Resumes

The purpose of a resume is to stimulate the interest of a potential employer enough to want to interview you. Resumes provide a brief overview of your skills and experience and demonstrate your aptitude for the job you are applying for. You might use a resume at career fairs and during informational interviews, to apply to jobs and internships, to accompany a request for a letter of recommendation, and as part of a graduate school application.

A curriculum vitae (CV) is an academic resume and is used for research and college/university teaching positions. A resume is brief - usually one page - and focuses on work experience. A CV can be as long as it takes to state one's qualifications, publications, papers presented, etc. Sometimes people ask for a CV when they really want a resume. Be sure to check with the person requesting it to be certain you are using the correct version for that position.

Yes, a resume can be more than one page, but it shouldn't be unless you have extensive experience related to your job objective. Most resumes for college students and recent graduates should fit onto one page if you clearly and concisely describe your experiences.

There is no "best" format for all resumes as it depends on what you have done and what you are trying to accomplish. Usually, if you are applying to a more conservative industry (e.g. banking) or continuing along a prescribed career path in which you have gained some experience (engineering, for example), you'll want to use a chronological resume. A skills/functional resume works well if you have little work experience, are entering a career that is very different from your educational path, or are changing careers.

Your resume should include sufficient experience to demonstrate your ability to do the job that you are applying for and to show yourself as a person with experience in the working world. Directly related experience is considered most valuable, but unrelated jobs can also help you to show that you have acquired the necessary skills. If you are unsure which jobs to include, make an appointment with a career educator.

Yes! Volunteer work allows you to acquire hands-on experience and develop skills in the same way that paid positions do. Future employers want to see that you have developed skills and demonstrated them in a working environment. It is not important that you were paid for your work, only that you can do it. Volunteer positions do not need to be designated as "volunteer" nor do they need to be listed separately.

Placing your interests and hobbies on your resume can help an employer get an idea about who you are as an individual. However, this is not an essential part of most resumes and is one of the first sections to be removed if you run out of space. The best hobbies to include are activities in which you were actively involved that allowed you to develop and demonstrate transferable skills such as leadership, event organization, or financial management. Be specific about what you did while participating in these activities and avoid a "laundry list" of organizations.

As a student or recent graduate, your academic achievement will be one of your most important assets. The basic rule of thumb is "if you've got it, flaunt it;" it is appropriate to include your GPA on your resume if it is 3.0 or above.

Berkeley Career Engagement offers several different resources to assist with creating or updating your resume. You can also have your resume reviewed during an appointment with a career educator or during drop-in hours with a peer advisor.

An applicant tracking system or ATS is what you upload your resume to when you apply to a position online. Companies and organizations use different applicant tracking systems with different capabilities. To make sure your resume is ATS friendly and uploads successfully, use standard formatting: standard fonts (e.g., Times New Roman), section titles (e.g., Education, Projects, Experience), work history format (position title, name of company, and dates), and avoid using headers, footers, text boxes, tables, colors, pictures, or graphics. Use a Word or Google Doc, or convert to a PDF. Follow the instructions on which document format is recommended to upload when applying for jobs.