- A highlight of your background
- Used by employers as a screening device
- Used to obtain an interview by communicating to employers the value you will bring their organization
Career colleagues across UNC have created a comprehensive resume guide designed to help Carolina students create effective, professional resumes tailored to various industries and job opportunities. Topics in the guide are as follows:
- Resume Insights from Employers
- Resume Writing Basics
- Crafting Resume Bullet Points
- Using Resume Bullet Point Frameworks
- Incorporating Keywords and Skills
- CV vs. Resume: When and How to Use Each
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Resume Formatting
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Additional Resources and Next Steps
- Sample Resumes
Is There Such a Thing as a Correct Résumé or CV?
No. There is no right and wrong when it comes to résumé content and format. Each résumé is as unique as the individual it represents. It is up to you to select the appropriate content that best highlights your skills for the employment you hope to acquire, and then effectively communicate your qualifications in a format that is clear and easy to read. The table where you can compare the responsibilities of a position with your experiences can help you determine what should be included.
Review the additional topics below for more detailed information on preparing a resume.
Resume Formatting
Choose a format that allows the most impressive presentation of your experience history. Be sure to emphasize your key skills and accomplishments with the use of action verbs.
- Reverse Chronological format:
- Most frequently used and recognized by employers.
- It lists the most recent experiences first and preceding experiences in reverse chronological order.
- Functional Format
- Emphasizes skills and capabilities instead of the timeline of a person’s experience.
- This may be a good format for you if you have significant experience but not in the specific field, you can use this format to categorize the breadth of skills and experience.
- Curriculum Vitae
- The CV is typically used for applicants seeking academic or research positions. The same guidelines apply, though a CV is generally longer and highlights various experiences like research, presentations, and publications based on your field.
Resume Content
- Identification Information: Include your name, city/state, telephone number, and e-mail address. Optional items are your LinkedIn profile link and/or a professional website
- Summary: Keep it short and specific. Include relevant skills.
- These are optional and are not needed for every resume.
- Summaries can be a great way to show off your relevant experience at the top of the résumé and by capturing the employer’s attention.
- Education: In reverse-chronological order, include the schools you have attended, degrees completed, the major, focus areas, minor, and dates of graduation. Other possible information: related coursework, special projects (e.g. research projects), scholarships, and honors.
- Your MPA degree will be at the top of this section with the most emphasis being placed on your accomplishments while less emphasis will be on your undergraduate degree.
- If you have more than one masters level or above degree, list by order earned or, if earned at the same time, list first the most important for the position you are seeking.
- Experience: This section includes not only paid positions, but also related practicums, research, volunteer, field experiences, internships, or other relevant experience. Include the name and location (city, state) of employers, date range, position title and a detail of the level of responsibility. Stress any accomplishments or unique contributions.
- Quantifiable information supports the scope of your accomplishments
- Consider:
- Value added
- Impacts Made
- Skills Used/Gained
- Anything you want a potential employer to know that you can do based on your past/current experience
- Your experience can be separated into Professional, Relevant, Volunteer, Research, Project, Presentation, Leadership, etc. Organize your experience in a way that works for you.
- Additional Information: Include affiliations that may generate interest from the employer. Some additional information: publications, presentations, and awards. Include level of proficiency for any languages and software applications that you have significant strength.
- Include references on a separate document that includes each name, phone number, email address, and type of source (intern supervisor, work supervisor, professor).
Resume Tips
- Edit and proofread several times
- Set margins between 1/2 to 1 inch
- Chronological résumés list information in reverse date order
- Consider separating relevant experience, research experience, and other work experience
- Develop several résumé versions depending on the type of job or purpose of résumé or CV
- Use a website like JobScan to help optimize what you include on your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS)
- Note that if you don’t have an experience even though it may help your resume with an ATS, you can’t include it on your resume!
- Tailor to the sector of public service for which you are apply, such as…
Resume Action Verbs
Action verbs are used to start each bullet point. This will help stress the results and impact of your duties and accomplishments in your past positions. This helps employers understand how you can make an impact in their position.
Action Verbs List
How to Use Strong Action Verbs – Quinncia
Resume Examples including writing a Federal Resume
RMP Résumé Outline Sample – this outline sample is used to submit your résumé to the MPA Résumé Book
Students have the opportunity to submit their resume to a compiled resume book upon graduation (and we are asked periodically for copies of a students’ resume [e.g., meet the dean events, scholarship reports]). Use the resume submission form to submit the most up to date version of your resume, using the outline sample above. You may submit new resumes at any time.