Examples
Resume and cover letter examples
See how clear wording helps an employer understand your contribution. Learn from fictional examples, then apply the approach to your own experience.
Fictional examples from the guides
Whole resumes and letters, and shorter worked examples. Each one opens inside the guide that explains it.
- Resume
Junior frontend applicant
A complete starter resume to learn from. From the guide: Entry-level software engineer resume: example and writing guide
See the example - Resume
Requirement-to-evidence checklist
Map each requirement to something you actually did. From the guide: How to tailor your resume to a job description
See the example - Resume
Transferable experience
Explain related experience without claiming equivalence. From the guide: Should you apply if you don’t meet every job requirement?
See the example - Cover letter
Opening lines
Give each paragraph a job. From the guide: How to write a cover letter with no professional experience
See the example - Cover letter
Entry-level support application
A complete first-job cover letter example. From the guide: How to write a cover letter with no professional experience
See the example - Cover letter
Frontend cover letter
A complete letter built around one relevant project. From the guide: How to turn your resume into a tailored cover letter
See the example - Resume
Resume summaries
Resume summary examples: experienced, entry-level, career change and no experience. From the guide: Resume summary examples: how to write a professional summary
See the example - Resume
Student applicant
Resume example for a student with no paid work experience. From the guide: How to write a resume with no work experience
See the example
Before-and-after rewrites
Resume bullet point examples and other lines rewritten to be clearer, each with a note on why it works.
- 1 rewrite
Make project bullets specific
From the guide: Entry-level software engineer resume: example and writing guide
- 3 rewrites
Three rewrites that add clarity rather than facts
From the guide: Resume bullet points: examples, action verbs and writing tips
- 1 rewrite
Change emphasis before adding more content
From the guide: How to tailor your resume to a job description
- 2 rewrites
Before-and-after resume tailoring examples
From the guide: How to tailor your resume to a job description
- 1 rewrite
Add real evidence you left out
From the guide: Should you apply if you don’t meet every job requirement?
- 1 rewrite
Turn a resume bullet into a cover letter paragraph
From the guide: How to turn your resume into a tailored cover letter
- 1 rewrite
What to leave out of a resume summary
From the guide: Resume summary examples: how to write a professional summary
- 1 rewrite
Describe activities as work, honestly
From the guide: How to write a resume with no work experience
- 1 rewrite
Use the posting's words where they describe your work
From the guide: How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Make a vague responsibility specific
Before
Helped with student events.
After
Coordinated volunteer task updates and answered registration questions for student events.
Why it works: The revision names the contribution without inventing a result. Use it only when it describes work you actually did.
Choose experience that relates to the role
A role with customer communication
Examples of explaining information and following up on questions.
A project role
Examples of planning work and coordinating updates. Show your own contribution clearly.
Practical guides and examples
Short, worked examples you can adapt to your own experience.
- Resume
Entry-level software engineer resume: example and writing guide
Write an entry-level software engineer resume using projects, coursework and transferable experience. Includes a fictional example and a review checklist.
- Resume
Resume bullet points: examples, action verbs and writing tips
Turn responsibilities into clear resume bullet points. See three before-and-after examples, evidence prompts and ways to write honestly without metrics.
- Cover letter
How to write a cover letter with no professional experience
Write a first-job cover letter using coursework, volunteering and projects. Includes a fictional complete letter, paragraph prompts and common mistakes.
- Cover letter
How to turn your resume into a tailored cover letter
Turn resume facts into a cover letter that explains fit for one job. Includes a fact-to-paragraph example, a complete fictional letter and a final checklist.
- Resume
Resume summary examples: how to write a professional summary
Write a resume summary that fits the job: a simple formula, fictional examples for experienced, entry-level and career-change resumes, and what to leave out.
- Resume
How to write a resume with no work experience
Write a first resume with no work experience: what to include instead, a section order, a fictional student example and how to describe activities honestly.
- Resume
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Make your resume easy for applicant tracking systems and people to read: headings, file type, layout choices and how to check what an application picked up.
Frequently asked questions
How should I use a resume example?
Use an example to understand structure and wording. Replace sample names, dates and experience with your own facts.
Where can I see more resume and cover letter examples?
Every fictional example and before-and-after rewrite in the guides is linked on this page, and each one opens inside the guide that explains it. Adapt the structure to your own facts.
Can the same example fit every job?
Review the role first. Choose examples and emphasis that relate to the posting while keeping the underlying experience accurate.
Start with your resume
Build from scratch or bring the experience you already have.