Student Resources

Resumes and CV

Resumes are essential tools that effectively communicate your life experiences to reviewers. These documents provide a comprehensive snapshot of your education, professional work, volunteer activities, and awards, presenting a well-rounded picture of your qualifications and achievements.

Resume and CV - What's the Difference?

  • A resume is a short, typically one-page document that outlines your work experience. Depending on your field and where you are in your education, your resume may display more educational or volunteer experience than professional work history. The goal is to make sure the experience on your resume is relevant to the position you are applying for.
  • A CV​ (Curriculum Vitae) ​is a detailed document that summarizes your entire academic and professional career. Some applications may have a specific page limit for your CV (i.e. 2-3 pages). Others will expect a complete CV that gives a comprehensive look at your background. ​You will usually only submit a CV for academic applications to opportunities ​like graduate school, grants, fellowships, and scholarships. 

Expectations for resumes and CV's can vary significantly across different academic and professional fields, making it important to tailor them to the specific requirements of your target audience. Both documents are best written to tell a story, the reader should be able to notice a theme that describes you as a candidate. 

common sections

Resume

  • Contact Information
  • Education (Depending on the opportunity, this might include relevant coursework, thesis project, and/or study abroad)
  • Work or Professional Experience (paid work)
  • Relevant Experience (other activities)
  • Skills

CV

  • Resume Sections
  • Awards and Honors
  • Publications
  • Presentations

listing skills

One of the most common mistakes we see students make is in the "skills" section of a resume. We recommend avoiding self-assessed and unmeasurable soft skills, like "communication," "teamwork," or "leadership." Those are things you can demonstrate through your activity descriptions or your cover letter.

In the skills section, reviewers are looking to see more technical skills - experience with software or data analysis, foreign language competency, lab work, marketing tools, etc.

Examples:

  • Meta Business Suite Analytics
  • Intermediate Spanish Language Proficiency
  • CPR Certification
  • Basic Wet Lab Techniques: PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, Titration, Cell Cultures
  • Coding Language Proficiency: HTML, C++
  • Geographic Information System Analytics: ArcGIS

Design

Templates can be found on the internet or common design software.

  • If you’re in a creative field, it may be a good idea to pick a resume template with a nice aesthetic
  • If you’re in a STEM or business field, a more basic design might be a better option

If you’re unsure what design is appropriate for your resume, reach out to a mentor in your field.

For additional assistance, we recommend the following resources: