Resumes and Cover Letters - Create a Strong Resume - Harvard Office of Career Services

Sep 13, 2026

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Resumes and cover letters guidance for job and internship seekers, focused on creating a strong resume that clearly summarizes abilities, education, and experience while improving interview opportunities. The material instructs tailoring resumes to target positions, using specific active language, and presenting information in a format that is easy to scan. It highlights top resume mistakes, do/don’t rules, international planning considerations, and provides action verbs organized by skill area to strengthen wording.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Create a Strong Resume

Tailor Your Resume to the Position

Top 5 Resume Mistakes

Resume Language Guidelines

Resume Tips

Action Verbs for Your Resume

Leadership

Communication

Research

Technical

Teaching

Quantitative

Creative

Helping

Organizational

RESUMES & COVER LETTERS Undergraduate Resource Series Office of Career Services | 54 Dunster Street Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | 617.495.2595 [www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu](www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu) OCS © 2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Office of Career Services. 08/14 Office of Career Services Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: (617) 495-2595 [www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu](www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu) RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS Create a Strong Resume Aresume of your is a brief, informative summary abilities, education, and experi- ence. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. Although it alone will not get you a job or internship, a good resume is an important element toward obtaining an interview. Tailor your resume to the type of position you are seeking. This does not mean that all of your work history must relate directly, but your resume should reflect the kind of skills the employer would value. Find additional guidance on resumes and cover letters, as well as resume samples, on the OCS website. NEED HELP? • Build a strong resume using the new template on the OCS website. • Attend a Resume Workshop. Learn the nuts and bolts of getting started. See the OCS website for dates. • View the OCS Online Resume Workshop. See the OCS website. • Come to drop-ins. Monday-Friday, 1:00-4:00pm—get any career question answered and have an adviser look at your resume. • Look for industry specific resume review clinics. Listed on the On-Campus Interviewing Calendar. TOP 5 RESUME MISTAKES: 1. Spelling and grammar errors 2. Missing email and phone information 3. Using passive language instead of “action” words 4. Not well organized, concise, or easy to skim 5. Too long RESUME LANGUAGE SHOULD BE: • Specific rather than general • Active rather than passive • Written to express not impress • Articulate rather than“flowery” • Fact-based (quantify and qualify) • Written for people who scan quickly DON’T: • Use personal pronouns (such as I) • Abbreviate • Use a narrative style • Number or letter categories • Use slang or colloquialisms • Include a picture • Include age or sex • List references • Start each line with a date RESUME TIPS PLANTO WORK INTERNATIONALLY? Resume guidelines can vary from country to country. Check out Going Global at [http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/internships.htm](http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/internships.htm) DO: • Be consistent in format and content • Make it easy to read and follow, balancing whitespace • Use consistent spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalization for emphasis • List headings (such as Experience) in order of importance • Within headings, list information in reverse chronological order (most recent first) • Avoid information gaps such as a missing summer • Be sure that your formatting translated properly if converted to a .pdf RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS Action Verbs for your Resume LEADERSHIP Accomplished Achieved Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Consolidated Contracted Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Earned Evaluated Executed Handled Headed Impacted Improved Increased Led Mastered Orchestrated Organized Oversaw Planned Predicted Prioritized Produced Proved Recommended Regulated Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Surpassed COMMUNICATION Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Collaborated Convinced Corresponded Delivered Developed Directed Documented Drafted Edited Energized Enlisted Formulated Influenced Interpreted Lectured Liaised Mediated Moderated Negotiated Persu

FAQs

What makes a resume strong for internship or job applications?

A strong resume is a brief, informative summary of abilities, education, and experience that highlights the strongest assets and differentiates the candidate. It is also an important element for obtaining an interview even though it does not guarantee employment by itself.

Which are the top resume mistakes to avoid?

Common mistakes include spelling and grammar errors, missing email and phone information, using passive language instead of action words, poor organization or not being easy to skim, and making the resume too long.

What resume language should be used and what should be avoided?

Use specific, active, fact-based wording written to be scanned quickly, and avoid personal pronouns, abbreviations, narrative style, categories by numbers/letters, slang, pictures, age/sex, references, or starting each line with a date.

Sep 13, 2026

Upload by Sarah