Getting Started

View our online resume writing workshop at http://www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu/workshops.html.

Resumes and CVs Defined

A resume is a document that summarizes your most relevant experiences and qualifications for a job or internship.  A resume should not include everything in your work and academic history, but instead should highlight those experiences most relevant to the position you are seeking.  Remember – the resume does not get you a job, it is simply a tool to help you secure a job interview.

A Curriculum Vitae (or CV) is a type of resume that is most often requested for those applying for positions in academia.  Many of the rules and guidelines for writing a resume apply to a CV with a few exceptions.  To get specific details on how to write a CV, click on Curriculum Vitae.

What to Include

When writing a resume for the first time the most common challenge is deciding what to include.  Start out by making a list of your experiences.  Include educational activities, employment, extra-curricular or volunteer experiences. Some of the most important experiences that prepare you for a job or internship result from activities beyond your employment experience, such as responsibilities in student groups, study abroad, classroom projects, or other accomplishments.

Review Example Resumes

We recommend that you avoid using templates when creating your resume.  Instead, look at a variety of example resumes and choose a format that you think will work best for the kind of experiences you want to describe. This may also help remind you of some experiences you've had that you forgot to include. Examples of resumes for a variety of majors are within the resume sample section of this web site.  Additional examples are also available in 198 McNeal Hall.