Resume Guide, Exercises of English

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Resume Guide

RESUME

Center for

CAREER

Development

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

As long as you are aspiring to

professional advancement, your

resume is a work in progress.

hile there are some basic rules (spellcheck is a must!) and standard practices to resume writing, it is largely a personal undertaking. We encourage you to take a holistic approach to creating your resume, considering your unique set of experiences in relation to the types of roles to which you aspire. In other words, think of your resume as a marketing tool that demonstrates how a product (you) meets the needs of a potential customer (employer). This Resume Guide is designed for both the novice resume writer and the more seasoned candidate. Follow the basic principles, adding in advanced components when appropriate. New to resume writing Introductory Resume Worksheet 3 Adding new items and trying to cut old ones Advanced Resume Worksheet 4 Shifting career directions Crafting Your Descriptions 5

• Know that resume writing can be complex and take several tries to master.
• Save PDF and .txt versions of your resume. Keep prior versions of your resume for reference.
• Do not fear changing directions. You can reposition any experience by focusing on Transferable Skills.
• Ask for feedback from a Peer Career Adviser or schedule an appointment with a career adviser in Handshake. 1 3 2 4
• Look at job descriptions carefully. If certain keywords, skills, or traits keep popping up, check that they are reflected in your resume in your own words.
• Experience comes not only from internships and jobs but from campus activities, class projects and volunteer work as well. There is value – what employers call transferable skills – in all you do as a Princeton student.
• Readers only know what you tell them. Include concise yet thoroughly detailed Action-Oriented Accomplishment Statements to pique a reader’s interest.
• Demonstrate skills through your bullet points in addition to listing them in a “Skills” section.
• Think ahead to the interview. Make sure the content you’d talk about is well-represented in your resume.
• Consider the context for which you’re using your resume and adjust content, headers and details to match the specific job/internship posting, scholarship application, career fair/ Meetup or other opportunity.
• Note differences in style, tone, keywords and content across industries and around the globe.
• Distinguish yourself from other Princeton students by detailing your individual role and unique impact, especially when several students may have the same experience (e.g., RCA, McGraw Center Tutor).
• Do not include personal information like age, Social Security number, marital status, religion or parents’ occupations.
• Do you need a CV or resume? In the U.S., a CV is used primarily for admission to – or roles in – academia. It is a type of resume with an in-depth focus on research, presentations, academic awards, and/or publications. Basic Principles of Resume Writing

The document should be written

with the reader in mind

Your resume’s job is to get you

an interview.

• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. Avoid pronouns (I, we) and minimize the use of articles (a, an, the).
• Use CAPS, bold fonts, and line spacing to distinguish between sections.
• Keep document to one page. Set the margins between 0.75” and 1” (ideal) and no less than 0.5”.
• Use consistent font styles and sizes (10-12pt) throughout the document.
• Save space by leaving off your mailing address. Your phone number and email suffice.
• List content in reverse chronological order in each section of your resume.

Your resume should be easy to scan

and digest in 15-30 seconds.

W HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

If you are... Start with the... On Page...

Advanced Resume Worksheet This page is meant as a guide – not a formal template – for students with more experience. The order and content of the categories used should reflect your experience and target audience. Firstname M. Lastname

[email protected] | _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ _ _

EDUCATION Princeton University Grad Month YYYY A.B. (or B.S.E.) in Intended Concentration and Certificate [Cumulative or Concentration] GPA: [If 3.0+] Relevant Coursework: ____________________, _______________________, ____________________, ___________________________, _____________________________, ____________________________ Prior College, Study Abroad, Summer Coursework, Bridge Year, and/or High School Month YYYY Activities: _________________________, __________________________, ________________________ Awards: _________________________, __________________________, ________________________ INDEPENDENT RESEARCH Senior Thesis: Title, Adviser Month YYYY - Month YYYY

• Place more or less emphasis on this section of resume depending on target audience
• Frame content around research questions, lit review, methodology and findings for research roles
• Focus on process of/context around conducting independent research if applying to non-research roles Junior Independent Work: Title, Adviser Month YYYY - Month YYYY
• Consider reader when choosing to include technical details, scientific terms or field-specific language EXPERIENCE Title or Role, Organization, Location Month YYYY - Present
• Can opt for specific header(s), like Healthcare Experience, Design Experience, Technical Experience
• List the most recent/current experience first
• Consider formal and informal jobs, volunteer work and community activities
• Start bullet points with action verbs, providing context using quantitative and qualitative terms, and demonstrating end result to show the value of your contributions Title or Role, Organization, Location Month YYYY – Present
• Use past tense action verbs for experiences that have ended
• Describe the scope/pace of the work and your level of responsibility
• Convey how you contributed, what you accomplished and the results of your efforts LEADERSHIP ROLES Title or Role, Organization, Location Month YYYY – Present
• Can include athletic, academic, performance, professional, or social activities
• Consider roles in which you held significant decision-making responsibility Title or Role, Organization, Location Month YYYY – Present
• Quantify bullet points with info like number of people involved or how much time spent on a project ACTIVITIES
• Princeternship/shadowing, professional organizations or other activities aligned with career path
• Social clubs, sports teams, performance groups, etc., not listed in Leadership Roles section SKILLS Languages: Multilingual abilities (e.g., Fluent in Spanish) or computer programming (e.g., Proficient in C++) Certifications: Examples: CPR, Wildlife First Responder, Gold Award/Eagle Scout, technical training Technology: Condense/expand list as needed based on your particular skills and field(s) of interest Additional Subcategories: Examples: Social Media, Laboratory, Business and Innovation/Design

Ready to start writing? See page 5 for tips on Crafting Your Descriptions!

CRAFTING YOUR DESCRIPTIONS Adapted from South Dakota State University Office of Career Development; includes content from http://artsbridge.com/how-can-a-theatre-major-prepare-you-for-success/ Students often lament a perceived lack of experience, struggle to make connections between their experiences and what is required in a job description or worry about how experiences in one realm (e.g., independent research) translate into another (e.g., an industry internship). To allay those fears, use this three-step worksheet to (1) identify your transferable skills or the skills listed in a specific job description (2) note where those skills were learned/developed, and (3) turn these general concepts into Action-Oriented Accomplishment Statements.

Step 1: Identify your transferable skills

Place a check mark next to each skill you possess. Think about all settings in which you may have used/developed each skill. Then, circle the ones you consider to be your top 10. Writing clearly and concisely Listening attentively Expressing ideas Using media to present ideas Reporting information Public speaking Making presentations Describing feelings Improvising Doing more with less Appreciating diversity Providing accurate descriptions Anticipating potential problems Defining problems and possible causes Identifying and selecting solutions Creating innovative approaches Involving group members in problem-solving Developing plans to implement solutions Establishing general principles Teaching/training others Solving problems/mediating Implementing sound decisions Forecasting/predicting Designing an experiment Imagining alternatives Identifying resources Extracting important information Defining needs Development strategies Formulating conclusions Conceptualizing ideas Observing and discovering Analyzing information Presenting findings Learning new tools/techniques Managing time Setting and meeting deadlines Accepting responsibility Enlisting help Editing/proofing Negotiating/persuading Seeking opportunities for professional growth Taking initiative Managing time and stress Responding well to feedback Remaining calm under pressure Generating and initiating ideas Managing and supervising groups Delegating responsibility Promoting and adapting to change Prioritizing tasks Identifying areas for improvement Facilitating meetings or group discussions Coaching/mentoring/counseling Evaluating progress Giving praise and credit Setting and accomplishing goals

Communication & Creativity

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Research General Work

Teamwork

Making decisions with others Respecting others Eliciting input and providing feedback Developing rapport Sharing credit/cooperation Interacting effectively Collaborating in diverse or multicultural environment Meeting team expectations Perceiving feelings, situations Listening to others

Showcasing what you’ve done and why it mattered is the best way to ACE resume writing! Start with an Action Verb to show you did something. Then provide the Context for that action using quantitative and qualitative terms. Lastly, demonstrate the End Result of your actions to show the value of your contributions!

Sample Accomplishment Statements

• Allocated $1,500 budget to promote annual National Coming Out Day rally, increasing participation 25% over previous year.
• Coordinated three fundraising events for local shelters, raising $8,000 and greatly improving community awareness.
• Collaborated with a partner to formalize a 400-page training curriculum, creating a structure that made the progression of material clear and logical. Management & Leadership administered appointed approved assigned attained authorized chaired consolidated controlled coordinated decided delegated directed eliminated emphasized enforced enhanced executed handled headed hired hosted increased instituted led managed merged overhauled oversaw planned prioritized produced recommended streamlined strengthened supervised Communication addressed advertised articulated authored clarified communicated composed condensed conferred consulted contacted conveyed convinced corresponded defined described discussed drafted edited elicited enlisted expressed influenced informed instructed interacted interviewed joined judged listened mediated moderated motivated negotiated observed outlined persuaded presented promoted proposed publicized recruited reinforced reported responded solicited specified suggested synthesized translated wrote Research analyzed compared conducted critiqued detected determined diagnosed evaluated examined experimented explored extracted formulated gathered identified inspected interpreted investigated located measured researched searched summarized surveyed tested Technical adapted assembled built constructed converted debugged engineered fabricated installed maintained operated programmed rectified regulated remodeled repaired replaced solved specialized studied upgraded Financial/Data adjusted allocated analyzed appraised assessed audited balanced calculated computed conserved corrected estimated forecasted marketed projected reconciled retrieved Helping advised advocated answered cared for coached collaborated contributed cooperated counseled demonstrated educated enabled encouraged ensured expedited explained facilitated familiarize furthered guided intervened motivated provided referred rehabilitated simplified supplied supported taught trained tutored volunteered Organization/ Detail arranged cataloged categorized charted classified coded collected compiled distributed generated implemented incorporated logged monitored obtained ordered organized prepared processed purchased recorded registered reserved reviewed routed scheduled submitted standardized systematized updated validated verified Creative acted combined conceptualized created customized designed developed displayed drew entertained established fashioned founded illustrated initiated integrated introduced invented modeled modified originated performed photographed revised revitalized shaped Accomplishments achieved completed expanded exceeded improved pioneered reduced resolved restored transformed ACTION-ORIENTED ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

Action Verbs

Early College Resume

Tori Tiger

123.456.5432 / [email protected]

EDUCATION

Princeton University, Princeton NJ Expected June 2022 A.B. Candidate; Intended concentration: Sociology Relevant Coursework: Inequality, Mobility, and the American Dream; Sociology of Sports; American Society and Politics; Self and Society Big Public High School, Dallas, TX June 2018 Honors: National AP Scholar, Class Treasurer

WORK EXPERIENCE

Firestone Library, Princeton University – Student Assistant September 2018-Present

• Serve as first point-of-contact for students and other patrons at busy Circulation desk
• Redesigned website using Dreamweaver, increasing visits to page by 15% over 3 months The Clothing Company, Fort Worth, TX – Retail Associate May 2017-August 2018
• Recommended products to customers, generating an average of $1,200 in sales per shift
• Recognized by management for creating attractive displays that drew attention to new products
• Trained 5 new employees on effective sales techniques and how to master product knowledge during fast-paced summer and holiday hours

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Princeton University Orchestra – Clarinet September 2018-Present

• Rehearse 10 hours per week and perform at 3 recitals each year Local Community Newspaper – Contributor August 2016-June 2018
• Interviewed 100+ students to capture balanced and fair stories across 5 public schools
• Submitted monthly articles highlighting local students’ academic, athletic, and artistic achievements Girl Scouts of the USA – Gold Award October 2017
• Hosted a “College & Career Night” for 200 students from 3 area underserved communities
• Recruited 20 professionals and marketed event to hundreds of middle and high school students

SKILLS

Language: French (4 years) and Spanish (6 years) Office Applications: Word (Advanced), Excel (Proficient), PowerPoint (Intermediate) Graphic Design: Dreamweaver (Advanced), Photoshop (Novice) SAMPLE RESUMES

Industry-Focused Resume

Tammy Tiger Phone: 609-609-6096 www.linkedin.com/in/tammytiger [email protected] Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 06/ BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Certificate in Engineering and Management Systems Cumulative GPA: 3.30 Departmental GPA : 3.

• Self-financed 100% of college education Technology: Proficient in Java, Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD Languages: Swedish (Native); German (Fluent); Hebrew (Conversational) Box Lift Crane Design 02/2018 - 06/ Team Leader
• Designed a crane in AutoCAD to hold and endure 500 lbs.
• Oversaw group of 6 students and delegated work to each member. World Geography Card Game 09/2016 - 01/ Team Member
• Collaborated with 3 classmates in creating tool to engage middle-schoolers.
• Pilot-tested game with 100 local students and presented final product at campus-wide expo. Process Improvement Intern 06/2018 - 08/ Manufacturing Corp., Miami, FL
• Designed mechanical products and systems by developing and testing specifications and methods.
• Evaluated product ideas, models, and requirements and provided suggestions for improvement.
• Collaborated in cross-functional project team of mechanical, electrical, and system engineers.
• Developed an understanding of the life cycle of product design. Team Leader 06/2017 - 09/ Engineers Without Borders, Chimbote, Peru
• Led 5 students in developing an infrastructure plan to improve water quality in a coastal village.
• Researched technologies and local resources and design infrastructure for water lines.
• Conducted fundraising efforts and successfully covered team’s expenses. Research Assistant 09/2016 - 01/ Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Princeton University
• Performed computational fluid dynamics to assist Ph.D. candidate with dissertation.
• Conducted design validation testing of prototypes and presented findings at regional conference. Trip Leader 7/2015 - 06/
• Princeton Outdoor Action, Princeton University
• Led group of 8 freshmen on week-long wilderness trip, ensuring physical and emotional health. Vice President, Princeton Autonomous Vehicle Engineering Team (PAVE) Choreographer, Princeton Bhangra Staff Writer, Daily Princetonian EDUCATION SKILLS ACADEMIC PROJECTS ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE RELATED EXPERIENCE CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Research-Oriented Resume

Tyler Tiger www.myportfolio.com/tyler [email protected], 774-623- EDUCATION Princeton University, Princeton, NJ June 2019 A.B. in Molecular Biology, Certificate in Neuroscience, GPA: 3. Select Coursework: Genetics, Biochemistry, Biological Dynamics, Genome Integrity and Human Disease, Biostatistics, Microbiology Honors: Biology Society Scholarship, J&J Aspiring Scientist Award RESEARCH AND LAB EXPERIENCE “Revising the Phylogenetic Reassignment of Oxytricha trifallax” Fall 2017

• Engaged in independent research culminating in an extensive written paper
• Revised the phylogeny of O. trifallax using several conserved gene sequences Research Assistant, Sussex Lab, Windsor University, England Spring 2016
• Performed purification of protein using gel electrophoresis
• Conducted analytical experiment on gene expression to determine level of other factors
• Collected data, generated statistical report, and shared findings with Principal Investigator Lab Technician, Biology Department, West Coast University, CA Fall 2015
• Analyzed and recorded test data to issue reports using charts, graphs and narratives
• Examined cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities
• Set up, adjusted, maintained and cleaned laboratory equipment daily PRESENTATIONS Princeton Research Day, Princeton University Spring 2018 Poster, “Revising the Phylogenetic Reassignment of Oxytricha trifallax”
• Shared findings during poster session attended by 200+ students and faculty
• Earned Silver Medal for effectively communicating research to a non-specialist audience Statewide Secondary Education Science Symposium Summer 2014 Presenter, “Healing Garden: Medicinal Plants Native to North Jersey”
• Selected from field of 100 applicants to represent school at statewide event
• Created PowerPoint and written report to share findings with other students SKILLS Laboratory: Cell proliferation assays, cell/tissue culture, FACS, ELISA, lymphocyte isolation Data Analytics: C, Java, R, LaTeX, Excel Bilingual: English and Spanish