Resumes & CVs

1. Resumes & CVs Department of Mechanical Engineering Human Resources

2. Agenda • 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

3. Resumes vs Curriculum Vitae (CVs) • 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”

4. 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

5. A CV and its Purpose • 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

6. Resume Formats • Reverse Chronological – Lists your experiences in reverse chronological order, beginning with most recent position • Functional – Promotes and headlines skills and accomplishments, without emphasizing where or when you developed those skills • Combination – Utilizes reverse chronological order as well as organizes experiences in order of importance

7. The Four Ws of a Resume? • 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?

8. Resume Guidelines/Length • Easy to read – Resume should be in a consistent format and the reader should have a clear understanding of who you are • Easy to find out what you are good at – 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

9. Resume Headings • Contact Information • Profile Summary Skill Set vs. Objective • Work Experience • Education • Professional Associations and Membership

10. 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

11. Resume Content • 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

12. PAR – Example • 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

13. PAR Statement Practice • 1. Think about an accomplishment or project that you wish to include in your resume. With a partner, describe the issue or challenges that you addressed • 2. Write down the following: • (P) What was the issue and subsequent project • (A) What actions you took using action verbs • (R) The result or impact of the project

14. CV Formats • Academic CV • Executive CV • International CV

15. CV Guidelines/Length • Easy to Read – line item presentation of your credentials and academic history • Must haves • Professional Address • Educational History • Honors and Awards • Publications • References • Length of CVs – no restrictions; 5 - 10 pages is optimum

16. CV Headings • Contact Information • Education/Doctoral Dissertation • Medical or Academic Posts • Research – with mentors and institutions • Publications • Teaching • Presentations • Honors and Awards • Appointments • Committees • Other activities

17. References – Resume vs CV • Not included or required in a Resume – can be an addendum • Typically required and listed in a CV – very important piece of information for in academic searches • Consistent list between CV and applications for academic positions • Up to 5 reference letters are required in academic searches • Post Doc mentor and Ph. D. mentor come first – most important

18. Differences – Resume vs CV

19. 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

20. Don’t be Shy to Share • 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

21. Cover Letters – Industry Job Search • 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

22. Cover Letters –Academic Job Search • 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

23. Research Statements – Academic Job Search • 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

24. Questions • Other topics to discuss? • Follow up: • Bori Stoyanova • bori@mit.edu • Lynette Jones • ljones@MIT.EDU