This document provides guidance on writing resumes for graduate students. It discusses resume layout, format, common sections like contact information, education, experience, and making connections. Key advice includes tailoring each resume to the employer, showing what skills you can offer them, and quantifying accomplishments. Students are encouraged to create or update their resume and LinkedIn profile and take advantage of career consulting services.

1. Resume Writing for
Graduate Students
Stefano Verdesoto
Graduate Assistant
Career Services
University at Buffalo
259 Capen Hall
ub-careers.buffalo.edu
(716) 645-4499
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2. Before We Get Started…
• What’s your name?
• What’s your field of study?
• When did you last write a resume?
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3. What is a Resume?
• A concise, complete document that outlines
your unique work-related education, skills,
accomplishments, and experience
• Helps secure you an interview
• Usually 1-2 pages
– Yes, 2 is ok! However, aim for a full 2
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4. Resume Layout
• Layout
– Contact info, objective, and education at top
– After that, to (most important to least)
– Reverse chronological order (present to past)
– Avoid overusing bold and italicized text!
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5. Resume Format
• What do you think is the most common mistake?
– Inconsistency! In formatting and spacing
• Margins should be the same
• Format all sections exactly the same
• No spelling errors!
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6. Consistent Resume Format
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7. Contact Information
• Really important!
• Should be visually appealing – brand yourself!
• Make it easy to contact you
• It’s okay to have 2 addresses
• Have a professional voicemail and email
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8. Objective
• Optional!
• If you do have one, make sure it’s SPECIFIC
– Target a specific company and position
– List 2-3 specific skills you will bring
• Avoid “dedicated,” “motivated,” “hard-working”
• You can find the specific skills they’re looking for on
the job postings!
– Example: To obtain the Marketing Internship at
Shea's Performing Arts Center to utilize my
public relations experience and promotional
writing skills.
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9. Contact Information and Objective
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10. Education
• Start with most recent – UB!
• Write out the full name of school and degree
• List your GPA if it’s over a 3.0
• List other colleges if you received a degree
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Master of Education, College Administration, Expected May 2015
• GPA 4.0/4.0
Bachelor of Arts, Communication, Sociology, May 2013
• GPA 3.8/4.0
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11. Experience
• Include employment, internships, research,
leadership experience, volunteer work, etc.
– Write bullet points describing skills developed
and achievements
– Start your bullet points with “action words” (pg13)
– Use “buzz words” the company is looking for
– Consider breaking up experience section
• Relevant Experience
• Work Experience
• Leadership Experience
• Marketing Experience… etc.
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12. Writing Action Statements
• Focus on what you learned or accomplished
rather than just stating your duties
• Avoid using passive words such as “assisted”
• Quantify your accomplishments when possible
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13. Strong vs. Weak Action Statements
• Weak: Conducted market analysis.
• Strong: Collaborated with group of 5 to conduct
market analysis on mobile application usage
utilizing quantitative surveys
• Weak: Answered phone and made
appointments.
• Strong: Provided excellent customer service to
a high volume of clients by scheduling
appointments in-person and on the phone
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14. Other Common Sections
• Skills: languages, computers, etc.
• Professional Associations/Certifications
• Projects: especially important for more
technical majors
• Relevant Coursework
• Publications: published research with professors
• Honors and awards: academic and community
• Campus Involvement: member or officer of
clubs/organizations
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15. Key Points to Remember
• Tailor your resume to each employer
• Show what YOU can do for THEM
• Remember: 10-15 seconds on average
• Be specific and quantify when possible
• Make it look professional – no errors!
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16. 80% of jobs/internships
are found through
making connections.
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17. Making Connections
• Good resumes can get you an interview
• Good connections can get you a job
• Get your name out there!
– LinkedIn
– UB Mentor Program
– The Career Mentor Experience
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18. Part 1
Finding a Mentor
Thursday, October 16
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
240 Student Union
Part 2
Meeting a Mentor
Thursday, October 23
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
235 Student Union
RSVP on BullsEye
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19. Now What?
• Create and/or update your resume
• Create and/or update your LinkedIn profile
• Come to Career Services (259 Capen Hall)
– Express Career Consults
• Same-day, 20-minute appointments
• Monday through Friday
• 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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20. Thank You!
• Any questions?
• Stefano Verdesoto: guidover@buffalo.edu
• Quick survey!
Career Services
University at Buffalo
259 Capen Hall
ub-careers.buffalo.edu
(716) 645-2231
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