Crafting a Resume

A well-structured resume effectively showcases your skills, experiences, and achievements, making a positive impression on potential employers or academic programs.

Here are some key elements to consider when crafting your resume:

Choose the Right Layout: Start with a clean, professional layout. Use simple fonts like Calibri or Arial, ensuring readability. The smallest font size should be 10.5. Consider making your margins smaller, with 0.5” as the minimum. Aim for a one-page, single-column format.

Ensure a consistent format throughout the section, including font size, bullet style, and punctuation.

Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each position or program by aligning your experiences with the specific requirements.

Proofread: Ensure there are no grammatical errors or typos. A polished resume reflects your attention to detail.

RESUME

Contact Information
Include your name in a larger, bolder font, along with your phone number, email address, and optional customized LinkedIn URL at the top of your resume or in the header. Make sure your email is professional and easy to read.

Education
List your education starting with the most recent. Include your degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) and graduation month/year.

• It’s acceptable for first and second-year students to include high school experience, but consider removing it as you progress.

Study aboard: Include your study abroad experience to showcase your global perspective and academic enrichment. Format it similarly to your education entries, mentioning the institution, program, and dates.

GPA: If your GPA is above 3.0, include it.

Relevant Coursework: Highlight relevant coursework and research titles that demonstrate your knowledge in the field. Focus on higher-level classes that directly relate to your career goals and omit introductory courses.

Awards: If you have received awards or scholarships, include them within this section if they enhance your qualifications. If you have many, create a separate section

Experience (The central focus of your resume)
Create sections such as “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience.” Or more targeted sections such as “Laboratory Experience”, “Field Experience”, or “Teaching Experience.”

Organize your experience section in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Each entry should include the organization, position, location, and dates in a consistent format.

Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities, focusing on accomplishments and using past tense for past roles. Whenever possible, include numbers to demonstrate the impact of your work. This adds credibility and context to your experiences.

Place the most important descriptions first, and consider your audience when deciding what to highlight. Tailor your bullet points to align with the skills and experiences relevant to the positions you are applying for.

Divide your experiences based on these subcategories:

Research Experience

Volunteer Work

Leadership Experience: List any leadership roles you’ve held, such as club president, team captain, or project leader. Describe your responsibilities and the impact of your leadership on the group or project’s success.

Additional Sections

Extracurricular Activities: List any relevant clubs or organizations you’re involved in.

Skills

• Technical Skills: Include software you’re proficient in, such as GIS programs, statistical software like SPSS, or design tools like Adobe Creative Suite.
• Language Skills: If you speak multiple languages, list them here, specifying your level of proficiency (e.g., fluent, conversational, intermediate)

By following these guidelines, you can create a targeted resume that effectively showcases your qualifications and experiences in archaeology and classics. Tailoring your resume not only demonstrates your interest in a specific role but also emphasizes your skills and achievements, setting you up for success in your academic and professional journey.