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Assignment Overview
Your resume and cover letter are the first impression you make with employers. This assignment helps you practice tailoring your documents to a specific job posting, improving your chances of standing out in real applications.
By the end, you’ll be able to:
Build or upload a resume into the platform.
Align your resume with a job description using rubric and ATS scoring.
Create a professional cover letter that complements your resume.
Step-by-step Instructions
Step 1: Access the Assignment
Log in to your InStage account. Your dashboard will display any assignments you’re enrolled in.
You may also receive an email notification or a direct assignment link from your course.
Step 2: Add or Upload Your Resume
Create New Resume: Build from scratch by filling in each section manually.
Upload Resume: Add an existing file (PDF, Word, Text, RTF, JPEG, PNG). The system will parse your content into editable fields.
💡 Tip: Review parsed content carefully — automated uploads may miss details.
Step 3: Add Job Details
Add Job Details
Depending on your instructor’s setup, you may:
Enter your own target job posting, or
Work with a single locked job posting provided for the class.
You can copy postings from your school’s career site, LinkedIn, or Indeed.
Once entered, click Review Resume.
Step 4: Review Resume Draft
The system generates a formatted draft and provides:
Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Score: Measures how well your resume matches the job description.
Rubric Feedback: Highlights strengths and areas for content improvement.
📊 Be sure to revise your resume until your rubric score meets the minimum percentage required by your instructor (e.g., 75%). Use both ATS and rubric feedback to guide your edits.
Step 5: Edit Resume sections
Use the pencil icon to edit each section.
Feedback appears on the right side, combining rubric and ATS insights.
ATS evaluates role match, keyword use, and formatting against the job description.
Scroll through all sections to review feedback before finalizing.
Step 6: Adjust Resume Settings
At the top of the resume, click Options to:
Switch templates (Classic or Modern)
Adjust line spacing and margins
Use Manage Sections to control which sections appear and their order.
Use Replace Resume if you want to upload a different version or start over.
You can also Download or Share your resume.
Manage resume sections
Replace your resume
Download a copy and share.
Step 7: Create a Cover Letter
Once your resume is ready, click Cover Letter.
Choose to:
Upload an existing cover letter
Create one manually
Use AI Optimize (if enabled) to generate a draft based on your resume
Step 8: Review Cover Letter draft
Edit the three main sections:
Introduction: Who you are + why you’re applying
Body: How your skills/experience match the job
Closing: Enthusiasm + call to action
Use the pencil icon to update sections based on rubric and ATS feedback.
Step 9: Adjust Cover Letter Settings
At the top of the cover letter, click Options to change template, spacing, and margins.
Use Replace Cover Letter if you want to upload a new version or start over.
Step 10: Finalize & Save
Confirm template settings for both resume and cover letter.
Ensure edits are complete and rubric score meets class requirements.
Click Download to save a copy or Share to send a link to your instructor/course portal.
Return to your dashboard to confirm completion.
Step 11: Submit Assignment
Scroll to the bottom of the resume or cover letter and click Submit Assignment.
Once submitted, your documents will be available to your instructor.
Step 12: Further Assignment Edits (Optional)
You may Unsubmit your assignment to make changes until the due date.
After the deadline passes, you can no longer edit or unsubmit.
