Resumes: Helping Students Tell Their Story
Resumes are often a student’s first introduction to the professional world and many don’t know where to start. Faculty and staff can help by encouraging students to see the resume as a living document that reflects their growth, skills, and potential.
Key Messages to Share with Students
Resumes are About Relevance, Not Just Experience
A strong resume highlights what’s most applicable to the opportunity. Not everything a student has done!
Every Experience Counts
Coursework, projects, campus involvement, volunteer work, and part-time jobs all develop valuable, transferable skills.
It’s Okay to Start Simple
The first version doesn’t need to be perfect! Building and refining over time is part of the process.
Tips for Talking with Students
- Help them reframe their experience: Ask students about responsibilities, outcomes, and what they learned from each role!
- Encourage action language: Resume bullets should start with strong verbs and emphasize contributions, not just tasks.
- Remind them to tailor: One size doesn’t fit all. Resumes should be adjusted slightly for each job or internship.
Sample Conversation Starters
- “Have you had a chance to put your experiences into a resume yet?”
- “What skills did you use or build in that role?”
- “Would you find it helpful to get feedback on how to frame your experience for a specific job or internship?”
- “Did you know Career Services can help you create or revise your resume even if you’re not sure what you want to do yet?”
Campus Resources to Share
Point students to helpful Career Edge resources, such as the Resume & Cover Letters resource page. See below for more details.
One-on-one feedback with career educators or stop in during drop-ins (Monday-Friday 10 am-3 pm) and meet with a Career Ambassador to improve structure, content, and alignment with goals.
Students can find guides and templates in the Resume & Cover Letters resource page or navigating the career communities to find industry specific resources for more advanced practices in resume development.
Students have free access to Jobscan, an online tool that compares their resume to a specific job description and provides suggestions to improve keyword alignment and increase their chances of getting noticed by employers.