COVID-19 Unemployment Resources

What to include on your resume:

• Your contact information
• Education
• Work Experience
• Skills/Certifications

In addition to this, you may want to add items such as: 

• Internship Experience
• Professional Associations or Memberships
• Volunteer Work

Format Guidelines

• Font Type: Times New Roman, Arial, or Garamond
• Font Size: 11pt or 12pt
• Employment should be in chronological order
• Tense: Current Job = Present tense , Past Job = Past Tense

Make it ATS-friendly

• ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, and it is a piece of software that employers use in order rank the online applications and resumes that they receive.
• Remove unique headings and stick to common headings: Work Experience, Education, Certificates, etc.
• Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities (i.e. led, delivered).
• Match your skills and keywords to the job description. NOTE: Do not copy the job description!
• Avoid excessive line separation, tables, or other special characters

• The name is bolded and in larger font
• Accurate contact number and email
• Email is professional and appropriate. AOL emails, for example, are “outdated” technology
• No use of Mr., Miss., Mrs., or age to avoid discrimination

• Name of college or institution
• Location (city and state)
• Month/Year of graduation, or anticipated
• Degree awards and major
• Minor is optional
• GPA if over 3.5
• Education should be listed in most recent order

• For each place of employment that you'll be listing, include the following information:
  • Name of the company, position title, location of the company (city and state) and dates of employment
• Describe your responsibilities in each role. Make sure your statements start with action verbs, and ensure that your description is specific, measurable, and concise. 

• Keep it brief in length (2-3 paragraphs, no more than a page overall).
• Use consistent branding – Use the same header and font as your resume.
• Use letter format with company name, company address, date, Dear: Hiring Manager, & closure.
• Showcase what YOU can offer the company, not what the company will do for you.

• If you are a student/recent graduate, mention your university/major and how it applies to the job.
• If you have direct work experience, mention those roles.
• If you are changing careers, state why you want this position and the transferrable skills that make you qualified for the role.
• Highlight the skills you possess that are relevant to the position.
• Give the reader an understanding of your strengths.
• Request an appointment or phone call.

This seems easy, but it must be strategically answered and directed towards the position.  Do not give your entire employment history and do not give unnecessary “fun facts” about yourself. Instead, be focused, clear, and concise. Start off with about 1-2 specific accomplishments or experiences that make you the perfect candidate for the position.

The hiring manager wants to know if their recruiting efforts are paying off, or if you have a connection from someone within the company. Be honest! They also want to know how much you have researched about the company and how passionate you are for this position. Talk about why this position seems interesting to you.

Research the company! If you don’t read the “About” section on the company’s website - you are doing yourself a disservice. Talk about why you think you are a cultural fit.

Individuals that are passionate about the role are the individuals that get hired. You need to have a great answer. Start by identifying why you are a great fit and what you can offer the company.  Then share why you want to work for the company.

This seems very forward and intimidating. Don’t be nervous! This is the perfect opportunity for you to sell yourself and your skills in an honest way. Talk about what separates you from the rest of those interviewing and don’t be modest - be forward!

For strengths, discuss your true strengths (not what you think they want to hear). Choose 3 and back them up with specific work or school examples.

For weaknesses, the interviewers want to know two things: 1. Obvious red flags and 2. Your self-awareness. You’ve got to balance this answer. Discuss areas of yourself that you struggle with, but that you’re working to improve. Example, “I struggle with technology, but I have consistently challenged myself by choosing projects that allow me to practice and learn more about how it’s used effectively. Now I am confident I can always master what is needed in order to do a good job.”

This is where the interviewer wants to hear your amazing achievements and how you are results-oriented. You’ll achieve this by using the S-T-A-R Method: Situation, Task, Action, and Results. Set up the situation and the task you were required to complete. In my last role of a customer service representative, I was tasked with answering customers concerns with empathy and exceptional customer service), describe the action you took to overcome the obstacle (there was one time where I had an irate customer, I listened to her concerns without judgement, empathized with her, and was able to correct the situation), and the result you achieved (She completed a survey that displayed my excellent customer service and renewed her contract for 3 more years!)

Conflict is inevitable. Your interviewer wants to see how you respond to conflict. Stick with the STAR Method. Focus on how you handled the situation in a professional and productive manner and how you reached a resolution or compromise.

Be honest and specific about your goals. Here, the interviewer wants to know:

              1. Are you realistic with the expectations of yourself?

              2. Does this role align with those expectations?

              3. Are you invested in the company, or will you leave within a year?

Think realistically about where this position could take you. It is also okay to say that you are not entirely sure, but this position plays an important role in determining where you will be.

Again, use that STAR Method. Choose an example that shows you can confidently lead a team. This is an answer you want to be memorable.