Start with brainstorming
For the most effective resume, brainstorm experiences that you can use to tailor your resume to match the expectations of the employer.
Different jobs will have different needs, so after you have an idea of the necessary abilities and skills for each of the positions you are interested in, start brainstorming to recall the knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, and accomplishments you have had. Match the requirements of the jobs. For example, if a job involves teamwork, write about a time when you successfully worked with other people to achieve a common goal.
When brainstorming your past experiences, ask yourself:
- What have you done that was challenging, but rewarding?
- When has it felt like you made a difference?
- What were some times you felt like you “nailed it”?
Then, start adding details to your achievements by asking yourself:
- Why did I do that? (What problems did I solve?)
- How did I do that? (What were my actions?)
- What impact, value, or results did I deliver?
Some of your experiences can be used to fulfill the requirements of multiple job positions. If you struggle to come up with relevant experiences, don’t worry. You probably have more transferable skills than you think! For help in finding these skills, you can check out O*Net Online. O*Net Online is an online job database resource provided by the U.S. Department of Labor that lists job descriptions and duties of almost 1,000 occupations in the United States.
Transfer your strongest experiences onto the experience section of your resume.
The experience section will be what sets you apart from the competition when employers read your resume. This is where you display the previous positions you have held, what you accomplished in those positions, and what hands-on experience you gained.
Employers consistently rank “Relevant Experience” as the most important information on a resume. Using the section title of “Relevant Experience” allows you to combine hands-on experiences you gained through your work, course projects, and hobby projects while highlighting your accomplishments. You can also choose to have different sections with titles such as work, project, and volunteer experiences.
Note: Relevant experiences need not be paid experiences.
It’s best to list your experiences in reverse chronological order, meaning that you put the most recent events on top. When you list a position, include the full name of the company or organization; city, state, or country where the company or organization is located; title of the position; and the period of time when you held the position (from the month of this 20XX to the month of that 20XX).
The C.A.R technique
Under each position, include 2-5 bullet points detailing the duties you performed in the role. Use the C.A.R. technique by answering the following 3 questions in each bullet:
- Challenge: What problem did you solve?
- Action: How did you solve the problem?
- Result: What was the outcome?
Note: Ideally, every bullet point you write will answer all three questions listed above.
If you want to go one step further, start thinking about the following details.
Challenge:
- Why was this a significant problem?
- Was the problem complex?
- Did you use a novel approach?
Action:
- What skills/techniques/tools/algorithms did you use to solve this problem?
- Did you run 50 experiments or 500 experiments?
Result:
- Did you improve the speed, efficiency, or error rate?
- Did you save money/time for the company?
- Can you quantify?
Use action oriented bullets
When building bullets points, always start with an action verb, preferably using words similar to those used in the job description. Here is a list of action verbs you can use from the Career Center website. Review the verbs that are repeated or emphasized on the job description to maximize your attractiveness to the resume scanner algorithms.
However, simply using action verbs is not enough. Show the reader why you did something; how you did it; and the impact, value, and results that were delivered by your action. Use numbers in their numeric form when you are able to.
Which do you think is better?
- Trained and supervised waitstaff
- Trained and supervised 15 waitstaff, providing guidance on register operation, customer service, and safety procedures
How about:
- Developed software and image processing applications
- Developed software and image processing applications for measurement and vision systems using C# and Halcon
- Developed novel software and image processing applications for measurement and vision systems using C# and Halcon within 3 months from proof of concept
Which one tells a better story? Remember that examples are stronger than statements!