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

Questions

• Follow up:

Bori Stoyanova

bori@mit.edu

Lynette Jones

ljones@MIT.EDU