Resume Guidance & Assistance

Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

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Resume

• Concise, typically one page
• Overview of your:
  • Education
  • Professional work experience
  • Skills and Abilities

Curriculum Vitae

• Latin for "Course of Life"
• They are multiple pages in length
• In depth details about your:
  • Academic history
  • Professional work history
  • Research you have done

Unless the job you are applying for specifically requests a CV or is in an academic field (such as academic faculty, research, graduate assistant, etc.) you will use a resume. CVs are also more commonly used in some other countries. If you're looking at a position and aren't sure which they are asking for, Career Services is happy to help you figure out what to send.

Resume Sections

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Your resume should be a concise overview of your education, professional experience, skills and abilities. Choose your content/sections based on your story - content that will best highlight what you have to offer for the specific role you are applying for.

• Start with your contact info at the top, then add in your sections according to how relevant they are to the job you're applying for - for college students and recent graduates, your skills and education are probably going to be closer to the top, then follow with professional experience and other sections from the list below. You can combine these, mix and arrange them however it works best to tell your story as a professional. 
  • Examples: You could list previous jobs and internships or clinical experience under the 'Professional Experience' section. You could list campus activities/involvement and volunteer work in a section called 'Campus & Community Involvement'. 

Sections/Contents

• Contact Info 
• Professional Summary/Key Qualifications/Key Skills
• Education 
• Skills/Abilities/Technical Skills
• Certifications/Licenses 
• Professional Experience/Work History
• Internships
• Clinical Training/Experience
• Training/Relevant Coursework
• Campus Activities/Athletics 
• Community Involvement/Volunteer Work
• Accomplishments/Awards
• Professional Organizations/Memberships

Tips For a Better Resume

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• Customize – Make sure you are highlighting why you would be good for a specific position
  • Using keywords from the job description equals making it through online applicant tracking systems
  • Don’t be afraid to try new or creative formatting. Just make sure that it is organized and easy to follow
  • Professional Experience isn't just work history – it can also include internships, clinical's, student employment, volunteering, or anything else where you are gaining relevant experience
• Highlight – Emphasize what you want them to see first – degrees, skills, etc. 
• Make sections stand out
  • Be consistent in format & content by using matching spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalization for emphasis
• Quantify – Use numbers to describe achievements, workload, etc.
• Use professional language for the industry/field
• Be consistent – In formatting, as well as between resume, cover letter and application
• Pay attention to tense – Use present tense for current positions, past tense for former
• Proofread – Have numerous people proofread to check for spelling, grammar, or other errors
• Convert into PDF format – Save as a PDF before you email/upload to an employer

Things to Avoid

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• Using slang or abbreviations that aren't part of the industry/field/company
• Including a picture, your birthday, age or gender - many companies may discard your resume if any of these are included due to anti-discrimination policies
• Listing references on resume – this will be a separate document
• Using first person format (using “I” in your descriptions/bullet points)
• Misrepresenting your background, skills, etc.
• Using the same resume for every job application

Other Resources

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• Why use Action Verbs (with examples)
• More Action Verbs
• How to Highlight Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills on your Resume and Cover Letter – from ResumeGenius.com