Résumés and Curriculum Vitae

Building Your Résumé

Résumés are a critical component of the application process. Whatever stage of writing you’re in, whether it’s brainstorming or final polishing, the Career Center can help. Contact us to set up an appointment if you’d like in-depth assistance, or just drop by if you have a specific question(s).

Employers spend about 12 seconds on their first glance at your résumé. Therefore, your résumé must be clear, concise, and easy to read.

The Career Center’s Résumé Guide provides detailed information on how to structure your résumé, and features a sample to get you thinking about how to create and/or strengthen your own.

Success Ready Résumé

A “Success-Ready Résumé” meets key standards used by industry experts and clearly and concisely reflects your career journey.

Why this matters:

• Employers and alumni tell us that a polished résumé signals the applicant is serious about the role they’re applying for — small details make a big difference
• You’ll get meaningful feedback to help you tailor your experiences to the opportunities you are excited about

How do you get your résumé approved? 

• Review the recommendations for a Success-Ready Résumé in the Carleton Résumé Guide and update your draft.
• Schedule a 1:1 appointment with a Career Coach or Peer Coach to review your résumé. This may take up to two appointments to be completely approved.

Industry-Focused Résumés

Once you have chosen a specific industry, you will benefit from evolving your résumé into an industry-focused résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) to showcase your specialized skills and experience. The résumé samples below are based on industry, not major of study. Think of your major as a foundation. It provides tools and knowledge, but it’s up to you to decide how to use them. You’re not limited to one industry. Instead, your Liberal Arts education gives you the flexibility to shape your career path based on your interests, skills, and experiences.

• Business: Project Management
• Environmental Research
• Government
• Healthcare Research
• Technology

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a detailed document that showcases your academic and professional journey. Unlike a resume, a CV is primarily used in academic settings and is essential for applications to graduate programs, fellowships, and research positions. It provides a comprehensive record of your scholarly accomplishments for a specialized academic audience.

Why Is a CV Important?

A well-crafted CV tells your unique academic story and highlights your:

• Education: From undergraduate degrees to advanced certifications.
• Research Experience: Including projects, publications, and presentations.
• Intellectual Accomplishments: Such as awards, grants, and teaching experience.

The Career Center’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) provides detailed information on how to structure your CV, and features a sample to get you thinking about how to create and/or strengthen your own.