You have 20 seconds to grab the attention of an employer with your resume. It is important to clearly and concisely demonstrate your unique knowledge, skills, and abilities. Your resume or CV (Curriculum Vitae) is what gives a potential employer a quick, concise, and information-rich picture of your skills and experience as they apply to the particular position for which you are applying.
New to creating effective resumes? Here are a few tips to get started:
- Begin with a “Everything and the Kitchen Sink” Document outlining all of your experiences and skills. This document can be as long as you need to capture all of your experiences.
- Think about accomplishments and contributions, not just job responsibilities. Write action statements that reflect what you did, how you did and why it was important for each experience.
- Edit and refine your document to one page to target specific positions. For most undergraduates or recent college graduates, a resume will be one page (two at the very most). In the U.S., a CV tends to be longer, covers more categories and is more appropriate when applying for academic positions. Internationally, sometimes the terms resume and CV are used interchangeably. Make sure to read your job, fellowship, or internship description carefully to see what length of document they are requesting.
- Review your documents more than once with help from Career Center. Remember: Your resume is the best reflection of you and your skills so spend some time re-editing and getting critical feedback!
Career Center Building a Resume Resource >
Your application materials tell your story and highlight what you bring to an opportunity. Explore resources to help you create strong resumes, tailored cover letters, and CVs that effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining a draft, you’ll find examples, tips, and guidance to help you present yourself with clarity and confidence.
