Resume Review & Approval
To apply for positions via Handshake, you must first have a draft of your resume reviewed and approved by a career advisor.
If you apply for a position with a pending resume and your resume is not approved before the application deadline, your application will be withdrawn by the system once the deadline has passed – be sure to check the status of your document in advance.
We aim to review pending resumes on Handshake within 2 business days of upload. Note that most resumes for external employers require some revisions before being approved, so allow plenty of time for the review and approval process. Do not wait until an application deadline to start the resume approval process.
Quick Resume Writing Tips
Tip 1 – Be sure your format fills the page but is not overcrowded. Your resume must be free from spelling or grammatical errors and allow the reader to conduct a brief, initial scan to identify key highlights (Major, GPA, experience, skills, and activities) in less than 10 seconds.
Tip 2 – Your education section should be clear, organized and well-defined. Highlight pertinent information such as institution, location, degree, major, GPA, and graduation date. You may also consider including relevant coursework. If you are nearing graduation, your high school information may no longer be relevant. Consider highlighting study abroad details here. Based on your intended industry focus, some employers may want to see SAT scores to show quantitative acumen.
Tip 3 – Your experience section is your opportunity to sell yourself! Use this section to specify relevant skills used and results attained. It’s not necessary to list everything you did in each position; simply emphasize relevant skills. The Work Experience section may be split into Related, Leadership, Research or Other Experience based on your goals and skills you wish to underscore.
Tip 4 – Additional sections can be added to highlight your qualifications and demonstrate a well-rounded profile. You may add an Honors/Awards section, a Skills section that includes both Computer and Language skills as well as an Activities section. Include descriptions that show skills gained and leadership roles held.
