Alumni Advice: Refining Resumes
Landing your dream job often starts with a single document: your resume. But how do you move beyond a simple list of past jobs to create a compelling story that captures a hiring manager’s attention? We asked alumni on St. Thomas Connect: “What advice do you have for Tommies refining their resumes?” Their insights cover preparation, timing, networking, and what truly matters when taking the next step in your education.
1. Remember the Purpose of your Resume
Before you get lost in the formatting, remember the purpose of the document. Our alumni remind us that while your resume is an important first step, it’s the human connection that seals the deal.
“Your resume is simply one piece of a broader array of tools to support your job search. Most important, you need to be comfortable using it in any career-related interaction, so make it yours.”
Daniel Hildebrandt
A resume is a bridge. Your network and interviewing skills close the deal.”
Daniel Thorman
2. Demonstrate your Impact, and Your Potential
By combining measurable impact with demonstrated potential, you prove to hiring managers that your past successes make you the right investment for their team’s future.
Be tangible in outcomes you have achieved, progress you have driven and impact you have made. Quantify and incorporate numbers wherever possible, and present your accomplishments in a way someone totally unfamiliar with your work history can understand and translate into your ability to drive success in their business priorities.”
Daniel Hildebrandt
When refining your resume, think of the formula: Transferable Skills + Involvement = Potential. Coming out of college, hiring managers know that you might not have a long work history. Hiring Managers/Talent Acquisition folks are determining if you have potential for a role in the organization. Does this person have the potential to be a great addition? Does this person have the potential to be successful in this role, even if you do not have the experience yet in this profession? You show that you do have potential by highlighting transferable skills (e.g., communication, analysis, problem solving) as well as involvement (e.g., class project work, teams/organizations you joined, volunteer work).”
John Abel
Try to focus on the results of the work you did, especially if you can include any numbers to back up your claims. Also, always a good idea to run it through an AI tool like Claude to have it give recommendations on things to change or update.”
Thomas Engrav
3. Consider the Employer’s Perspective
A great resume doesn’t just list duties; it speaks to the hiring manager’s specific needs and highlights your unique value.
Write your story from the perspective of the employer – what are they looking for, and how does your experience and skillset match their needs? Be tangible in outcomes you have achieved, progress you have driven and impact you have made. Quantify and incorporate numbers wherever possible, and present your accomplishments in a way someone totally unfamiliar with your work history can understand and translate into your ability to drive success in their business priorities.”
Daniel Hildebrandt
As a long-time hiring manager, I urge job seekers to reword key bullets and content to speak to the hiring manager’s interests. From “I was a cashier”, to “I was a friendly, customer-oriented cashier whose cash drawer was accurate at the end of my shift.” Tell the hiring manager why you are great!”
Tom Fischer
4. Beat the Bots
Before a human reads your story, your resume has to survive the technical screening. Our alumni emphasize the importance of where and how you submit.
Make your resume ATS-identifiable. Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes before a human ever sees them. To improve visibility:
- Use standard section headings (Education, Experience, Skills)
- Match keywords from the job description exactly
- Avoid graphics, tables, text boxes, or unusual fonts
- Save and submit as a PDF only if the employer allows it; otherwise use Word
- A clean, keyword-aligned resume ensures your qualifications are searchable, scannable, and not filtered out prematurely.
Dr. Allan Hansen, PhD, MBA
Instead of applying to a job or internship directly via LinkedIn, go to the company’s career web page to apply there! Sometimes when an application gets exported from LinkedIn and submitted to the company, the formatting of the resume and application questions gets distorted (misplaced bullet points, lighter font which can be difficult to read, odd spacing, etc.). Of course, some company’s only allow candidates to submit interest via LinkedIn, but this is just something to consider.”
Madeleine Straley-Knettel
5. Use Resources and Reviews
A single typo can derail a great first impression. Use every resource available, including the Career Development Center, to ensure your document is flawless.
Attend a career center workshop! They’re very helpful and full of resources!”
Sara Ford
Review your resume when you are done. Review it several times before sending. Mistakes in your cover letter or in the resume do not make a good impression. It needs to be perfect and it needs to tell your story.
Steven Olsen
Resume Resources for the Tommie Network
Refining your resume takes time, and you don’t need to figure it out alone. The Career Development Center is here for you! Visit Career Edge for more resume resources, including resume optimization software Jobscan. Schedule a coaching appointment via Handshake for a personalized review.
Looking for more community or mentorship as you refine your resume and find your next career opportunity? Visit St. Thomas Connect, our dedicated platform where Tommies engage, learn, and support one another. Check the “Connect → Community” tab to explore alumni by degree, industry, or topic, and start building your network today.
