Table of Contents
Resume Overview
A resume presents your story by highlighting your skills (the things you do well). Employers initially scan a resume for 30 to 60 seconds, so it needs to be descriptive and concise at the same time. It also needs to be tailored to the organization to which you are applying. We asked a few recruiters to tell us what they notice on a resume in 30 seconds. Check out what they look for in the video below.
Sections to Include + Quick Formatting Tips
To keep your resume easy to read, divide it into these common sections. Check out the samples in the resources section for examples of what to include.
- Name and Contact Information
- Summary (Optional- more common with experienced professionals, but an option for any student)
- Education
- Experience- This is often broken up into two or three sections based on the themes in your experiences. Common headings include: Work/Professional Experience, Clubs/Student Organizations, Leadership Experience, and Service/Community Involvement.
- Skills (Optional)
Most employers take 30-60 seconds per resume during their first glance. Don’t get stuck in the “no” pile because of formatting issues.
- Keep your document to one page (for most undergraduates)
- Put your experiences in reverse chronological order in each section
- Keep your formatting consistent and easy to skim quickly (i.e. put job titles, organization names, dates, and locations in the same location each time)
- Use bullets, not paragraphs
- Quantify when possible and use the Bullet Plus Formula to show skills, not just tasks (keep scrolling for more on the Bullet Plus formula!)
- Tailor your resume to the experience for which you are applying
Write Higher Quality Bullet Points
Show the reader your skills (instead of just listing the tasks you did) by using the bullet plus model:
Action Verb + What + How/Why/Impact
For example:
- Basic bullet: Developed interpersonal skills
- Bullet plus: Developed interpersonal skills by facilitating cross-cultural conversations with Malawian teens and community members (how)
- Basic bullet: Created real interest monitoring tool
- Bullet plus: Created real interest monitoring tool to study the effect of rate changes on foreign exchange levels (why)
- Basic bullet: Directed actors in productions
- Bullet plus: Directed 5-10 student actors and managed technical team in both short and full-length productions attracting audiences of 100+ (impact)
Instant Resume Feedback + Other Resources
How can I get instant resume feedback using VMock?
For undergraduate students, you can build and edit your resume with INSTANT feedback using VMock!
- Upload your current resume (pdf required) OR create one in the platform using a UCC template!
- Receive tailored feedback in these areas: impact, presentation, and competencies.
- Use the SMART Editor to make changes.
Tips:
- Make edits in the SMART Editor before rescoring your resume
- Remember to upload your final resume to Handshake and complete your Handshake profile!
Are you a graduate student or an alumni? Check out our other resume building tools and resources!
Other Resources:
Targeted Resume - Automatic feedback on if your resume is tailored for a specific position for anyone with a umich.edu email
Resume Templates
To get started, choose a template from below > make a copy of the template > edit it with your information
Resume Examples
Choose a thumbnail to access the full view
Undergrad Examples
Masters Examples
If you are a doctoral student, please visit our PhD Job Search Beyond the Professoriate page for resume resources. You can also view the UCC PhD Guide for Resumes and Cover Letters an excellent resource that we have developed that helps PhD students to develop resumes and cover letters.
Resume Action Verbs
Action Verbs for Resumes and Professional Profiles
| Management | Communication | Research | Technical | Teaching | Financial | Creative | Helping | Organization | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| administered | addressed | analyzed | adapted | adapted | administered | acted | adapted | approved | achieved |
| analyzed | advertised | clarified | assembled | advised | adjusted | adapted | advocated | arranged | completed |
| appointed | arbitrated | collected | built | clarified | allocated | began | aided | cataloged | expanded |
| approved | arranged | compared | calculated | coached | analyzed | combined | answered | categorized | exceeded |
| assigned | articulated | conducted | computed | communicated | appraised | conceptualized | arranged | charted | improved |
| attained | authored | critiqued | conserved | conducted | assessed | condensed | assessed | classified | pioneered |
| authorized | clarified | detected | constructed | coordinated | audited | created | assisted | coded | reduced (losses) |
| chaired | collaborated | determined | converted | critiqued | balanced | customized | cared | collected | resolved (issues) |
| considered | communicated | diagnosed | debugged | developed | calculated | designed | for | compiled | restored |
| consolidated | composed | evaluated | designed | enabled | computed | developed | clarified | corresponded | spearheaded |
| contracted | condensed | examined | determined | encouraged | conserved | directed | coached | distributed | succeeded |
| controlled | conferred | experimented | developed | evaluated | corrected | displayed | collaborated | executed | surpassed |
| converted | consulted | explored | engineered | explained | determined | drew | contributed | filed | transformed |
| coordinated | contacted | extracted | fabricated | facilitated | developed | entertained | cooperated | generated | won |
| decided | conveyed | formulated | fortified | focused | estimated | established | counseled | implemented | |
| delegated | convinced | gathered | installed | guided | forecasted | fashioned | demonstrated | incorporated | |
| developed | corresponded | identified | maintained | individualized | managed | formulated | diagnosed | inspected | |
| directed | debated | inspected | operated | informed | marketed | founded | educated | logged | |
| eliminated | defined | interpreted | overhauled | instilled | measured | illustrated | encouraged | maintained | |
| emphasized | described | interviewed | printed | instructed | planned | initiated | ensured | monitored | |
| enforced | developed | invented | programmed | motivated | programmed | instituted | expedited | obtained | |
| enhanced | directed | investigated | rectified | persuaded | projected | integrated | facilitated | operated | |
| established | discussed | located | regulated | set | reconciled | introduced | familiarize | ordered | |
| executed | drafted | measured | repaired | goals | reduced | invented | furthered | organized | |
| generated | edited | organized | replaced | simulated | researched | modeled | guided | prepared | |
| handled | elicited | researched | restored | stimulated | retrieved | modified | helped | processed | |
| headed | enlisted | searched | solved | taught | originated | insured | provided | ||
| hired | explained | solved | specialized | tested | performed | intervened | purchased | ||
| hosted | expressed | summarized | standardized | trained | photographed | motivated | recorded | ||
| improved | formulated | surveyed | studied | transmitted | planned | provided | registered | ||
| incorporated | furnished | systematized | upgraded | tutored | revised | referred | reserved | ||
| increased | incorporated | tested | utilized | revitalized | rehabilitated | responded | |||
| initiated | influenced | shaped | presented | reviewed | |||||
| inspected | interacted | solved | resolved | routed | |||||
| instituted | interpreted | simplified | scheduled | ||||||
| led | interviewed | supplied | screened | ||||||
| managed | involved | supported | set up | ||||||
| merged | joined | volunteered | submitted | ||||||
| motivated | judged | supplied | |||||||
| organized | lectured | standardized | |||||||
| originated | listened | systematized | |||||||
| overhauled | marketed | updated | |||||||
| oversaw | mediated | validated | |||||||
| planned | moderated | verified | |||||||
| presided | negotiated | ||||||||
| prioritized | observed | ||||||||
| produced | outlined | ||||||||
| recommended | participated | ||||||||
| reorganized | persuaded | ||||||||
| replaced | presented | ||||||||
| restored | promoted | ||||||||
| reviewed | proposed | ||||||||
| scheduled | publicized | ||||||||
| streamlined | reconciled | ||||||||
| strengthened | recruited | ||||||||
| supervised | referred | ||||||||
| terminated | reinforced | ||||||||
| reported | |||||||||
| resolved | |||||||||
| responded | |||||||||
| solicited | |||||||||
| specified | |||||||||
| spoke | |||||||||
| suggested | |||||||||
| summarized | |||||||||
| synthesized | |||||||||
| translated | |||||||||
| wrote |
Using AI on Your Resume
GenAI Tools (like U-M GPT or ChatGPT) can be incredibly helpful for resumes, but don’t forget to be careful with what you share. We recommend only putting personal information (like your resume) into U-M GPT.
Here are a few ways to get started:
- Brainstorming Example Prompts:
- Copy/paste a job description and ask “Summarize the most important keywords and skills from this job description”
- “I am about to apply for a job as an account manager at an advertising agency and I'm working on my resume. Can you ask me questions about my marketing internship to help me generate ideas for my bullet points?
- Tailoring Example Prompts:
- Copy in the job description and your resume and ask “Where does my resume match up with the job description? What skills are missing from my resume that are on the job description?”
- Resume Review Example Prompts:
- “Review the following bullet points for how effective they will be for a data scientist role. Provide suggestions for how I could improve them”
- Content Help Example Prompts:
- Important Note: Use this as a starting point and don’t just copy/paste! Recruiters tell us they can tell when something is a straight copy/paste from a GenAI tool. Edit the bullets so that they are accurate and written in your own voice.
- “This summer I was a research assistant for Professor Smith. The project was about (add details). My specific role was (add details). The results of the experiment were (add details). I want to highlight these skills: (add details). Generate resume bullet points using the Bullet Plus Model.”
- Upload your resume then ask, “Optimize my resume for a job as a financial analyst.”
Note: We recommend using U-M GPT to keep your information secure. If you use other tools, we recommend removing any personal information. It is also important to make sure you do not include any sensitive information from your employers and you’re aware of any NDAs you have signed.