Four tips to improve your resume and stand out as an A&S student
Creating a concise resume that effectively shares your skills can grab a hiring manager's attention and display your strengths. Many companies use automated systems to filter resumes when looking for strong candidates. Additionally, hiring managers spend only about 30 seconds scanning a resume,听and a strongly tailored resume will help you rise to the top and make it past the automated systems.
Below are a few ideas to consider when building your resume.听
Tailor your resume
To make it to the top of the pile, you need to quickly convey that you are qualified for the position.听
It is important to tailor each resume to the job you are applying for. As you tailor your resume for each job application, take note of the words used in the job description. Adjust your resume to use the same words and phrases as you write about your skills, experiences and qualifications.听
When possible, use action words in your resume. Start each bullet point with verbs that highlight your skills. Here is a list of action verbs to use as you build your tailored document.听
Include transferable skills you want to showcase.
Certain skills are relevant to any job in any industry and will allow you to make a valuable impact throughout your life in any context. All employers are seeking individuals who exemplify these skills, regardless of level or industry.
Below are Ten Foundational Skills (and subsequent action verbs that can be commonly used to describe them) you should consider highlighting in your resume.听
Communication (Communicated, Adapted).
Creativity and Innovation (Designed, Modified).
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (Formulated, Reviewed).
Career and Self Development (Resolved, Planned).
Equity and Inclusion (Collaborated, Demonstrated).
Integrity and Responsibility (Represented, Adapted).
Leadership (Coordinated, Led).
Leveraging Data (Calculated, Analyzed).
Teamwork (Contributed, Supported).
Technology (Developed, Utilized).
The way you highlight these skills can look different based on your industry听and the job posting, but including tangible examples will strengthen your resume. If you are having difficulty deciding what skills you want to include, refer to what the job posting is asking for and align your bullet points.听
If you are struggling with identifying skills, view our Skills for Success page, which is a program that helps you connect experiences to tangible skills.听
Keep it short and听proofread
A resume should be easy to read and the content should fit on one page. Be concise when writing out your qualifications. Sentences should not exceed twenty听words, and avoid using first-person pronouns (I, me, my) and articles (the, an, a).听
For example, instead of saying, 鈥淚 assisted customers with answering their questions and resolving their complaints,鈥 you can say, 鈥淎ssisted customers with answering questions and resolving complaints.鈥
Typos and mistakes in your resume can influence the employer鈥檚 overall perception of you as a candidate. Go through your resume multiple times and check for errors. Reading it out loud or backward can help you discover typos. It also doesn鈥檛 hurt to have a friend or Career Services team member help with a final read-through.
Use VMock
VMock is a free online resume-review tool that can provide you tips for improving your resume. Create an account, upload your resume and get instant feedback for making edits. Additionally, VMOCK will help prepare your resume to pass automated systems that look for formatting errors.
VMock uses data science, machine learning and natural language processing to provide personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices. And it鈥檚 designed to work with resumes from many different fields across various industries.听
For more tips, check out programs and workshops from Career Services. These free workshops will share best practices for resumes, making progress in your job search and more.
Have your updated resume ready to go for the STEM and All Industries Virtual Career & Internship Fair on Wednesday, March 1, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.