Resumes & CVs
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
Agenda
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Resumes vs CVs
Purpose of a Resume
Purpose of a CV
Resume Formats & Content
CV Formats & Content
Differences Between a CV and a Resume
Resume/CV Dos and Don’ts
Cover Letters
Research Statements
Resumes vs Curriculum Vitae (CVs)
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Resumes are required for an Industry Job Search
Process
Resumes are the written inventory of your work
experience and accomplishments, skill set, career
and educational highlights
CVs are required by environments that demand
doctoral degrees – SAM communities
CVs are a chronological representation of
credentials - “the course of one’s life”
A Resume and its Purpose
Marketing Tool
 Key component in the job search process
 To get you an interview
 Resumes are as unique and individual as
the individuals they represent
 Tailored to the specific job
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A CV and its Purpose
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Important piece of documentation
Key component in the search for scientific,
academic, or medical positions
Usually accompanied by a cover letter and a
research statement
To highlight your credentials
CV follows a specific structure
Only one version of a CV is enough
Resume Formats
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Reverse Chronological – Lists your experiences
in reverse chronological order, beginning with most
recent position
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Functional –
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Combination –
Promotes and headlines skills and
accomplishments, without emphasizing where or when
you developed those skills
Utilizes reverse chronological order
as well as organizes experiences in order of importance
The Four Ws of a Resume?
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What opportunity are you seeking?
What is your specific background that relates to
this opportunity?
What are the roles, relevant work experiences
and education that provided you with this
experience?
What are your unique accomplishments?
Resume Guidelines/Length
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Easy to read – Resume should be in a
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Easy to find out what you are good at –
consistent format and the reader should have a
clear understanding of who you are
effective formatting, clear articulate language
and pertinent information will enable the
reader to access what is important
 Length of Resume – Keep your resume
concise – make every word count – 2 page
optimum
Resume Headings
Contact Information
 Profile Summary Skill Set vs. Objective
 Work Experience
 Education
 Professional Associations and Membership
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Use Words Carefully
Avoid use of confusing terms or acronyms
 Avoid use of long sentences or paragraphs
 Focus on concise factual statements
 Emphasize hard skills, e.g. computer
software applications
 Focus on specific action verbs
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Resume Content
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Show a progressive history of success (increased
responsibilities, promotions, etc)
Address specific accomplishments – PAR
statements
Identify your unique achievements within
organizations
Provide metrics that support these
accomplishments
PAR – Example
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Project: Recognized a need for an interactive
videodisc/computer database for students and faculty
Action: Analyzed database and procedural requirements
and designed an interactive tool
Result: Installed in MIT Libraries
Putting it all together: Identified the need for and led
the design and delivery of a database project which
resulted in easier access of information for faculty,
students and staff through MIT Libraries
PAR Statement Practice
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1. Think about an accomplishment or project
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2. Write down the following:
that you wish to include in your resume. With a
partner, describe the issue or challenges that
you addressed
 (P)
 (A)
 (R)
What was the issue and subsequent project
What actions you took using action verbs
The result or impact of the project
CV Formats
Academic CV
 Executive CV
 International CV
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CV Guidelines/Length
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Easy to Read – line item presentation of your
credentials and academic history
Must haves
 Professional Address
 Educational History
 Honors
and Awards
 Publications
 References
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Length of CVs – no restrictions; 5 - 10 pages is
optimum
CV Headings
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Contact Information
Education/Doctoral Dissertation
Medical or Academic Posts
Research – with mentors and institutions
Publications
Presentations
Teaching
Honors and Awards
Appointments
Committees
Other activities
References – Resume vs CV
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Not included or required in a Resume – can be an
addendum
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Typically required and listed in a CV – very important
piece of information in academic searches
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Consistent list between CV and applications for
academic positions
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Up to 5 reference letters are required in academic searches
Post Doc mentor and Ph. D. mentor come first – most important
Differences – Resume vs CV
Category
Curriculum Vitae
Resume
Essence
A full list of your professional and
educational history
A summary of your experience
and skills that are most
pertinent to the job
Length
Not restricted; 5 - 10 – optimum
for a seasoned academic
1 to 2 pages
Usage
SAM/Science – Academia - Medical
positions
Every other type of job outside
of academia and research
science
Publications
Yes – full list
Rarely
Style and
Format
Not important; content matters
Very important/Make it easy to
read and follow
Number of
versions
One is enough/minor
modifications are OK
Many version/Tailor to each job
of interest
References
Yes
No
Do Not's of Resumes & CVs
Do not include personal information in
resume or academic CV
 Do not send a photograph
 Do not embellish your resume/CV with
false statements
 Do not use full sentences or pronouns
 Do not use abbreviations or acronyms
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Don’t be Shy to Share
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Obtain an objective review of your resume/CV
Share your resume/CV with a colleague in the
specific department that you are targeting for a
job
Keep updating resume and CV
Be true to the facts
Cover Letters – Industry Job Search
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Cover Letter + Resume = Industry Job
Search
 Paragraph
1 – Express interest in opportunity
+ How you found out about it
 Paragraph 2 – What you have to offer to the
potential employer; specific matches
between your qualifications and the job
 Paragraph 3 – Follow up and Next Steps
Cover Letters –Academic Job
Search
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Cover Letter + CV = Academic Job Search
 Paragraph
1 – Express interest in opportunity
+ funding situation
 Paragraphs 2/3 – Work/mentors as a Post Doc
+ work/mentors as a Ph.D.
 Paragraph 4 – Future research focus
 Paragraph 5 – Follow up and Next Steps
Research Statements – Academic
Job Search
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Research Summary
Graduate Research (mentor + lab)
Post Doctoral Research (mentor + lab)
Future Research Plans (may include abstracts)
Optimum is 3-5 pages; may be more if abstracts
are included
Educational Plan/Teaching Plan may also be
required
Questions
• Follow up:
Bori Stoyanova
[email protected]
Lynette Jones
[email protected]