Create a Resume / CV

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Take your career to the next level with Career Services’ cutting-edge resources! As a student or alumni, you’ll have access to Skills First, a revolutionary program that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to help you craft a standout resume, cover letter, and elevator pitch.

With Skills First, you’ll be able to:

• Enhance your resume with AI-driven suggestions for keywords, formatting, and content that will help you pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and catch the eye of hiring managers.
• Write a compelling cover letter that highlights your strengths, skills, and achievements, all while staying true to your personal brand.
• Develop an elevator pitch that showcases your unique value proposition, helping you confidently introduce yourself to potential employers and networking contacts.
• Prepare for interviews with AI-generated questions and answers, allowing you to anticipate and respond to common interview questions with confidence and poise.

By utilizing Skills First, you’ll gain a competitive edge in the job market and be well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the modern workforce. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance in your career, Career Services is committed to helping you achieve your goals.

Skills First has released new tools to even further your Career Tools! See the slide deck below!

So why wait? Log in to Skills First today and start building a career that’s truly remarkable!

Resumes creation has become an artform. Here are some websites to get an idea of where to start:

• Resume Worded
• Career Directors International
• Cultivated Culture

Undergraduate Resumes

• Computer Science Resume
• Nursing Resume
• Finance Resume
• Fine Arts Resume
• Education
• Athletic Trainer Resume
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Resume
• Occupational Therapist Resume

Graduate Resumes

• Engineering Resume
• Nursing (Experienced) Resume
• Entry-Level Adjunct Example
• Physician Assistant (Entry Level) Example

As you begin your job search, you may be asked to submit a resume or a CV (curriculum vitae). While many people are familiar with the basics of a resume, a CV is a more extensive and detailed document that showcases your academic and professional achievements.

Crafting a CV can be a bit daunting, but by organizing your information effectively, you can show hiring managers that you’re the ideal candidate for the role. A CV is like a storybook that tells the story of your professional journey, highlighting your skills, achievements, and qualifications.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Contact Information – Include the necessary contact details to ensure potential employers can easily reach you. This section should include:
   • Full name
   • Address
   • Phone number
   • Email
   • Online portfolio (if requested or relevant)
   • Social media profiles (if requested or relevant)
   • Professional headshot (if required)
     
2. Information for an International CV If applying internationally, include additional personal details as per the norms of the country. This might include:
   • Date of birth
   • Place of birth
   • Citizenship
   • Visa status
     
3. Personal Profile Craft a brief summary (3-5 sentences) highlighting your key achievements, experience, and skills that align with the role. Aim to grab the hiring manager’s attention with a succinct and impactful overview.
   
   • “Compassionate and dedicated nursing graduate student with a strong foundation in patient care and clinical practice. Equipped with hands-on experience from diverse clinical rotations and a solid academic background in nursing principles and healthcare management. Proven ability to provide exceptional care, advocate for patients, and collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams. Passionate about advancing nursing practice through evidence-based research and committed to contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes and healthcare quality.”
     
4. Professional Experience Detail your work history in reverse-chronological order. For each position, include:
   • Job title
   • Start and end dates
   • Organization name
   • Brief description of responsibilities and achievements (optional based on relevance and space)
     
5. Education List your educational background, prioritizing higher education. Include:
   • Institutions attended
   • Dates of attendance
   • Degrees earned
   • Majors and minors
   • Relevant educational programs and certifications
     
6. Publications and Presentations Enumerate your academic and professional contributions. This section may include:
   • Books
   • Articles
   • Research papers
   • Conference presentations
   • If substantial, separate into distinct subheadings (e.g., “Publications,” “Presentations”).
     
7. Certifications and Skills Showcase both technical and soft skills pertinent to the job. Mention any certifications to bolster your qualifications. Ensure to:
   • List relevant skills from the job description
   • Highlight unique or standout skills
     
8. Honors and Awards Document any accolades that underscore your professional excellence. Include:
   • Award name
   • Date received
     
9. Community Service Demonstrate your engagement in volunteer activities, indicating soft skills and personal values. Include:
   • Organization name
   • Role
   • Responsibilities and achievements
     
10. Community Service Demonstrate your engagement in volunteer activities, indicating soft skills and personal values. Include:
    • Organization name
    • Role
    • Responsibilities and achievements
      
11. Interests and Hobbies For international positions, include a section on your personal interests and hobbies to present a well-rounded view of your personality. Ensure these are relevant or add value to your candidacy.

Examples

Curriculum Vitae

Strong action verbs are powerful, dynamic words that effectively describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. They convey action, initiative, and results, making your resume more impactful and engaging.

The task or project is the core activity or responsibility you undertook in your role. It explains what you were doing, giving a clear picture of your job functions and the scope of your work. This element answers the “what” and “why” of your accomplishments.

The metric or result is a specific measurement or achievement that resulted from your work. It answers the “how much,” “how many,” or “to what extent” questions, giving concrete proof of your accomplishments.

Following the “Strong Action Verb + Task/Project + Metric/Result” formula for modern resumes is crucial for several reasons:

1. Clarity and Impact:
   • Strong Action Verb: Using a strong action verb (e.g., “designed,” “led,” “implemented”) immediately conveys a sense of action and initiative. It shows that you are proactive and capable of taking charge.
   • Task/Project: Specifying the task or project provides context to the action. It helps the reader understand what you worked on and the scope of your responsibilities.
   • Metric/Result: Including metrics or results quantifies your achievements, making them tangible and measurable. It demonstrates the effectiveness of your actions and the impact you had on the organization.
2. Demonstrates Results-Oriented Approach: Employers are looking for candidates who can deliver results. By using this formula, you highlight your accomplishments rather than just listing job duties. This shift from duties to achievements makes your resume more compelling and persuasive.
3. Enhances Readability: Resumes are often skimmed rather than read in detail. This formula structures information in a way that makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly grasp your key achievements. The concise and focused nature of this approach helps in maintaining the reader’s attention.
4. Showcases Relevant Skills and Experience: By focusing on specific tasks/projects and their outcomes, you can tailor your resume to match the job description more closely. This alignment makes it clear that you have the relevant skills and experience for the position you are applying for.
5. Boosts Confidence and Credibility: Quantifying your accomplishments with metrics (e.g., “increased sales by 20%”, “reduced costs by 15%”) adds credibility to your claims. It shows that you have a track record of delivering measurable results, which can boost the confidence of potential employers in your abilities.
6. Facilitates Behavioral Interviewing: Many employers use behavioral interviewing techniques, asking candidates to provide specific examples of past behavior as predictors of future performance. Using this formula on your resume can help you prepare for such interviews, as you’ll already have articulated your key achievements in a structured and results-oriented manner.
7. Differentiates You from Other Candidates: A well-crafted resume that clearly demonstrates your impact can set you apart from other candidates. It shows that you understand what is important to employers and that you have the ability to contribute effectively to their organization.