Resumes - Career Services – Syracuse University

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Often paired with a cover letter, on average a recruiter spends 10 seconds (or less) reading a resume. Explore the resume resources below, VMock the free 24-hour resume review platform and schedule an appointment to meet with the Syracuse University Career Services team to help organize and prepare your resume today!

What is a resume?

Traditionally paired with a cover letter, a resume is a document used to highlight your professional experiences and skills when applying to non-academic internships or jobs.

- Used to apply to most non-academic jobs (e.g., consultant, engineer, accountant, etc.) where specific skills in a tailored document are the main reason an employer will hire you.

- Demonstrates that you have the skills and experience to succeed in an internship or job.

- Usually one page, unless your industry or unique academic and professional experience calls for two pages.

- Traditionally does not include references.

What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)?

Often used to apply for faculty positions, grants, fellowships or research positions within an academic setting, crafting a unique curriculum vitae (CV) will help highlight your skills and experiences among fellow candidates.

- Showcases your academic achievements, including the research you’ve conducted, classes you’ve taught, articles you've published, and conferences where you have presented.

- Typically no shorter than three pages, there is no limit to the length of a CV, as long as you’re showcasing your academic achievements.

- It is customary to list your references with their full title and contact information.

How do I start a resume?

- Make a list of experiences (e.g. paid, unpaid, on-/off-campus, or volunteering).

- Explore resume templates for inspiration and create your own.

- Based on the position you are applying for decide what you would like to include (e.g. education, summary, skills, involvement, awards and more).

- Clearly present your contact information.

- Rank your experience based on the internship or job description, while keeping relevant information at the top.

- Always include name of organization, your title, dates worked and locations for every position.

- Keep descriptions succinct and emphasize your role by using clear, vivid language.

- Use the free VMock 24-hour resume review platform or schedule an appointment to meet with the Syracuse University Career Services team today!

Resume Best Practices

- Take the “I” out of your resume. Instead of “I assisted staff with database management,” say “assisted with database management.”

- Quantify when possible. Numbers stand out on a resume.

- Start each description with an action or power verb.

- Customize your section headings. Instead of “Experience,” create custom headings to emphasize what you have done, for example, “Biotech Research Experience.”

- Remember there is no one right way to write a resume. Your experiences are as unique as you are.

- Consider creating your resume in VMock or InDesign (when appropriate and relevant to your industry).

- Proofread and stay consistent. Use the same font, font size and match the headers of your cover letter and resume documents.

- Each industry and country has different standards and characteristics for the job application process, schedule an appointment to meet with the Syracuse University Career Services team and explore resume best practices for your unique goals today!

Resume Skill Building

Explore resources such as the free VMock 24-hour resume review platform and others on the Skill Building webpage.

Resume Examples (United States)

For resume examples catered to your industry, please log into VMock.

Resume Examples (Global)

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