CV to Resume. Christine Holmes Director of Post-Doctoral Studies, Caldwell Hall

Transcription

1 CV to Resume Christine Holmes Director of Post-Doctoral Studies, Caldwell Hall Anne Poduska, PhD Graduate & International Student Career Advisor Cornell Career Services (Barnes Hall)

2 Career Services: Research Master s and PhD students Agriculture and Life Sciences: 140 Roberts Architecture, Art and Planning: 103 Barnes Engineering: 201 Carpenter Hotel: 180 Statler Human Ecology: 103 Barnes ILR: 201 Ives University-wide: 103 Barnes Professional master s students: Contact your program s office

3 Career Services: Postdocs Graduate Students Interested in a Postdoc Christine Holmes Director of Post-Doctoral Studies Caldwell Hall ch18@cornell.edu

4 PhD Comic, Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham, phdcomics.com

5 Purpose of CV and Resume Describe previous experiences Used by employers to decide whether to interview you Used during interviews to formulate questions CV History, education, accomplishments Resume Skills and abilities

6 Redefining Yourself Academia: Job title (Professor) Subjects (American history) Outside of Academia What you ve done and could do (transferable skills) CV History, education, accomplishments Resume Skills and abilities

7 Caveat Not all jobs outside of academia require a resume. Some require a CV.

8 Where Exceptions CV Academia Employers outside of the US US federal Government (PhD. Level) International Organization in US Development consulting firms Think Tank Resume US employment: private sector, government, and non profit Content Full list of qualifications Summary of Qualifications Length As long as you need 1-2 pages Style Not important Very important

9 If a US employer asks for a CV Check with the employer Confirm with others in the field Create a CV that details your skills; include a full or partial publication list

10 CV to Resume: Conceptual Shift My degree and publications are the main reasons why I ll get a job My activities that are unrelated to teaching, research, and publishing are unimportant There s one way to view myself as a PhD in X field and my CV represents that one view. The skills I acquired while I got my graduate degree will help me get a job Outside activities are valuable because they demonstrate skills and interests There are many ways to view myself and my abilities, depending on the type of job I d like.

11 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CVs 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

12 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CVs 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

13 Curriculum Vitae Resume Content Education Research/Teaching Interests Thesis/Dissertation Grants and Other Awards Research Experience Teaching Experience Practical Experience Employment Consulting Internships Publications Conference Presentations Languages Computer/Technical Skills References Not typically tailored by position Education Summary/Objective Statement (?) Select Grants and Awards Experience Select Publications Select Presentations Languages Computer/Technical Skills Very tailored by position

14 Do you need it? Summary/Objective Statement First (and easiest) place to adjust for job ad Seeking a responsible position in an industry lab doing research. Plant Scientist with 5 years of experience managing multiple projects in the following areas: Automation and high throughput plant handling systems Supervision of lab personnel Management of lab budget

15 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CVs 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

16 Chronological Functional Combination How Is a Resume Structured?

17 Format: Uses: Most widely used style Information presented in reverse chronological order Highlights progressive work experience Best for those who have significant experience in the field where they are seeking a job Problems: Resume Type: Chronological Less effective if changing careers or have little work experience Older but relevant experience may be overlooked

18 Resume Type: Chronological See page 55 of Career Guide

19 Format: Uses: Experiences are grouped by skills (e.g. leadership skills, communication skills) The titles and dates of the experiences are listed at the top or bottom of the resume Good for those changing careers or who have little work experience or gaps in employment Problems: Resume Type: Functional It can be confusing because the relationship between a skill and an experience can be lost

20 Resume Type: Functional See page 47 of Career Guide

21 Format: Uses: Experiences are given in reverse chronology but are arranged by type of experience (e.g. communication experience, leadership experience) Accentuates your skills Draws direct parallels with skills in job ads Helpful if you are applying for a wide range of jobs Problems: Resume Type: Combination Can be difficult to fit one experience into just one category

22 Resume Type: Combination See page 48 of Career Guide

23 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CV 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

24 Developing Bullet Points from your CV Service and Volunteer Activities PhD Admissions Committee Member 2008 I reviewed 15 PhD applications, wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant, and identified my top 7 choices. I gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. When 25 prospective students visited campus, I talked to them about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

25 Developing Bullet Points from your CV Service and Volunteer Activities PhD Admissions Committee Member 2008 I reviewed 15 PhD applications, wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant, and identified my top 7 choices. I gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. When 25 prospective students visited campus, I talked to them about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

26 Developing Bullet Points from your CV Reviewed 15 PhD applications Wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant Identified my top 7 choices Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

27 Developing Bullet Points from your CV Reviewed 15 PhD applications Wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant Identified my top 7 choices Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions. How do you decide which bullet points to include or expand upon?

28 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CV 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

29 What Skills Do Employers Want? Employers typically desire the following core competencies*: Content knowledge Professionalism and work ethic Oral and written communication Teamwork (including leadership) and collaboration Critical thinking and problem solving Ethics and social responsibility *Casner-Lotto, J., & Barrington, L. (2006). Are they really ready to work? Employers Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21 st Century U.S. Workforce. Retrieved from the Partnership for 21 st Century Skills website:

30 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Reviewed 15 PhD applications Wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant Identified my top 7 choices Critical Thinking Skills Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

31 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Critical Thinking Skills Reviewed 15 PhD applications Identified my top 7 choices Analyzed 15 PhD student application essays and academic records according to admissions criteria and identified top 7 applicants

32 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Reviewed 15 PhD applications Wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant Identified my top 7 choices Leadership Skills Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

33 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Leadership Skills Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions. Advised 25 prospective students during visiting weekend about academic and social life at Cornell

34 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Oral Communication Skills Reviewed 15 PhD applications Wrote a one-paragraph summary analysis of each applicant Identified my top 7 choices Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Talked to 25 prospective students about Cornell s academic and social life and answered their questions.

35 Developing Targeted Bullet Points: Oral Communication Skills Gave a 15-minute presentation to the committee (5 faculty members) on why the 7 should be selected and all were chosen. Persuaded five-member faculty committee in 15- minute oral presentation to accept 7 applicants

36 CV to Resume Service and Volunteer Activities PhD Admissions Committee Member 2008 PhD Admissions Committee Member 2008 Comparative Literature Dept., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Analyzed 15 PhD student application essays and academic records according to admissions criteria and identified top 7 applicants Persuaded five-member faculty committee in 15-minute oral presentation to accept 7 applicants Advised 25 prospective students during visiting weekend about academic and social life at Cornell

37 Consequences of This Conceptual Shift 1. Resumes have different structure than CV 2. There s different ways you can represent yourself on a resume 3. You need to break down your CV s job titles and accomplishments into action verbs 4. You have to understand what an employer wants when you make your resume 5. You ll need different resumes for different jobs.

38 Opinions vary; everyone who looks at your resume is looking for something specific There is no right way just guidelines Have multiple people read it Final Resume Tips Put most important information on the first page List responsibilities most important to least Use clear, easy-to-understand language Past tense vs. present tense Use at least 11 point font size

39 Additional Resume Resources VersatilePhD: Optimal Resume: O*Net: Chronicle of Higher Education: CV Doctor Google LinkedIn profiles

40 What Are Your Questions?