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Top 10 tips for writing your first resumé

Careers Published 10 Jul, 2023  ·  7-minute read

Wondering how to make a resumé for your first job? We share our best resumé-writing tips with expert advice from a member of UQ's Student Enrichment and Employability Development team.

Is there anything more intimidating than a blank Word document?

Probably. But it’s pretty high on the list – especially when you need that doc to get you a job.

You have to:

• make a good first impression
• summarise your education and experience
• showcase your talents and abilities
• convince an employer you deserve an interview .

And you need to do all this with just one or two A4 pages.

Hey, nobody said it was easy. But it might not be as hard as it sounds. A couple of resumé-writing tips can help you turn that scary empty page into a CV* that gets you a job. ( *We’ll be using ‘resumé’ and ‘CV’ interchangeably in this article ).

We spoke with Madelaine-Marie Judd , Service Improvement Manager (Careers) at UQ, to compile this list of tips on what to put on a resumé for a first job and beyond.

1. Tailor your resumé to the job

A classic mistake people make is writing their first resumé and then just submitting it as is for each application. For a better chance of success, you should tailor your CV to suit the job description and match any keywords from the ad.

According to Madelaine-Marie, the first step is to review the duties and selection criteria to make sure you’re a good fit for the role.

“Ensure the roles and responsibilities that you detail in the Experience section align to these criteria,” she says.

“This shows the employer that you’re engaged and have an understanding of what they’re looking for – you!”

2. Structure your resumé with signposts

A clear, logical structure is vital for your CV. Your first resumé template should be clearly signposted, using subheadings ( Education, Experience, Referees ) to organise your content and guide the reader.

This is one of Madelaine-Marie’s top tips for writing your first resumé because a confusing layout means a potential employer won’t even read your details – no matter how good they are. Plus, if you get your structure right in your first resumé, you’ll have a great template to use for future versions.

3. Use full sentences

Don’t shy away from going into detail, even if you’re using dot points (which are great for structuring your CV, btw). This is particularly true for the Experience section of your resumé.

“Rather than just listing a couple of words to describe what you did in previous roles, include full sentences to describe the what and the why ,” says Madelaine-Marie.

Here's an example on how to write your first resumé:

• Instead of Working in a team , you might say: “I adapted my work style to suit my co-workers and contributed to a positive team culture.”
• Instead of Roster management , you might say: “I coordinated the team’s work hours to ensure sufficient staffing at key times.”
• Instead of Customer service , you might say: “I ensured all customers were satisfied by being attentive, helpful and friendly at all times.”

This approach shows that you don’t just have the capabilities. You also understand how to use them and why they make you a valuable employee.

4. Be conscious of your design elements

If you’re a visual person, you might start with the layout of your resumé or spend a lot of time making it look good. And that’s great – a strong aesthetic can indeed help you stand out from the pool of candidates.

But be careful. Dedicating too much space to graphics can make it tough to include all your information.

“For some positions, there may be a cap of one or two pages for a resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“You need to ensure you have enough space to convey the depth and range of experiences that have shaped you.”

It can take time to find the right balance between text and graphics. It’s also possible that your resumé will go through recruitment software that won’t translate your graphics properly. So, always prioritise making room for the details you need employers to know.

Did you know? You can purchase first resumé templates on websites like Etsy or Creative Market to give your CV that little extra something it needs to stand out in the crowd. You can also use free tools like Canva to create your own personal branding.

5. Don’t neglect your experience (even if it’s not work experience)

Since we’re looking at tips for writing your first resumé, we asked Madelaine-Marie what she would suggest for people who have limited work experience (or none at all).

Is there a way to compensate for not having many (or any) jobs on your CV?

Well, yes, there is.

Resumé-writing tips for students with no work experience

“One of the most common mistakes is not including valuable experiences such as extra-curricular activities in the Experience section,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“These types of activities are incredibly meaningful and help create a conversation starter during interviews .”

Once you’re in uni, there’s a whole world of extra-curricular activities you can explore that will look great on your CV:

• work-integrated learning placements
• student-staff partnership projects
• internships
• volunteering
• representing your uni as an ambassador.

But there are plenty of opportunities during high school too. Perhaps you’ve:

• represented your school at an external event
• been elected for a student leadership position
• participated in an academic club (e.g. debating)
• taken part in another extra-curricular activity that demonstrates your positive attitude and abilities.

Whatever these activities might be, include them.

“Employers understand and appreciate that experience can take shape in many different forms.”

Resumé-writing tips for students with some work experience

If you’ve had a paid casual job, don’t you dare leave it off your resumé – even if it doesn’t seem relevant to the jobs you want.

“Paid casual jobs, such as in hospitality or retail, are incredibly important to include in your resumé,” says Madelaine-Marie.

“There may not be a direct correlation between the job you’re seeking and your casual role. But this experience may demonstrate your ability to manage competing demands ( study, extra-curricular and work ) and work in a team environment. These are transferrable skills that are in demand in every industry.”

6. Ask a friend or family member to review it

Writing about yourself can be tough. You may forget to include attributes and skills that are obvious to the people who know you best. This is why asking a close friend or family member to peer-review your resumé is a great idea.

Make sure to share the specific job description with them, so they know what you’re applying for. Ask for constructive feedback/ideas for improvement and keep an open mind to their suggestions.

Your family member or friend may even provide the extra pair of eyes needed to spot a crucial typo (see resumé-writing tip #9 below).

7. Ask a mentor or teacher to review it

Your friend or family member is a great starting point for feedback, but they may not have the experience to pick up every important detail. This is where a trusted teacher or mentor can help. This person may be able to look more objectively at your draft and is less likely to hold back with their feedback.

If nobody comes straight to mind to fill this role for you, consider which of your teachers you might feel comfortable asking for their opinion.

Did you know? At UQ, we have a huge range of resources to help students tailor their resumé and cover letter to apply for a job. From checklists to tips and workshops , we're committed to helping our students land their dream job.

8. List your education and experience in reverse chronological order

This resumé-writing tip is obvious to some but not to everyone.

If you’re not quite sure, think of it this way: will your potential employer care more about what you’ve done in the last year or what you did three years ago?

Yep, exactly. Lead with your most recent awards, experiences and educational achievements. This helps your interviewer ask about the things you’ll remember in detail – and it gives them a clear picture of who you are today.

9. Pay attention to spelling and formatting

Look, you’re probably not applying to write articles for the UQ Study website (please don’t; the role is taken). But you should still take care with the spelling, grammar and formatting on your resumé – even if writing isn’t an explicit part of the role.

These aspects of your CV speak to your attention to detail, which is highly valued in any profession. While the reader might not necessarily appreciate if everything is correct and well-presented, they’ll almost certainly notice if you’ve misspelt their name or their business’s name, used the wrong ‘there’ or put no effort into formatting your text consistently.

So, spend 10 minutes after you’re done to check for typos and clean up your font sizes. It’s worth the extra time.

10. Don’t let your resumé stand alone

If you follow all nine of these tips for writing a good CV, you should end up with a solid resumé. But your resumé doesn’t want to do all the work for you – and it shouldn’t have to. It’s only one part of the overall application process.

A good application includes a cover letter that complements your resumé and sometimes a separate response to selection criteria. Even then, a resumé can only get you so far, no matter how amazing it is. You’ll need to be interview-ready to seal the deal as well.

Luckily, moving from high school to uni leads to heaps of opportunities to develop your dream career path. For example, at UQ, we have several teams dedicated to enhancing your employability . This includes having experts like Madelaine-Marie available to support and empower you to develop the capabilities required to navigate the working world.

If you join us to study, we look forward to supporting you in enhancing your employability. In the meantime, we hope these top tips for resumé-writing have helped you show that blank Word document who’s boss.

Looking for more tips and tricks on how you can increase your employability and map out a clear career path while studying? Read up on how you can prepare for your future career at UQ .

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This 1 Résumé Mistake Could Hurt Your Chances Of Being Hired

Senior Reporter, Work/Life

As a job seeker, it is frustrating when your amazing résumé gets no responses. There are many reasons outside of your control as to why you’re hearing silence , but one clear reason might be because of your address.

That’s because the address you list on your résumé –– or lack thereof –– can rule you out of contention before you have a chance to make your case to a hiring manager.

Ashley Watkins Thomas , a job search coach, said that when she worked as a corporate recruiter for on-site jobs, her “spidey senses” would kick in when she saw résumés with no address listed at all.

“When you intentionally leave pertinent information off of your documents, we know you’re hiding something,” Watkins Thomas said, noting that the missing information signals that you likely live out of town.

“You’re saying that you live in Florida, yet your experience section says that you’re in Tennessee, so which is it?” she said recruiters will question.

So the first mistake is thinking you can get away with listing no address for hybrid or fully onsite jobs. On the other hand, how you word your address can also be a dealbreaker for certain jobs. Here’s why:

Your local address can make or break your job application.

Jessica Hernandez , a career development coach with more than 10 years of human resources experience, said for remote jobs, “the only element that will matter is the country.” In those cases, you just need to clearly state that you’re based in the United States for a U.S.-based role, for example.

But you will need to be more specific for hybrid or on-site jobs. Hernandez said the biggest résumé mistake she sees on listing an address is not including a local address when they’re open to relocating.

“If a recruiter is looking for a local candidate and the person has an address that isn’t near the location, for instance ... then this candidate may be excluded from the search,” she said. “I’ve heard of many job seekers who struggle to relocate because their current address is on their résumé instead of the address for where they are relocating to.”

To work around this, Hernandez recommends using the address of a friend or family member in the area where you hope to relocate. And if you do not have a trusted friend, “you can always get a UPS box at a local UPS store, and it will give an actual street address,” she advised.

Watkins Thomas, however, said it is better to be transparent about where you live and to avoid using other people’s addresses. She said an employer could find out your location through a background check, and you will come across as “being dishonest.” Additionally, being upfront about where you live can make you eligible for potential relocation benefits, “because companies will make changes for who they want.”

Recruiters often exclude candidates outside of a certain radius because the job requires local connections. They also might assume you will not be able to start working within a tight timeframe.

To counter that, Watkins Thomas said job seekers can signal their readiness by including a sentence at the top of their résumé alongside contact information that says: “Willing to relocate by July 2024.” And you can reinforce this message with more details in your cover letter.

Saying too much about your address is also a mistake.

One other big mistake is listing your full street address on job applications that do not require it.

You typically just need a city, state, and zip code for recruiters doing location-based searches, experts said. With a full street address on a résumé, recruiters can make assumptions about your race and socioeconomic status, Watkins Thomas said.

It’s OK to leave off your small town in favor of a more well-known metro region, though. Watkins Thomas said some of her clients in smaller towns have gotten callbacks after saying they live in the “Atlanta, Georgia, area,” for instance.

Don’t give more than one address, though. Watkins Thomas said she commonly sees college students put both a permanent and current address, which she advises against doing. For one, it clutters your résumé, and “when things are cluttered, we’re more likely to skim over them and not pay any attention to them.” Additionally, it’s a signal that you are a new graduate entering the job market for the first time.

“A lot of times, that’s a dead giveaway that you’re a college student,” Watkins Thomas said. “And you don’t want people focusing on the fact that you just graduated; let them focus on things like the value that you bring, the problems that you solve.”

How you can greatly increase your odds of getting interviewed.

You can spend hours agonizing over the exact wording of your résumé, but Watkins Thomas said that candidates who need to relocate have a much stronger chance of getting interviewed if they network with people who can advocate on their behalf.

“If it’s your target company, you should already be building those relationships and already having those conversations,” Watkins Thomas advised. In these informational interviews , you can ask them, “Are you familiar with the hiring manager and whether or not they have specific requirements about location?”

“If you have someone on the inside who has some influence with the organization, they can vouch for you and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this person here, they’re easy to relocate,’” Watkins Thomas said. “They can help tell that story for you and advocate for you versus you being just among the number of résumés received for a particular position.”

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• Resume Basics

A resume is a snapshot of your professional qualifications and experience. It’s meant to quickly inform potential employers that you could perform the duties of the position they are looking to fill. It acts as a marketing tool for your skills and helps you get noticed by recruiters. You don’t need to include your entire professional life in a single resume. See the Career Design Center Resume & Cover Letter Handout for examples.

Since resumes are only one to two pages in length, they have a limited set of components. The most typical components that make up a resume are contact information, an objective and/or summary statement, education, experience, and skills.

• Resume Formats

The first step of creating your resume is using a suitable resume template. There are three universal resume formats used by candidates.

• Reverse Chronological Resume Format: This resume format starts by beginning with your most recent experience followed by your previous experiences in reverse chronological order. This helps you to highlight your most recent skills and experiences in a systematic way.
• Functional Resume Format: The functional format focuses more on your core skills than your recent experiences. That is why this resume is best if you have a career gap or you are switching industries.
• Hybrid Resume Format: The hybrid format has features of both reverse chronological and functional resumes. This helps you focus more on skills along with you recent professional experiences.

QUICK TIPS: For most college students or recent graduates, the reverse chronological resume format works well to accurately present your most recent experiences and skills to the recruiters, and it is also highly Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly.

• Resume Sections

Resume Summary/Contact Information

If an employer likes what they see on your resume, they need a way to contact you to set up an interview, which is why it’s important to provide the best ways to get in contact with you.

• Use your first & last name as the resume header
• Below your name, list your current phone number, active email address, and your location in City/State format. Such as Logan, UT
• Add a link to your LinkedIn profile, provided it's optimized for recruiters

QUICK TIPS: Make sure to exclude any personal information that could lead to any sort of discrimination (photo, age, height, religion, marital status, etc.)

Profile Objective (optional)

An objective is a good way to inform an employer your intentions and why you applied for the position. Some employers want to see an objective on your resume, and others do not. Either way a targeted objective can help the employer recognize the position you are applying for with a quick glance. For example: “Marketing professional seeking the position of brand manager with XYZ Corporation”

Profile Summary (optional)

A summary may be the first key section in your resume. In your summary, give a brief snapshot of your skills and accomplishments to get the recruiters’ attention and convince them to read the whole resume. It is recommended to write the summary in a single paragraph not exceeding 3-4 lines and avoiding the use of personal pronouns. For example: “High-achieving college student with an aptitude for marketing, social media, and brand management. Experienced in building advertising campaigns through related course projects and student organizations. Eager to use skills in a marketing internship with an advertising agency.”

If you are an entry-level professional with limited experience, place the education section directly under the resume summary or objective. Include the education you are currently obtaining and education you have previously received; this includes any certifications or licenses. Education example:

BS, Computer Science                                                                                                                   December 2022 Utah State University, Logan UT                                                                                                               GPA 3.76     •    Minors: Statistics and Spanish     •    Certified Data Professional (CDP)     •    Awarded Dean's Scholarship

QUICK TIPS:

• Once you reach your junior year in college, you can eliminate your high school-related information
• List two or three courses that you have taken that you feel are relevant to the job you are applying for; this is especially helpful in showing that you have the knowledge of certain topics if not yet the real-world experience
• List honors and awards related to your education in this section
• Add any study-abroad experience to your education section as well

Internship and Professional Experience

When listing your work experience, start with the most recent and work backwards. Make sure that each position is relevant showing that you have skills and experience pertinent to the position or that your skills and experience are transferrable to the position you are applying for. Include job titles, the company name, date of employment by month and year, and a list of responsibilities that focuses on any achievements for each position that you list.

• Write your experience and accomplishments using bullet points
• Begin each bullet point with power verbs and focus on achievements/accomplishments/results

The skills section of your resume allows you to inform an employer of any skills you have that may not have been specified in your work experience. Remember to keep your list applicable to the position you are applying to. Employers don’t care if you are great at knitting if you are applying to a computer science position.

Search the job description and look for skills and expertise, and then make sure you include all the skills you match with the description.

Additional Resume Sections

These sections are generally at the end of a resume and highlight your strengths to help you stand out. You can include leadership, volunteer and community involvement, and membership and offices in clubs and organizations.

Drop-in Appointments

Students can get their resume reviewed by one of our graduate Career Peers. Drop-in Appointments are held via Zoom or in-person during fall and spring semesters, and typically last between 10-15 minutes. The Career Design Center Resume Handout will help you prepare for your appointment.

Career Tutorials

Access the career development content anytime, anywhere! The Resume Module is filled with great, short, videos and content so it is convenient to you and easy to follow. The Resume Module delivers excellent advice for tailoring your resume.

Career Coach

Students can also meet with their designated Career Coach for a deeper review of your resume. To prepare, you can view sample resumes related to your major. Set up an appointment with your Career Coach on AGGIE Handshake or by contacting our office.

• ATS Compatibility

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a resume screening tool companies use to sort resumes according to specific skill criteria. More than 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS to streamline the recruiting process and keep up with the thousands of applications received weekly, but plenty of smaller employers have embraced the tool too, according to data collected by Jobscan. 

• Use a consistent resume format
• ATS friendly format recommends staying away from columns and tables
• Extract keywords from the job description and weave them into various sections of your resume
• Ensure that your resume has all of the requirements listed by the company
• Make sure the resume doesn't have any grammatical or spelling errors
• Stay away from personal pronouns and long paragraphs
• If you are an undergraduate, it is recommended your resume is one page
• References should be listed on a separate page or document

Build a new resume:

• Select the "Use a Pre-Written Sample" option and select the resume design of your choice
• Choose a job profile closest to your industry
• Customize the resume by providing your information
• Utilize options like, "AI Assistant," "AI Review," and "Job Match" from the left side of the page to ensure that your resume is up to the mark

Edit an existing resume:

• Choose the "Upload an Existing Resume" option and upload your resume from your files
• Select a resume design of your choice
• Customize your resume and add sections to categorize your resume further

Job Match feature:

• Use the "Job Match" feature to the left and upload your job descriptions to see if your resume fits their requirements
• Based on the suggestions, you can edit your resume to ensure maximum ATS optimization

On This Page

Example Resume

NJ Transit service resumes following earlier delays

The delays started around 8 a.m., just as tuesday's peak morning rush got underway, by nbc new york staff • published may 21, 2024 • updated on may 21, 2024 at 2:47 pm.

NJ Transit rail service into and out of New York Penn Station is resuming close to schedule Tuesday afternoon after earlier Amtrak overhead wire issues, the agency said.

Midtown Direct service was running back through Penn by 9:50 a.m., less than 2 hours after the issues started, but service delays continued. Earlier it was diverted to Hoboken.

NJ Transit rail tickets and passes were being cross-honored by New Jersey Transit buses and private carrier buses and PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and the 33rd Street station in New York. Get more info and look at backup options .

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

Update: Rail service in and out of Penn Station New York is operating on or close to schedule with residual delays to trains already enroute following earlier Amtrak overhead wire issues in one of the Hudson River Tunnels. — Northeast Corridor (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) May 21, 2024

Amtrak said its passengers could still face 30-minute delays into and out of New York Penn.

Service Resumption: As of 1:25 PM ET, All service entering in and out of New York (NYP) will experience delays of up to 30 minutes due rail congestion as a result of an earlier disabled commuter train blocking the route. — Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNECAlerts) May 21, 2024

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Florida principal and staffers to resume responsibilities after trans athlete probe

The principal and two staff members at a Florida high school who were reassigned amid a controversy involving a transgender student athlete playing on a girl’s sports team will be resuming their responsibilities after an investigation cleared them, county public schools officials said Tuesday.

James Cecil, the principal of Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, along with assistant principal Kenneth May and athletic director Dione Hester, will resume their responsibilities on Wednesday, Broward County Public Schools spokesperson Keyla Concepcion said in a statement.

Concepcion said the district’s Special Investigate Unit cleared them of “the allegations,” but said “the investigation concerning other aspects remains ongoing.”

Cecil and the staffers had been  reassigned to nonschool sites  after an investigation into allegations of improper student participation in sports was launched in November.

The school was later  reprimanded and fined  after state officials said a transgender student-athlete was allowed to play on a girl’s volleyball team for two seasons in violation of Florida law.

A Florida statute says athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls are not open to male students, and says a “statement of a student’s biological sex on the student’s official birth certificate is considered to have correctly stated the student’s biological sex at birth if the statement was filed at or near the time of the student’s birth.”

The school was fined $16,500 and was placed on administrative probation for a full calendar year.

The fine represents $500 for each of the 33 volleyball contests the transgender athlete participated in for Monarch in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons.

The school  appealed the fine earlier this year .

Some Monarch High students protested the staffer reassignments and held walkouts and demonstrations in support of the student-athlete.

This story originally appeared on NBC South Florida.

The staff of NBC South Florida.

Resumes, Cover Letters & CV's

A resume is used to showcase your professional and educational experiences that are aligned to your career goals. The purpose of a resume is to capture the attention of the reader, while also listing your unique qualities, skills and accomplishments in a concise, organized fashion. The resume may be utilized to make a favorable impression, so decide what should be included based on the job position and/or graduate school you are applying for, along with acknowledging the qualifications of the prospective reader. Also important is to tailor your resume to match individual job announcements. JobScan is a powerful tool that can assist you in creating a more effective resume for a specific job and better your chances for an interview. See resources below for information to help you with the resume writing process.

What is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software for recruiters and employers to track candidates throughout the recruiting and hiring process. These systems allow businesses to collect information, organize prospects based on experience and skill set, and filter applicants

Key takeaways

• Tailor your CV / Resume to the job description
• Match your CV / Resume keywords to the skills found in the job description
• Use long-form and acronym/abbreviation versions of keywords
• Don't use tables
• Use a screen-friendly fonts
• Use a reverse chronological format
• Save your file as an MS word doc. x and PDF

Guides & Tips

• Resume Tips
• Summary of Qualifications Examples
• Action Verb List
• O*NET Guide (Bullet Point Statements)
• Resume Writing Worksheet
• Bullet Point Statement Writing
• Resume 101 PowerPoint
• Resume Layout Sample with W.H.O. Method
• Resume Section Heading Ideas
• Incorporating Research Project Experience on Your Resume
• Supplemental Resume Writing Handout
• Reference Page Sample
• MissCoyoteResume.docx
• Miss%20Coyote2Resume.docx

General Resume Format Samples

• Chronological Resume Format
• Combination Resume Format
• Functional Resume Format
• Federal Resume Format

Cover Letters

A cover letter demonstrates to the prospective employer why you are interested in the company or position you are applying to. It also provides an effective summary of your skills, experiences and why it would benefit the company. In short, the cover letter suggests areas where your skills and attributes would benefit the the employer.  See resources below for information to help you with the cover letter writing process.

• Cover Letter Guide: Sample 1 
• Cover Letter Guide: Sample 2

Curriculum Vitae's (CV's)

A curriculum vitae is a comprehensive description of your professional academic achievements and may have categories and documentation that go beyond the needs of a standard resume. Individuals who are utilizing this format typically use it for a teaching or research position and is commonly used abroad. It can also be used for grants and fellowships.  How is a Curriculum Vitae different from a Resume?  The most noticeable difference between most curriculum vitae's and most resumes is the length. Entry level resumes are usually limited to a page. Curriculum vitae's, however, often run to three or more pages. (Remember, length is not the determinant of a successful curriculum vitae). You should try to present all the relevant information that you possibly can, but you should also try to present it in as concise a manner as possible.  See resources below for information to help you with the CV writing process.

• Curriculum Vitae Guide
• Curriculum Vitae Sample

• Student Guide
• Office of the Vice President for Student Life
• UB Directory
• Career Design Center >

Resumes & More

Get expert advice for writing your resume or curriculum vitae (CV), view samples and templates, and learn how to tell your unique story.

In this tab:

A resume is a one- to two-page document that outlines your education, skills, accomplishments and experience. Its purpose is to help you capture the attention of an employer so you can get an interview.

Your Resume Guide

When seeking a job or internship, design your resume to highlight your most related experience and skills. Write about internship(s), related volunteer experiences; academic or individual projects depending on your field of study or career goals.

Here are some typical sections to include:

Objective (optional): An objective is used to explain why you are creating this resume and can be an opportunity to connect you to a specific job/internship, but they are  not mandatory . 

Objective Example:

Objective Seeking an internship in human services for the Summer of 20XX utilizing demonstrated interpersonal and helping skills.

Education:  List your degrees, majors, minors, study abroad and/or any other relevant training/opportunities.

Education Example:

Education University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Master of Art, Major, Graduation Month 20XX Bachelor of Arts or Science, Major, Graduation Month 20XX

Experience: Any employment, internships, significant campus leadership offices, volunteer work and class/research projects.

• Explain what were your key tasks and outcomes/results by using bullet points and action words.
• Avoid passive phrasing such as “duties include,” “responsible for” or “project was completed by using.”
• Quantify information by including numbers, percentages and dollar amounts.
• Freshmen/sophomores: List high school experiences.

Experience Example:

Human Services Experience Kids 1st Therapy , Getzville, New York    April-July 20XX Intern

• Observed up to 15 therapy sessions every week with licensed therapist
• Studied sessions in which therapist utilized Lidcombe Therapy techniques 

Skills:  Use this section to highlight skills that are specifically related to the job/internship you are seeking.

Skills Example:

Skills Languages: Fluent in Cantonese and basic Mandarin

Software/Programs: Adobe Creative Suite, CAD, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, Access)

Certifications: American Heart Association CPR (June 20XX)

Relevant Projects:  Projects that you did in class that are related to your major/career interest.

• Identify team/classroom/individual noteworthy academic projects.
• Concisely demonstrate your skills and knowledge.
• Integrate other skills when communicating specific accomplishments.
• Include your individual contributions and outcomes. 

Relevant Projects Example:

Relevant Projects Marketing Plan , University at Buffalo        Spring 20XX

• Perform situation analysis to determine relevant details about potential market share and target audience
• Identify opportunities and challenges based on analysis to begin developing measurable objectives, strategies and implementing media plans

Involvement:  List clubs, sports, leadership roles and/or volunteering that you've done. This is especially helpful when looking for internships or part-time job without having a lot of work experience. Include accomplishments using strong action words.

Involvement Example:

Leadership Experience UB Club Hockey, University at Buffalo , Buffalo, New York Captain

• Organize and lead weekly practices for team of 15
• Study practice schedules and modify practices to simulate competition
• Communicate with and encourage players to develop team chemistry

Achievements: Indicate noteworthy academic, athletic, community, club and employer recognition.

Note: If you are only listing 1-3 honors, consider incorporating into education section rather than creating separate section. 

Achievement Example:

Honors and Awards

• Health Essential Association’s Volunteer Service Award, 20XX
• University at Buffalo President's Scholarship, 20XX
• Dean's List, 20XX to 20XX
• Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Association, inducted 20XX

Formatting Checklist

Resume Length

The length may vary but a general rule is keep your resume between 1-2 pages, preferably 1 page if possible.

1-inch margins are best, but you can use .5 inches if you need room.

Keep your text and bullet points aligned-left to keep your resume clean and easy to read.

Document Format

Save your resume as both a Word (.doc) document and as a PDF.

Use an easy to read font like Arial, Calibri, Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica or Times New Roman.

*Choose one font and stick with it.

• 14 to 16 for your name and bold text.
• 11 to 12 for phone number, email and LinkedIn URL.
• 10.5 to 12 for body text.

Online Tools & Resources

Unlock your 24/7 instant resume review. VMock provides personalized feedback on your resume in  15-seconds or less . Access your 1 out of 10 resume reviews now.

Note: You get 10 reviews per year starting every fall semester, as long as you're enrolled at UB.

Sign up  using your UBIT name and password.

⚠️  If you're in the School of Management , access the School of Management VMock site >>

Resume Review Appointments

Learn how to tailor your resume to a specific position when you book a resume review appointment in Bullseye powered by Handshake.

You must sign in to Bullseye powered by Handshake to make your appointment with your UBIT name and password.

Enroll in our  How to Write a Resume course , an online course that guides you through creating an eye-catching resume, letting your professional strengths shine.

*This course is free   when you create an account using your @buffalo.edu email.

Career Design Studio

Find inspiration, resources, tools and expert advice all together to help you write an eye-catching resume.

Tips From Recruiters

• Customize your resume  to each application.
• Pick a format  and stick to it. Use consistent spacing, font and format and save as a word document.
• Try to avoid the use of first and third person pronouns , such as “I,” “he” or “she.” 
• Spell out all acronyms  the first time they are used, followed by the acronym in parentheses e.g., University at Buffalo (UB). 
• Use a variety of "action words"  to bring your skills and experiences to life and avoid using each word more than once. 
• Use Keywords . Scan the job description, see what words are used most often and make sure you’ve included them in your bullet points.
• Refrain from using slang  or jargon.
• Name Your File Smartly.  Save it as “Jane Smith Resume” instead of “Resume.”
• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. Ask family or friends to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Get your resume reviewed .  Hint: Use VMock , available 24/7, to get personalized feedback in seconds. Or book a resume review appointment  with a career expert.

Examples of bullet point statements

• Successfully navigated a variety of customer moods, behaviors and agendas in order to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Cross-trained new team members to ensure seamless service.
• Developed and managed a client contact database resulting in a 58% increase in communication.
• Organized and accurately maintained filing system of confidential information.
• Planned and scheduled meetings and events for 10 person staff utilizing Microsoft Outlook.
• Managed multiple responsibilities and demands using problem solving and time management skills.
• Advised customers on purchases by maintaining a high level of knowledge about store products.
• Managed and prioritized multiple tasks in a fast paced environment.
• Tutored 5 students per week in geometry resulting in all students passing state exams.
• Handled cash transactions and balanced cash register at the beginning and end of every shift.
• Coordinated group activities for 15- 20 campers daily that encouraged team building and creativity.
• Served as a role model to incoming first year students and family members.
• Developed a prototype with a team of 4 and successfully reduced prototype vibrations by 60%. 
• Scheduled and coordinated 25 practices and 15 games throughout the season. 
• Facilitated team building activities to ensure effective communication among team members.

Resume Action Words

Most resume bullet points start with an "action word" that helps clearly illustrate what you did and why you did it well. Action words help highlight your skills and engage the resume reader.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Addressed, Advertised, Advocated, Answered, Briefed, Coached, Collaborated, Communicated, Compared, Completed, Composed, Conducted, Contributed, Debated, Delivered, Directed, Edited, Enlisted, Followed, Gathered, Informed, Influenced, Judged, Launched, Learned, Lectured, Lifted, Listened, Located, Logged, Meditated, Memorized, Mentored, Met, Narrated, Negotiated, Offered, Ordered, Participated, Persuaded, Presented, Queried, Questioned, Raised, Read, Recommended, Referred, Related, Relied, Reported, Represented, Researched, Responded, Spoke, Surveyed, Sustained, Talked, Tested, Updated, Won, Wrote 

Creative Skills

Composed, Conducted, Created, Displayed, Documented, Emphasized, Fashioned, Founded, Imagined, Illustrated, Launched, Modeled, Modified, Narrated, Published, Shaped, Sketched, Updated, Utilized, Visualized, Wrote 

Data and Financial Skills

Advertised, Analyzed, Appraised, Budgeted, Calculated, Compiled, Computed, Consulted, Correlated, Evaluated, Examined, Forecasted, Maximized, Projected, Purchased, Ranked, Reduced, Validated, Verified, Weighed

Helping Skills

Management and leadership skills.

Administered, Allocated, Augmented, Bolstered, Charged, Chartered, Coordinated, Delegated, Directed, Enabled, Enlisted, Established, Guided, Handled, Headed, Instituted, Interviewed, Instructed, Led, Managed, Motivated, Oversaw, Planned, Prioritized, Protected, Provided, Raised, Ran, Recommended, Streamlined, Supervised, Taught, Tutored, Undertook 

Organizational Skills

Arranged, Assembled, Catalogued, Categorized, Classified, Collected, Compiled, Conducted, Coordinated, Created, Developed, Drafted, Established, Generated, Inspected, Maintained, Operated, Ordered, Organized, Originated, Planned, Produced, Programmed, Purchased, Recorded, Screened, Selected, Served, Set, Shaped, Simplified, Standardized, Structured, Systematized, Updated, Upgraded

Research Skills

Analyzed, Ascertained, Audited, Compared, Completed, Conducted, Conceived, Consulted, Evaluated, Examined, Gathered, Inspected, Investigated, Judged, Learned, Observed, Predicted, Researched, Suggested, Surveyed, Tested, Theorized, Wrote

What's Next

Get your instant resume review with VMock .   Then, book an appointment to have a career expert help you customize it!

Get professional advice for writing your resume, interviewing, finding a job and so much more at our popular “skillshops.”

> View upcoming skillshops

Want a customized skillshop for your club, group or class, or have an idea for one, book a career workshop .

Virtual or in-person appointments, Career Chats in the Career Cube , and Suit-A-Bull will be available throughout the summer.

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Resumes, CVs, & Cover Letters

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Resumes vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

There are a few things that both a CV and Resume aim to accomplish, including:

• Highlighting your experiences and showcasing your successes
• Showing your qualifications as a candidate for a desired position
• Securing an interview

Additionally, both CVs and Resumes use similar types of language and formatting to make it easier for reviewers to find information and assess a candidate. The chart below provides an overview of the many differences between a CV and Resume.

• “Tailored” and relevant account of your skills that directly relate your goals
• Aimed at addressing key responsibilities mentioned in a job description
• Used in a networking setting for mass distribution; highlights key experiences that are holistically representative
• 1-2 page limit
• General/personal contact information included but limited
• Specific, relevant coursework that provides skill/value to the position (optional)
• No references included
• “Comprehensive” account of your academic and professional history
• No page limit
• Professional contact information (i.e. address of the educational institution)
• Complete list of your higher educational history
• Focus on research and publications
• References section (optional)

Learning how to write a resume is the process of learning a new form of art. Resumes are subjective documents that come with guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and preferences depending on your chosen field of study and the recruiter who will be reviewing the document. Before you start writing this document, we recommend you compile a master list of all of your current and past positions, organizations, degree information, relevant projects, and philanthropy. This can be continuously updated with new achievements and will be used as a source of content for both your resume and your applications.

Resume formatting can be somewhat flexible, but there are a few guidelines that will ensure your document is easy to read:

• Length:  1 page ideal, 2 pages maximum for those with significant experience
• Margins:  0.5-1 inch margins
• Font:  11-12 point professional font (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) with no more than 2 sizes used
• Font Style:  Use select font styles (bold, italic, all caps) to highlight important elements such as headings, position titles, degree, and university names
• Description Style:  Use basic bullet points rather than paragraphs to increase the likelihood of statements being read
• Document type : Create the document in Word, Docs, or Pages but save it as a PDF before submitting. The PDF file name should include your name and document type (i.e. Last_First_resume).

The order of sections is flexible, focus on an order that makes sense for your field or the position you are applying for. Within each category, list items in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.

Required Sections

• Contact Information:  Include your name, email, and phone number at the top of the page. Optional: You can include links (portfolio site, Linkedin profile) or your address.
• Education Section:  Include degree title, university name, location, and month/year of graduation (or expected graduation). For most students and new graduates, this section should be first but as more experience is gained, it will move down on the page. Optional: If you choose to include relevant coursework or study abroad, add it to the education section.
• Experience Section:  Include position title, organization name, location, and date span (with month and year). The name can be more specific such as Lab Experience or Professional Experience, or simply Experience depending on what is included and what is being demonstrated.

Optional/Additional Sections

• Honors/Awards
• Leadership Experience
• Community Involvement
• Internship Experience
• Additional Experience
• Accomplishments
• any other title that would interest the reader

Make It Easy To Read

On average, employers spend 6-15 seconds on each resume they are screening. This means that in order to get a second (longer) look, your resume needs to be easily scanned with important and relevant information easy to find without much effort. This is why we recommend using bullet point statements instead of paragraphs of text.

Targeting Your Resume

A common mistake on resumes is simply listing the responsibilities of a past position. Instead, look at what is needed for the new position, and focus on demonstrating these needed skills using your past experiences. Even if you have not done the same work in the past, show that you have used the needed skills while infusing the language of the new employer by including keywords and industry-specific terminology.

Show the What, How, and Why

For each role, focus on the impact and results of your work rather than a description of your responsibilities and tasks. Begin each statement with a strong action verb demonstrating the skills you are looking to demonstrate. Tell WHAT you did/do, HOW you did/do this, and WHY this is important. Include quantifiable information where possible. For example, if you led the organization of a student group event, include details like ticket sales (or attendance), the number of performers, or the time it took to pull together. Leave off any pronouns in these statements and use verb tense appropriately (past tense for past positions and present tense for current roles).

Curriculum Vitae (CVs)

A curriculum vitae (CV) is different than a resume, both in terms of formatting and use. Typically, a CV is used for applications related to academia, such as for admittance to graduate school, teaching positions at a college or university, and research grant applications. A CV is formatted to allow for a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional history without page limits constraining your information.

• Length:  no limit but keep in mind that people have limited time to review these documents
• Document type : Create the document in Word, Docs, or Pages but save it as a PDF before submitting. The PDF file name should include your name and document type (i.e. Last_First_CV)
• Contact Information:  Place at the top of the first page and include your name, email, phone number, and address as well as any relevant links (portfolio site, LinkedIn profile). Add your name and page number to the header of all subsequent pages.
• Education:  For each degree, include degree title, university name and department, location, and month/year of graduation (or expected graduation). For each dissertation or thesis, include the title, date, and advisor.

Additional Common Sections

• Publications
• Research or Fieldwork Experience
• Research Interests
• Teaching Experience
• Honors and Awards
• Presentations
• Professional Affiliations
• Technical Skills

Anyone reviewing these documents will be limited in time and CVs tend to be lengthy documents. This is why we recommend using bullet point statements instead of paragraphs of text.

Targeting Your CV

A common mistake on resumes/CVs is simply listing the responsibilities of a past position. Instead, look at what is needed for the new position, and focus on demonstrating these needed skills using your past experiences. Even if you have not done the same work in the past, show that you have used the needed skills while infusing the language of the new employer by including keywords and industry-specific terminology.

For research publications and presentations, be sure to use the citation format that is recognized by your industry. In other words, format this information like you would if you were citing it as a source in a research paper or journal article.

Cover Letters

Your cover letter is just as important as your resume and can make or break the chances of receiving an invitation to interview. A resume represents your unique experiences, and the recruiting manager has written a position description that reflects the organization’s needs. A cover letter ties them together and allows you to tell the story of why you should be hired. A cover letter is more specific than a resume and highlights projects or efforts that align with the requirements of the position or program.

Unless the posting specifically tells you not to, plan to submit a cover letter along with your resume (or CV) for every position or program you apply for and pay close attention to the details specific to the position and company.

Your cover letter will accompany your resume and should match the formatting. Use the same font style/size, margins, and header including your contact information.

• Alignment:  Left aligned, after the header
• Length:  1 page and 3-4 paragraphs at maximum
• Document type : Create the document in Word, Docs, or Pages but save it as a PDF before submitting. The PDF file name should include your name and document type (i.e. Last_First_coverletter).

Whenever possible, address the cover letter to a specific person such as the hiring manager, supervisor, or leader of the office/organization. This may not be listed in the posting but often can be found with a little detective work on LinkedIn and the organization’s website. This may also be a recruiter you met at a career fair or who is listed in Handshake.

Date, Recipient, Salutation

• Date:  This is first after your header and left aligned. Spell out the month and include the year.
• Recipient:  This comes 2 spaces below the date and is usually 3-5 lines in length. Include the full name of the person you are addressing (if you have this information), their title, the organization’s name, and the organization’s address.
• Salutation or Greeting:  When addressing the letter to a specific person, use their name in the salutation (“Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Lastname:”) and use a colon. Remember to use the full last name which may be hyphenated. If you have not found a person, use something generic such as “hiring manager,” “hiring committee,” or “selection committee.”

Letter Body

The body of your cover letter should be a maximum of 3-4 paragraphs and address 3 main points: what you know about the organization, what you are applying for, and what you can do for them.

• Paragraph 1 – Introduction and Interest:  Include the position and company that you are applying for, what you know about the organization, and why you are interested. Be sure to capture the reader’s attention in this paragraph.
• Paragraph(s) 2 & 3 (if needed)- The Evidence and Connection:  Demonstrate what you can do for them, what makes you stand out, and make the connections between the desired qualifications listed in the posting to your experience and skills. Avoid the temptation to restate your resume and instead focus on connecting your experience and education to the position. Try to minimize beginning your sentences with “I” when possible.
• Final Paragraph-The Closing:  Reiterate your interest, express gratitude, and note that you look forward to hearing from them.

Use “Sincerely” followed by your full name a few lines below. Insert an electronic signature or image of your actual signature if possible.

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When onlookers left the room, according to a transcript, the judge told Mr. Costello that his conduct was “contemptuous” and said, “If you try to stare me down one more time I will remove you from the stand,” adding, to the defense lawyers, “I will strike his testimony, do you hear me?”

Mr. Costello asked, “Can I say something, please?” And Justice Merchan replied: “No. No. This is not a conversation.”

Mr. Costello has been around the New York legal world for decades and prides himself on not taking flack from anyone.

In 2018, Mr. Costello acted as Mr. Cohen’s back channel to Mr. Trump’s legal team. This role — which came by dint of Mr. Costello’s close ties to Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer at the time, Rudolph W. Giuliani — was mostly informal. Mr. Cohen never officially retained Mr. Costello or paid him a cent.

When questioning Mr. Cohen last week, the prosecution spotlighted his communications with Mr. Costello. Their emails and calls, Mr. Cohen said, left him with the impression that Mr. Costello was doing Mr. Trump’s bidding, delivering implicit instructions to, in the former fixer’s words, “stay in the fold, don’t flip, don’t speak.”

But Mr. Costello, a former federal prosecutor turned defense lawyer, disputes that characterization, and Mr. Cohen’s testimony opened the door for the defense to call him to tell the other side of the story.

After the unexpected break on Monday, Mr. Costello testified that he treated Mr. Cohen as a client and had only his interests at heart. He said he did not concern himself with Mr. Trump’s interests at that time. Prosecutors began cross-examining him before the jury was dismissed for the day just after 4:30 p.m.

Mr. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018, served more than a year behind bars. His crimes included orchestrating a hush-money payment to a porn star in the final days of the 2016 campaign, a deal at the center of the current state case against the former president. Mr. Cohen paid off the woman, Stormy Daniels, to silence her story of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump.

The Cohen and Costello relationship began in the chaotic spring of 2018, after the F.B.I. searched Mr. Cohen’s home and office as part of the sprawling investigation.

They met through Jeffrey Citron, who was Mr. Costello’s law partner and Mr. Cohen’s acquaintance. Mr. Citron asked Mr. Cohen over email whether he wanted to connect with Mr. Costello and obtain “his insight into your situation, it would be my pleasure to arrange.” Mr. Cohen jumped at the offer: “I do. Can you connect me to him?”

When Mr. Trump hired Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Costello alerted Mr. Cohen to the potential upside: “I told you my relationship with Rudy which could be very very useful for you,” he wrote in an email. Mr. Cohen replied: “Great news.”

The records show that Mr. Costello pursued the relationship with Mr. Cohen.

As Mr. Costello lost patience, he wrote to Mr. Cohen complaining that he had “failed to communicate with me despite several text messages and emails.”

Mr. Costello also appeared to make a veiled reference to fear in Mr. Trump’s orbit that Mr. Cohen was poised to cooperate with prosecutors, writing: “We have continued our dialogue and need to bring you up to date concerning serious concerns on the part of our friends.”

Mr. Cohen was noncommittal. “When the right time comes, and now is not the right time, we will advance our conversations regarding this issue.”

But Mr. Cohen kept the channel open. For example, he sent Mr. Costello an article with the headline “Trump’s campaign to discredit Michael Cohen is already underway,” and added: “They are again on a bad path.”

And when Mr. Cohen’s relationship with Mr. Trump soured in summer 2018, he asked Mr. Costello to use Mr. Giuliani as a conduit for his assurances that he would remain loyal to Mr. Trump, according to Mr. Costello.

After Mr. Costello relayed the message, he told Mr. Cohen in an email that he had “conveyed all of your expressed concerns” to Mr. Giuliani “for transmission to his client” — the president. Mr. Cohen replied, thanking him.

Mr. Costello has said he was merely relaying messages from Mr. Trump’s legal team, including Mr. Giuliani, a former New York mayor. (Mr. Costello later represented Mr. Giuliani in criminal and congressional investigations.)

In one email to Mr. Cohen, Mr. Costello wrote, “Sleep well tonight, you have friends in high places.”

But in the end, no one remained friends, and much of the tension stemmed from money.

Mr. Costello and Mr. Cohen had a falling out, partly over unpaid legal bills. Last year, Mr. Costello testified before the grand jury that ultimately indicted Mr. Trump, seeking to undercut Mr. Cohen’s credibility.

Mr. Costello also sued Mr. Giuliani over delinquent bills.

And when Mr. Trump stopped paying Mr. Cohen’s legal fees, their relationship imploded as well. Mr. Cohen vowed to turn on Mr. Trump, a promise he is now fulfilling on the stand.

Ben Protess is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies. More about Ben Protess

Matthew Haag writes about the intersection of real estate and politics in the New York region. He has been a journalist for two decades. More about Matthew Haag

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

The defense rested its case after Donald Trump declined to take the stand  at his own criminal trial. Closing arguments will take place on May 28.

The testimony of Robert Costello, the main witness for the defense, focused on his relationship with Michael Cohen , Trump’s former fixer and the prosecution’s star witness.

How are conservative and liberal media outlets covering Justice Juan Merchan, the judge in the trial? Here’s a look .

More on the Trump Investigations

Case Tracker:  Trump is facing multiple criminal cases related to his business and political activities. Follow the latest developments .

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know, and what we don’t know .

Election Interference Cases: In Arizona , Georgia , Michigan  and Nevada , several allies of Trump are facing charges  related to efforts to keep him in power after he lost in 2020.

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.

Retrace your steps with Recall

Search across time to find the content you need. Then, re-engage with it. With Recall, you have an explorable timeline of your PC’s past. Just describe how you remember it and Recall will retrieve the moment you saw it. Any photo, link, or message can be a fresh point to continue from. As you use your PC, Recall takes snapshots of your screen. Snapshots are taken every five seconds while content on the screen is different from the previous snapshot. Your snapshots are then locally stored and locally analyzed on your PC. Recall’s analysis allows you to search for content, including both images and text, using natural language. Trying to remember the name of the Korean restaurant your friend Alice mentioned? Just ask Recall and it retrieves both text and visual matches for your search, automatically sorted by how closely the results match your search. Recall can even take you back to the exact location of the item you saw.

Note:  Recall is optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Content-based and storage limitations apply. For more information, see https://aka.ms/nextgenaipcs .

System requirements for Recall

Your PC needs the following minimum system requirements for Recall:

A Copilot+ PC

8 logical processors

256 GB storage capacity

To enable Recall, you’ll need at least 50 GB of storage space free

Saving screenshots automatically pauses once the device has less than 25 GB of storage space

How to use Recall

To open Recall, use the keyboard shortcut +J , or select the following Recall icon on your taskbar:

Your timeline in Recall is broken up into segments, which are the blocks of time that Recall was taking snapshots while you were using your PC. You can hover over your timeline to review your activity in a preview window. Selecting the location on the timeline or selecting the preview window loads the snapshot where you can  interact with the content .

Search with Recall

Maybe you wanted to make that pizza recipe you saw earlier today but you don’t remember where you saw it. Typing goat cheese pizza into the search box would easily find the recipe again. You could also search for pizza or cheese if you didn’t remember the specific type of pizza or cheese. Less specific searches are likely to bring up more matches though. If you prefer to search using your voice, you can select the microphone then speak your search query.  

By default, results are shown from all apps where Recall found matches. You can narrow down your results by filtering the matches to a specific app by selecting an app from the list.

When the results are displayed, they will be listed under the headings of text matches and visual matches . Matches that are closer to your search are shown first. You’ll also notice that some items are listed as one of the following types of matches:

Close match : Close matches typically include at least one of the search terms or images that are representative of a term in your query.

Related match : Matches that share a commonality with the search terms would be considered related. For instance, if you searched for goat cheese pizza , you might also get related matches that include lasagna or cannelloni since they are Italian dishes too.

Interacting with content

Once you’ve found the item you want to see again, select the tile. Recall opens the snapshot and enables screenray, which runs on top of the saved snapshot. Screenray analyzes what’s in the snapshot and allows you to interact with individual elements in the snapshot. You’ll notice that when screenray is active, your cursor is blue and white. The cursor also changes shape depending on the type of element beneath it. What you can do with each element changes based on what kind of content screenray detects. If you select a picture in the snapshot, you can copy, edit with your default .jpeg app such as Photos , or send it to another app like the Snipping Tool or Paint . When you highlight text with screenray, you can open it in a text editor or copy it. For example, you might want to copy the text of a recipe’s ingredients list to convert it to metric.

Note:  When you use an option that sends snapshot content to an app, screenray creates a temporary file in C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp in order to share the content. The temporary file is deleted once the content is transferred over the app you selected to use.

Below your selected snapshot, you have more snapshot options. In many cases, you can have Recall take you back to exact location of the item, such as reopening the webpage, PowerPoint presentation, or app that was running at the time the snapshot was taken. You can also hide screenray, copy the snapshot, delete the snapshot, or select … for more snapshot options.

Pause or resume snapshots

To pause recall, select the Recall icon in the system tray then Pause until tomorrow .  Snapshots will be paused until they automatically resume at 12:00 AM. When snapshots are paused, the Recall system tray icon has a slash through it so you can easily tell if snapshots are enabled. To manually resume snapshots, select the Recall icon in the system tray and then select Resume snapshots .  You can also access the Recall & snapshots settings page from the bottom of this window.

What if I don’t want Recall to save information from certain websites or apps?

You are in control with Recall. You can select which apps and websites you want to exclude, such as banking apps and websites.  You’ll need to use a supported browser for Recall to filter websites and to automatically filter private browsing activity. Supported browsers, and their capabilities include:

Microsoft Edge: blocks websites and filters private browsing activity

Chromium based browsers: filters private browsing activity only, doesn’t block specific websites

Firefox: filters private browsing activity only, doesn’t block specific websites

Opera: filters private browsing activity only, doesn’t block specific websites

To exclude a website:

Select … then Settings to open the Recall & snapshots settings page.

You can also go to Windows Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots to manage Recall.

Select Add website for the Websites to filter setting.

Type the website you want to filter into the text box. Select Add to add it to the websites to filter list.

To exclude an app:

Select … then Settings to open the Recall & snapshots settings page

Select Add app  for the Apps to filter setting.

From the app list, select the app you want to filter from Recall snapshots.

In two specific scenarios, Recall will capture snapshots that include InPrivate windows, blocked apps, and blocked websites. If Recall gets launched, or the Now option is selected in Recall, then a snapshot is taken even when InPrivate windows, blocked apps, and blocked websites are displayed. However, these snapshots are not saved by Recall. If you choose to send the information from this snapshot to another app, a temp file will also be created in C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp to share the content. The temporary file is deleted once the content is transferred over the app you selected to use.

Managing your Recall snapshots and disk space

You can configure how much disk space Recall is allowed to use to store snapshots. The amount of disk space you can allocate to Recall varies depending on how much storage your PC has. The following chart shows the storage space options for Recall:

You can change the amount of disk space used or delete snapshots from the Recall & snapshots settings page. 

To change the storage space limit:

1. Expand the Storage settings.

2. Change the Maximum storage for snapshots limit by choosing the limit from the drop-down list. When the limit is reached, the oldest snapshots are deleted first.

To delete snapshots:

Expand the Delete snapshots settings.

You can choose to delete all snapshots or snapshots withing a specific timeframe.

To delete all snapshots, select Delete all .

To delete snapshots from a specific timeframe, select a timeframe from the drop-down list, then select Delete   snapshots.

Keyboard shortcuts for Recall

You can use the following keyboard shortcuts in recall:, when interacting with a snapshot with screenray, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:, microsoft’s commitment to responsible ai and privacy.

Microsoft has been working to advance AI responsibly since 2017, when we first defined our AI principles and later operationalized our approach through our Responsible AI Standard. Privacy and security are principles as we develop and deploy AI systems. We work to help our customers use our AI products responsibly, sharing our learnings, and building trust-based partnerships. For more about our responsible AI efforts, the  principles that guide us, and the tooling and capabilities we've created to assure that we develop AI technology responsibly, see Responsible AI .

Recall uses optical character recognition (OCR), local to the PC, to analyze snapshots and facilitate search. For more information about OCR, see Transparency note and use cases for OCR . For more information about privacy and security, see Privacy and security for Recall & screenray .

We want to hear from you!

If there's something you like, and especially if there's something you don't like, about Recall you can submit feedback to Microsoft by selecting … then the  Feedback icon  in Recall to submit feedback on any issues that you run into. 

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Common Searches

• Resume Writing Guidelines

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A resume is a brief summary of your education and training, work experience, accomplishments and skills. A successful resume builds a bridge between you and the employer, with the articulation of your qualifications acting as the connection. Tailor your resume to your employer of interest! Also see our PowerPoint Presentation !

• The chronological resume is the most popular style and is preferred by many employers. This format presents your education and work experience in reverse time sequence, with the most recent events listed first. Job titles and dates are included in a chronological resume.
• A functional resume emphasizes qualifications, skills, and related accomplishments over dates and job titles. This format utilizes short sentences or phrases, organizing skills into categories. This format is ideal for those who want to bridge a gap between their background and job requirements-for example, those who are changing career fields and have extensive work experience.
• A combination resume borrows elements of both styles, emphasizing skills and work accomplishments.

Keep it current! Update your contact information (name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) as needed!

• Define your target: An objective may be targeted for a specific position or endeavor (example: Seeking a research internship position at Smith Communications, utilizing graduate-level coursework in statistics). Including an objective is optional. If you choose not to include an objective, be specific in your cover letter as to the position you are seeking. Experienced job seekers may wish to include a summary section in place of an objective.
• Go back in time: List your most recent education first. Include your school name, degree (even if you have not yet graduated), major/minor/emphasis area, graduation month and year, and your grade point average if it is higher than 3.0. You may wish to include your overall grade point average or your major grade point average, or both. New graduates without extensive work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni or those with more work experience can list it after the work experience section.
• Quantify your experience: Use "action verbs" and "power" words to describe your duties and responsibilities. Explain your job duties using short simple sentences or phrases. You may want to divide your work experience into multiple headings, e.g., related experience, teaching/student teaching, work experience, internship experience, etc.
• Demonstrate your skills: Include verifiable abilities such as computer hardware and/or software skills and foreign language skills. Use terms such as "familiar with," "knowledgeable of" or "proficient in" as quantifiers.

Optional sections include:

• Show your class: List relevant courses that add credibility to your skills and qualifications. List course titles-not course numbers. It is not necessary to list the grades earned in each course.
• Keep it recent and relevant: List current or relevant honors, awards, and scholarships. Likewise, include activities that show leadership, responsibility, or community involvement. Take care not to reveal religious, political, or personal information.
• References: Close your resume with "Available upon request." This indicates to the reader that this is the end. Do not include names of individual references here-list these on a separate page, and include only when the employer asks for the information.

Formatting:

• Utilize options such as bold type, italics, and bullet points to draw the reader's eye to key areas. Be consistent with formatting, punctuation, and capitalization.
• Use a font size and style that is easy to read.
• Avoid using personal pronouns such as "I," "me," or "my" anywhere on your resume.
• Re-title and re-order section headings as needed. You are in control of the way your information impacts employers.

Schedule an individual appointment with a Career Specialist or attend a Resume Writing Workshop for additional resume development assistance!

• UC Santa Barbara Career Services

Create Your Resume

Make Your Fact Sheet  

Resumes are an early step in any hiring process. Begin by creating a master resume to track your accomplishments. When applying for a position with a specific employer, tailor the resume to your relevant qualifications.

Use this page to learn how to build a resume that succeeds in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and human reviews.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

In the 21st century, technology is transforming recruitment processes to evaluate applications in massive quantities. Employers typically receive many applications for any given position, which can range between about 10 applications (for small organizations) and over 1,000 applications (for large organizations). If you are applying to a position in a mid-sized or large organization, the chances are high that an automated system may review your application materials before a human sets eyes on them.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is the modern term that describes these computer systems, which have unique characteristics that determine your candidacy. ATS help employers by organizing applicant information, analyzing resumes and cover letters, and highlighting candidates that best match a position. It is important to note that ATS typically look at a resume's formatting and keywords; if your resume is not structured accordingly, your document may never make it past ATS to be viewed by a human. Once your resume reaches a human, statistics show that it is evaluated in less than 10 seconds on average.

While no two ATS are the same, they share many common qualities that are critical to understand. To help you succeed in modern recruiting processes, we have compiled this page to ensure that all of our resume guidance is aligned with common best practices for both ATS and human reviews. 

Did You Know?

Over 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to review resumes and select candidates for interviews.

According to KellyOCG, 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies, 66 percent of large companies, and 35 percent of small organizations use ATS software.

Source: https://www.kellyocg.com/siteassets/digital-recruiting-pov

How to Identify ATS

Collectively, job seekers encounter thousands of different ATS variations when submitting their resumes and job applications to employers. While these come in many different shapes and sizes, there are certain items to look for an ATS in your application process.

Here are a few clues to help you detect ATS when submitting your resume: 

• If you are applying to a mid-sized, large, or Fortune 500 organization .
• If you are asked to submit your resume through an online system .
• If the URL  changes significantly and leaves the company's website domain.
• If there is an Easy Apply  option.

No matter where you apply, we recommend creating a resume that meets common standards for both ATS and human reviews. With this in mind, a resume is effective when it is presented in a format that makes information easy to find, engaging to read, and trustworthy to believe . Serving as your "fact sheet" with the most relevant qualifications you offer to a particular organization, an effective resume conveys information in an approach that is  direct, specific, and concrete . Collectively, this style of writing is commonly referred to as  business format .

To achieve an effective format for your resume, we recommend that you follow these guidelines:

• Use a professional word processing software to build your document (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs). Microsoft Word offers more advanced formatting features than Google Docs, which can be useful when you need to tailor your document. While it is typically best to export to PDF for your final submission, always follow instructions for file formats indicated by the ATS for each application.
• Set the page margins between 0.5"–1.0" , applied consistently for all four margins on the page. Resumes with a lot of text benefit from small margins (i.e., 0.5") and resumes with less text benefit from large margins (i.e., 1.0"). 
• Enter information into one column across the entire width of the page. Do not format the page into multiple columns, as this causes ATS parsing issues (multiple columns are only ATS-compliant in a Skills section).
• Keep the design simple and clean , which typically means black text on a white background. Unless you are using a creative resume format (for creative paths in Communications + Arts ) or a federal resume format (for federal government career paths in Law + Government ), most employers prefer this traditional resume format.
• Choose a  professional font (e.g., Arial, Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica, or Verdana), and consider avoiding overly used fonts (e.g., Times New Roman or Comic Sans).
• Use a font size between 10–12 points . It is acceptable to make headings larger in size, as long as these formatting decisions are applied consistently throughout the document. The size of your name should be about twice as large as the rest of the text (i.e., 21–24 points) to ensure that it stands out.
• Select your preferred convention for use of periods: either use periods or omit periods, but be consistent throughout all descriptive statements on your resume. Because your resume includes statements and not complete sentences, periods are considered optional.
• Emphasize the most relevant information (e.g., your name, degrees, job titles, or organizations) through  bold  font, applied consistently throughout the document.  Underline  and  Italics  are not recommended due to their confusion with hyperlinks and difficulty to read on a screen.
• In all regards, avoid text boxes, graphics, and nontraditional symbols . These can create unwanted issues for ATS compliance.
• Use the same symbol for all bullet points on your resume (i.e., a round symbol with dark fill is best for ATS compliance and quick recognition). Additionally, for ATS compliance we recommend that you insert bullet points using the bullet point tool, rather than typing them each as a special character.
• Maintain  far-left alignment and one level of indentation for bullet points  (as opposed to multiple levels of indentation). This type of formatting accommodates F-Pattern and E-Pattern reading tendencies, which are favored by both ATS and human reviewers.  

When using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you may find a template that is appealing to use, however, most  templates are difficult to manipulate when tailoring your resume to different positions. If you like how a template looks, we recommend that you recreate it on a blank document to have full control over your resume's format. 

When creating your resume in VMock  through our Document Review service, we recommend the Smart Editor templates. They are ATS-compliant and can edited in DOCX format.

The structure of your resume should be presented in a very specific order. Generally, sections should be sorted by relevance to the position you are applying for. Within each section, experiences should be sorted by recency , so that experiences with the most recent end dates are listed at the top and experiences with the most distant end dates are listed at the bottom. ATS typically prefer this "reverse chronological order" to evaluate how you have evolved over time.

Length is an important aspect to keep in mind when creating your resume. In application processes, recruiters and hiring managers usually receive many more applications than they can study thoroughly, leading to the emergence of specific recommendations for ideal resume length.

Here are our guidelines for the length of your resume:

• If you are a current undergraduate student or you graduated from your undergraduate degree in the last few years, the vast majority of employers prefer that your resume is exactly  one page in length (no shorter or longer).
• If you are a current graduate student or you graduated from your undergraduate degree more than a few years ago, most employers accept a resume that is two or three pages in length, but one page may still be appreciated by some employers.
• If you are applying to graduate programs, or you are creating Undergraduate Student CVs or Graduate Student CVs , the length of your document is usually seen as unlimited .  

While there are rare exceptions, these guidelines can be applied to the large majority of student resumes at UCSB. In general, employers prefer to see your most relevant qualifications across a single page, to help them quickly evaluate your qualifications.

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