Resumes
Build a strong resume customized for the specific job field to which you are applying
First, reflect on these questions:
- How will I be using this resume? Who is my target audience, field or occupation? (Internship, job, grad school etc.)
- What are the key characteristics, requirements and skills for this position?
- Have I included these traits, qualifications and/or skills within my resume and cover letter?
- Do I have at least one skill (strong action verb) found within each bullet or phrase describing the position?
- Do my transferable skills pop off the page?
Presentation of Information
- Organize sections based on relevance to the desired field or position description
- Place most relevant information on the top 1/3 of resume
- Demonstrate a clear and consistent pattern all the way through, which is easy to read and concise
- Have balance between the text and white background
- Only use jargon, abbreviations or acronyms if it is understood by all in that field
- Dates should sit on the right-hand side of the page
- Write dates in a consistent manner: 9/23 or Sept. ’23, or September 2023. Do not use seasons like “Fall”, as only people in college write dates in this way
Font:
- Use a sans serif, easy-to-read, font such as Arial, Calibri, Microsoft Sans, or Verdana. The font selected for your resume should match your cover letter.
- Stick between 10-12 for a font size. The name in your heading should be two sizes larger than your selected font size.
Formatting:
- One page is strongly advised, however, more pages OK for grad schools. Bullet points, bolding, italics and/or other highlighting (lines, color, boxes) are used consistently and sparingly. Margins should be between .05 and 1 inch.
- Do NOT include a professional photo on your resume. This is not ATS (applicant tracking system) friendly. You can save this picture for your LinkedIn profile.
- In the present tense, do not use the “ing” form: i.e. “perform” instead of “performing”. Match verb tenses to dates (present tense if current position, past tense if previous position). Eliminate personal pronouns (my, he, she, they, theirs, etc.). Eliminate articles (the, a, an) and periods.
Make sure to:
- Avoid using a template – start with a blank Microsoft Word or Google doc
- Include both paid and unpaid experiences
- Make sure that each phrase or bullet point begins with a strong action verb, using specific key words. Avoid the words “responsible for” or “duties include”
- Have confidence and feel good about your final resume product – it reflects your skills and hard work!
Do I Include?
- An Objective? – Most students will not need an objective section, but it depends on the context. When applying directly to a specific position, an objective is not needed on the resume as your specific objective is to get that job. When attending a networking event like a career fair or conference, then an objective can be helpful to let the reader know your focus or interest area, especially if it is unclear from your previous experience.
- A Profile or Summary of Qualifications Section? – It usually takes many years of experience and expertise to acquire a summary section, therefore most undergraduates will not have one.
- Soft Skills Section? – These should be highlighted within your resume, NOT listed in a “Skills” section. They are much more believable when they are attached to an experience of some kind. Instead of stating “strong communication skills”, show how you used your communication skills under a specific bulleted experience. For example: “Demonstrated clear and direct communication skills to manage, schedule and organize volunteer staff of 18 people”
- Awards/Honors/Scholarships section? – Employers have no idea why you were selected for or received this recognition, so state more than just the title of the scholarship; provide skill-based justification whenever possible. For example: “Received 21st Century Leadership Award for demonstrating initiative and community activism competing against 75 applicants”
- Other People on my Resume? – It may be appropriate in some instances to include the name of your Principal Investigator (PI) if you are in a lab/research/clinical experience. However, make sure that you write about your own specific contributions and the results achieved, and not just the lab’s or your PI’s accomplishments.
- Hobbies/Activities? – Include this if it is a skill-based activity that is connected to your career interests. For example: you are part of the Outing Club with extensive wilderness experience, and you are seeking an environmental conservation position.
- References? – A list of references should be a separate document and not part of the resume itself. Send only upon request. If your resume is less than one full page consider adding the sentence “References Available Upon Request” at the bottom for formatting purposes, to fill up the page. Do not add if you have anything more important to say.
Contact Information
- Located at top of page and does not take up a lot of space (Do NOT put in header/footer)
- Name - 2 font sizes larger than the rest of your resume
- Address – use only one, or none at all
- Phone number – include area code
- Email address should be professional-sounding derivative of your name, does not have to be umass.edu address
- LinkedIn – include if your current profile matches your updated resume (or other professional website)
- Remove automatic hyperlinks on printed version of resume
Education
- Include the degree(s) you are obtaining: Bachelor of Arts or Science, Major(s) and Minor(s)
- List degrees in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
- Include “Relevant Coursework” only if it pertains to the position
- List the future month and year of your graduation (no start date is necessary)
- Include GPA if above 3.0; include major GPA if it is significantly higher
- Include study abroad or domestic exchange, if applicable (may also be In Experience section)
Experience
- List experience by MOST relevant to LEAST, according to your field/career/industry goals
- Specific headings can include: Education, Research/Clinical Experience, Internship Experience, Relevant Experience, Communication Disorders/Kinesiology/Nutrition/Public Health Experience etc.
- Include title of position (Assistant Manager, Intern, etc.)
- List the full name of company/organization/volunteer group
- City and state where company is located (not street address or zip code)
- Dates of positions held (month and year)
- Use bullet points with descriptive action statements, including relevant skills and accomplishments
- Demonstrate results using numbers to quantify experiences (Organized team of 25, Successfully fundraised $2,000)
Skills & What to Consider
Skills
- Highlight specific research, lab, clinical techniques or certifications you utilize(d)
- Include languages and/or advanced computer skills (with level of fluency for each)
What to consider before submitting your resume
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) vs. Resume – If someone asks you for your CV, feel confident in sending them your resume. Technically, CV’s are used in academia and would include every job you have ever had as well as publications, research, teaching, etc. Your resume, however, would include this same information if it was relevant experience.
Note: When applying for positions outside the U.S. you may be asked for a CV for which it is the norm to include a photograph and personal information like height, weight, marital status, social security number etc. Always research the cultural norms of what is expected when applying for positions outside the U.S.
- Email/Online Posting – Review these tips on how to make your resume “internet-ready”: https://www.myperfectresume.com/how-to/career-resources/business Consider the risks associated with posting your personal information online.
- Most job/internship applications have to be submitted online, either through email and/or online through the employer’s website. To make sure the formatting of your document is preserved, send your resume as a pdf file, with your full name in the file name (Skyler Senior resume.pdf)
- Start with a master resume; save it and create as many versions as you need by tailoring them to the relevant position by highlighting experience/research that shows your relevant skills and strengths.
Always connect with the employer who reached out to you through email or mail, thanking them for their interest and time to review/interview/consider your application