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Resume, Cover Letters, Networking Best Practices
For MS Students in Computer Science
UChicagoGRAD– grad.uchicago.edu
I am the brainchild of Bill Watterson, reclusive cartoonist and – in the minds of many – one of the greatest geniuses in the history of comics. I am looking for work squishing bugs and playing Calvinball professionally. Please contact me at Calvin@hobesisreal.com for more information about my career trajectory. I am always happy to network!!
Associate Director, Bug Squishing!Calvin’s Family!!
The “Death” of the Résumé
grad.uchicago.edu
Associate Director of Bug Squishing at!Watterson Family Household!
Watterson Family Home!Ms. Wormwood’s Class!Kindergarten!
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Mastering the Genre § What can a strong resume
ACTUALLY DO?
- Give you a chance to do the easy stuff
- Make an argument about your skills
- Frame your personal narrative
- Show you’ve done your homework
- Get an interview
- Project confidence
§ What CAN’T a resume do? (Almost no matter what).
- Get you a job
- Obscure a lack of attention to detail
- Bend the truth
- Tell the whole story of your experience from your birth through the present (including future achievements)
- Go onto a second page
grad.uchicago.edu
Most Common CS Mistakes a) Reverse chronological/third person b) Not tailored to each individual opportunity c) Not enough specific detail about outcomes d) Mismatch of skills
- What’s emphasized - How it’s ordered
e) Project experience is still experience f) Better integration with other docs/sites g) Sections not appropriately titled h) Overly technical jargon i) Spellcheck!
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Format: Fonts of Un-wisdom
Arial
Times New Roman Calibri Cambria
Yeah Yeah, You Got it…Comic Sans The Calvin and Hobbes font…also not great
grad.uchicago.edu
Use a Better Font!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Serifs: Garamond
Georgia Palatino Linotype
Gotham Light/Bold Helvetica Neue Light Century Gothic Trebuchet MS
Size: 11 - 12
Sans Serif:
grad.uchicago.edu
Format that Aids Content 2-line contacts
Education § Thesis?
§ GPA?
§ Study Abroad
Headings
Bullets
Spacing
grad.uchicago.edu
Format that Aids Content Vertical § Reverse order
§ Most relevant on top
§ In each section, broadest to most specific
grad.uchicago.edu
Format that Aids Content Horizontal § Most important
information on the left
§ Compound bullets get lost
§ Strong action verbs should run down the left-hand side
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Resumes Reward Creativity
a) Specific Sections b) Strong Summaries c) Strong Verbs d) Skills e) “I have No Experience!” f) What Kind of Numbers? g) Read Before You Write
grad.uchicago.edu
Stronger Sections Common § Education § Skills § Work § Projects § Additional
Strong(er) § Technical Skills/Languages § Software Development
Experience § Research and Analytics § Programming Work
Experience and Projects § Leadership and Service § App Development § iOS Development
grad.uchicago.edu
Stronger Summaries Why summarize? Especially when cover letters are not required, a summary can help highlight what you think is the best experience, given the description. They are not always appropriate and they are not traditional resume “objectives.”
Weak: Master’s student seeking a summer internship in software engineering at Google.
Stronger: MS Student in Computer Science at The University of Chicago with skills in Python, R, SAS, and others (see below) and extensive project experience in nonacademic and industry settings.
grad.uchicago.edu
Stronger Skills Technical Skills at the top? Depending on the level, applicability, and diversity of your skills, consider putting them after your Education section
What Matters Most? What are the areas that matter in the job description?
What to Call the Individual Entries? Software, Languages, Technical, Certifications
Identify how you Might Improve: If you are deficient in a particular skillset area, you might mention here that you are completing trainings, online coursework, etc. to show that you are improving
grad.uchicago.edu
Verbs: Superhero Costumes Weak(er) § Assisted with; Worked on; Looked at;
Helped to; Cooperated with
Srong(er) § Managed, Led, Oversaw § Taught, Tutored, Advised § Wrote, Edited, Revised, Critiqued § Communicated, Presented § Analyzed, Synthesized, Examined § Collaborated, Facilitated § Implemented, Launched § Created, Produced, Developed § Drove, Gained, Delivered
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What kind of Numbers? Weak(er) § Analyzed data § Wrote code § Managed interns
Strong(er) § Analyzed daily; produced
weekly presentations § Wrote code to produce [x
thing] under strict deadlines § Managed 4 full-time and 3
volunteer staff
grad.uchicago.edu
“Misc.” Languages § Fluency is best. Don’t fake it
GPA/GRE’s/SAT’s § Some may require quantitative
scores. Are they useful? Awards § Phi Beta Kappa, Named Awards § Explain if possible
“Interests” § 1-2 and ONLY if they’re unique
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Mastering the Genre What can a strong cover letter ACTUALLY DO?
- Show that you can write
- Answer “why us?”
- Highlight references
- Connect resume’s dots
- Shape the interview
- Clarify why your experience and skills are useful
- Convince someone to “turn the page”
What CAN’T a cover letter do (Almost no matter what).
- Get you a job
- Mask your ambivalence
- List everything you’ve done
- Force a person to care about your dissertation or thesis research or coursework.
- Go onto a second page
grad.uchicago.edu
8 Common CS Mistakes a) Dearest Robot Selector 4000. b) Hello my name is… c) Me, me, me, I, I, I, my, my, my d) Then I did this, then I did this…. e) What a terrific opportunity for me f) I will never ever say the name of this place. g) Sincrely [sic], h) Written by a Nameless Drone
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) Resume Genre II) Resume Format III) Resume Content IV) Cover Letters V) Networking
grad.uchicago.edu
Cultivate a Community a) The CS program
b) UChicagoGRAD programs - Technical Interviews - Informational Interviews - April 8: GRADUCon
c) Using UChicagoAlumni.org with LinkedIn
d) Don’t forget undergrad!
grad.uchicago.edu
Strong Outreach Dear Calvin –
I’m a current MS student in Computer Science at The University of Chicago, where I focus primarily on [X THING]. I’ll finish this summer.
I’m writing because I saw your profile on LinkedIn and was interested to read a bit about your research in [Y THING] at [Z COMPANY]. I also took a look at your GitHub and was really interested in your work on [P Problem]. It would be great to get your advice about making a transition into [QQ Field] after finishing up with the program here.
It would be great to chat for 30 minutes about your work, sometime in the next few weeks. I’d be grateful for advice you might have about getting a start in [QQ Field]. I’m happy to reach out toward the end of the month if that’s easier. Looking forward to talking soon, A-J
grad.uchicago.edu
Get to Work § By February 1
- Schedule a meeting at UChicagoGRAD - Bring a draft of a resume - Identify alumni to reach out to
§ By Spring Break - Conduct informational interviews - Apply, apply, apply
§ Early Spring Break - Conduct mock-interviews at UChicagoGRAD
grad.uchicago.edu
UChicagoGRAD Provides § Programming and Events § One-on-One Advising:
- Careers - Oral Communications - Fellowships - Academic Writing
GRAD.UCHICAGO.EDU for DETAILS aj@uchicago.edu for QUESTIONS
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