RESUMES
What is a resume and why do I need it?
A resume presents to an employer a summary of your relevant educational credentials, experience, skills, and extracurricular involvement. In many situations, your resume is the first impression an employer has of you. You want to make sure it is the strongest statement possible of your assets and reflects the “true” you.
Employers spend a short time reviewing the resume of a potential candidate. It is essential that you have a well formatted, descriptive document that highlights what you offer the employer. Your goal is to advance to the next step in the job search process, which is usually the interview!
Quick tips when writing a resume
- As you begin to apply to different job positions, consider changing the sequence of information on your resume to emphasize particular job experiences, skills, or educational/research experience that match the position sought.
- Avoid using computerized templates for your resume because they typically do not produce the best resume formats.
- Typically, your resume should not exceed 1-page in length. There are particular industries and job targets that would allow for more. Check with a Career Team member for more information.
- In relation to font sizes and types, Times New Roman, Arial, Palatino, and Century Gothic (10-12 point) are common fonts. Margins should be approximately one inch on all sides.
- Check carefully for correct grammar and punctuation. Spelling errors are unacceptable! Always ask 2 – 3 people to review your resume for grammatical or punctuation errors before you send it off to an employer.
- The average resume requires 4-5 drafts before reaching a satisfactory version. Edit each draft to improve word choice, emphasize relevant experience, and reduce redundancy. Update your resume frequently as you continue to obtain new employment experiences, leadership positions, skills, certifications, and extracurricular activities.
- Print out the final draft on white or ivory resume paper using a laser printer.
What is the resume approval process in Hire-a-Niner?
In an effort to maintain positive relationships with our employers and help you present yourself professionally, we require each student to have their first-resume approved before it can be used for applying for jobs. The first time you upload your resume into Hire-A-Niner, your resume will be held for review by our staff, based on the criteria in our Resume Checklist. Resume review typically takes 1-2 business days. Once your resume is reviewed, you will receive an email letting you know whether or not it has been approved. If changes are needed, you will receive individual feedback about your resume. If you have questions about the feedback you receive, you're welcome to come in for our drop-in hours to get your resume reviewed in-person and ask questions. Please review the Resume Approval Checklist carefully before submitting your resume.
curriculum vitae
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is similar to a resume - both are utilized as marketing tools to showcase your skills, experiences, knowledge, etc. A CV is more focused on presenting your full academic history and scholarly potential. It can be multiple pages, and the target audience is fellow academics in your field of study.
When to use a CV (Instead of Resume)
- Use a CV when applying to academic, scientific, or research positions. Also, some graduate and professional programs will request a CV instead of a resume.
- Use a CV for grant, fellowship and scholarship applications. Finally, a CV can be used for Departmental or Tenure reviews