Resume

When deciding on your format, follow the guidelines and standards for your field. For most fields, CDL recommends a standard, reverse chronological format. We also recommend that you create your resume from a blank document and not use a template. Also, avoid using tables or images, as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) cannot read these properly. Most employers prefer resumes that are neat, easy to read and tailored to the job description. The length of your resume will depend on the number of years and the field in which you have worked. Most employers prefer a one-page resume for candidates with fewer than ten years of experience and two pages for candidates with more. Nonprofit and government employers are more flexible and will accept two pages from less-experienced candidates.

Tailor your resume to the job. Use action verbs to begin your bullet points, quantify information where possible and appropriate, focus on your accomplishments, show how your work impacted the organization and highlight your transferable skills.

A summary should clearly tell your story—who you are, what your strengths and aspirations are—so that hiring managers can understand quickly what roles you fit into. Be careful not to use too many generic words in the summary—challenge yourself to be authentic when describing your unique strengths.

An ATS computer program scans your resume when you apply online. The program compares your resume to the job description by searching for words that match and creates a list of top candidates for review by the hiring manager. If you are not among the top candidates, it’s possible that no one will ever read your resume. Incorporating top keywords in the text of your resume is the best way to move to the top of the candidate list. Formatting can also impact how the system reads your resume. Avoid using templates, tables and images.

Please refer to the Career Design Lab Course on your Canvas/Courseworks dashboard to find additional resources. LinkedIn Learning is another good resource for further learning.