Resume Tips

What Makes a Strong Resume

A resume is a document that provides a summary of a person's education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. It is typically used as part of a job application to showcase an individual's qualifications and suitability for a specific role. Answering yes to the following questions can assure you have a strong resume:

• Is the purpose of your resume clear?
• Are the needs of the employer addressed?
• Are the necessary skills and experience noted in appropriate sections?
• Have you tailored your resume to the specific job you are applying for

What Sections to Include on Your Resume

Included are sample sections (organized by categories) you might consider including on your resume. If you are missing content for a specific section which you feel is important for your industry, this is a Career Development opportunity for you to set a goal to develop that specific skill set. Remember, not all section headers are required for all resumes. Select the ones which are most relevant to your industry.

Summary of Qualifications

Career Profile

• A brief overview of your career goals and qualifications

Education

• List your educational background

Licenses

Certifications

Workshops

Conferences

• Include any certifications or professional training completed
• LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, etc. 

Technical Skills

Computer Skills

Specialized Skills

Language Proficiencies

• Highlight your skill set and competencies

Projects

• Showcase any significant projects you have worked on 

Professional Experience

Related Experience

Other Experience

• Detail of your work experience
• Related Work Experience - Include bullets
• Other Experience - No bullets needed

Volunteer Experience

Community Involvement

• Include any certifications or professional trainings 

Achievements

Honors

Awards

• Highlight any awards or recognitions
  

What Employers are Looking For

When creating a resume, it is important to include keywords such as skills employers are looking for. This assists in demonstrating your qualifications to potential employers.

Resources to locate skills related to the position you are applying for include:

• Job Descriptions of related positions
• Occupational Outlook Handbook

Top 10 skills employers are seeking include:

• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Technical skills
• Analytical skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Adaptability
• Time Management
• Attention to detail
• Organizational skills
  

Resume Header

This is where you can get creative, think about different font sizes and shapes, different colors, etc.

Always include:

• Name: Your name should be larger than your contact information and your resume content
• Contact Info: has to include phone number and email address 

Additional items you can include:

• Physical address
• LinkedIn customized URL
• Link to online portfolio

Examples of Resume Headers

Resumes for Application Tracking Systems

Job seekers need to be aware of the following key points about resume application tracking systems (ATS):

1. Keyword optimization: ATS scan resumes for specific keywords and phrases relevant to the job description. It is crucial to tailor your resume to include these keywords to increase your chances of passing through the initial screening.
2. Formatting considerations: Some ATS have difficulty parsing certain resume formats such as tables, images, or fancy fonts. Using a simple and clean format with standard headings and bullet points can help ensure that the ATS can read and parse your resume accurately.
3. File format: ATS may have preferences for specific file formats, such as .docx or .pdf. It is advisable to follow the instructions provided by the employer regarding the preferred file format to avoid any compatibility issues.
4. Section organization: Clearly label and organize sections in your resume, such as work experience, education, and skills. This helps the ATS categorize and process the information correctly.
5. Avoid excessive formatting: While it is important to make your resume visually appealing, excessive formatting like text boxes, headers, footers, or graphics can confuse the ATS and lead to information being overlooked or misinterpreted.
6. Keywords in context: Don't just include keywords randomly; ensure they are incorporated naturally within the context of your resume. ATS algorithms are becoming more sophisticated and can detect keyword stuffing.

This free resume template will help you write an ATS-friendly resume. But how do you know what the hiring manager is looking for? What skills and experience should you list to show you’re the best candidate?

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Remember, while optimizing your resume for ATS is important, it is equally essential to create a well-crafted and tailored resume for human readers. Finding the right balance is key to impressing both the ATS and the hiring manager. It is strongly recommended that you create 3 resumes, an ATS resume, a Human resume to pass out, and an Academic Resume.

When starting the development of your resume, include all related and non related information. This will be your “master” resume which is also considered your Academic resume. Including higher level academic courses with course descriptions is a good idea for your Academic resume. This resume can be as many pages as you need to demonstrate your complete background.