Resume
Resume Writing
There are tons of great resume templates you can find online by simply searching for them. Google Docs and Microsoft Word also have some resume templates that you can edit and use. The choices for resume templates are endless nowadays with access to the internet. Nonetheless, here are some recommendations for each section of a resume.
Top Section:
Include your name, email, and phone number at the very top of the page. Right below your contact information should be a list of your technical and soft skills.
Middle Section:
For the middle section, you should list out your projects and experiences including the name of the organization/project you worked for, your job/role, the location, and the time frame you worked there for. Make sure these are listed in reverse chronological order (latest at the top and oldest at the bottom). Try to only write 2-4 points per experience/project.
Bottom Section:
At the bottom should go your education (school name, the degree that you graduated with or are studying for, graduation date, etc) and any miscellaneous things that you feel are important to put on your resume. The information located at the bottom of a resume is usually the last thing that an employer will look at and arguably the least important.
Layout
Important Reminders and Suggestions
Simple is Better
DO NOT add multiple colours and complex designs when creating your resume. It can be an eyesore and possibly confuse the person who is reading your resume. The ultimate goal is to make your resume as concise and organized as possible. It might be a complete shock to you but the more “boring” your resume looks, the better!
Keep It Short
On average, employers look at a resume for LESS THAN TEN SECONDS! Remember that they have hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of resumes to go over. Avoid writing long and detailed sentences since it is almost certain that the person reading your resume will skip over it. Also, try to contain all of your content within two pages. If you can do it in one page, that’s even better!
Font Choice
Use a legible font so that employers can easily read your resume. This means having a large enough font size and a simple font type. It is recommended that the font size be more than 9 pts. Likewise, Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri are some great simple font types that you can use on your resume. Obviously, there are more font types available for you to use, but just make sure that the text can be easily interpreted by readers.
Bolding
Bold discipline and context-specific words on your resume to make them stand out more to recruiters. This will help make your points stand out by increasing your resume’s visual appeal and readability. Think of this as a way to direct the recruiter’s attention to the parts of your resume that you want them to focus on.
Multiple Resumes
Prepare different resumes for different types of jobs. The content in a resume should focus on the particular job type that you are applying for. Therefore, you may need to create multiple resumes depending on the number of job types you are interested in. For instance, it wouldn’t make sense for you to tell a business job recruiter about your computer programming experience.
SAMPLE RESUME:
Sentence Structuring
Most successful resumes follow an effective outline for sentences. The structure goes like this:
I did x using y to achieve z.
A general example for someone working in data science would be: “Analyzed 15 large data sets using various Python libraries to increase package delivery speeds by 30%.” This is only a simple example, so you may need to be more specific in your sentences. For instance, instead of writing “Python libraries”, you can include the types of Python libraries you used to help you analyze data.
Please remember to change up your sentences to whatever works best for your intentions as this is only a general guideline. With that in mind, we will be using this sentence structure throughout the rest of this page when providing examples to help you familiarize yourself with this format.
Word Choice
“Team Player” Action Verbs
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Acknowledged
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Assimilated
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Embraced
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Collaborated
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Adapted
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Contributed
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Participated
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Supported
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Teamed
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Coordinated
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Partnered
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Guided
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Facilitated
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Provided
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Represented
These action verbs are mainly used by people wanting to work in a role that requires them to actively collaborate with their team members. This can include those who are looking to work in healthcare, project management, retail, business, etc. Almost every industry requires employees to be actively involved in working with others.
Examples:
- Coordinated 5 projects working alongside cross-functional teams to complete them promptly.
- Contributed to numerous ideas and designs by effectively communicating with team members to enhance website traffic and flow.
Many job roles require employees to demonstrate leadership skills in various forms. Sometimes, the leadership component of a job role is hidden and is hard to tell from an outside perspective. Demonstrating leadership could be as simple as providing your team members with positive reinforcement or taking initiative on tasks that no one else wants to do. Some types of jobs that look for leadership are construction, healthcare, sports management, retail, project management, summer camp counsellors, teachers, general managers, supervisors, public speakers, politicians, etc.
Examples:
- Empowered local underrepresented youth through public speaking to bring light to their campaigns and stories.
- Mentored new company employees by following training protocols to help them become accustomed to the organization.
“Leadership” Action Verbs
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Led
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Advocated
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Assembled
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Coached
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Encouraged
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Influenced
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Inspired
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Empowered
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Mentored
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Developed
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Established
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Executed
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Implemented
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Moderated
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Directed
“Managerial” Action Verbs
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Fulfilled
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Handled
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Prepared
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Finalized
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Actualized
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Executed
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Managed
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Connected
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Directed
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Regulated
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Produced
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Undertook
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Acquired
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Instituted
Managerial action verbs are used to get jobs that require the applicant to be capable of doing and implementing important things proactively. Most of the tasks that people in these roles are assigned have a measurable impact on the company making it crucial for them to be organized and competent. Examples of job roles include business executives, C-suite executives, project managers, lead supervisors, human resources, customer service, healthcare workers, educators, law enforcement, etc.
Examples:
- Undertook various new company projects by exercising organizational and implementation skills to satisfy partner companies.
- Regulated a supply chain system using data analysis and inventory management skills to ensure proper product distribution.
Communication action verbs should be at the top of the list for almost every single resume you write. Most, if not all, employers look for individuals with strong communication skills as it is crucial when working with other employees. Nonetheless, there are still some exceptions such as factory line workers, software developers, accountants, etc. Even these jobs still require a certain level of communication, just not as much as the other jobs.
Examples:
- Negotiated various business deals by confidently delivering presentations to surpass the expected performance for the month.
- Clarified dozens of legal documents for clients using summarization skills to enhance our services and customer satisfaction.
“Communication” Action Verbs
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Advocated
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Deliberated
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Persuaded
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Negotiated
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Explained
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Conveyed
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Clarified
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Articulated
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Addressed
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Briefed
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Shared
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Socialized
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Presented
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Notified
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Communicated
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Convinced
“Organizational” Action Verbs
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Operated
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Planned
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Arranged
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Assembled
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Catalogued
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Reorganized
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Prepared
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Ordered
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Refined
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Collected
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Restructured
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Managed
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Organized
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Gathered
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Distributed
Similar to communication, almost all employers look for applicants to demonstrate strong organizational skills. It is important to show the recruiter that you possess this ability since you are going to be working for their company and with their teams. Furthermore, you want to show the employer that you can handle their tasks without falling behind due to organizational problems. This is because they are using their company resources and time to hire and train you to become part of their team.
Examples:
- Prepared 250 client documents using computer software to support company operations.
- Distributed over 400 customer surveys by connecting with our clientele weekly to maintain strong customer relations.
In terms of “research” action verbs, individuals looking for work in the research or analysis field should be using these words. Some common job roles can include lab research assistant (biology or chemistry), supply chain analyst, business analyst, economist, data scientist, pharmacist assistant, quality assurance tester, etc.
Examples:
- Examined over 25 cases of COVID-19 illness through careful procedural analysis to identify common symptoms and links to the sickness.
- Investigated multiple cyberattack threats and attempts using extensive testing to solidify our network security.
“Research” Action Verbs
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Searched
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Analyzed
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Conducted
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Diagnosed
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Identified
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Evaluated
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Critiqued
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Compared
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Determined
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Examined
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Reviewed
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Gathered
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Experimented
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Investigated
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Collected
Tips to keep in mind:
Include any software and/or social media that you know how to use