Resume Guide

• Avoid using templates online – they can be difficult to revise and customize for your unique experiences
• Tailor your document to the job/program you are applying for
• When applying for industry positions, keep your resume to 1 page
• When applying for graduate programs or those with advanced degrees, your resume can be 1–2 pages
• Use 10–12 size font in a professional style
• Margins should be no smaller than 0.5 inches
• List your experiences in reverse chronological order or by importance/relevance
• Proofread! Check for appropriate punctuation, spelling, grammar, and sentence structure
• Use verbs and keywords similar to those found in the job posting
• All dates, abbreviations, and formatting should be consistent throughout your document

1. Who is my audience? To whom am I writing and why will they care?
2. What are my professional career goals?
3. What are the unique strengths I bring to this position?
4. What experiences am I most proud of?
5. Do my descriptions summarize what I’ve learned or accomplished?
6. Which competencies and skills do I want to highlight throughout my resume?
7. Can the reader visualize my experience?

The Career Connections Center provides several options to review your resume and provide customized feedback.

• Visit Drop-In Career Planning (15-min career consultation) (in-person or via Zoom) to meet with a Career Ambassador – no appointment needed
• Utilize Quinncia – our on‑demand resume review tool (see page 6 for instructions)
• Attend a C3 workshop or lab to learn more about creating effective job search documents
• Schedule a Career Planning Appointment with a Career Coach via your Gator CareerLink account

• Job Title
• Job Description
• Duties and Responsibilities
• Preferred Qualifications

Review how the job posting lists and describes the qualifications, responsibilities, and requirements.

Next, structure and organize your materials in a manner that a 10-20 second scan reveals that you exceed the minimum
requirements.

• Prioritize experiences that reflect your transferrable skills to match the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Mimic the posting’s language for action verbs, competencies, and experience titles (if they are similar)

The New York Times Editing Center, a 40-person editing and production operation based in Florida but working remotely, seeks an experienced copy editor to join a team delivering content through the New York Times News Service and producing dozens of publications, including The New York Times International Weekly. Taking the tasks seriously without taking yourself too seriously would separate the top contenders for a position that comes with high expectations and responsibility.

Responsibilities:
Edit and trim New York Times stories for a global audience, while adhering to Times procedures and standards.
Slot other editors’ work and prioritize being the first or second edit on a story.
Update stories as news develops.
Compile story budgets and edit others’ budgets for accuracy and completeness.

Qualifications:
At least 5 years’ experience as an assigning/copy editor for a professional publication.
Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related subject.
Preferably a background leading process and/or personnel.
Strong news judgment and a deep understanding of world events and how The Times covers them.
Ability to work on multiple projects, on multiple deadlines, with clarity and consistency.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.

When customizing your application, determine how you can infuse elements of the job description, your knowledge about the organization, and your unique experiences into the following:

• Supplemental Questions
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Other Application Documents

An organization’s values are principles that guide their day‑to‑day operations, beliefs, and culture.

Resume Tip: Demonstrate how your behaviors contributed to the success of your previous organizations or teams by using strong action verbs that mirror the values listed in the job posting or on the organization’s website.

• Start with the why.
• What specifics can you provide that show you want to contribute to this organization and the work they do?
• Where are you highlighting specific attributes, accomplishments, and skills that show how you can contribute?

What evidence are you providing that you have the knowledge, skills and personal attributes detailed in the job posting and organizational research to perform well in the required capacity?

• Applicable Keywords from the job posting appropriately demonstrated in job titles, hard skills, technical skills, soft skills (personal attributes)
• Usage of headings for education, relevant experience categories
• Reverse chronological formatting
• PDF to preserve the formatting
• Passes the .txt test – a quick test to see if your resume is scannable when all formatting is removed

Quinncia is a virtual tool that provides personalized feedback for resumes and mock interviews using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Quinncia is a free resource open to all UF students and alumni with Gator CareerLink credentials.

To get started with Quinncia, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to www.quinncia.io
2. Click the “Sign In/Up” button
3. Sign in using your UFL Email and GatorLink login information