Did you know resumes are also an important part of the U.S. college/university application? Yes, it is a place where you are going to let the admissions officer have a peek into your accomplishments, projects, internships, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and research/work history. Not only that, resumes are great tools for helping students prepare for a college/university interview or to provide as a written-aid to the recommenders who are writing the Letters of Recommendation. To help you with crafting a stand-out application resume, here are some tips:
Key contents of a U.S. style resume:
Six important parts of a basic resume
Contact information
Education
Work experience
Activities
Technical skills
Awards
The additional parts are Objective and References – specified only for internship/Co-op/Assistantships
Format specifications for a resume:
Content should not exceed a page and a half. The most preferred format is one page
Use 1.15 line spacing
Use fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman with size 12
Language specifications for a resume:
Easy to read and understand – Not too formal and not too colloquial
Consistent writing style
Avoid passive voice
Use appropriate tenses
Use a variety of action verbs to describe situations and actions
Style of a resume: Changes according to the purpose such as admission, internship, co-op etc.
Admissions
Undergraduate admissions resume
Detail activities you were engaged in high school on
community engagement
sports
other extra-curricular activities
Highlight association with any social organization outside your of your school activities
Graduate admissions resume
Focus on work experience in the related field
internships
projects
paper presentations
Highlight any
international internship experience
exchange/study-abroad program
The "objective" part of an admission resume is optional
Internship/Co-op/Assistantships
Specify your objective
Elaborate work experience related to the job you are applying to
Project technical skills that stand out and relevant to the work
Mention duration of work, accolades/special recognition award
Undergraduates applying for internships can highlight related experience at their high school level
Furnish references upon request
Some other important points to note:
Organize information in a logical fashion
Tailor your information to the purpose of the resume
Maintain consistency in style and use simple sentences
Use simple fonts and do not clutter with multiple styles
Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Proofread your resume carefully and get it reviewed by your peers, counsellors, and teachers
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