Resume Writing

Your resume is often your foot-in-the-door with a potential employer. It may be the first impression they get of you (although, ideally, it won't be). Your resume needs to be an accurate and positive representation of your education and experiences.

Some people think that resumes will likely become obsolete in the coming decade. You will also find resources here on how to create what will replace them. In the meantime, resumes—and their online professional networking counterparts, LinkedIn profiles—are still the currency for presenting yourself to the professional world and the first requirement for most employment applications.

Starting points

Ask your TRIO SSS Coach.

We would be happy to help you with your resume from start to... well... you're never really finished. Your resume will evolve with your career. Make an appointment and meet with your TRIO SSS Coach or Career Coach to get started.

Organize your information.

Start by organizing all of the information you will need. You can do that using this form or by creating your profile on LinkedIn. They each ask you for your contact information and details about your education, experiences, and skills. Once you have the information, you can arrange it on the page.

Create your resume document.

If you need help laying out your resume, so that it looks appealing, try using a template. (You may choose to look at a few to get ideas, then create your own layout.)

Google Docs has a template gallery with a few nice-looking resume templates. This article on The Muse, a career coaching website (where you can pay a lot of money for the services you get for free form TRIO SSS), has a few more templates and tells you how to use them. Templates are a good guide, but you don't need to stick to them.

Our friends at Michigan Tech use this Resume Guide. It has some good ideas, but I don't agree with all of it.

How-tos and Tips

Manage your resume.

Keep a working copy of your resume in a word processing file, either a Google Doc in your Google Drive, or a Word or Pages file on your hard drive. Keep it up to date, so you can use it quickly when you need it. You do not want opportunities to pass you by while you're updating your résumé.

You may want to keep multiple versions of your resume to use in different contexts; more on that below.

When you submit your resume in a job application, export (or print) it to a pdf file. Attach the pdf file to your application. A pdf file is like a printed copy of your resume: it will look the same on any device, so the reader will see what you see.

Advice on file names

Beware of the ATS!

If you are planning on applying to large corporations, beware of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The ATS is a computer program that reads your resume and cover letter before a person sees them, and looks for keywords and phrases, to see if you are a good fit for the job. It filters out applicants whose resumes don't fit the company's requirements, giving hiring managers a much shorter list of applicants to consider.

How to get past the ATS:

  • Do not use graphics or columns.

  • Use traditional resume section headers and bullet lists.

  • Make sure you use the company's terms to describe your skills, experience, and education.

  • More advice from The Muse