How to Create a Killer STEM Resume
Every semester students ask me how they can improve their resume. Here are a few things to do (and not do)!
Generic Is a No Go
Whatever you do don’t create one generic resume and submit it to every job posting. This will get you nowhere. It will be obvious to interviewers that you didn’t even take the time to tailor your resume for their opening.
Everyone wants to feel special right? Well that goes for companies too!
Tailoring your resume to match their needs show you took time to research the company and the job. It will show your interest and will set you apart from those other graduates who didn’t bother to put in the extra effort.
When it comes to good jobs, there’s lots of competition. You need to stand out any way you can.
Keywords
OK, so you know you need to tailor your resume to each and every job you apply for, but how do you do that? One answer is keywords! Every industry has keywords they use to describe their work.
When I worked in missile guidance I had keywords like 6DOF, simulation, and Kalman Filtering. It is important that you find out these keywords for your desired job and include them in your resume. Why?
Well, first, it shows you know something about that field. Second, and maybe more importantly, the automated computer screening that’s done to select applicants looks for keywords!
How do you find the keywords? Read the job description and make note of what skills are required.
You want to pay attention to the technical skills as well as the softer skills like teamwork. Use these same phrases and words in your resume.
If you don’t have the technical skills they list, then you remark about how you want a position where you can learn those skills. This is where the personal statement at the top of the resume can really be used to your advantage.
Examples
You need to use examples to illustrate your skills and qualifications. Just saying you have MATLAB skills isn’t as good as saying “I created a simulation of a controls system using MATLAB and then did the statistical analysis of the results.”
If you have had an internship use the projects you were assigned and explain how those benefited the company. If you can quantify the results, using statements like ‘my design saved the company XYZ dollars’ or ‘my design reduced weight by XYZ pounds,’ that’s even better.
No internship? Then use those projects that have been assigned to you in class. Explain what skills and software programs you used to get results. This is where capstone senior design projects can help you out especially if you had a project with an industry sponsor.
Your ultimate goal is to show the company that your skills will make you a valuable asset. Use your experiences to prove that this is the case.
Remember Your Audience
Engineers typically don’t enjoy reading long, elaborate descriptions. That’s why we chose engineering instead of English literature!
Keep your writing clear and concise, your readers will appreciate it. Bullet points are better than lengthy paragraphs.
Also, don’t try to sound intelligent by using complicated words. Use the simplest words possible to get your point across.
The easier you make it for the reader to pull out the info they need, the better off you’ll be!
Photos? Definitely Not!
Employers have rules they have to follow when hiring.
They aren’t allowed to ask you about gender, martial status, family planning, age and many other personal things. Do employers a favor and don’t include this stuff.
In the past, I’ve seen resumes come in with photos on them. HR had to black out the photos before they got to the hiring group. A resume with redactions doesn’t give the best first impression.
Keep this in mind and don’t put info on there that would cause issues for the employer.
Keep It Professional
When I was in industry we had one guy submit his resume, and as an accomplishment, he listed that he had won a ‘sexiest man’ competition.
Now I saw the humor in this but many others did not. It just wasn’t a professional thing to put on there. I know he was trying to show his personality but it did not work in his favor. Keep your resume professional!
Summary
It’s a lot to remember and keep track of, but writing a killer resume is worth it! It’ll help you get that dream job you’ve been eyeing and start your career off right!
One last thing…. Always have someone else proofread for grammar and typos! You don’t want to spend all this time only to have employers find typos.
