ECS
Resumes & Letters
Engineering Career ServicesUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonJohn Archambault, Susan Piacenza,Kathy Prem, Lisa Beneker
ECS
Why do you need a resume?• To prepare for the interview– A well-developed resume helps you to focus on
your 3-5 themes of interests and qualification strengths
• To emphasize and guide the interview– What projects/experiences do you want to
emphasize– Most responses will be 2 – 3 minute responses
• Be prepared to talk about any item on your resume for 5 - 10 minutes, if asked
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What should you include?• Name & contact Information• Objective statement• Education• Experience• Projects• Skills / Awards / Interests / Activities /
Publications• Anything else you think is important…– High school information ok to use as a
freshman or sophomore
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Where Will Employers Contact you?• E-mail– Quickest and most direct contact
• Phone– Professionalize your incoming message– Don’t answer unknown # if you don’t have the
time to talk or are in a loud situation– Reply to messages
• Both a campus and permanent address, particularly for co-op and intern students
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Objective Statement • Write 2 – 3 phrases outlining the type of
position you are seeking and your special interest areas– Co-op, intern or professional– Engineering major– Special interest areas could be particular
industries or functional areas
• Do not use words like “challenging position”• Focus on what you can do for the employer;
not what the employer can do for you
ECS
Objective Statement Samples
• Bad example:– A fulfilling position in mechanical engineering
where I can expand my communication and leadership skills.
• Straightforward, useful information:– A geological engineering co-op position in
water resources management or remediation for a maximum of three work terms.
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Education Section – Degree level, major and date degree is
expected– University attended– GPA – Can be overall, major, last 4
semesters– Other Possibilities • Coursework – filler category – limit list• Academic projects• Areas of emphasis• Honors, Scholarships
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Education example University of Wisconsin-MadisonB.S. Engineering Mechanics, expected May 2010
– Engineering GPA 3.2/4.0, Cumulative GPA 2.8/4.0
– Academic Design Projects• Mars Wind Machine: Completed stress and displacement analysis of
Giromill airfoils. Determined most effective internal airfoil construction and material.
• High Voltage Power Line Hybrid Crossarm: Developed an efficient design process. Completed stress/strain analysis for worst case scenario; appropriate materials selection/dimension analysis.
– Selected Course Work• Advanced Strength of Materials, Finite Elements, Material Fatigue,
Aerodynamics
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Experience Section• Potential section titles
– Experience– Engineering Experience– Additional Work Experience– Industrial Experience– Research Experience
• Format this section the same as you formatted the Education section
• For descriptions, use phrases, not sentences• Use key words and action verbs (pages 18-19 of
ECS Job Search Guide)
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Experience Section• Quantify terms, if possible
– Managed the operation of a municipal pool service over 1000 customers each day. Supervised a staff of 7 lifeguards. Required strong organizational skills. Saved $3000 for college expenses.
• List duties and accomplishments– Developed low-stress, clear and textured optical quality
polycarbonate film products used in display and data storage applications on state-of-the-art extrusion lines using Six Sigma tools.• Team leader in commercialization of product with projected
revenue of $4.8 million in 2002.• Key team member in commercialization of product with
projected revenue of $8 million in 2002.
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No Experience?• Everyone has experience• Academic projects – Also appropriate in education or own section
• Volunteer experience– Also appropriate in additional information
• Any work experience
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Not just engineering experience• All jobs are important
– Indicate strong work ethic– Examples of development of leadership and communication skills– Shows use of time management, meeting deadlines, working with others,
taking responsibility– May also balance a GPA below 3.0
• Worked 20 hours/week while full-time student• Paid 80% of college expenses through part-time work
Silverspring Golf Course, Middlebury, ILCaddie, Summers 2005-2007
– Developed strong interpersonal skills in working with variety of customers and management.
– Enhanced already strong work ethic by working 12 hours/day for 3 months each summer. Saved $3,300 over 4 summers.
– Promoted to caddy master in 2007.– Trained and supervised eight new hires.
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What skills do you have?• Computer skills– Be inclusive:
languages, platforms, programs
• Language skills• Convey the level of
proficiency– Proficient– Fluent– Familiar with
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What else should you include?• Activities
– Engineering or community organizations
• Volunteer experience• Awards,
scholarships, honors• What else are you
interested in/spend time on?– UW Marching Band,
intramural sports teams, restoring old cars, and Eagle Scout
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Is the format important?• Resumes are looked at VERY quickly– ½ content, ½ appearance– In general, one page for BS students, often 2
pages for MS students– White space is necessary between sections– Quality printing on white or light paper so it’s
easy to read– Use bullets, bolding, etc.
• But not too much!
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Is your resume ready?• Proofread• Have a friend/roommate proofread• ECS – 24/48 hr drop-off review– Appointment after Career Connection
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Cover Letter is Required• The cover letter– Introduces resume– Demonstrates writing skills– Shows match with employer
• Change for each employer– Three paragraphs
• Introduction - what do you want (internship, etc.)• Body - why they should hire you (what makes you a
good match)• Closing - how you are going to follow-up with them
• PROOFREAD
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How to send• E-mail– Convenient/fast for employers and you– One screen – no scrolling– Business format– 1-2 paragraphs– Scannable resume in body; formatted resume
attached• Mail– Same paper/format as resume– One page– Signed
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Questions?• Additional information in ECS Student
Handbook
• Books/Samples available in ECS Office
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Career Fair Resume • For the Career Connection only, include at
the bottom of each resume:– Candidate Type
• (co-op/intern/professional)
– Student ID– Work Authorization (US citizen/Permanent
Resident/Visa Holder)
Intern 902225558 F1 Visa