A Guide for Creating an Effective Resume
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A resume is a document that presents your experiences, education, skills, accomplishments, and background.
A resume can be used for different reasons such as applying to professional opportunities, networking, clubs but most often it is used to secure employment. It’s important to create a strong resume that shows your relevant experience in a clear format since this will be the first touchpoint an employer has with you.
Click here to download our resume template!
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Resume Tips
1-page length max (See sample Resume template), keep the font simple and easy to read
Name in a big font at the top of the resume. You want the employer to be able to clearly identify your name.
Size 25-30 bolded font
Minimize white space by taking advantage of all the space on your resume
Size 10-11 font
0.5 - 0.75 margins on all four sides
End your bullet points at least ½ - ¾ towards the right side of the page (do not end your bullet point with a single word in its own line)
Write your resume bullets using the C.A.R format
Challenge: For each role on your CV, think about a challenge/problem/obstacle that you needed to overcome. This is where you set the context. Don’t actually write the challenge you faced on your resume, this portion is just used for brainstorming purposes.
Action: List the action you took to resolve the problem. What skills did you use or what new skills did you develop to reach your objectives? For maximum impact on the reader, use active verbs at the beginning of the phrase and keep it short and to the point.
Example: “Redesigned the marketing campaign of a leading retail company....”
Example: “Managed a 5-person team…”
Result: After defining the situation (challenge) and describing the actions taken, now it’s time to underline the outcomes. Concentrate on the quantifiable results that will show growth and the measurable contribution you brought to the business or the department/ team. Present your results thinking from the employer’s point of view; what he/she would like to hear that will be relevant for their business. When writing your achievements it’s best to avoid using personal pronouns.
Example: “...resulting in $1M annual cost savings and a 20% improvement in conversion.”
Example: “....that increased our joint business with our top 3 partners, including Toyota and Honda, by 5%”
Link to list of good action verbs to start every bullet point in your resume
Remember your C.A.R. and you’ll speed through your job hunt. Graphic created by Vanessa Wong.
Tailor your resume for each job you’re applying to maximize your chances of having that resume noticed.
Chances are an automated machine will be weeding out hundreds of resumes. To alert this system, identify and reuse keywords from the job posting.
Primary Responsibilities:
Financial Modeling
Source, research, and recommend potential strategic opportunities
Experience & Skills:
Excellent business sense and ability to understand and resolve complex business issues
A strong personal interest in the chocolate industry
Other Qualifications:
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
CPA
Name drop external top companies or higher leadership throughout your resume
Ex. Collaborated with x team from Snapchat and Facebook to x y z
Ex. Presented key findings and recommendation in a 10-page document to the CEO of The Chocolate Factory, mitigating future potential expenses by $10M
Under “Interests” add 1-2 unique and not work-related passion that could be brought up as a casual talking point during the interview
Ex. Poker, Skincare, Archery, Fencing, Plant Collecting, DJ-ing
Type out your resume but make sure to send your resume and cover letter as a pdf when sending it to an employer
Name your files FirstName_LastName_Resume and FirstName_LastName_Cover_Letter
Ex. Willy_Wonka_Resume
Ex. Willy_Wonka_Cover_Letter
Include a link to your LinkedIn profile below your name
Don’t put your full address on your resume! Put the city that you live in or the major metropolitan area
Ex. Los Angeles
Ex. San Francisco Bay Area
Make sure the email you list on your resume is presentable and clear.
Good email: name.lastname@gmail.com
This email is professional and shows clearly who they would be reaching out to
Bad email: ilovechocolate123@hotmail.com
This email is unprofessional and should not be listed on a resume
Always preview the resume and cover letter pdf and double-check for typos/spacing issues before sending out your resume and cover letter to employers.
It is a good idea to have friends, family members, or mentors check your resume for typos or grammatical errors.
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Continue to the next reading to learn how to write a cover letter that makes a good first impression on your potential employer.
