THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS WILL ASSIST YOU IN PREPARING YOUR RESUME:

Why have a resume?: Your resume is your greatest tool in acquiring an interview. Everyone needs a powerful resume to serve 2 main purposes:

• To present a snapshot of your skills, abilities, experience, and knowledge.
• To help you get an interview.

Style
The three styles of resumes are chronological, functional and a combination of the two. The chronological resume lists jobs and duties sequentially beginning with the current or most recent position. This style focuses on your growth in a specific profession. The functional resume emphasizes professional skills. The combination of the two styles incorporates the strengths of both the chronological and the functional. Your resume should be short, easy to read, and use words that are familiar to the reader. The goal is to show off your achievements and minimize any weaknesses.

Length.
You are encouraged to limit your resume to one page. While you can have a primary copy of your resume that's longer, limiting your content to one-page help you highlight the most relevant information. Certainly, there are exceptions. A Career Center staff member will be happy to review your resume and help you in this process.

Layouts
When submitting your resume through an online application, it is important to keep formatting clean, neat, and simple. To support this objective, avoid using infographics or color-heavy layouts. In some cases, creative industries might expect your resume and application materials to represent your brand identity. If you are aiming to work in one of these industries, you should have a more creative layout ready to bring to in-person interaction or email directly to a person. A simple layout is still recommended for online applications.

File Types

Whenever possible, it is recommended to submit your resume as a PDF. This will help preserve the formatting you worked so hard to perfect. Occasionally, you may be asked to submit your document as a Word (.doc or .docx) file type. It is important to follow instructions on file formatting to ensure your application is not eliminated from consideration because you did not follow instructions.

Identifying Information.
There is no need to put the word "resume" or words "resume of" at the top of the page. This document is recognizable and will speak for itself. Your name, phone number and e-mail address should be placed at the top of the page. If you choose to list your address and have a school address in addition to another address (family home, etc.), it is advisable to list those addresses where you might be reached. In most cases, listing only the city and state is all that's necessary; a street address is not recommended, especially for resumes that will be posted online. Be sure to update the address or phone number if changes occur.

Objective.
Ideally, a resume will be specifically prepared for each employer and not need an Objective section. Because of this, use care in how you word your "career objective." If you are applying for positions in several different areas, the objective may be omitted from your resume. Education majors should replace "career objective" with "teaching field" because this is what they are certified for and it is not likely to change. To target a particular employer or career field, you may want to prepare individual resumes for the actual interview. Remember, cover letters can be used to serve the purpose of establishing why you are sending a resume and you will be the communicator of this information in the interview itself. For that reason, this section should be brief and targeted.

Education.
Included in this section are undergraduate and graduate degrees earned. Most recent degrees are listed first (reverse chronological order). Include your major and minor if applicable. You may promote your marketable skills by putting other areas of academic emphasis; "15 hours computer science," "8 hours technical writing," etc. If space allows, you might even list some course titles. Grade point averages may be given in this section. Some students give their cumulative GPA or choose major GPA or junior/senior GPA, depending on which represents them most favorably. If you are not using the cumulative GPA, then label the GPA to explain it.

Experience.
This section may include part-time or full-time work. It may also include internships and volunteer experiences. Name, city and state location of the organization, your title or position, and dates worked should be included. Describe your experiences in active, marketable skill-related terms and emphasize accomplishments.

OTHER CATEGORIES:

Extracurricular Activities.
This section may be titled many different ways. Emphasize the name of the organization, leadership roles, accomplishments and dates. Involvement in activities should be presented in such a way to show that you can interact with others, motivate, problem-solve, and achieve goals.

Languages.
State your foreign language skills and accurately indicate your fluency. Foreign studies and/or travel might be appropriately placed here.

Study Abroad.
Study abroad can be listed in its own section or in the Education section. 

Skills.
A skills summary can be a strong section to add at the beginning of your resume, particularly for a generalist or for someone with varied work experience.  Focus on objective, marketable skills for the field you are targeting.

Computer Languages/Literacy.
State your language knowledge and level of ability. For example: basic knowledge, intermediate, advanced, or expert.

Interests.
The addition of a section on personal hobbies can provide the interviewer with helpful information. However, you should rarely delete other, more useful information to allow space for this section.

Personal.
Personal data such as age, sex, weight, place of birth, and pictures were, at one time, a standard listing on the resume. Since the passing of equal employment legislation, this material is usually omitted. Unless you believe this is truly beneficial to the job you are seeking, this information is now considered to have little impact on hiring decisions and is generally omitted. Because relocation and willingness to travel are often a requirement for some career opportunities, the University Career Center suggests that phrases such as "willing to travel," "willing to relocate" or "seek position in Southwest or Texas" be placed near the top of your resume, either in the job objective or profile section or in your cover letter.

References.
At some point during the hiring procedure you will be asked to furnish references. With few exceptions, your references will be contacted regarding your employability.

Though you may have written references in your application, we encourage you to list your references on a separate document. Include each person's name, title, organization, phone number and e-mail address. Only list those persons who have given you permission to do so; then provide information to your references regarding the jobs you are applying to.

When submitting your resume for a specific job application, tailoring your document to the specific position maximizes your chances of landing an interview. In many cases, applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used to eliminate candidates who do not align with the specific job description. For this purpose, AI can be a useful tool to help tailor your materials once they have been developed. Appropriate caution and context should be used when using generative AI. 

Here are some sample prompts to help you get started. These can be entered into an AI tool followed by including your resume bullets and/or the job desciption. Do not include any personal identifiers, such as name or contact information, in your prompts.

• Review my resume content and provide recommendations on how to adjust my bullets to emphasize marketable skills.
• Analyze my resume content and provide recommendations on how to adjust my bullets to align with [INSERT INDUSTRY] internship/full-time position.
• Are there specific buzzwords I should include in my resume to enhance my resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS) for this job? [insert job description]
• Draft a three paragraph cover letter, emphasizing the key skills related to this job description. [insert job description]

Because your CV lists all of your educational and professional history, it is important that it is well organized and highlights your major academic and professional achievements.

All information on your CV must be accurate and up to date. By sending or posting your CV, you are agreeing that all information disclosed is accurate and true.

Unlike a resume, your CV should consist of as many pages as is necessary to include all of your educational and professional experiences. Your CV is your greatest tool to highlight your achievements and provide information about your research, presentations, teaching, service, and relevant work experience. Everyone needs a powerful CV to serve 2 main purposes:

• To present a snapshot of you when not present.
• To help you get an interview.

Style. Each field has different styles of writing a CV. Because your field may have specific expectations of your CV, you should ask a professor in your field for more information about how CVs in that field are frequently presented. The goal is to show off your achievements and minimize any weaknesses.

Length. There are no limits to the length of your CV. In some application processes, you may be directed to stick to a specific limitation. This is more common in admissions applications than job searches. Great care should be paid to ensure the most relevant content is near the top of the document. A career center staff member will be happy to review your CV and help you in this process.

Margins and font choice: Margins can vary, although 1 inch on all sides is common. The font choice should be neat and legible. More space can be used throughout the document and between sections to allow your reader's eye to rest.

Identifying Information. Your name, address, phone number and e-mail address should be placed at the top of the page. If you have a school address and another address (parents, etc.), it is advisable to list those addresses where you might be reached. Be sure to update the address or phone number if changes occur.

Education + Dissertation or Thesis Topic. Included in this section are undergraduate and graduate degrees earned. Most recent degrees are listed first (reverse chronological order). Include your major and minor if applicable. Under your Dissertation or Thesis Topic, you should include your committee chair. You may promote your marketability by putting other areas of academic emphasis.

Research Interests/Research Profile. This section should include information about your current and prospective areas of research.

Research Experience. Within this section, describe any research positions or experience.

Experience. This section may include part-time or full-time work. It may also include internships as well as volunteer experiences. Name, city and state where the organization is located, your title or position, and dates worked should be included. Describe your experiences in active, skill-related terms and emphasize accomplishments.

Areas of Teaching Experience. Within this section, include a summary of your teaching experiences.

Teaching Experience. Include a more detailed list of the course and subjects you taught or co-taught. Your position title and institution in which you gained this experience should also be listed. Course names, level of students, and accomplishments can also be included.

Honors and Awards. List awards in this section. You may include academic achievements as well as scholarships. Grants could be included here or highlighted in a separate Grants section, depending on relevance.

Professional Memberships/Organizations. List membership in any professional organizations and emphaisze leadership positions such as committees or holding officer positions. 

Community/Administrative Service. List any community or administrative involvement in which you engaged.

Publications/Presentations This section may also be divided into two separate sections. It should include all professional publications and presentations written in the format required by your discipline (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

References. Include each reference's name, title, organization affiliation, phone number and e-mail address. Only list those persons who have given you permission to do so.

The letter of application, or cover letter, should accompany every resume you send to prospective employers. A good letter introduces you to the employer, briefly states the purpose of communication, highlights pertinent information from your resume, and suggests a meeting or interview. It should not reiterate everything in the resume, but should complement and expand upon the resume. A good cover letter will provide solid reasons as to why the applicant should be considered further. Remember that the main purpose of a cover letter is to get the reader interested enough in you to want to read your resume.

In the cover letter, remember to do the following

• Never send a form letter. Each letter should be individually composed. Once a good letter has been developed, it may be used as a model many times with slight revisions for specific positions.
• AI can be used sparingly with your cover letter. An example prompt might be "Draft a three paragraph cover letter, emphasizing the key skills related to this job description. [insert job description]". Make sure to polish the final version to reflect your voice and qualifications.
• When possible, address your letter to a specific person, using their appropriate title.
• Talk about what you can do for the organization, and then take the initiative when closing by asking for an interview.
• Use your own style of writing.
• Use correct sentence structure and grammar.
• Avoid excessive use of I, me, my by using introductory phrases, so the personal pronoun is buried within the sentence. Example: "In addition to interning, I..."
• Keep a copy of all correspondence sent for your own records. You'll be amazed how helpful this can be when interviews and meetings beegin.
• When you complete a rough draft of your letter, have it reviewed by a career counselor, professor, experienced professional, or a friend for some helpful feedback.

• Formal writing is expected. Be sure to always use proper grammar.
• AI should be used sparingly. When a personal statement is required, it is because the committee wants to read your story and your response to their prompt. 
• Be creative and grab attention with your opening paragraph.
• Narrow the focus – including too many ideas can feel overwhelming and unfocused.
• Make yourself stand out by being honest and stating your truth.
• Answer the questions exactly and carefully. Take some time for serious reflection.
• Be sure to include personality factors, history, successes, failure, and academics.
• Simple is sometimes best.
• Provide passion, but more importantly, provide persuasiveness.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread!
• Use your campus resources. The UCC and the Writing Center are excellent resources to have your documents reviewed. 

The thank-you letter is a short note showing appreciation to the interviewers for their time and the opportunity to interview. In the letter, make a connection with the prospective employer by mentioning something specific or some topic of discussion during the interview.

Write separate notes to each interviewer with different content – they will compare notes!

In the longer thank you letter, expand on what you will contribute to the company. You may also revisit a question from the interview that you feel you did not answer well. Do NOT state that you answered the question incorrectly. Instead, write that you want to add information to your previous answer.

Ask permission to take notes during the interview – a couple of words only – to help you remember the interviewers and their interests to reference in the thank-you letters.

Thank you letters can be sent after meeting with an employer at a job fair, a job interview, an informational interview, and a networking event. Everyone likes to be remembered and appreciated!