Harvard Resume And Cover Letter Guides
Office of Career Services | 54 Dunster Street
Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences
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####### RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Free To Download And Use In Microsoft Word As A Pdf Or In Google Docs
Choosing the right template is the first step in crafting your perfect resume. Try out our easy-to-use builder tool to add your work history, work experience, education section, soft skills and hard skills and achievements and show an employer what makes you truly unique. Our builder tool has already been tested by thousands of satisfied customers who have found their dream jobs hassle-free. A professional template calls for a professional file resume format. Luckily, Resume.io has got you covered. Within our builder tool, you can download your resume as a MS Word or Google Doc version completely free. You can also download your resume as a PDF.
So what are you waiting for? Its time to find your perfect template, add your personal touches and land your dream position in a few easy clicks! Don’t forget to create a matching cover letter after you have written the perfect resume. Using our Resume.io builder you can create a perfect resume that will impress hiring managers. Thats why more than 14 million jobseekers use our free resume templates.
Get access to winning resume examples that will inspire you during the writing process. Our Resume Writing tool will even help to organize and manage your job search more efficiently.
How To Build A Resume
The resume building process is simple and intuitive: Five easy steps is all it takes to get from start to finish. Resume writing can be time-consuming. So, our resume tools and guides are designed to save as much of your time as possible.
Find one of our elegant, expertly crafted templates that suit your taste, profession and employers image. Choose an accent color to grab the readers attention. We have several resume template categories to choose from, depending on your sensibilities, visual demands and industry.
Fill in your contact information so that your resume performs as your personal ambassador. Never worry about it getting lost among other candidates, as our powerful, attention-grabbing headers help recruiters visually identify your document among many others.
Write or generate a short summary, fill in the bullet points of your employment history, education and skills. Well help you with great visual functions and tips. All of the sections are easy to complete and require minimal effort. Compared to traditional text editing software, resume creation with our builder is easy and convenient. Save time, make use of powerful visualizations and clean formatting!
Custom-tailor the design and structure of your resume in just a few clicks. You can also add any special sections if you want or need them. Awards? Certifications? Honors? If you have them, well help you list them. Font sizes and colors are customizable as well.
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When To Pick A Modern Resume Template
Professionals in fields like tech, IT, , design and media can all benefit from a modern resume template. A modern resume can also work great for startups or in a variety of other industries where companies promote themselves as youthful and on-trend. A modern resume template helps you match the companys personal style and present yourself as fresh and innovative. If you need a more formal or professional look and feel check out our professional resume templates.
A modern resume can also help you stand out in the application pool. A pop of color and a bold design can keep your name swirling in a hiring managers mind. Just remember to keep your writing fresh and on-point to show what a well-rounded candidate you are.
We tend to think of the profile summary as the first thing a hiring manager sees, but a striking layout is truly the best way to make a great first impression. If your field or industry calls for a bold approach, dont hold back! Choose a modern resume template to prove youre the cream of the crop when it comes to industry-leading professionals.
What Makes A Professional Resume Template
A professional resume template is characterized by a focus on the candidates skills and experience. One accent color may be used but overall, the emphasis is placed on the text with minimal distractions from icons or other flourishes. The resume format may have room for a headshot or logo but there should be enough white space on the page to effectively balance out large chunks of text. Candidates should focus on writing their professional experience and summary in a professional tone, using strong action verbsthat connote leadership and competence.
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Tip : How To Write An Education Section That Stands Out
The education section demonstrates that you have the academic qualifications for the position. The key questions you should ask yourself while writing this section is, Have I clearly communicated the strongest and most relevant aspects of my educational experience? The next question is, Is this section organized in a way that is easily readable by the employer?
The education section is important for all applicants but may be weighted differently depending on how long it has been since you graduated from a degree program. For instance, an employer may have a different level of interest in the educational history of a college senior, compared to someone who has been professionally working for several years after college. Understanding this fact may influence where you choose to place this section on your resume.
In general, you should include all of the higher education that you may have had, including undergraduate, graduate, or professional schooling. You may also consider including online courses, certificates, and completed programs through companies like Coursera. Most people list their experiences in an order called reverse chronological, meaning that they list the most recent experience first, and work backwards down the page.
Tip : Revision And Review
One of the most important steps to writing a good resume is having others you trust look it over. A small spelling or grammar error on a resume could cause problems by making it seem like you lack attention to detail.
You can start with standard spelling and grammar checking programs. However, while these programs are very helpful, they are not enough by themselves. For example, the programs may not flag errors with homophones . They also have difficulty with uncommon, technical, or foreign words that may not be in their dictionaries. In addition, they are not looking for formatting inconsistencies or at the overall appearance of the resume. While computer programs can help with many issues, there is still no substitute for the human eye.
Start by printing a copy of your resume and looking for errors and inconsistencies yourself. Then, present copies to others along with a description of the job or educational opportunity that you are applying for. When presenting your resume to others, consider at least two kinds of people: a peer, and an experienced professional or teacher. Each may identify different issues with the resume.
Ask the reviewers to provide two types of notes: technical revisions and feedback on the writing, organization and effectiveness of the resume.
A good resume can help you land an interview, but even minor errors can take you out of the running. Schedule an appointment with a counselor to ensure it will be effective.
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Cv Templates For Every Job
If all jobs were the same, how boring the world would be! Thats why weve created CV templates that can work for every experience level, field and job title. All thats left to do is choose the one that speaks to you. A great CV template can help show off your personality and professional style, so make sure to pick a template that captures the message you want to send to the employer.
The first step is to take into account the employers image and branding. What tone do they use on their website? Is the logo full of fun, bright colors or does it reflect a more reserved approach? Once you have a better idea of the companys values and style, you can choose a template that aligns with their tone. Some companies will prefer a bolder approach whereas others appreciate a toned-down CV template.
When in doubt, its a good idea to go with a more subdued CV template. Thats because even a simple template can offer a great mix of style and functionality. If you havent quite gotten a feel for the company tone, a neutral template with strong lines or a bold font can help you find the balance a CV template thats professional but never boring!
Cv Templates For Every Career
As a candidate, you are a unique individual with the skills and experience to get the job done. So why shouldnt your resume be just as interesting as you are? When it comes to convincing an employer to hire you, your resume is the best way to tell your story and make a strong first impression. Thats why weve curated a collection of dozens of expertly-designed CV templates to fit a variety of fields and career levels. To make choosing a template even easier, weve divided our collection into five types: professional, modern, creative, simple and basic. These groupings offer a great starting point to explore the CV templates best suited for your field. Then, if nothing catches your eye, try another collection to find the right style and add your personal flair.
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Tip : How To Highlight Your Skills
Another important component of what defines an attractive candidate in the modern economy is their skill set. Because employers want people who can quickly start being productive, they care about what skills a job prospect has, particularly in certain technical fields. In most cases, skills are incorporated into the Experience section, if you acquired skills as part of your internship or job, and in the Education section, if you obtained the skills through coursework, research, or projects. Sometimes people with additional skills, such as technical skills, foreign language, or certifications obtained outside of university, will place them into a separate section at the end of the resume. Whichever format you choose, you still need to emphasize the skills you have, so that an employer can easily see how you can help them.
You should ask yourself a few important questions. What skills do I have? What skills are my target employers looking for? Are my skills hard skills or soft skills, such as the ability to listen?
Make a list! Separate the skills into hard skills and soft skills. What skills are most in demand for the position you are interested in ? How can you highlight your proficiency in these skills?
Heres an example of a skills entry that might be included into the Experience section:
Programming: 8 years of experience with Python and similar scripting languages, wrote MyFirstPythonProject software available on GitHub
Resumes And Cover Letters
A resume is often the first document that you will send or hand to a potential employer or even someone who might advise you. You may spend time revising it continually, but you should always assume that the person seeing it for the first time may only spend 10-15 seconds looking at it. Think of the hiring manager who has been given a stack of 100 resumes , who is trying to fill one or two slots. You have a very short time to catch that hiring manager’s attention to be one of the few resumes to survive her/his first pass through that stack.
It is quite tempting to try to pack as much information as possible into your resume. But always think about that brief time to make a first impression. While it is quite reasonable for a graduate student to have a two-page resume , pay particular attention to the first page.
What will a hiring manager look for in that initial pass through the resumes. This can differ by organization, which is one reason we encourage students to connect to alumni for advice. However, let me emphasize one concept – what the hiring manager is trying to accomplish by hiring you.
There are several items that are critical parts of a CV, but have little or no importance on a resume.
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This Is What A Perfect Resume Looks Like According To Harvard Career Experts
Who hasnt wondered at some point during their job search: Does my resume look like it should?
Unless youve got the time and money to consult a career coach or expert, perhaps no-one has ever mentioned that your resume looks terrible, is leaving out crucial information, or is otherwise stopping you from getting the interviews youve been trying so hard to secure!
So a big thanks to the career experts at Harvard University for putting together some great examples of what a good resume looks like. If youre doing everything right, it should look something like this:
Theyve also provided some valuable dos and donts for writing your resume:
Action Verbs For Your Resume
LEADERSHIPAccomplished Achieved Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired ConsolidatedContracted Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Earned Evaluated ExecutedHandled Headed Impacted Improved Increased Led Mastered OrchestratedOrganized Oversaw Planned Predicted Prioritized Produced Proved RecommendedRegulated Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Surpassed
COMMUNICATIONAddressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Collaborated Convinced Corresponded DeliveredDeveloped Directed Documented Drafted Edited Energized Enlisted FormulatedInfluenced Interpreted Lectured Liaised Mediated Moderated Negotiated PersuadedPresented Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Reported Rewrote SpokeSuggested Synthesized Translated Verbalized Wrote
RESEARCHClarified Collected Concluded Conducted Constructed Critiqued Derived DeterminedDiagnosed Discovered Evaluated Examined Extracted Formed Identified InspectedInterpreted Interviewed Investigated Modeled Organized Resolved Reviewed SummarizedSurveyed Systematized Tested
TECHNICALAssembled Built Calculated Computed Designed Devised Engineered FabricatedInstalled Maintained Operated Optimized Overhauled Programmed Remodeled RepairedSolved Standardized Streamlined Upgraded
TEACHINGAdapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Coordinated Demystified DevelopedEnabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed InstructedPersuaded Set Goals Stimulated Studied Taught Trained
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Top 10 Parts Of A Modern Resume Template
Resume Makeover Using Vmock And Aspire
Gain instant feedback on your resume and LinkedIn Profile
VMock is a smart career platform that provides instant personalized feedback on your resume and LinkedIn Profile to help improve aspects like presentation, language, and skills.
VMock Smart Editor tool will enable you to:
- Receive an objective score on your resume based on recruiter criteria
- Review line-for-line targeted feedback on your resume
- Re-upload your resume up to 10 times to track improvement
using your HBS email address. Account requests are granted within 24 business hours. During holidays and winter break turnaround time will be delayed until the CPD office reopens. Please note, we recommend you review your resume before considering it final.
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Top 5 Why Choose A Modern Layout
Whether Youre A Prospective Undergrad Or Graduate Student A Resume That Pairs Unpretentiousness With High Performance Will Get You Past The Gilded Ivy League Gates
When applying to one of the of most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, confidence is key. But confidence doesnt mean arrogance, and a Harvard resume should expertly balance humility with conviction. That goes for both undergraduate applications to Harvard College and submissions to one of the 10 graduate and professional schools at Harvard University.
Its likely you agree with Nelson Mandelas famous aphorism: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. But youll need to be perspicacious enough to get to the kind of education youre seeking, and if youre submitting a resume, being humble while strategically listing your achievements will give you an advantage. This shows that youre a leader-in-the-making whos already self-aware, with values that go beyond overbearing swagger.
For undergrads, emphasize the following in your Harvard College resume:
- extracurriculars
- awards, scholarships, and publications
For graduate school, opt for a Harvard resume that pinpoints:
- a high GPA and accolades from your undergraduate degree
- specific work in the field you want to get an advanced degree in
- relevant internships
- skills youve already acquired that will help in your industry
Generally, keep the design elements uncomplicated and coherent, and review our Harvard resume template to gather more enterprising pointers.
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How To Write A Resume That Stands Out
You finally found it! The perfect job for you. Now, all you have to do to get the process started is to submit your resume. The problem is that hundreds of your peers are probably thinking exactly the same thing. How do you stand out?
You finally found it! The perfect job for you. Now, all you have to do to get the process started is to submit your resume. The problem is that hundreds or even thousands of your peers are probably thinking exactly the same thing about exactly the same job. So how do you create a one-page document that will make you and your accomplishments stand out from the crowd?
Your resume is a key part of the job application process: it is the first document that an employer reviews to determine whether they will interview and eventually employ you. Remember that employers often have very limited time to perform this duty. Crafting a strong resume really matters!
Resumes communicate who you are and what you have accomplished. They may be the only document an employer sees to evaluate your record before making a decision to move forward with your application, or they may be used in conjunction with resources like LinkedIn or professional networking profiles and/or a cover letter. A resume that stands out in a positive way is one that has been written thoughtfully, clearly and concisely, effectively communicating your abilities and strengths in a very brief space.