Whether you decide to get a job or go to graduate school, you will need to communicate who you are to others. Your resume is often what makes your first impression, so it is imperative to make your resume an accurate, succinct representation of yourself and your accomplishments.

Resume vs. C.V.

The terms “resume” and “Curriculum Vitae” (C.V.) often are used interchangeably. However, they actually do differ in a few important ways. A resume is a brief (usually one page), direct, fact-by-fact summary of your skills, experience, and education. A C.V. contains a more detailed synopsis, including your academic background, teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, honors, awards, affiliations, and other details. Accordingly, the C.V. is generally much longer, often ranging from 5 to 10 pages or more.

In the United States, a resume is preferred when applying for a job. However, when applying for academic positions, research positions, and fellowships/grants, a C.V. is preferred. A company will usually indicate when they would like a C.V. instead of a resume. When applying abroad, it is safe to assume that you will need a C.V.

Developing a Resume

This is a brief overview of the process of writing a resume. Much of the information provided here directly from, or based on, the UCI Division of Career Pathways website. We recommend you review the Career Pathways website, especially the Resumes and Cover Letters page, for additional more detailed information.

1. 1. Analyzing Your Potential Job and Evaluating Your Employer
      The most effective resumes are those that are tailored toward the specific job being sought. Take some time to analyze the job description for desired skills and abilities. You could also research the company to which you are applying – learn about their mission, company culture, and get a feel for what qualities are valued in their employees.
   2. Brainstorming
      Take some time to think about and create a list of your accomplishments and skills: things you did well, enjoyed doing, and were proud of. Include education, training, volunteer opportunities, jobs, relevant course work, projects, travel, and group/team activities. Don’t forget to consider your honors involvement! Regardless of how active you have been in the extracurricular components of Campuswide Honors (which should also be included on your resume), you’ve had to complete rigorous honors coursework specially designed to challenge you to develop your critical thinking skills, communication style, and appreciation for academic fields, issues, and opinions different from your own. These skills (critical thinking, communication, and open-mindedness) are often among the most sought-after job skills, regardless of your field or employer. Furthermore, your honors research and thesis demonstrate that you have the capacity to work on a large, detailed project over an extensive period of time and can see a complicated project through to the end. Working effectively with a faculty advisor could show experience working on a team/with a supervisor.
   3. Pre-Writing
      Describe your accomplishments and experiences in concise, specific detail: what you did, who you did it with, what equipment did you use, and what happened. Be sure to identify your personal strengths and skills, and highlight what you accomplished or learned through that experience. Give specific examples. Begin phrases with action verbs, quantify your results, and use commonly understood terminology. Refer to the Career Pathways’ Action Verbs list if you need some inspiration.
   4. Choosing the Appropriate Resume Format
      In addition to being tailored to the particular position for which you are applying, your resume should clearly support your career goal. Information should be presented in order of relevance to the position and the skills, knowledge, and abilities it requires.
      Chronological Format – organizes information by experiences in reverse chronological order, with the most recent positions first. It is the most commonly used.
      Hybrid/Functional Format – organizes information into groupings of skills or accomplishments
   5. Writing Your Resume
      Now that you’ve identified your many accomplishments and skills, prioritize them and pare them down. You may have many good experiences and skills, but you don’t need to list them all. A resume is generally one page long, as opposed to a C.V. (Curriculum Vitae), which can be 5-7 pages long. Take some time to tighten up the statements you came up with in step 3, but be sure to pack as much information into each bullet point as possible. Emphasize results produced, significant achievement, and recognition from others. If you still need to trim down, list only those skills that directly apply to the job or program you are seeking. Either way, you should highlight your qualities that the company wants to see (based on your research from step 1).
      Required Resume Components

Optional Resume Components

Not Required

6. Editing
Your resume should look neat. Consistency is key – use the same readable font type and size throughout your resume for consistency (although your name and contact information may be a different font/size). Make sure your margins and bullet size are consistent. You don’t have to use periods, but if you do be consistent. Avoid using templates because it is hard to work with the layout. The more concise, the better. For an undergraduate, a resume should be one page long. If you feel you need more than one page reassess if everything is relevant to the position(s) to which you are applying.

7. Proofreading and Finishing Touches
You should check the spelling of every word of your resume, and make sure grammar and punctuation are correct. Print your resume to make sure that your formatting looks good on paper. Have someone else proofread your resume, and get their feedback. Career Pathways has an online resume review program called VMock. VMock uses powerful machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to benchmark your resume against thousands of resumes from top institutions around the world. Your resume will be analyzed based on presentation, impact, and skills.

8. It’s Done!
Congratulations! You’ve created an effective resume that succinctly describes your education and experience and specifically relates to the job or position you are applying for. If you would like to take the next step in making yourself stand out to a potential employer, then you should work on creating a cover letter to include with your resume (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED). A solid resume and cover letter will help you stand out in order to secure an interview!