Students & Postdocs applying for positions beyond academia will need a carefully tailored resume. But where do I start and what should I include? Sharing some hopefully helpful tips & strategies to get started.
Resumes - a quick thread.
@OpenAcademics #phdvoice #resume
Resumes - a quick thread.
@OpenAcademics #phdvoice #resume
Why Resume? It helps you get an interview & let's folks know what value you bring to a specific role. A typical non-academic resume is NOT a long list of experiences. Its a concise snapshot of experiences and skills *relevant* to the position you are applying for.
It can be 1-2 pages, sometimes 3-4 depending on industry! Write in reverse chronological order start with most recent experience first. Keep the look simple & easy to read is best! Fancy fonts and colors are distracting.
Typical sections to include in your resume in image below. Best way to quickly get the resume reader's attention as they skim through several resumes is to include a Professional Summary at the very beginning of your resume. What is a professional summary? 
Professional summary = 3-4 bullet points that encapsulate your best skills, accomplishments and experiences that are RELEVANT to the role. Eg: If the role really wants someone who is collaborative and a great communicator? Then dedicate 1-2 bullets describing how you have that.
A resume is always bulleted. Structure each bullet so it's conveying enough information. Start with an adjective - Identified, Mentored, Lead, Authored. Describe a problem you were trying to solve, what action /tool you took to solve it & what was the outcome. Eg in image below.
"How do I know what to cover in my bullets? I have a lot to say!". Read the job description!! The skills, qualities, experiences that are desirable to the employer is already in the description (most times). Mirror that language in your bullet.
Good resumes try to quantify achievements as much as possible. Seeing numbers helps to break up a lot of text.
Show, don't tell- If you state that you are innovative in your resume, then make sure you give an example of a time you innovated in a bullet or two.
Show, don't tell- If you state that you are innovative in your resume, then make sure you give an example of a time you innovated in a bullet or two.
Buzz words vs Key words- Bad resumes are empty statements featuring buzz words like strategic or good with people while good ones feature keywords from the job description. Show dont tell! Convey how you are strategic with an example bullet!
Good resumes are an indicator of good communication skills. Don't assume the reader knows your story, instead help make the connection between your expertise and the requirements of the role very clear for them.
Finally, revise your resume, then revise some more. It helps to have a main longer and more extensive resume that you can quickly edit down and customize when applying to each position.
Tried my best to summarize main takeaways : For a longer, more indepth version of what goes into resumes etc : see videos here. Tips applicable to humanities/engineering/sciences! youtube.com/channel/UCFV7-…
For humanities : I really like @MLAnews tips on creating a resume here.
connect.mla.hcommons.org/resource-trans…
connect.mla.hcommons.org/resource-trans…
Love this one too!! @MNLfolder . Thanks @travellingarch!!
https://twitter.com/mnlfolder/status/1469375536057274369
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