Resume Tips*
● Create a resume with plain text in Microsoft Word or Google Docs
○ Templates, tables, columns, design elements do not parse well through Applicant Tracking
System (ATS) - online software that track candidates during recruitment
● Create a master copy resume with everything listed that continuously is updated and use this to create 1
page customized resumes tailored to the specific jobs
● Review the posting and description to look for keywords to identify skills
● Undergraduate students resume will typically be 1 page of most relevant experiences (including paid jobs,
internships, academic projects, volunteering, student clubs and organizations)
● Margins can be minimum 0.5 inch or maximum 1.0 inch
● Formatting (bold, italics, etc.) should be consistent (if town and state is bolded once, it would be bolded all
throughout) to allow for reader to find information quickly and show organization
By Section
All sections should be reverse chronological (most current experience at the top to the furthest away)
Name and Contact
● First and last name should be the largest font on the page (size 18 to 20)
● All other font should be the same size (minimum 10 and maximum 12)
● Do not need to list full address (instead can be town and state)
● Update hometown if living on campus (Example: Stony Brook, NY)
● Make sure information is not in the header (text in the header does not appear in the ATS)
● Create a LinkedIn and customize URL (View networking information on Career Center webpage)
Education
● List the expected graduation month and year (Example: Expected May 2026)
○ Education section is the only without start and end dates
● If you earned a degree at another college, this can can be listed as well
Experience
● Make sure to start with an action-verb based on the skill then description and outcome
● Check the tense of the verb (if the experience is completed, it would be in past tense)
● Each bullet point should showcase you and your skills
● Outcomes are very important as they describe how your skill helped the organization, team, people, etc.
● Create a clear picture (including frequency like daily or weekly, how many people or items)
● 3 to 5 bullet points of skill-based bullet points relevant to the specific posting
Skills
● List all technical and observable skills (Computer, Spoken Language, Certifications)
● Skills like teamwork and communication should be in a bullet point in the Experience section
● Skills section will be at the bottom, but IT & Engineering resumes have Skills section under Education
Book a Resume Review appointment in Handshake to help you with this process!
*This is a general guide but is not all encompassing. It is recommended to have your resume reviewed.