Read the CRC Résumé Writing Guide and all the instructions below before you begin. The CRC highly recommends students follow the guidelines for applying online with electronic résumés.
Tips on Formatting Your Résumé Using Word
Using the CRC template is important, but you may still want to watch this quick video to learn the MS Word hacks necessary to format your résumé professionally.
The following samples show a variety of formats, but the preferred version will yield more positive results.
Save your résumé to a USB or hard drive using your Last Name_First Name as the file name. Ex: Smith_John
Click on shaded areas in templates and appropriately enter your demographic, academic and employment information.
When applying online for jobs (not uploading documents), the CRC highly recommends students follow the guidelines for applying online with electronic résumés.
Many of our incoming MS students have previous technical experience and the first drafts of the MS level résumés tend to focus on tasks instead of results or accomplishments. Consider what your potential employers in your future industries would want to know about your experiences and not just what your past employer would find interesting. Always have the reader in mind. Here is a before and after example that shows how to turn technical job description into more management-focused bullet points.
Infosys Technologies Ltd, Bangalore, India
Software Engineer, 11/2014 – 05/2018
Infosys Technologies Ltd, Bangalore, India
Software Engineer, 11/2014 – 05/2018
Notice that the after version shows results with actual percentages and describes the value that the employee brought to the company. Take the time to think about the skills you developed that would be transferable to your future jobs and also try to show you were successful at the tasks you performed by using those skills. Our recommendation is to research job openings for positions you would plan to apply for in the future and see what skills and qualities the companies are requesting for those jobs. How can you show that you have developed those skills in your past positions already?
If you are having trouble expanding your bullet statements, ask yourself the following questions:
Frank L. Ciminelli Family
Career Resource Center
School of Management
University at Buffalo
308 Alfiero Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-4010
Tel: 716-645-3232
Fax: 716-645-3231
mgt-crc@buffalo.edu
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
These tools will help you become aware of the important features of an American-style résumé. Based on years of feedback from corporate recruiters, we will show you what to include as well as what not to include. We will also demonstrate how to make the most of your experience.