READY. SET. RESUME.
Let's amp up your resume
Recruiters sift through hundreds of resumes for each position. Make sure your resume stands out from the pack with these tips from Career Center advisors and employer engagement experts, Melissa Hoon and Lee Desser Tacliad.
Resume Basics
Make sure your resume covers this information to ensure you stand out from the pack.
- If you have a strong GPA (3.0 or better), highlight this on your resume.
- Tailor your resume to the job by including relevant coursework, memberships, and organizations. Keep in mind, classroom experience can be just as valuable as other traditional job experience.
- Look closely at the job description for keywords that will help you understand what skills the company is looking for.
- Strengthen your experiences by including a result or outcome of your accomplishment. Find more tips on crafting your accomplishment statement below.
- Don't forget to spellcheck! A nicely formatted and error-free resume shows that you are professional.
Constructing an Accomplishment Statement
One of the most difficult parts of writing a resume is constructing the accomplishment statements. Each of the roles you list under Experience on your resume should have several bullet points describing your accomplishments, tailored to the position. To write an effective accomplishment statement, use the APR (Action + Project + Result) formula:
- Pick a verb (action word).
- Briefly describe the project.
- Describe the result or impact of your direct contribution.
- Quantify when possible.
Example: Raised over $5,000 to fund three-month research project in Brazil by successfully writing three grant proposals to organizations, including the National Science Foundation.
