Online Resume Reviews
Resume Reviews For CNS undergraduates and recent CNS alumni: Submit your word doc resume here to have it reviewed by a career coach! Comments and revisions will be sent back to you within 3 business days.
CNS Resume Templates:
General Resume Template (for jobs, internships, research, grad school, med school, and more!):
- General Resume Template (Word)
- General Resume Template (Google Docs) (File -> Make a Copy to create an editable document)
Technical Resume Template (for computer science-related or data science-related internships and jobs):
- Technical Resume Template (Word)
- Technical Resume Template (Google Docs) (File -> Make a Copy to create an editable document)
Purpose of a Resume
Your resume and cover letter are some of the best marketing tools you can use in finding a career, and often one of the first things asked of you in the job or internship search process. The goal of your resume and other application materials is to get you an interview. Your resume should concisely convey your communication abilities, fit, skills, and strengths for the position you are targeting.
Resume vs. CV
The CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a comprehensive statement of a person's educational background, teaching, and research experience and is most commonly used when a professor or graduate student is applying for an academic job. Most undergraduates don't not have the breadth experience that is needed to fully fill out a CV, so instead we recommend creating a Master Resume using our resume templates above.
Your Master Resume will include entries for everything you've done in college regardless of the length of the document. This will be the document you submit to a graduate school, research experience, or professional school application when it says "submit your Resume or CV". If you are applying for a job, then resave the master file as a new document and cut it down to 1 page of the most relevant experience for that job.
Make sure you update your Master Resume at the end of each semester!
Formatting Guidelines and FAQs
Check out our Frequently Asked Resume Questions!
Font and Formatting: Appropriate fonts include: Times New Roman, Calibri, Palatino or Arial. Use bold font to highlight your name and sections of your resume that are important. Bullets should be used for an organized appearance. Font size should be between 10 to 12pt. Margins should be no smaller than ½ inch. Make sure your formatting is as strong as possible by using our resume template above!
Length: Try to be as concise as possible and keep your resume to one page. Keep a master resume with all information in order to pick and choose what experiences best match the position in which you’re applying.
Paper: Most employers expect resumes to be emailed to them or submitted through their Applicent Tracking System (ATS). If you need to have a hard copy, print your resume on plain white paper. Never fold resume paper, and be consistent in using the same paper and formatting for cover letters and references too.
Emailing: Make sure to save your resume (cover letter and references, too) as a PDF file so it maintains consistent formatting. Save it under a unique name instead of just a generic title, for example, “Reyes_Connie_Resume.pdf”
Keep a Master Resume: We recommend having a "Master Resume" file that include entries for everything you've done in college no matter how many pages. Then, when applying for each job, resave the master file as a new document and cut it down to 1 page of the most relevant experience for that job. Make sure you udate your resume as you gain experience while it is fresh in your mind at the end of each semester. If you are applying to professional school or graduate school, then you can just submit the full Master Resume for your application.
Proofread: There is never anything worse than typos on your resume. Be sure to have several others proofread it to avoid this common mistake. CNS Career Services can help! You can always get a email resume review or make an appointment with a Career Coach.
Key Words & Content: Use keywords that someone might use to search for you and your career interests. This helps you tailor your resume to prospective employers. Utilize wording and language from the job posting. Be concise, specific and give the reader examples of your skill set. See our Strong Bullet Point resources below for more details.
1st Year Students: Rule of thumb for including high school experience is to remove it by the start of your sophomore year at The University of Texas at Austin. Employers want to see the experience you’ve had in college. There are exceptions to every rule! Speak with a Career Coach at CNS Career Services if you have questions.
GPA: If there is a minimum GPA requirement for the position, be sure to include your UT GPA after your first semester here at UT. If there is no requirement, we recommend including GPA if it is above 3.0.
Applicant Tracking Systems
- An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the software that many employers use to collect, rank, sort, and review resumes before an actual recruiter or hiring manager does. The ATS compares your resume with the position description that you applied for and will rank candidates from who it thinks is the most qualified for the position to the least qualified for the position. It does this by extracting text from your resume and running an analysis with the position description.
- The ATS has trouble extracting text when the formatting on a resume is too complex for it to understand. This could lead to the ATS categorizing your resume incorrectly or not being able to extract the text at all. We highly suggest making your resume ATS-friendly and the easiest way to do that will be by using our resume template! Types of formatting you want to avoid include tables, columns, graphics, coding your resume in LaTeX, and resume design websites like Canva.
- We suggest making your resume ATS-friendly by using our word doc and google doc resume templates (above) and you can learn more about the ATS here.
- Tailoring your resume is the best way to make sure that your resume will be seen by recruiters so we highly suggest tailoring your resume for each position you apply for. Tailor your resume by looking for keywords in the job description and incorporating those keywords into your resume where they fit best. Need help tailoring your resume? Make an appointment with a Career Coach!
Creating Strong Bullet Points
Check out these additional resources to help you write strong bullet points for each of your resume experiences:
Examples by Industry or Major
Below you will find industry-specific or major-specific resume examples. Use these as inspiration for what your resume could look like, how you can organize it, and what strong, descriptive bullets look like.
Cover Letter
Cover Letter Purpose & Template
The point of a cover letter is to make a compelling case for yourself as a candidate for a particular job and complements what’s in your resume. It’s an opportunity to tell an employer more about you than just what they’ll see in your work history. Other things matter too, like work habits, communication skills, drive, people skills, and overall enthusiasm for the job. A good cover letter doesn’t summarize the resume that follows; it adds new details that aren’t on the resume that explain why you’d excel at this particular job.
We suggest thinking back to past compliments from supervisors or teammates when you’re trying to come up with skills to highlight and tying them to an anecdote to make things feel a little more grounded. Anyone can say they are a “team player” who “works well under pressure,” but not everyone can talk about how their successful presentation sealed the deal with a hesitant client, or brag that they’ve got spreadsheet customization skills that their coworkers have described as a “game changer.”
To take the pressure off the writing process, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you think you'd be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history; you’d talk about what you’re good at and how it lines up with what it would take to do the job well, and how you’d approach the work and why you’re excited about it. That’s a good basis for any cover letter.
Email vs. Hard Copy vs. Electronic Submission
- For a hard copy letter or a word document for electronic application submission, use the same heading as you have in your resume
- If you're submitting the cover letter as an email, the subject line should include your name, the job title, and/or the posting number
- When emailing your materials, write your cover letter in the body of the email - omit the header, date, and address section; only keep whom the letter is addressed to and the body of the letter
- Make sure to include your contact information in the signature of the email when emailing a letter, in case it is forwarded
What to Avoid
- Don't use a generic letter for every position you apply for. Take the time to tailor each cover letter to the particular company and position that you are applying for.
- Be sure to follow the instructions in the job posting, and include any information specifically requested
- Avoid typos, misspelled words, and false or exaggerated information – always have someone else proofread before sending
- Don't address the letter to “To Whom it May Concern”! Use the name of the hiring manager or you can use one of the following salutations: "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Hiring Team"
Cover Letter Examples
Below you will find cover letter examples paired with respective job descriptions. For these examples, read the job description closely and then the matching cover letter to better understand how to write a cover letter that is tailored to the job. Do not copy these letters or even parts of them. These letters work because they are so customized to the writer and the job. It’s intended for inspiration only — to show what our cover letter advice can look like in practice.
Internship Cover Letter Example
Full Time Cover Letter Example
REFERENCES
References
When asked to provide references for a job or professional school, you may need to submit a references page or enter this information into an online application. If you need to create a references page, use our template and read our Dos and Don'ts to get started:
Do's
DO Make a list of potential references
- Professors
- Supervisors
- Advisors
- Professional Contacts
DO Pick references that are a good fit and know you well
- If you didn’t have a lot of personal interaction with someone, they probably wouldn’t be the best reference because they won’t know how to talk about you and your skills or knowledge
- Choose references who know you well and whom you have known for a longer period of time
DO Reach out to your references to get their permission
- Contact potential references and ask permission to use them as one of your references
- Send them your resume and/or a description of the job or program you are applying for so they can be prepared
DO Include necessary contact information and details for each reference
- For each reference, include the person’s name, your relationship to this person, their current job title, the company they work for and contact information. Be sure to include both an up-to-date phone number and email address for each reference. Use our template to help structure your references.
DO Follow up with references after your job search
- Give references an update on the outcome of their reference for the job or school program you applied to
Don'ts
- DON'T use someone as a reference until they have given you permission
- DON'T use a friend or family member as this is not considered a “professional” reference
- DON'T have only 1 reference; have 3-5 references prepared
- DON'T use someone as a reference that does not know you well since they won’t be able to speak to your abilities
- DON'T use outdated phone numbers or email address—confirm with your reference to ensure you have up-to-date information
Thank You Notes
This is an opportunity to stand out from another candidate that may neglect this generous act of courtesy. A thank you letter is appropriate for everyone that has taken the time to meet with you, not just the interviewers.
Thank You Note Tips:
- Address this to the person that you met with
- Express appreciation for the opportunity and mention something unique about the meeting to personalize it
- Add any information that was left out in the interview, or that was requested
- Thank you letters sent via email are acceptable if they maintain the same professionalism as a hard copy would
- Send 24-48 hours after you have met for the interview or meeting
- Keep it brief and, if you indicate you will follow up with them again, do so in the timeframe you’ve specified
Thank You Note Example:
Dear Mr. Jones:
Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to discuss the Research Assistant position in the Chemistry Department at The University of Texas. I enjoyed learning about the challenging work opportunities and professional development that the Research Assistant role entails. I especially appreciated your story about your first time working in a lab.
As we discussed yesterday, my past experience working in chemistry labs and academic research as an undergraduate distinguishes me as a candidate for this position. After learning more about the Research Assistant position, I am confident that my leadership experience, paired with my commitment to becoming a valuable asset to your team, would make me an excellent fit.
I am interested in continuing through the interview process and will follow up with you next week via email to talk about the next step in the process. Thank you again for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Robert Science
Computer Science, 2012
The University of Texas at Austin
512-555-5555
Networking Emails
Networking emails can be used to reach out to professionals in your desired field to make a connection from a mutual contact, request an informational interview, or inquire about a learning opportunity. We recommend not attaching a resume, as the purpose is not to inquire about job prospects.
Email Tips:
- Introduce yourself and indicate if you have a mutual connection to that person
- Propose the topic of the requested meeting
- Give the person some background information about your education and experience
Email Example:
Dear Mr. Jones:
Kelly Brooks suggested that I reach out to you. I am a third year student at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Biology. I am interested in pursuing a career in XYZ. Kelly has spoken very highly of you and suggested that you may be able to offer me some additional insight into the XYZ industry.
I am currently trying to learn more about the professional careers in the field of Biology and your specific career is of interest to me. Some of my past experience includes XYZ, but I would like to learn more about a field that may be a career path for me after graduation.
I would like to meet with you to discuss your career path so that I can identify experiential learning opportunities for my last year at UT. As I know you are busy and have limited availability, I am hoping for no more than 30 minutes of your time. I am available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a phone conversation, coffee, or lunch. Please let me know which option would be most convenient for you, and I look forward to meeting you.
Thank you,
Susan Science
Biology, 2012
The University of Texas at Austin
512-555-5555
Email Etiquette
We are now communicating with the written word more and more each day. Without immediate feedback from the reader, the message can be misunderstood. Without double and triple checking your email before hitting send, you are at risk for potentially representing yourself in a negative light.
When you send an email to a prospective employer, network contact or any faculty or staff, there are several things you need to double and triple check. Follow these easy tips to come across well versed and articulate!
Elements of Email Etiquette:
- Include a salutation – Address the recipient in a formal manner such as Mr. Science, Ms. Summers, or Dr. Jones. If you are unsure of how to address the person, do some research to find out their correct name and title.
- Provide a clear context and clear purpose – Think twice about the message you are trying to communicate. Keep the email brief and within a one-page viewable pane.
- Tone – Write in a positive tone. Avoid using negative words, such as those that begin with “un, non, or ex” or end with “less.” Do not use symbols or emoticons. Use contractions to add a friendly tone.
- Font – Use a general font, not a decorative or an overly stylized one that is hard to read. DO NOT USE ALL CAPITALS, as it communicates you are shouting. Use coloring and bolding judiciously.
- Spelling / Punctuation / Grammar / Typos – With the advent of Facebook and texting, abbreviations have taken over. It is easy to forget that an email can influence the reader, and can misrepresent what we are trying to communicate. The email should be written using complete sentences, correct spelling and a clear and organized structure. Double and triple check it before hitting send.
- Email response time – Respond to an email within 24 hours as it shows respect and responsiveness.
- Use the subject line to communicate your point – Don’t leave this blank. Make sure it is clear and meaningful to the recipient. A blank subject line is unacceptable.
- Close with your full name and contact information – Make sure the recipient has a secondary way of contacting you and be sure to include your phone number. Creating an email signature that includes your name, email address and phone number is an easy way to ensure that contact information is included in every email.
Remember To...
Ask yourself if your content is appropriate for email correspondence? Answer this question and edit, edit, edit your email before you hit send. Once you hit send, your email can potentially be viewable by anyone, so make sure you are proud of the content and how it represents you.
Email Etiquette Resource: Educational Advocates, College Consulting Corp. 2010
