Remember that the DropBox has written guides and examples for both cover letters and resumes.
Cover Letter
goal
to entice the reader to a. look at your resume and b. call you for an interview
include
a sense of your personality
language (diction, syntax) that feels natural to you - try to write in your own voice
concrete, tangible facts - achievements are more useful than nebulous task lists (example: "I capably assisted 60+ customers per 5 hour shift" is more meaningful than "I worked in a fast-paced environment")
language appropriate for the position you want (example: are you a leader, a supervisor, a manager, an educator?)
jargon ie language used in your field (but only if you can use it comfortably, confidently, and correctly!)
humility about your achievements
specific details about your work/volunteer history
specific details about your education and certifications
your RELEVANT interests (example: if you are going to work with children, your background in painting or piano may be an asset when leading creative lessons) - remember to briefly explain ("pitch") the interest as useful
why you'll be good at this position specifically (example: if you are going to be an accountant, you may want to talk about accuracy and computer literacy; if you are going to be a social worker, you might talk about your ability to diffuse conflict)
your familiarity with the company, if true
your philosophy as a professional in your field, if relevant
ways you will contribute in your specific role (example: as your instructor, I don't contribute to administrative or financial goals for the college, but I do contribute to individual student success, the college's GPA, and the reputation of our graduates)
why you want this role specifically instead of a different job - focus on the daily experience and the desired outcomes
availability
explanation of gaps in employment/education (example: "Returning to work after raising my two children, I am pursuing the job I always wanted" or "My background in nursing and passion for literacy lead me to pivot career paths into Education Assistance")
exclude
abstractions
businessy language if you aren't going for a business/admin position
obvious or nebulous job responsibilities
irrelevant personal background
irrelevant professional history
pompous self compliments
boring, rote phrases
template language
Resume
goal
to provide an easily legible fact sheet about your professional experience, education, and qualifications
include
the basic facts of experiences mentioned in the cover letter
the basic facts are: position/level of study; subject of study; company/institution/school; location; dates
all relevant work experiences, including volunteer
all relevant education including certificates and workshops
your MOST IMPRESSIVE stats only - you don't want to exclude yourself
GPA if over 3.8 (or if required)
typing speed average if over 55WPM - check the typing speeds standard for your industry
specific software literacy (example: Sage, Quickbooks, Word, Excel, PhotoShop...)
languages in which you are fluent - can specify spoken vs written - can include computer languages
your graduation dates - if you are still a student, put the projected date so recruiters know you aren't planning on being a student for years
achievements and awards
exclude
your references - put them on a separate page
your high school education - if you have been graduated for over 10 years and/or have postsecondary education to list, it is assumed you graduated high school