Let VAL help you write your best resume and cover letter

Forty percent of students visiting the Job Shop seek help with crafting and improving resumes and cover letters. This article offers a step-by-step guide using RMIT's virtual assistant, VAL, for first-time applicants.

Students struggle with confidence when creating resumes and cover letters due to a lack of experience and uncertainty about employer priorities. Additionally, they often find it challenging to organise their information clearly, which can hinder their ability to effectively showcase their qualifications.

First and foremost, you should familiarise yourself with the job description and compile relevant resume and cover letter keywords along with their experiences to emphasise in your applications. You can explore how to Decode a job description with VAL here and have a set of important keywords to include in your applications.

Structuring your resumé and cover letter

Begin by understanding how to structure your resumes and cover letters. Here are some helpful prompts:

Prompt for Resume structure: "What is the most current resume structure for a [position]? What is the best format for a cover letter for the same role?"
If you haven't created a Resume or Cover Letter yet: "Help me draft a resume/cover letter for the [position], focusing on my skills in [specific skills] and my experience with [specific experiences]. Include relevant keywords as we discussed earlier."
If you have an existing Resume: "Help me enhance this resume/cover letter for the [position]. Ensure it includes the keywords we identified previously."

Once you have your preferred structure, start crafting your application using your own experience. With the important keywords identified, you can choose those that are relevant to you and include them in your tailored applications.

Emphasising measurable value

Including measurable achievements for each experience or work-integrated learning course is vital. This demonstrates your impact, enhances credibility, and facilitates comparisons with other candidates. Metrics can showcase your skills and accomplishments concretely, making your resume more persuasive and eye-catching. By highlighting specific achievements with numbers, you can significantly strengthen your resume and improve your chances of securing an interview.

Prompt for identifying quantifiable metrics: "Identify areas where I should add quantifiable metrics to enhance my resume/cover letter for a [position]."

Incorporating industry-specific keywords

Finally, remember to integrate industry-specific keywords to ensure your application passes automated filters. These keywords show that you understand the industry and the specific role, making your application more relevant to hiring managers.

Prompt for adding industry-specific keywords: "Can you add industry-specific keywords to my resume for a [position] to optimise it for Applicant Tracking System?"

Need assistance?

If you need help crafting or improving your application, feel free to reach out to the Job Shop for further assistance. Visit us:

SGS Campus: Room 1.1.033
Hanoi Campus: Room 1.5A.024
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

Or contact us via Teams: job.shop@rmit.edu.vn

This article is part of a series from the Careers & Industry Relations team designed to assist students, particularly those applying for part-time jobs for the first time using VAL.

Stay tuned for upcoming content!

Contributors: Van Pham, Tu Cao

06 June 2025

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Let VAL help you write your best resume and cover letter