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Resumes: What You Need to Know

The resume is an opportunity to market yourself to a prospective employer. It should be succinct, target an employer's needs, and distinguish you from your competitors. Before you get started, think about your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, and motivations. You should also consider the company's needs, who your competition might be, and your unique skill set. The best way to convince employers that you will add value is to show them that you've done it before.

Alumni Resume Book

Our Alumni Resume Book connects you with organizations looking for talent. Visit 12twenty (our recruiting platform) and upload your resume to get started. You should complete your Profile in 12twenty by updating your Background tab which contains information about your career experience, skills, preferences and more. Ensuring your Background tab is complete and accurate will greatly improve your chance of being contacted by an organization. Looking to connect with fellow HBS alumni? Upload your resume to the Alumni Networking Resume Book to kick start those connections.

Resume Makeover Using VMock and Aspire  

Gain instant feedback on your resume and LinkedIn Profile

VMock is a smart career platform that provides instant personalized feedback on your resume and LinkedIn Profile to help improve aspects like presentation, language, and skills.

VMock Smart Editor tool will enable you to:

• Receive an objective score on your resume based on recruiter criteria
• Review line-for-line targeted feedback on your resume
• Re-upload your resume up to 10 times to track improvement

Sign up using your HBS email address. Account requests are granted within 24 business hours. During holidays and winter break (December 24th – January 1st) turnaround time will be delayed until the CPD office reopens. Please note, we recommend you review your resume before considering it final.

Resumes: Sections, Templates & Examples

• Contact details - Let others know who you are and how to get in touch with you. In addition to your name, you should list your mailing address, phone number, and email address. It is expected to be found at the top of the page. No need to include it on additional pages.
• Professional history - Start with your most recent role and list in descending chronology. For each role, provide a sentence or two that describes the scope of your responsibility. Then in bullet format, provide accomplishment statements. To write an accomplishment statement, state the problem you encountered, the action you took and the result or impact of your actions. For example, "Led team in implementing a new general ledger package by providing expertise and encouragement, which contributed to a successful, on-time project completion."
• Education - Spell out your degree so it will stand out better. It is not necessary to include your GPA or GMAT score. Do not list courses. Do list any leadership roles or study abroad experiences.
• Summary/Profile - A great opportunity to tell the reader exactly what you want them to know. It should be 3-4 sentences in paragraph form following your contact information. Be careful not to load up on overused resume jargon and avoid listing previous jobs/education as it is redundant. Instead, focus on your branding statement, unique themes in your career path, and skills.
• Key skills - Listing your skills is a great way for the reader to quickly evaluate your skill set. List skills that are relevant to your next position. For each skill, you will need a proof statement in the form of an accomplishment stated in the professional experience section. A good way to set up this section is in 2 or 3 columns with 3-4 skills in each column. The heading could be "Key Areas of Expertise" or "Core Competencies".
• Personal/Interests - Only include if it helps tell your story.
• Additional roles - If you participate in organizations outside of your professional employment, you may list these in a separate section. Headings are typically "Volunteer Leadership Roles" or "Community Service".
• Licenses and Professional Certifications - If you possess a license or certification, these should be called out in a separate section.
• Objective - No longer in style. Do not include in your resume.
• References available upon request - No longer in style. Do not include in your resume.
• Zip file of all resume templates (login required)

Chronological - This is the most commonly used layout. Recommended for a mostly consistent record of employment showing progression/growth from position to position. Not recommended for gaps in employment dates, those out of job market for some time, or changing careers.

• Template 1 (login required)
• Template 2 (login required)
• Template 3 (login required)
• Template 4 (login required)
• Sample 1: C-Level Resume (login required)
• Sample 2: Consulting to Operating Company Resume (login required)
• Sample 3: VP with Long Tenure Resume (login required)
• Sample 4: C-Level Biotech resume (login required)
• Sample 5: Exec. Ed. with Long Tenure Resume (login required)
• Sample 6: Financial Services Resume (login required)

Streamlined Chronological - This layout also shows progression from one job to the next, but does not include extra sections such as Summary/Profile or Areas of Expertise. Recommended for recent alumni.

• Template: Streamlined Chronological (login required)

Chronological/Functional Hybrid Resume - In this layout, you can highlight your employment history in a straight chronological manner, but also make it immediately clear you have filled a variety of roles that use different but related skill sets. This is useful to provide a few accomplishments in the beginning to show a theme. Each role would also have specific accomplishment statements.

• Template: Chronological/Functional Hybrid (login required)
• Sample: Accomplishment Focus Resume (login required)

Cover Letter Writing

It is essential to send a cover letter with your resume to provide a recruiter with insight into your qualifications, experience, and motivation for seeking a position. The letter also conveys your personal communication style, tone, and professionalism. An effective employment letter should:

• Be targeted and personalized
• State why you are interested in the company
• Explain how you can fill a need
• Convey your enthusiasm about the opportunity
• Suggest next steps for communication and action

Guidelines & Examples

Investigate your target company. What is the company's "breaking news?" What drives their business? What are their greatest challenges and opportunities? How can you contribute? eBaker can help with your research.

Outline your objectives using relevant information that attracts the attention of the reader.

• Salutation Address the letter to a specific person. Capture the reader's attention and briefly introduce yourself. Mention the referral/company contact, if applicable. State the purpose of your letter.
• Body Describe relevant information you discovered about the company. Discuss the position offered or the position you are looking for. Detail how your skills will benefit the company.
• Closing Convey your enthusiasm. Anticipate response.

Pay close attention to sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. Always print your letter to check for typographical errors. Have a friend, colleague, or family member review your letter whenever possible.

Cover letters are the place to briefly and directly address the gap in your career. For example, "I am returning to the workforce after a period of raising children." Then address your strengths, qualifications and goals. Emphasize your excitement and preparedness to re-enter the workforce now.

Response to Identified Advertisement (pdf)

Branding You

Resume writing tips  , creating visual impact.

A concise, visually appealing resume will make a stronger impression than a dense, text-laden document. Respect page margins and properly space the text. Learn to appreciate the value of "white space." Limit a resume to one or two pages but not one and ¼. Ensure content is balanced on both pages. A CV is typically longer because it includes additional sections such as publications and research.

Use Parallel Construction

Select a consistent order of information, format, and spacing. If one experience starts with a brief overview followed by bullet points, subsequent experiences should follow a similar form. Parallel construction—including the use of action verbs (pdf) (login required) to start all phrases—greatly enhances a resume's readability.

Always Proofread

Pay close attention to margin alignment, spelling, punctuation, and dates. Read your resume backward to check for typographical errors. (You will focus on individual words, rather than the meaning of the text.) Better yet, have a friend, colleague, or family member review your resume.

Use Action Verbs

Action Verbs List (login required)

Improve Your Writing

Common questions, past program resources  .

How to Build a Resume that Stands Above the Competition

Application Toolkit: Resume

On this webpage, you will find our advice and guidance for approaching the resume component of the application., instructions.

We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to 1 – 2 pages in length.

The following links are sample resumes from successful applicants in prior years. You do not have to follow the formatting used in these resumes, but all three are examples of well-organized, easy-to-read drafts.

Application Insights: Resume

• View All Application Insight Videos

Blog Advice

• Visit the Admissions Blog
• View All Resume Blog Posts

Overrated/Underrated Part 3

Continuing our Overrated/Underrated series, this week, we shift our focus to highlight some of the overrated approaches that we recommend applicants avoid as they craft their applications. 

November 17, 2021

Overrated/Underrated Part 2

This week, we continue our Underrated Approaches to the Application series with some additional advice.

October 21, 2021

Overrated/Underrated Part 1

The J.D. Admissions team recently came together to offer their thoughts on some underrated and overrated approaches that applicants might take towards their HLS application. We hope you’ll find some of these nuggets useful.

September 9, 2021

Real Talk: The Resume

This week’s entry in the Real Talk series covers the resume. 

August 25, 2020

Podcast Advice

Navigating law school admissions with miriam & kristi.

Miriam Ingber (Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Assistant Dean for Admissions at Harvard Law School) provide candid, accurate, and straightforward advice about law school admissions — direct from the source. They will be joined by guest stars from other law schools to discuss application timing, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and more.

• View All Episodes

Resume Workshop

Our Resume Workshop provides applicants with straightforward advice on how to craft their resumes with a reflective activity and guiding questions to consider.

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Get help with your resume! Please read the Wiki before posting. Check out the COMMUNITY BOOKMARKS for helpful info.

Harvard Resume PDF

Here’s a link to Harvard’s resume guide, I think it’s amazing, I know the bot comments a list of resume links but I found this one and thought it was more helpful than anything I’ve seen out there, Direct link below;

https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/ocs/files/hes-resume-cover-letter-guide.pdf

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Reporting Analyst at Harvard University Resume Sample

Get inspiration for your own resume with this Techno-Functional Reporting Analyst resume sample that helped Elvi Caperonis get hired at Harvard University and Amazon. She has kindly allowed us to share her resume with the world so that you, too, can land your dream job more easily. Download it for free or edit it directly within Kickresume's resume builder.

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Reporting Analyst at Harvard University Resume Sample (Full Text Version)

Elvi caperonis, professional profile.

ScrumMaster® Certified Business Intelligence (BI) professional with over nine years of experience implementing advanced reporting and data warehousing solutions across multiple industries. Proven ability to analyze information's critical requirements successfully and identify deficiencies and potential opportunities for increasing business productivity and efficiency. Excellent interpersonal skills that help build strong customer relationships contribute to highly successful outcomes. Self-motivated professional committed to helping achieve the organization's objectives with conscientious work based on the principles of honesty, discretion, truth, loyalty, and sincerity.

Technical Skills

• IBM Cognos BI –  IBM Cognos 10 Report Studio, IBM Cognos BI 10 Framework Manager
• Database – Oracle 9i, 10G, SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008,DB2
• Operating Systems - Windows XP, Vista, 7, Server 2003, Server 2008, VM 
• Programming Languages – SQL, HTML, JavaScript
• Data Warehousing: Star Schema Design & Modelling, Data Cleansing, OLAP Design.
• Reporting Tools: IBM Cognos 10 , Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) 10G/11G, BI Publisher, Siebel Analytics 7.0, Business Objects XI, ClickView 7i, Microstrategy 8.0, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.
• ETL: Informatica Power Center 7.5, Oracle Warehouse Builder 10G, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2008.
• OLAP: Hyperion Essbase 9, Analysis Services 2008.
• PeopleSoft 9.0 (Campus Solutions).

Work Experience

• Engaged as a techno-functional analyst to collaborate with business clients and internal teams to evaluate BI and reporting needs and incorporate them into a unified delivery framework
• Established a metrics-focused reporting environment by gathering and interpreting 10+ key performance indicators from senior leadership and stakeholders
• Utilized Agile methodology to devise and implement 100+ reporting solutions, such as standard reports, data source-to-target mappings, tables, views, and user interfaces
• Developed the semantic layer, 50+ metrics, reports, and dashboards
• Assisted 10+ internal teams, end users, and business owners in creating and delivering business intelligence content
• Played various roles with high proficiency throughout an IBM Cognos BI project lifecycle: Solution Architect, Resource Manager, Project Manager, Report Developer, Metadata Modeler, OLAP Developer, etc.
• Collaborated with Principal Consultants to prepare 5+ project estimates, timelines, and proposals. 
• Collaborated with Data Architects and ETL Developers to design or enhance data warehouse models for high-performance business analytics.
• Provided 10+ detailed documents and knowledge-transfer services to customers.
• Participated in 5+ software pre-sales activities, including developing customer proof-of-concept solutions and technical feature demonstrations.
• Spearheaded the development and implementation of a cutting-edge reporting platform in Microsoft BI Suite
• Successfully resolved performance management reporting challenges by integrating them into a cohesive solution.
• Analyzed and interpreted critical data to generate over 100 detailed reports
• Executed the development and deployment of more than 20 ETL processes utilizing SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for data extraction from diverse sources
• Thoroughly documented functional and technical specifications for future reference
• Played a key role in database design and data modeling
• Compiled comprehensive reports on application usage, incident tracking, and system performance metrics
• Strategically developed and implemented RDP design (OLAP Design) using the OBIEE Administration Tool
• Developed over 300 reports utilizing the OBIEE Presentation Layer
• Designed 5+ Interactive Dashboards and Front End interfaces using the OBIEE Presentation Layer
• Analyzed all business requirements and proposed solutions for approval
• Gathered customer requirements and provided constructive feedback
• Supported technical incidents using OBIEE
• Designed and developed over 500 reports utilizing Oracle Business Intelligence Presentation Layer, Interactive Dashboards, and Front-End interface
• Provided support to professionals during project execution
• Created 20 reports using Business Objects
• Developed 10+ Extraction, Transformation, and Load (ETL) processes from multiple systems using Informatica Power Center 7.5 to analyze lending portfolio
• Analyzed 5+ data models to ensure data quality

Certifications

Techno-functional reporting analyst.

A Techno-Functional Reporting Analyst combines technical and business skills to manage and optimize reporting systems. This role involves gathering and consolidating data, ensuring its accuracy, and using BI tools to create reports and dashboards. Key responsibilities include translating business requirements into technical specifications, generating standard and ad hoc reports, and automating reporting processes. They also provide training and support to end-users. Strong analytical abilities, communication skills, and expertise in data management are essential for this role.

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world

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Free Harvard Resume Template PDF Format and Writing Tips

Why need a free harvard resume pdf format？.

Are you finding free Harvard resume template PDF files. Here, simply entertaining the idea of putting together a resume is enough to give some people a splitting headache. However, there is no requirement for there to be such a level of complexity. Your CV should be written in such a way that it reads like a brief, award-winning narrative about your professional experiences. According to the professionals offering career guidance at Harvard, here we have the powerful Harvard resume template pdf format in 2023.

How to make a similar Harvard resume online for free?

Although they are not precisely the same (resumes should not be written in a narrative form), they do have certain things in common. For example, they both tell the truth, differentiate you from others, showcase your best unique qualities, and attract the attention of readers. Most of free Harvard resumes are with same styles. If it's difficult for you to download a blank and free Harvard resume template, you can download WPS Office online, which has free editable resume templates and samples online, as well as a top cv builder with a free trial, to aid in your job hunt in 2023. 

Free Harvard resume templates pdf format

1. Free Harvard resumes for undergrad resumes and cover letters  

https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/ocs/files/undergrad_resumes_and_cover_letters.pdf

2. Hes resume cover letter guide from Harvard

https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/ocs/files/hes-resume-cover-letter-guide.pdf

3. Download Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Template 

https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/bullet-point-resume-template/

Use this template to build out your first draft of your resume.

Tips for writing your resume in pdf 2023

1.tailor your application materials to each position you're applying for..

I've seen a startlingly high number of applicants send out a dozen applications to a dozen different job positions, all of which are formatted in the exact same way and have the exact same content.

A strong cv is one that is formatted specifically for the industry as well as the level of employment for which the applicant is applying. You don't need to go back and edit every single detail on your Harvard resume template pdf. Still, the document as a whole should highlight the abilities and experiences that would be valuable to a potential employer.

2.Ensure that your contact information is included.

According to the advice of Harvard's career specialists, this is one of the top five blunders that people make while creating their resumes.

Always remember to include your email address and phone number in every correspondence you send out. You can go the extra mile by including your LinkedIn profile (just make sure it's up to date) or a website that features examples of your previous work.

The followings should not be included:

A listing of references which includes: You don't even need to add references available upon request Because hiring managers will ask for this if you advance in the hiring process. References are available upon request.

A picture: It makes no difference how top your selfie game is; uploading a photo of yourself makes you appear unprofessional and may create unconscious bias.

Whether taking into account age or gender: Again, remember to maintain your professional demeanor. This is not your profile on

Tinder; it's a Harvard resume template pdf format.

3.Embrace the use of action verbs

Because your Harvard resume template pdf is a marketing tool, you should focus on using action verbs throughout. Steer clear of flowery and lofty statements like results-oriented, team player, great communication skills, or hard worker.

The objective is for you to provide detailed information regarding the actions you took in past roles that led to observable improvements in the outcomes of those roles.

Right for your Harvard resume template pdf

You might be wondering what the differences are between passive and active language.

When we speak in a passive voice, the thing being discussed is given the appearance of being the topic of discussion; in other words, events take place without the participation of any specific individuals. For instance, on the curriculum vitae of a fundraiser, you can come across the statement, The number of donations grew 50 percent.

On the other hand, active language always refers to a doer, which should ideally be you. For instance, on that same fundraising, one can remark, I boosted the amount of gifts by fifty percent.

In addition, the professionals from Harvard have painstakingly compiled a list of over two hundred dynamic verbs for you to include in your Harvard resume template pdf. Here is where you may download the complete content (pdf format).

If there is too much information or pictures in your resume, you can learn how to compress pdf to optimize your resume.

In 2023, everything is recovering from COVID-19.  I sincerely hope that was of some assistance to you after using WPS Office and creating a successful Harvard resume pdf format! You can also unlock PDF resume template with WPS Office. If you are still unsure as to whether or not your CV is up to par, you might want to think about investing an hour or two with a career coach or counselor. It might be money well spent!

The free trial of WPS Office's best cv builder and other resources, such as editable CV templates, and samples, can assist you in your job search.

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Harvard Phd Student Resume

Harvard phd student resume, i. personal information.

Address: [YOUR ADDRESS]

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/your_own_profile

II. Education

Academic Institution: Harvard University

[Start Year] - [End Year]

Key Achievements:

Conducted groundbreaking research on the Topic: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare Delivery Systems, published in top-tier journals.

Presented findings at renowned conferences like the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (ICAIH), earning accolades for innovative approaches.

Collaborated with esteemed faculty on projects addressing Addressing Ethical and Regulatory Concerns in AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions, showcasing practical impact.

Completed rigorous coursework, gaining expertise in Healthcare Informatics and Data Analytics.

Engaged in academic communities, organizing workshops and contributing to Harvard Medical School's AI in Healthcare Initiative.

III. Professional Experience

[Company Name]

In my role at Tech Solve Solutions, I have been responsible for spearheading data-driven initiatives and leveraging advanced analytics to drive business insights and decision-making processes.

Key Contributions:

Led a project team that improved customer churn prediction models, contributing to a 20% reduction in churn rate and increasing customer retention by 15%.

Identified and implemented solutions for optimizing marketing campaign targeting, resulting in a 30% increase in conversion rates and a 25% improvement in return on investment.

My extensive academic and professional background has equipped me with a diverse skill set, including:

Advanced research methodologies in Computational Neuroscience, ensuring rigorous and insightful research contributions.

Data analysis proficiency with tools like Python, R, MATLAB, SQL, Java, and TensorFlow, enabling thorough exploration of complex datasets.

Strong communication skills, demonstrated through projects such as presenting research findings, publishing scholarly articles, and effectively conveying complex ideas with clarity.

Project management and team leadership, ensuring successful project execution within specified timelines and budgets.

V. Publications

Throughout my academic journey, I have contributed to several key publications that highlight my research capabilities:

Title: "Advancements in Neural Network Architectures for Image Recognition"

Title: "Exploring the Role of Genetic Factors in Neurodevelopmental Disorders"

VI. Awards and Honors

My exemplary performance in academia and research has been recognized through various awards and honors:

Outstanding Researcher Award, awarded

Excellence in Academic Achievement Award

VII. Professional Organizations

I am a committed member of several esteemed professional organizations related to my field:

Society for Computational Neuroscience, Professional Member

International Society for Computational Biology, Regular Member

VIII. References

Available upon request.

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Resume Writing Guide

A resume is typically an employer’s first introduction to you. First impressions are crucial to establish yourself as professional, capable, and motivated. A strong resume demonstrates your transferrable skills, communication abilities, and achievements. A consistent, detailed, and concise resume can help your resume get noticed by recruiters. By formatting your resume professionally, you increase your chances of earning the interview.

Resume Components

Contact information, phone number.

Use a phone number you can answer readily, such as your cell phone. If you have a voice mail set-up, make sure it sounds professional with your name and the best times to contact you.

Your e-mail address should be professional. While you are enrolled at UMass Amherst, your UMass e-mail will work well. After graduation, consider creating a new e-mail address that contains your name. 

Always include phone and email, but consider if listing your address is helpful or harmful. Employers may give preference to people who are closer geographically - if you are applying from far away, they may be unsure whether you are serious about moving.

Additionally, while your city and state are helpful to list, you do not necessarily need to include your street address. Employers will need it to hire you, but it is not required to provide during the job application process.

Objective/Summary

This section is most useful when you hand your paper resume out at a career or networking event - unless you have something specific to highlight, consider leaving it off your resume. A cover letter will do a better job conveying your why, as well as your key abilities. When you submit electronically, many Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will often skip the summary section and look for those key words to be in the body of your document instead.

For currently enrolled students, you will list your current degree first, and then work backwards in reverse chronological order. During your first few years of college, consider including your high school until you run out of space.

In addition to your college education, you may also highlight   study abroad or domestic exchange programs . When discussing these programs, think about including the following experiences to highlight your transferable skills: 

Class projects

Volunteering/internships/research applicable to your field

Independent travel

Learning to work with a more diverse group of people than you had previously been exposed to

Resolving conflicts based on misunderstandings of cultural differences

Learn new activities, languages, hobbies, or skills

Education Section Example 

University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Fall 2024 - Present)

Bachelor of Arts, Major: English

GPA (if over 3.0 and you feel comfortable sharing)

Relevant Coursework: 3-5 courses max

Awards (when including awards, include the reason for receiving it. Example: "21st Century Leadership Award for high academic achievement in first year")

Senior Project: (optional)

Portfolio of work (optional)

There are many types of experiences: volunteer, paid, unpaid, work study. If the experience is relevant and taught you transferrable skills, find a way to include it.

• For each experience, include name of organization, your title or role, location, and dates
• Action verbs (samples below) to help you write accomplishment statements, which prove you have the skills you say by leaning into outcomes and successes
• Consider using multiple experience headings, such as: research experience, industry experience, or relevant experience. This can be a good way to move more relevant experiences up higher on your resume, even if they happened further in the past.
• Quantifying your work can demonstrate your aptitude. Answering questions such as "How many?",   "How much?", and "How often?" will help recruiters understand the extent of your skills.  
• Avoid “responsibilities included" and writing in a passive voice - using action verbs will make this easier.

Experience Example

Leverage, Incorporated: Boston, MA (September 2025 - Present)

Computer Science Intern

• Developed an algorithm that identified patterns in white collar crime in the financial industries across the United States. Implementation of this program reduced company losses by 17% compared to the previous quarter.
• Collaborated with supply chain division to design new packaging based on reduction of carbon footprint, leading to increased production distribution while reducing energy usage.
• Established a training program to help connect interns with mentors at the organization and was awarded the Innovative Intern of Quarter for these efforts

This section is typically for "hard" skills, which are skills that can easily be measured. Soft skills (such as interpersonal skills) are better described in bullet points of your experience section so they can have the context they require. For a skills section, depending on your targeted field, you may add computer, language, laboratory skills, or performances. For languages, put your level of fluency (e.g., proficient, advanced, fluent, native).

Skills Example

Computer: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Adobe Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), Data Analysis (R-Studio, SPSS)

Resume Formatting and Layout

The average reading only spends 20 seconds reading a resume. Before that, an applicant tracking system may be utilized to select which resumes get reviewed by a human being.  Make sure your resume is easy to read and stands out. 

No single format works for everyone: the only rule is that you need to be honest, factual, and relevant

One page is ideal (especially for internships) and for students ages 18-25

Keep a longer master resume for future opportunities

List everything in reserve chronological order; start with your most recent experience work backwards

Use a legible sans serif  font size, keep it readable, 11 is a good place to start

1 column is better than 2; when you have two columns the reader may jump around and miss key information

No icons or images as they cannot be read by applicant tracking software

How Many Resume Versions Do I Need?

There is a big difference between customizing your resume for a specific position/industry versus creating different documents for each application.

• If you are applying to jobs in drastically different industries, you will want to customize resumes for each industry. For example, a psychology major applying to jobs in Human Services as well as Human Resources will want to highlight different experiences and skills for each, and potentially format their resumes different as a business setting holds different expectations for job criteria compared to a mental health setting.
• If you're pursuing a few different roles, but they're all related to one discipline or field, then you will not need multiple versions of your resume. However, you will still want to tweak each resume you send out based on the specific job description. 

Specialized Resumes/Sections

While resumes may follow the same general format, depending on your experience and industry, there may be other considerations to help your resume stand out.

Design Resumes

Design resumes can differ from traditional resumes in several tangible ways, reflecting the unique skills and creative nature of design professions.

Your document is an indication of your style aesthetic and may not need to conform to the same rules and standards as other professions.

Visual Layout

Design resumes often incorporate creative layouts that display the designer's skills in typography, layout, and visual communication.

• Infographics: Use of icons, graphs, and other visual elements can represent skills, experience, and achievements.
• Color and Typography: Thoughtful use of color and font choices creates an aesthetically pleasing document that aligns with your personal brand.

Content Presentation and Customization

Direct links to online portfolios or examples of work, are often included as part of the resume. Incorporation of personal logos, custom icons, and other branding elements that reflect a designer's style may be added here.

File Format and Compatibility

Designers create their resumes in online spaces varying from Latec to Adobe to Canva. While many resumes are shared as PDFs, design resumes especially should be shared in this format to preserve visual integrity across different devices.

Unique Layouts

Non-traditional formats such as infographics, timelines, or modular layouts may be acceptable.

Interactivity

For digital resumes, elements of interactivity can be incorporated, such as clickable links, hover effects, and embedded multimedia.

The most important rules still apply to ALL resumes; clean neat formatting, with consistency in where the reader will access key information continues to be your driving force.

Designers should contact their career centers to discuss what resume style might best suit their professional goals.

Digital Resumes

A digital resume is an electronic version of a traditional resume that highlights an individual's professional experience, skills, and achievements using digital formats.

Either shared as a PDF or hosted on a personal website, this format allows for enhanced interactivity and multimedia integration. Digital resumes often feature creative layouts, embedded links to portfolios, and interactive elements such as hover effects or animations.

They enable candidates to visually demonstrate their technical and design skills, making them particularly popular in creative and tech industries. The goal of a digital resume is to highlight qualifications, but also provide a dynamic and engaging avenue for potential employers to assess a candidate’s capabilities.

Student Athletes

As a UMass athlete, you learn incredible transferable skills in areas such as communication, leadership, and teamwork. You also spend more time at your activity than most, so make sure they see all your greatness in action.

“Effectively managed communications between 24 team members, served as liaison connecting team and coaching staff, and effectively resolved intra-group conflicts.”

“Excellent time management skills. Balanced a 30+ hour practice, training, competition, and travel schedule while balancing full academic course load.