Resumes and CVs

/https://siu.edu/search-results.php

Last Updated: Mar 18, 2025, 01:56 PM

Resume Wordle

Resumes are a great first step to building a strong professional profile and establishing yourself as a good candidate for a great job.

An effective resume gets you an interview, not the job.

A resume may be your only chance to make a good impression on future employers.

July 17, 2023 - Due to short staffing in the career development center (CDC), appointments are at limited capacity. please utilize online resources on our website to develop your professional documents and skills before scheduling an appointment.

Resumes and CVs

Getting Started

Getting started on making your resume can be confusing so we will break it down into three simple steps.

Step 1: Build an "Organic Resume"

"Organic Resumes" are a complete document that grows with you and includes everything you have done on it (work experience, education, RSOs, volunteering, skills, etc.).  Note that this version of your resume can be long and should be added to periodically throughout the year whether you are looking for a job or not.  The purpose of this resume is to make sure you remember all changes that were made in your life instead of trying to remember everything you did in the last four years.

Step 2: Find the Job

This sounds a bit obvious, but to build a great resume, you need to find a job description you are interested in.  Understanding the needs of an employer will help you to demonstrate your value as a quality candidate.

Step 3: Tailor the Resume

Employers are going to tell you exactly what they are looking for in potential employees in the job description.  If you take your time and read carefully, you can tailor your resume to show the skills and experiences that match what the employer is looking for in their top person.  

Here are some tools to help you get started building your perfect resume.

Samples by Type

Now that you have gotten started, you are ready to adapt your resume to your personal experience.  Some of you have a lot of work experience at the same job, some of you have had a lot of jobs at different companies, and some of you have not entered the workforce yet.  It is important to understand how to leverage your experience in order to send a positive message to employers.  

Here are some examples of different resume styles that can help you get started.