Resume
In collaboration with recruiters and hiring managers, the OPCD has developed recruiter- and ATS-approved resume templates and samples for students and alumni to use when creating their own resumes. Click the link below to access them.
Resume Writing Tips
- Always at the top of your document
- Name - slightly larger than the rest of the document
- City and state without your full address
- UD email address and cell phone number
- LinkedIn URL (optional)
Your summary statement should bridge the gap between your qualifications and the job description, highlighting how you fit the role. It must be specific, referencing key skills and experiences that are most relevant to the employer.
- This section should include:
- Degree and university
- Major
- Date of graduation
- City and state
- Optional information can include:
- Study abroad programs. If you went to Rome, definitely include!
- Merit-based scholarships and honors
- Student club/orgs especially if you were an officer
- GPA: include if 3.0 or above. Do include your GPA if it is a requirement of the employer.
Include specific, tangible skills that can be substantiated elsewhere in your resume. Avoid listing personal attributes or vague skills, for example, passionate, creative, team player, detail oriented. Examples of skills and aptitudes:
- Research and analysis
- Writing and editing
- Social media analytics
- Technical writing
- Python
- Leadership
- Project management
- Bilingual: Spanish
- Always include the name of the organization, location (city, state), job title, and dates worked.
- Use a variety of strong action verbs. Let the job description guide you.
- Describe the scope and context of the situation. Explain the actions you took and the impact these had on both the organization and yourself. Quantify results when possible.
- Talk about what was learned, the skills developed and what your results were, not just the tasks that were performed.
- Do not limit “experience” to jobs or employment; clubs or project work can also be included.
- AVOID simply listing responsibilities and tasks.
- It is important to list quality over quantity in this section
- Name the organization, role/position title, date, and one or two bullets describing your accomplishments.
Tailor your resume: Never use the same resume twice. Your resume should match the job description. Pay special attention to required qualifications, skills and experience. Your resume should mirror the same language. For example, if a job description requires experience with Python, and your resume does not specifically mention Python, then you can expect that your resume might not pass the screen!
Use phrases: The resume should not include full sentences, paragraphs, or first-person pronouns (I, me, we).
Use action verbs: When creating statements for your resume it is recommended that you use action-packed verbs to begin each description. The link below will give you a wide variety of verbs to consider. One way to help you create these statements is to review what you did, then put it into a strong statement to sell your skills and abilities. See this Sample List of Action Verbs to begin statements regarding your experiences.
Keep it to one page: Recruiters only spend seconds reading each resume. You should be able to make an impression and list your most important information into one page.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A curriculum vitae is a detailed, ongoing list of academic experiences and accomplishments. As an undergraduate it will look a lot like a resume, but more focused on academics. Although it is usually accompanied by corresponding dates for each accomplishment, there is no standard format and a CV can be more than one page long.
When should I use a CV instead of a resume?
When applying for graduate school or for positions in academia or teaching.
What should be included?
Education, teaching experience, research experience, grants awarded, grants pending, publications, conferences attended, presentations, professional affiliations, committees and advisory boards, languages spoken, honors and awards, research interests, work experience, and community involvement.
Cover Letter
It is generally advised to submit a cover letter when the employer explicitly requests one or when you need to clearly demonstrate why you’re qualified for the position, especially if it’s not immediately apparent from your resume. You should customize your cover letter for each specific job you apply for, addressing the key qualifications and skills required for the role to ensure you present yourself as a strong candidate.
Cover Letter Writing Tips
- Your contact information
- Date you are writing the letter
- Address of the company
- If possible, greet the specific person with whom you are corresponding
- State the position for which you are applying and where you heard about it
- Name drop if you have a good connection
- State why you believe you are a good match, including 2-3 key qualifications you will address in the rest of your letter (that will also match your resume)
- Write no more than 2-3 paragraphs, with each paragraph focused on one qualification that shows you are a good match for the job and organization.
- Give specific examples to prove where you got these skills and how you have used them before.
- Tell a story; do not just list your skills.
- Refer to your resume; do not repeat it.
- Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the job and the organization.
- Request an interview in some way.
- Provide contact information again.
- Thank the person for reading your material.
- Sign your name.