Resumes & CVs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Agenda Resumes vs CVs Purpose of a Resume Purpose of a CV Resume Formats & Content CV Formats & Content Differences Between a CV and a Resume Resume/CV Dos and Don’ts Cover Letters Research Statements
Resumes vs Curriculum Vitae (CVs)
Resumes are required for an Industry Job Search Process
Resumes are the written inventory of your work experience and accomplishments, skill set, career and educational highlights
CVs are required by environments that demand doctoral degrees – SAM communities
CVs are a chronological representation of credentials - “the course of one’s life”
A Resume and its Purpose
Marketing Tool Key component in the job search
process To get you an interview Resumes are as unique and individual
as the individuals they represent Tailored to the specific job
A CV and its Purpose
Important piece of documentation Key component in the search for
scientific, academic, or medical positions Usually accompanied by a cover letter and
a research statement To highlight your credentials CV follows a specific structure Only one version of a CV is enough
Resume Formats Reverse Chronological – Lists your
experiences in reverse chronological order, beginning with most recent position
Functional – Promotes and headlines skills and accomplishments, without emphasizing where or when you developed those skills
Combination – Utilizes reverse chronological order as well as organizes experiences in order of importance
The Four Ws of a Resume?
What opportunity are you seeking? What is your specific background that
relates to this opportunity? What are the roles, relevant work
experiences and education that provided you with this experience?
What are your unique accomplishments?
Resume Guidelines/Length Easy to read – Resume should be in a
consistent format and the reader should have a clear understanding of who you are
Easy to find out what you are good at – effective formatting, clear articulate language and pertinent information will enable the reader to access what is important
Length of Resume – Keep your resume concise – make every word count – 2 page optimum
Resume Headings
Contact Information Profile Summary Skill Set vs.
Objective Work Experience Education Professional Associations and
Membership
Use Words Carefully Avoid use of confusing terms or
acronyms Avoid use of long sentences or
paragraphs Focus on concise factual statements Emphasize hard skills, e.g. computer
software applications Focus on specific action verbs
Resume Content
Show a progressive history of success (increased responsibilities, promotions, etc)
Address specific accomplishments – PAR statements
Identify your unique achievements within organizations
Provide metrics that support these accomplishments
PAR – Example Project: Recognized a need for an interactive
videodisc/computer database for students and faculty
Action: Analyzed database and procedural requirements and designed an interactive tool
Result: Installed in MIT Libraries
Putting it all together: Identified the need for and led the design and delivery of a database project which resulted in easier access of information for faculty, students and staff through MIT Libraries
PAR Statement Practice 1. Think about an accomplishment or
project that you wish to include in your resume. With a partner, describe the issue or challenges that you addressed
2. Write down the following: (P) What was the issue and subsequent project (A) What actions you took using action verbs (R) The result or impact of the project
CV Formats
Academic CV Executive CV International CV
CV Guidelines/Length Easy to Read – line item presentation of
your credentials and academic history Must haves
Professional Address Educational History Honors and Awards Publications References
Length of CVs – no restrictions; 5 - 10 pages is optimum
CV Headings Contact Information Education/Doctoral Dissertation Medical or Academic Posts Research – with mentors and institutions Publications Presentations Teaching Honors and Awards Appointments Committees Other activities
References – Resume vs CV Not included or required in a Resume – can be an
addendum
Typically required and listed in a CV – very important piece of information in academic searches
Consistent list between CV and applications for academic positions Up to 5 reference letters are required in academic searches Post Doc mentor and Ph. D. mentor come first – most
important
Differences – Resume vs CVCategory Curriculum
Vitae Resume
Essence A full list of your professional and educational history
A summary of your experience and skills that are most pertinent to the job
Length Not restricted; 5 - 10 – optimum for a seasoned academic
1 to 2 pages
Usage SAM/Science – Academia - Medical positions
Every other type of job outside of academia and
research science Publications Yes – full list Rarely
Style and Format
Not important; content matters Very important/Make it easy to read and follow
Number of versions
One is enough/minor modifications are OK
Many version/Tailor to each job of interest
References Yes No
Do Not's of Resumes & CVs Do not include personal information in
resume or academic CV Do not send a photograph Do not embellish your resume/CV with
false statements Do not use full sentences or pronouns Do not use abbreviations or acronyms
Don’t be Shy to Share Obtain an objective review of your
resume/CV Share your resume/CV with a colleague in
the specific department that you are targeting for a job
Keep updating resume and CV Be true to the facts
Cover Letters – Industry Job Search
Cover Letter + Resume = Industry Job SearchParagraph 1 – Express interest in
opportunity + How you found out about itParagraph 2 – What you have to offer to
the potential employer; specific matches between your qualifications and the job
Paragraph 3 – Follow up and Next Steps
Cover Letters –Academic Job Search
Cover Letter + CV = Academic Job SearchParagraph 1 – Express interest in
opportunity + funding situationParagraphs 2/3 – Work/mentors as a
Post Doc + work/mentors as a Ph.D. Paragraph 4 – Future research focusParagraph 5 – Follow up and Next Steps
Research Statements – Academic Job Search
Research Summary Graduate Research (mentor + lab) Post Doctoral Research (mentor + lab) Future Research Plans (may include
abstracts) Optimum is 3-5 pages; may be more if
abstracts are included Educational Plan/Teaching Plan may also
be required