Resume
The resume is one of the most important aspects of a successful job search campaign and will many times determine whether or not you will receive an interview.
A general resume can be submitted for any position, but it is strongly suggested that you arrange the information on your resume so that it is targeted to a particular job or industry. It is helpful to research a job, company or industry before you begin writing a resume.
Optimal Resume Builder provides a variety of formats, options and features if you need to develop a resume quickly or if this is your first resume.
When your resume is completed, compare it to the Resume Resources Checklist to see if it meets basic resume standards. You can also bring your resume to the Center where a member of our staff will review it and make recommendations. Also, you may want to use your resume for on-campus interviewing.
Please note: Before you can apply to any positions in DoreWays, you will need to have a resume uploaded in the system.
Resume Samples
Elementary Education Sample Resume
Environment & Sustainability Sample Resume
First-Year Student Resident Advisor Applicant Sample Resume
Upper-Class Resident Advisor Applicant Sample Resume
AMC Resume Sample
Consulting Sample Resume
Engineering First Year Resume
Engineering Resume with Internship Experience
Engineering Resume with Project Emphasis
Finance Resume Sample
Healthcare Resume Sample
Public Policy Resume Sample
Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are common questions we routinely get from students about writing resumes. We hope this information will take some of the mystery out of how to effectively present your information and qualifications as they relate to those of the job or internship.
For more personal assistance, stop by our office during Coaching Express/Walk-In hours to have your resume reviewed and critiqued by one of our staff. Check our home page for times and locations.
Contact Information
Do I include my picture or any other personal information such as my birthday?
Objective
Do I need an objective?
Do I modify my objective for each position to which I apply?
Education
Should I put my GPA on my resume?
Do I include my school address, home address or both?
Should I put my SAT/ACT score on my resume?
Should I keep my high school on there?
Should I list my coursework?
I have changed my major. Should I include both majors or list classes from each?
Experience
How do I list my research or teaching assistant position?
Is it appropriate to have hyperlinks on my resume?
How do I direct employers to my digital portfolio?
Should I use bullet points or paragraphs when describing work and internship experience?
I completed an internship in one field, but have completely different interests now. Should I still list that experience even if it’s unrelated to the new field?
Can I include experiences that were unpaid?
Should I include volunteer experience on my resume?
Activities/Leadership
Should I keep high school activities on my resume if I haven’t done anything at Vanderbilt?
What types of activities are appropriate to include on your resume such as intramural sports, Greek membership, cultural organizations?
Do I include my leadership roles under the “Activities” section or should I create a “Leadership” section?
Skills
Do I need to list computer skills including social media?
Do I have to be fluent or proficient in order to list a foreign language?
General
Should I list references on my resume?
Should I have different versions of my resume for different industries?
I’m applying to graduate/med/law school and need a resume. Will it differ from the one I sent to employers for my internship?
Why is brevity important in your resume writing style?
Why can’t I use personal pronouns (I/me/my/their)?
I’m applying to an international position. How should I structure my resume?
What’s the difference between a resume and a CV?
Do graduate student resumes differ from those of undergraduates?
Is it appropriate to have a two page resume?
What are the main differences between an entry-level resume and one for an experienced worker?
Should I include experiences with religious, Greek or political organizations?
Contact Information
Do I include my picture or any other personal information such as my birthday?
No, photos and personal information are not required and may even be considered unprofessional when applying for jobs in the United States.
Objective
Do I need an objective?
No, objectives are typically not needed for entry-level candidates. However, if you wish to convey to an employer your specific interest, then you may want to list an objective. Be sure to keep it concise by simply stating the industry and/or job title and company name.
Do I modify my objective for each position to which I apply?
Yes, an objective should be tailored to each position you are applying to.
Education
Should I put my GPA on my resume?
Yes, it is recommended if it’s 3.0 or higher, or in any case in which a GPA requirement is stated in the job description and your GPA is at or above the requirement.
Do I include my school address, home address or both?
If you are an undergrad, it is fine to list both addresses, especially if you want to find an internship in your hometown. Once you transition toward searching for fulltime employment, it is best to only list the address of the city where you currently live.
Should I put my SAT/ACT score on my resume?
Some Finance, Engineering, and Consulting firms prefer to see SAT scores on resumes. We recommend that you check-in with Center coaching staff regarding the appropriateness of listing SAT/ACT scores.
Should I keep my high school on there?
After sophomore year you may want to remove your high school from your resume unless it is relevant to the city where you are applying for a job or you were involved in activities that directly relate to your college major (i.e., finance club, technology club, debate team, etc.) or reflect leadership that might not be reflected in your college experience.
Should I list my coursework?
You may list course work that is applicable (skills you want to convey to an employer). List course title, but not the number. If the course title does not showcase a skillset, you can list your accomplishments with each course. Another option is to add a separate section for your projects in lieu of coursework.
I have changed my major. Should I include both majors or list classes from each?
No, list only your current major, but in order to display your full range of talents, you may list some of the relevant courses taken from both majors.
Experience
How do I list my research or teaching assistant position?
You may have a separate category for “Research” and/or “Teaching.” Another option is to list teaching assistant experience in your “Experience” category.
Is it appropriate to have hyperlinks on my resume?
Include the URL of your personal website if you have one, but only if the content is professional and appropriate for employer viewing. Remove any automatic hyperlinks. It is not necessary to include company websites.
How do I direct employers to my digital portfolio?
For some industries, a digital portfolio is required. You should include the URL of your e-portfolio in your resume. You should also include the link to your e-portfolio in your email signature, especially when you connect with industry professionals.
Should I use bullet points or paragraphs when describing work and internship experience?
There are different opinions on this but generally you will want to use bullet points on your resume. Depending on the style of resume, you may consider using a combination of paragraph and bullets to highlight experience. Check-in with a Center coach if you have questions.
I completed an internship in one field, but have completely different interests now. Should I still list that experience even if it’s unrelated to the new field?
Maybe. If the experience is valuable and there are transferrable skills that you gained during the internship that would be relevant to another position.
Can I include experiences that were unpaid?
Yes, list unpaid opportunities same as paid opportunities and be clear about your job title as a volunteer or an intern.
Should I include volunteer experience on my resume?
Yes, you may include volunteer experience on your resume. You may list in the “Experience” category or you may have a separate category for “Volunteer Experience” or “Community Involvement.”
Activities/Leadership
Should I keep high school activities on my resume if I haven’t done anything at Vanderbilt?
Yes, it’s fine to list high school activities, but remember that it’s important to become actively involved here at Vanderbilt and by the end of your sophomore year, consider removing high school experiences unless they are related to the position to which you are applying.
What types of activities are appropriate to include on your resume such as intramural sports, Greek membership, cultural organizations?
It’s fine to include all of these types of organizations under “Activities” or “Leadership” if you have held an office. List each in reverse chronological order within the section it appears. If you have many activities that extend your resume beyond one page, then only list the activities where you have developed skills transferrable to the internship/job to which you are applying.
Do I include my leadership roles under the “Activities” section or should I create a “Leadership” section?
Including a “Leadership” section is a good idea to highlight your leadership skills to employers, but either section is acceptable. According to 2012 employer survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the top three attributes 75% of employers look for on a resume are: teamwork, leadership, and written communication skills (Job Outlook 2012).
Skills
Do I need to list computer skills including social media?
Yes, for general computer skills such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Be sure to include industry specific programs as well. If the internship/job you are applying to involves a communications type role, then you may want to list specific social media platforms. Be mindful to always list those which appear in the job description, if you have those skills.
Do I have to be fluent or proficient in order to list a foreign language?
Only list a language if you feel you are able to communicate with a client in that language. You can distinguish between limited working proficiency, proficient (working knowledge) and fluency (expert). You may also want to distinguish speaking versus writing skills. Consider the verbiage used in the job posting if language skills are included. It is important to be clear about your level of skill as it can easily be determined later in the recruitment process.
General
Should I list references on my resume?
No, these should be listed on a separate page and sent when requested or brought to the interview.
Should I have different versions of my resume for different industries?
Yes, you want to think about the skills that are important for each industry to which you apply and structure your section headings and change your descriptions under experience such that they highlight those relevant skills.
I’m applying to graduate/med/law school and need a resume. Will it differ from the one I sent to employers for my internship?
The Center specializes in providing assistance to students seeking professional opportunities. For students needing resumes for graduate school, there are other campus resources available. Consult your academic advisor, the Pre-Health Professions office, or the PreLaw Advisor as appropriate.
Why is brevity important in your resume writing style?
Employers spend 10 seconds on average scanning resumes, so you want their eyes to focus on your most relevant skills. Starting with strong action verbs helps recruiters envision you “in action” in your past roles.
Why can’t I use personal pronouns (I/me/my/their)?
The resume is supposed to be concise and describe your duties/accomplishments starting with strong action verbs. Flowery language is not suggested since employers only spend 10 seconds on average scanning resumes and will not take the time to review lengthy paragraphs.
I’m applying to an international position. How should I structure my resume?
See the resource Going Global for guides and resume/cover letter/interviewing advice for a number of countries. Recommended formats do vary between countries. Going Global can be accessed through the Center’s website by selecting “Your Toolbox” then “Online Resources”.
What’s the difference between a resume and a CV?
Resumes are for applying to internships and full-time employment. Curricula Vitae are typically longer than two pages and are frequently utilized when applying to academic or international positions. CVs in foreign countries often contain personal details (birthdate, marital status) that employers are not legally permitted to request in the application process in the United States.
Do graduate student resumes differ from those of undergraduates?
A graduate student’s resume may have additional sections such as Presentations, Conferences and Publications. Graduate student resumes may be longer than those for undergraduates, although recruiters for entry-level positions often prefer one page resumes. The exception would be for education and research oriented resumes or candidates with significant professional experience.
Is it appropriate to have a two page resume?
It depends on the industry and your experience. Most current undergraduates and recent grads (within two years) should keep their experience on one page. Employers spend 10 seconds scanning these resumes, so you should be as concise as possible. One example of an industry where you will find candidates using 2-3 page resumes is the education sector.
What are the main differences between an entry-level resume and one for an experienced worker?
Entry-level resumes are typically limited to a pageand list “Education” at the top of the resume rather than the bottom. Research and teaching resumes may require a Curriculum Vita.
Should I include experiences with religious, Greek or political organizations?
That depends. Your political and religious affiliations are personal and information you may not want to provide to an employer, however if you gained extensive relevant experience with these organizations, it could be beneficial to include your involvement. When listing accomplishments, be sure to list the terminology of the reader’s industry. (Congregation = Members, Audience; Rush = Orientation selection; Brother = Member; Party = Group).
Need help?
The staff of the Center for Student Professional Development are eager to support you in identifying and pursing professional opportunities. Our career coaching staff and peer career advocates are available for individual and group coaching appointments and professional development programs.
It is through the coaching relationship that you will maximize your opportunities and fully leverage Center resources to meet your professional development needs.
To get started, stop by the Center for a Coaching Assessment during Coaching Express. This 20-minute session with a Career Coach gives you a chance to have your resume critiqued, get answers to your questions, or develop an action plan for next steps.
Visit our News and Events page to see Coaching Express times and locations.
For more information about any of our services, contact our office today!
Connect with the Center