Resume Guide: Your First Impression

Why Do Resumes Matter?

Resumes are so much more than just a list of experiences. Resumes serve as your marketing tool, tell your story, and often create a first impression on employers and recruiters. 

• 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).

• 75% of qualified applicants are rejected by ATS systems because their resumes are difficult to read or not ATS-friendly.

• 63% of employers prefer resumes tailored to the specific role.

• 43% of hiring professionals report receiving resumes in incompatible formats. PDF is the standard!

• Resumes are often reviewed in seconds. Only 14% of recruiters spend more than one minute reviewing resumes.

• 77% of hiring professionals reject resumes with spelling or grammatical errors.

• 61% of employers value soft skills just as much as hard skills

Overall, these statistics demonstrate the significance of formatting and tailoring your resume.

Resume Best Practices

Across several resume guides including those from Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Arizona, several universal principles stand out:

Formatting

• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs.

• Avoid pronouns such as “I/we”.

• Sections: Distinguish clearly between different sections by using bold font, spacing, or capitalization. 

• Margins: 0.75 - 1 inch.

• Fonts: Use consistent font styles and sizes (10-12pt). 

• Length: 1-2 pages. 

Content

• Reverse chronological order (newest to oldest).

• Exclude personal details like religion, marital status, social security.

• Do not include your home address. Phone number and email are okay.

• Experiences may include jobs, research, clubs, projects, fellowships, and volunteer work.

• Use correct tense for experiences. If you are describing current experiences, use present tense. If you are describing a previous experience, use past tense.

Proofreading

• Review your resume carefully for errors.

• Consistency in tense, style, and spacing show attention to detail.

Tips

Create a master resume with all experiences, then tailor versions for specific opportunities. Tailoring highlights the skills and achievements most relevant to each job, internship, fellowship, or graduate program.

• Different industries emphasize different strengths (research vs leadership).

• Keep the focus on impact (what you achieved, not just what you did).

APR Framework

The APR method helps strengthen your bullet points.

• Action: Begin with a strong action verb.

• Project/Problem: Identify what you worked on.

• Result: Show measurable impact.

Non-APR Bullet Point: Helped organize events.

Strong APR Bullet: Coordinated logistics for a 200-person fundraiser that raised $5,000 for scholarships.

Action Verbs for Impact

Category

Examples of Action Verbs

Leadership

Directed, Coordinated, Supervised, Facilitated, Organized, Oversaw, Led

Communication

Presented, Authored, Drafted, Explained, Persuaded, Reported, Collaborated

Research/Analysis

Analyzed, Evaluated, Investigated, Synthesized, Reviewed, Assessed

Problem-Solving

Improved, Resolved, Streamlined, Enhanced, Optimized, Transformed

Achievement/Results

Increased, Reduced, Achieved, Delivered, Implemented, Expanded

Transferable Skills to Highlight

Employers value skills developed in any context (school, clubs, work, volunteering). Here are examples:

Skill	Transferable Example
Communication	Presented a class project to 50 peers; wrote weekly blog articles; created outreach flyers
Leadership	Served as club president; coordinated volunteer schedules; trained new hires
Teamwork	Collaborated on a group research project; worked with coworkers on customer service solutions
Problem-Solving	Developed a more efficient filing system; troubleshot technical issues; improved workflow
Organization	Managed 20+ hours/week of school, work, and club responsibilities; planned events
Technical	Proficient in Excel; designed graphics for social media; conducted data analysis
Adaptability	Adjusted to remote learning; learned new software quickly; worked with diverse groups

Final Checklist

• Saved as PDF

• Tailored to opportunity

• Bullet points using APR method

• Strong action verbs

• Clear formatting, professional style, 1-2 pages

• Proofread for grammar, spelling, and consistency

• No unnecessary personal details

References

• Flair HR. Resume Statistics (2024). Link

• Forbes (Caroline Castrillon). Why Soft Skills Are More In Demand Than Ever (2022). Link

• Harvard Extension School. Resumes & Cover Letters Guide (2024). Link

• University of Arizona. Wildcat Career Guide (2024). Link

• Princeton University Career Development. Resume Guide (2020). Link

Helpful Resources:

Resume Action Verbs-3.pdf

Download PDF • 41KB

Resume Guide.pdf

Download PDF • 60KB