On February 7, ABSA hosted an event led by Senior Career Coach and UW Foster alumni Jennifer Chen from Foster Career Services to share insight about how your resume and LinkedIn profile can stand out to employers. We also discussed ways to articulate experiences and optimize formatting on resumes and LinkedIn to set up for success.
Here are the key highlights from the event:
Basic Resume Guidelines
Main sections:
Header
Education
Experience
Activities and Leadership (if applicable)
Skills
Other information (i.e. interests, course work, honors, awards, affiliations)
Formatting:
Margins no less than 0.5 for left and right side, and no less than 1 inch for top and bottom
Dates - Include Month, Year
GPA - Include if 3.0 and above
Add your LinkedIn Profile unique URL Link
1 page one-sided MAX
Steps to Tailor Your Resume
1. Preparation
Find a role (job or internship) that you want to apply for
Identify the qualification and job responsibilities
Look for key action verbs
2. Format
Format your resume with clear headers
Resume should be consistent in font, spacing, etc.
Make sure it is only 1-page long
3. Content
Include most relevant experiences to role
Write bullets that show transferable skills needed for the job
Use action verbs & numbers
Note: Be smart about the real estate on your resume, make the most out of your space
4. Review
Edit, edit, edit!
Come to drop ins or make a career coaching appointment to get your resume reviewed
Resume Bullet Writing:
Action Verb + Task Completed + Value add
Include details on how you completed the task, and add numbers to show the scope of the work
Here’s an example of a bullet point statement:
Before: Provide after school tutoring support.
After: Tutored approximately 10 students in chemistry and biology on a weekly basis while constantly assessing each student’s needs in order to structure and scaffold instruction appropriately.
Bullet Point Formula:
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet.
You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.
Tips for Using LinkedIn:
Keep readers engaged by adding interesting details and visuals
Let your skills shine on your profile so readers can see your strengths
Your LinkedIn profile is a professional landing page for you to manage your own, personal brand
It showcases who you are and what you do by displaying a general history of your professional experiences and achievements
A complete LinkedIn profile can help you connect with opportunities
LinkedIn for Connecting & Networking
Posting Content on LinkedIn
Share your work passions (ex: AI, ethical supply chains, mentorship)
Use as a tool for Personal Branding
Update your network on your accomplishments and work
Reader engagement = more views on your profile
Types of Content on LinkedIn
Articles
Publications on LinkedIn with more depth
Photo Updates
Pictures used to enhance the content of a post
Videos
The main focus of the post and are often educational
Written Post
Can be updates, news, or reflections
Shared Posts
Building off of someone else’s post
What Are Connections?
First degree connections are people you are personally connected with
Second degree connections have a mutual connection
Third degree connections have no mutual connections with you
Pro tip: Only connect with people you would want to work with!
LinkedIn Networking Dos and Don’ts:
Don’t overload a contact with requests
Personalize your request to connect and have a goal in mind
Use commonalities with unknown contacts
Respond to messages within a week
We hope you’ve found these tips helpful when crafting your own resume and LinkedIn profile. Congrats on getting through midterms! We hope to see you at our next event. Stay warm, safe, healthy, and happy ABSA family!