Pamela K. Carmines, Ph.D.Professor & Vice Chair for Graduate Education,

Department of Cellular & Integrative PhysiologyAssistant Dean, Graduate Studies

Converting your CV into a Resume

Acknowledgement:

Outline

► CV/Resume purpose

► Difference between a Resume and a CV

► Types of Resumes

► Resume formatting

► Resume pitfalls

Purposes of the CV and Resume

■ The CV and Resume are advertisements or “snapshots” about the applicant and are used to obtain an interview. Neither document will secure a job.

■ These documents provide the employer’s first impression of the applicant. First impressions are lasting impressions.

Curriculum Vitae Resume

vs.

What is a CV?

A CV is a comprehensive document, detailing your education and work history, as well as your achievements, awards, any honors you’ve been conferred and any/all of your publications.

What is a Resume?

A resume is a document used by job seekers to help provide a summary of their skills, abilities and accomplishments.

CV Resume

What? Full professional and educational history

Summary of yourexperience and skills

Length No limit 1-2 pages

Publications Yes (all of them) None or select group

Modified to fit the job? No Yes

Content vs. Style Content over Style Content and Style both matter

CV / Resume Comparison

Key Content Areas

CV► Personal Contact

Information► Academic Background► Professional Licenses &

Certifications► Scholarly Activity► Service► Honors & Awards► Affiliations/Memberships

Resume► Personal Contact

Information► Education► Objective or Summary► Relevant Work

Experience► Skills► Honors & Awards

Resumes Require a Business-focused Approach

► Concise► Targeted► Forward thinking► Highlight expertise / differentiating features► Value proposition

Complete a Self-assessment of Skills and Abilities (with real-life examples)

The resulting information can be easily incorporated throughout the Resume.

Nature Immunology 14: 6–9, 2013

Also, see page 1 of the handout!

Types of Resumes

► Chronological (classic format)o Employment dates listed in reverse

chronological order

► Functionalo Focuses on skills and experiences;

highlights what you know rather thanwhen you did it

► Combinedo Encompasses features from both (difficult)

Types of Resumes

► Chronological (classic format)o Employment dates listed in reverse

chronological order

► Functionalo Focuses on skills and experiences;

highlights what you know rather thanwhen you did it

► Combinedo Encompasses features from both (difficult)

Hundreds of resume templates are available online; however, you should not simply plug

your info into a template. Your resume should be customized to optimally convey information

about YOU that is relevant to the job!

Heat maps of recruiters’ eye movements

Business Insider/TheLadders:http://www.businessinsider.com/

►6 seconds initial “fit or no fit” decision:o nameo current title and companyo current position start/end

dateso previous title and

companyo previous position

start/end dateso education

►The resume on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one on the left because of its clear and concise format.

Organization is crucial

► The more time required for a potential employer to search through a resume to locate specific information, the more likely it is that they will reject the candidate altogether.

► Information must be logically organized into clearly labeled sections and must be presented in a way that allows easy scanning.

Formatting► One page (two max)► Choose a font – and stick with it!

o San Serif is preferred (but NEVER Comic Sans!)► Font size between 10.5 and 12 pt► Margins between 0.5” and 1.0”► Single spacing► Paper:

o 8.5” x 11”o white, off-white, or light grayo 26 lb

► Laser-jet (preferred) or ink-jet

Header► Full Name► Address► Phone Number► Email► Personal Website or LinkedIn profile (optional)

Do NOT include: ► Photo► The word “Resume”► SSN► DOB► Personal information (marital status, partner’s name, religious

affiliation, etc.) ► Facebook page

Summary (or Qualifications)

A few bulleted items that link your experience to the potential job

Skills and Abilities(Areas of Expertise)

► List only “tailored” skills – those skills that are relevant to the company and position (use keywords from the job posting)

► Include both hard and soft skillso Hard skills: word processing, computer

programming, Spanish fluency, mathematics, molecular biology techniques, functional genomics, in vivo cardiovascular assessment, etc.

o Soft skills: problem solving, collaboration, time management, critical thinking, etc.

Experience

List the jobs you’ve held in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)► Company, job title, dates, and a short bulleted list of

responsibilities/duties► Incorporate specific examples of skills exhibited and

resulting accomplishments► Highlight experiences that most align with the job

posting► Use action verbs (see handout)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

National Institutes of Health 3/97 – PresentVisiting Fellow, Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology• Manage a lab of 12 scientists, researchers and support staff.• Presented findings at 3 conferences and 7 workshops to over 500 scientists.• Provide scientific expertise regarding research outcomes to staff and

colleagues at NIH.• Conduct experimental research using basic molecular biological methods

such as DNA sequencing and analysis, DNA/RNA isolation, purification,blotting and hybridization, electrophoretic mobility shift.

• Manage lab budget of $550,000• Wrote 12 research articles on neuroscience, cell biology, pharmacology and

molecular parasitology.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

National Institutes of Health 3/97 – PresentVisiting Fellow, Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology• Manage a lab of 12 scientists, researchers and support staff.• Presented findings at 3 conferences and 7 workshops to over 500 scientists.• Provide scientific expertise regarding research outcomes to staff and

colleagues at NIH.• Conduct experimental research using basic molecular biological methods

such as DNA sequencing and analysis, DNA/RNA isolation, purification,blotting and hybridization, electrophoretic mobility shift.

• Manage lab budget of $550,000• Wrote 12 research articles on neuroscience, cell biology, pharmacology and

molecular parasitology.

Action verbsSkills

Quantified results

See pages 2-3 of the handout

Nature Immunology 14: 6–9, 2013

Other examples are provided in the handout

Note: There is no publication list! Publication and presentation

information is incorporated into research experience bullet points

Grammar and Spell Check!

► If your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, you risk not getting an interview

► Have a colleague proofread the Resume► No abbreviations, slang, or emojis!

Companies are looking for professionals who are careful in all aspects of their work

► TLDR• lengthy job descriptions• irrelevant experience• hobbies • unnecessary, obvious words

Resume Pitfalls

► A less-than-professional email address• BeerLover123@gmail.com• CuteChick4Life@yahoo.com

► TLDR• lengthy job descriptions• irrelevant experience• hobbies • unnecessary, obvious words

Resume Pitfalls

► Inconsistent formatting

► A less-than-professional email address• BeerLover123@gmail.com• CuteChick4Life@yahoo.com

► TLDR• lengthy job descriptions• irrelevant experience• hobbies • unnecessary, obvious words

Resume Pitfalls

► Inconsistent formatting► References

Best Practices of Resume Writing

Always:► Be concise► Craft an error-free document► Make headings distinguishable (bold font, underline)► Provide honest and accurate information► Use action verbs► Target the resume to the job posting

Questions???

For Resume (or CV) review email: pcarmines@unmc.edu