How to Write a Resume for STEM CareersLeslie TothToth Resume Consulting, LLCwww.tothresumeconsulting.com

Resume Defined• Resume is from the French word resume. A resume is a short

account of your career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position.

STEM Resumes• The prospect of building a resume can be deeply intimidating. • The ideal resume, especially in a STEM field, describe the jobs

and research positions he or she has held. • It should give a strong impression of a candidate’s interests,

bases of knowledge, and transferable skills.

To Be……Or Not To BeYour Resume SHOULD NOT Be:

Long Boring Simply a list of jobs held Inaccurate representation of yourself

Your Resume SHOULD Be: An effective resume must convince prospective employers that

hiring you benefits their business. Your resume should be well written and professional.

Purpose and Impact• Marketing Tool• Designed to create a favorable first impression• May get you an interview, won’t get you the job!

• Personal Account of Your:• Education and Training• Experience• Skills and Abilities

Purpose and Impact

• Provides an accurate, concise, and original presentation of who you are.

• Resource for employer at interview.

• Remember: Employers spend 3-4 minutes at most reviewing a resume. Make each word count!!!

General Guidelines• Length• Generally one page (especially for students or recent grads)• Two pages for extensive related experience.

• Layout• Direct readers eye using headings and layout• Choose standard font in 10-14 point size. Use professional

looking fonts.• Use appropriate color and high quality8 ½ x 11 paper, one sided

only!

General Guidelines• Layout continued:• Leave white space for uncluttered look• One inch margins on each side is standard.

• Be consistent with:• Indentations• Capitalizations• Font• Spacing

General Guidelines• Content• Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Don’t rely on spell-check

• Grammar• Spelling• Typographical errors• Punctuation• Stress accomplishments as results• Tailor content to each position (ex: rewrite summary / skills / technical

proficiencies).• Omit information that could be used in a discriminatory way (ex: age,

religious affiliations, etc)

Choosing a Resume Format• Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and abilities.

• Functional Format: Emphasizes your skills and abilities. Allows you to emphasize skills gained through volunteer work and extra curricular activities. Often used by career changers, graduate students, and postdoctoral students.

• Chronological Format: Uses dates of employment as headings. Dates demonstrate consistent work history – listed in reverse chronological order. Very effective if majority of education and work experience is related to objective.

Scannable Resumes• Use key words associated with position you are seeking.

Include terminology of the business or industry.• Read job advertisement for key words• Research on the internet for key words specific to job /

industry.• Save resume as text file for applying online.

Email Submission• Use standard font such as Arial or Times New Roman• Do not bold, underline, or italicize text• Use hard return to insert line. Do not word wrap• Sign your email with your full name• Proofread and use spell-check before hitting send• Do a trial send to yourself to see how your resume will look

after sending

Email and Electronic Submission

• Maintain professional tone• Use professional sounding email address (not

tweetybird@whatever.com)• Be specific in email subject title• Follow employer directions carefully!• Avoid use of characters and symbols• Use left justified format

Title / Heading• TITLE BLOCK / HEADING• Name• Address – including zip code• Day time telephone number – don’t forget area code• Email address – only if you check it daily

Professional Summary• Professional Summary• Employers already know your goal is to get a job, so ditch the

objective statement and instead write a summary that compels them to read on.

• A good executive summary will comprise four to six sentences that define your unique talents and demonstrate you’re superior to the competition.

• When it works, your executive summary will grab a reader's attention and carry that attention throughout the entire resume.

Example• OBJECTIVE—To obtain a challenging position in the music

industry that utilizes my expertise and education. • Professional Summary - MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL KNOWN

FOR PERFORMING 'BEHIND THE SCENES' MIRACLES. Worked effectively with bands, record labels, managers, tour managers, publicists and venues as Production Coordinator and Booking Agent for a rock TV show and production house. Passionate about music and always on top of trends and industry news. Adept at filming concerts and interviews, and Final Cut Pro editing. Excellent at planning, coordinating, focusing on details, taking initiative, and resolving problems before the VIPs know problems exist.

Experience• Summarize significant full and part time positions• Include relevant volunteer work / internships• Highlight responsibilities, skills developed, and

accomplishments• List company name, job title, city, state, and dates of

employment followed by description

Experience continued• Prepare a detailed list of all positions, activities, or other experience

that can validate your skills and abilities.

• Positions you have held are not the only thing you should consider, especially if you have limited work experience. Consider other non-job activities or experiences.

Writing Position Summaries• Use action verbs and specifics when describing each position

held. • Under each job write a brief summary (4-5 sentences) about

the work performed.• After the position summary, list in bullet form key

accomplishments. • Include quantifiable details if possible.• EX: Planned, prepared, and managed annual budget of $30,000• Collected and maintained account records for 100 members.

Non-Job Related Activities / Experiences

• Have you ever been active in a local club – maybe you served as an officer?

• Do you sew and tailor your own clothes?• Do you make routine repairs to automobiles?• Can you speak a foreign language?• What computer skills do you have?• Military Service or Internships?

In each of these activities you have used or developed skills. Highlight these in your resume.

Things to consider• Don’t go into in-depth detail with jobs early in your career /

work history unless the skill or expertise is relevant to the position for which you are applying.

• Focus on your most recent and relevant work experience.• If you are making a career change or have limited work

history, you want an employer to focus on where you are going, rather than on where you have been.

Education• List highest degree first, followed by other degrees received.• Degree level.• Major(s), Minor(s)• Spell out entire name of degree and school. Include school

location. • Any other college / universities attended.• DO NOT list high school degree! • List GPA if over 3.0

Education continued• Students seeking internships should consider:• Listing class standing first• Followed by major / minor and concentration if applicable• Followed by anticipated graduation date• School name / location• Research Experience / Projects

Skills / Core Competencies• List skills you can perform with little or no direction.• Build list of key words as these are typically used to filter

resumes.• Computer – include hardware / software and operating

systems.• Language – include fluency, level, specify if you can read /

write / speak the language.• General Skills – communication, problem solving, leadership.• Skills are often underestimated by students.

Optional Categories• Licenses, Certifications, Credentials, Training• Publications• Extra-curricular activities / Professional Affiliations• Military Service• Honors / Awards• Volunteer Experience

Resume Review Checklist• Does your resume look appealing?• Is it clearly labeled, using appropriate headings?• Does it highlight your skills and abilities?• Have you had it critiqued by others?• Have you triple checked it for accuracy? A single error could

eliminate you from consideration.

Sample STEM Resume

Sample IT Resume

The Cover Letter• Use standard business format• Should be customized for each position.• Establishes personal contact.• Should be addressed to specific person (if possible).• One page only.• Emphasize how your skills, education, and experience can

benefit your employer.• Close by indicating your interest in the position and follow-up

plans.

The Cover Letter• Paragraph One:• What position you are applying for and how did you find out

about the position?

• Paragraph Two:• Why do you want to work for this particular employer, and why

should they hire you?

• Paragraph Three:• What is your next step going to be? Indicate how you will follow

through or express desire for an interview.

Questions?