide profile views, Turn off updates so connections aren't notified of edits

LinkedIn Final Tips

Connect with people you know (not random strangers), Don't add skills you don't have, Use LinkedIn search to learn about companies and roles

Mentor Etiquette

Ask for time politely, Show up prepared, Lead with goals/agenda, Thank mentors afterward