Writing An Effective Resume - an application component

Did you know resumes are also an important part of the U.S. college/university application? Yes, it is a place where you are going to let the admissions officer have a peek into your accomplishments, projects, internships, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and research/work history. Not only that, resumes are great tools for helping students prepare for a college/university interview or to provide as a written-aid to the recommenders who are writing the Letters of Recommendation. To help you with crafting a stand-out application resume, here are some tips:

Key contents of a U.S. style resume:

Six important parts of a basic resume

• Contact information

• Education

• Work experience

• Activities

• Technical skills

• Awards

• The additional parts are Objective and References – specified only for internship/Co-op/Assistantships

Format specifications for a resume:

• Content should not exceed a page and a half. The most preferred format is one page

• Use 1.15 line spacing

• Use fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman with size 12

Language specifications for a resume:

• Easy to read and understand – Not too formal and not too colloquial

• Consistent writing style

• Avoid passive voice

• Use appropriate tenses

• Use a variety of action verbs to describe situations and actions

Style of a resume: Changes according to the purpose such as admission, internship, co-op etc.

Admissions

Undergraduate admissions resume

• Detail activities you were engaged in high school on

1. community engagement

2. sports

3. other extra-curricular activities

• Highlight association with any social organization outside your of your school activities

Graduate admissions resume

• Focus on work experience in the related field

1. internships

2. projects

3. paper presentations

• Highlight any

1. international internship experience

2. exchange/study-abroad program

• The "objective" part of an admission resume is optional

• Internship/Co-op/Assistantships

1. Specify your objective

2. Elaborate work experience related to the job you are applying to

3. Project technical skills that stand out and relevant to the work

• Mention duration of work, accolades/special recognition award

• Undergraduates applying for internships can highlight related experience at their high school level

• Furnish references upon request

Some other important points to note:

• Organize information in a logical fashion

• Tailor your information to the purpose of the resume

• Maintain consistency in style and use simple sentences

• Use simple fonts and do not clutter with multiple styles

• Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation

• Proofread your resume carefully and get it reviewed by your peers, counsellors, and teachers