Resume

Toolkit
_________________________________
Created by:

Hari B. Varshney
Business Career Centre
 Resume Toolkit
Reading time: 20 minutes

• Before you begin

Why you should avoid cookie-cutter resumes.

• Start with the basics

Understand the purpose of a resume and what to include.

• Customize for your industry

Create a resume that works for a specific industry, such as finance or marketing.

• Make your resume ATS-friendly

Learn how to beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help your resume reach an actual human.

• Design your header

Create a polished and professional resume header.

• Target your profile

Build a customized, targeted profile that shows off your skills and experiences.

• Highlight your education

Communicate the value of your UBC Sauder education.

• Describe your experience

Use accomplishment statements to show your experience and impress employers.

• Showcase your interests

Add a personal touch to your resume.

• Optional sections to help you stand out

Showcase your unique strengths and skills.

• Test your resume with VMock

Use VMock to score the quality of your resume and find areas to improve.

• Get feedback
Talk to family, friends, and classmates, or book an appointment with a Career Peer Advisor or Career Manager.

• Appendix: Resume checklist

• Appendix: Sample resumes

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 1

 Before you begin
To stand out, avoid cookie-cutter resumes
The term cookie-cutter refers to something mass-produced that is not original or unique. When it
comes to resumes, a cookie-cutter approach means using the following:

• A resume that looks very similar to everyone else’s resume who applied for the same role
• The same resume to apply for multiple positions

A cookie-cutter resume approach reduces your chances of standing out during the job
application process. You want to make sure your resume stands out so that you get noticed by
hiring managers while following the industry and organizational standards for which you’re
applying.

Make sure every resume you submit is tailored to the role, industry, and organization you’re applying to

Hone in on your critical thinking skills to write effectively tailored resumes. This will help you make decisions about the
following elements (and more) when preparing your resumes:

 Resume design: What’s the appropriate look and feel for the specific job?
 Resume layout & style: This should align with the industry. Do your research to learn what’s most effective.
 Creative & personal additions: Not all industries accept different colours, fancy fonts, and creative layouts. Do
your research to learn what resume designs match the industry expectations for the position you want.
 Skills: Ensure the skills you showcase match what the employer wants—hint, refer to the job description.
 Other decisions: You may be trying to decide what to include and not include on your resume, such as
particular positions you previously held. Are they relevant to the job you’re applying for now?

You’ll probably ask yourself a lot of questions when writing your resumes, such as:

“Should I include my hobbies in an interest section?”

“I have experience from high school that might help make me

stand out. Should I include it?”

“Should I write a profile section at the top of my resume?”

This is a normal part of resume writing. Critical thinking is one of the top skills you’ll use when writing resumes, along
with written communication skills.

Remember, you can experiment with resumes. If you’re not getting interviews, change it up. Try different things and
see what works for you.

There’s a lot of advice and best practices out there when it comes to resumes. Along with using this toolkit, do your
research to ensure you know the expectations of the industry and organization you’re applying to. From there, make
decisions about what to include and how to frame what’s on your resume.

Also, get tips and advice from the Business Career Centre. Ask connections, such as Career Managers, Career Peer
Advisors, and mentors, to review your resume and provide feedback.

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 Strategies for crafting resumes
UBC Sauder equips you with all the skills necessary to make informed decisions about your resume. This includes trying
different ways to showcase your skills and finding elements that work for you.

To write effective resumes, you want to:

Research: Look up resume norms specific to the role and industry. You don’t necessarily need to add
creative flair to your resumes depending on the roles/industries you’re targeting.

Some require very rigid resume styles (e.g., accounting, some finance roles, consulting). Other roles, like
some marketing positions, want to see your personality and creative edge.

Build your network: Make connections (ideally 3-5) with people who work at the organization you’re
applying to. Along with increasing your understanding of the organization, this will help you understand
how to tailor your resume so that it appeals to the employer.

Think critically: Leverage your critical thinking skills to decide what to include and how to frame what’s on
your resume.

Give yourself time: Set aside plenty of time to avoid feeling rushed. Starting a resume from scratch might
take at least 5-10 hours to complete!

Customize every resume: Tailor every resume to the industry, role, brand, job description, style of the
organization, and position. It takes more work, but leads to much better results.

Start with the basics

Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds looking at a resume
To make a complete, professional resume that stands out, you can include the following sections:

✔ Header: Your name and contact information

✔ Profile or key competencies: Summarize your top skills targeted to the position you’re applying for (see
Customize for your industry for when not to include)
✔ Education: List key courses, awards, grades, and other accomplishments
✔ Work experience: Show off your accomplishments
✔ Volunteer and extracurricular experiences: Describe your unpaid experiences
✔ Skills: Include your technical, language, communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence skills
✔ Interests and Hobbies: Set yourself apart and add a personal touch
Other optional sections may include:
• Projects • Leadership
• Case Competitions (if you’ve participated in • Awards
several)

Decide what is relevant to include in your resume based on your experience and the role you’re applying for. The
following sections don’t belong on your resume:

✘ References: Employers will ask you for references separately if they need them

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 ✘ Objective: Employers already assume that your objective is to get the job

If you’re unsure whether or not to include something in your resume, ask yourself if it’s helpful for the employer to know;
if it’s not, don’t make them read more for no reason.

Make your resume easy to read

No matter how good your content is, employers won’t look at your resume if it isn’t immediately easy to read. Resume
formatting best practices include:

✔ Use a 10-12pt font size

✔ Ensure margins are at least 2cm wide on all edges
✔ Include enough white space so that your resume is easy to scan and not one big block of text
✔ Save as a PDF or Word doc—follow the job description’s instructions and submit the requested file format

Customize for your industry

Different industries have different expectations
Some industries expect to see specific things in resumes. Tailor each resume you submit to the role, organization, and
industry.

Here are a few general guidelines:

Finance and consulting firms generally don’t want to see a Profile or Key
Capital Markets and
Competencies section. Instead, focus on your academic achievements,
Consulting Roles grades, and other awards or recognition.

Marketing teams and start-ups generally like creativity. Consider presenting

Creative Roles your information in a slightly different or unique way.
e.g., Marketing Communications
Social Media Design a 1 or 2-column resume and incorporate design elements by adding
Brand Management colour and/or icons. Highlight your design skills, ensure consistent branding
Public Relations across documents, and include links to portfolio work, blogs, and personal
websites. Remember to consider ATS guidelines first!

Consider using a one-column/basic design resume template. MBAN, BUCS,

Technical Roles
and BTM students with technical know-how should include a Technical
e.g., Product Management
Skills/Projects section. This section can be included higher or lower in the
Market Analysis
resume, depending on relevance to the role.
Business Analysis
Business Development / Sales Review the Target Your Profile section for examples.

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 Use your audience’s language
Each industry has its buzzwords. It could be “click-through rates” and “sales funnels” in digital marketing, or “sell-side
research” and “leveraged buyouts” in capital markets.

Beyond that, each company often has its internal language. For example, KPMG uses FIRE (finance, insurance, real
estate) and ICE (information, communication, and entertainment), and TD uses “Legendary” customer service.

Using industry and company vocabulary, terminology, and jargon will help your resume stand out and shows that you
have done your research. Review the job posting, website, and the organization's social media to see what type of
language they use.

Make your resume ATS-friendly

Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems
Now, more than ever, companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to identify top candidates. ATSs are software
programs that scan resumes and use algorithms to search for keywords, skills, and experiences.

According to The Muse, there are 3 Things you should know about the robots reading your resume,
but don’t.

The bigger the company, the more likely it is to use an ATS. According to Jobscan, more than 99% of Fortune 500
companies use ATS software to manage the thousands of applications they receive weekly. Many smaller companies
also use tracking systems.

By creating your resume with ATS software in mind, your application will stand a better chance of getting seen by an
actual hiring manager. Using an easy-to-read resume format, removing fancy fonts, tables, or columns, and
including keywords from the job description all help make your resume more ATS-friendly.

Tips for creating ATS-friendly resumes

✔ Do
Use an ATS-friendly resume template. Find many free options online.

Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial. These appear to be the most reliable to get past ATS software.
These fonts are also acceptable: Calibri, Garamond, Cambria, Georgia, Helvetica, Palatino, Tahoma, and Verdana.

Use job-related keywords. Look through the job posting and use keywords from here throughout your resume.

Use long-form and acronym versions of keywords and degrees. For example, “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”,
“Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)”, or “Project Management Professional (PMP).” This way your resume will come up no
matter which version the ATS searches for.

Save your resume as a Word .doc or .docx. Plain text files (e.g., .txt) are also ATS-friendly, but can limit formatting
options. If the job posting specifically asks you to send your resume as a PDF, then send your resume as a PDF.

Once you’ve designed your resume, check its ATS compatibility by uploading it and the job description to Jobscan.
Jobscan is a third-party platform, so we recommend removing personal info from your resume (name, address, etc.).

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 5

 ✘ Don’t
Insert tables, columns, or header/footer areas. Don't put your contact details (name, email address, phone number) in
the header section or top margin. Instead, put this info in the main body of the document.

Reading more: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands, The Muse.

Design your header

Make it easy for employers to find your contact info
Your header (or letterhead) is a section at the top of your resume that displays your contact information in a professional
and visually appealing way. It should include the following:

 Your name
Make your name stand out by using a larger font, making it bold, putting it in CAPITALS, or adding some colour

Resumes aren’t legal documents. The name on your resume doesn’t need to perfectly match your legal identification or
legal name. If your first name is different from your legal/birth name, you can do any of the following on your resume:

• Use the first name you want to be called and your last name (e.g., John Shu)
• Use your legal/birth name and put your preferred name in brackets or quotation marks. This option is
best for people who don’t mind being referred to by either name. For example, Xinri (John) Shu; or Xinri
“John” Shu

As a general rule, ensure your name is consistently displayed/formatted on all your application documents, including your
resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.

As part of the hiring process, you may be required to provide your legal name and gender marker (e.g., for employment
background checks required by some employers).

Also, when hired for a position in Canada, you are required to provide legal documentation and a social insurance card
that displays your legal name, and in the case of identification, a gender marker. If you use a gender marker and/or name
that is different from your legal documentation, you may want to come up with strategies to disclose this information to a
prospective employer.

Explore career resources

for LGBTQ+ students here
It’s optional to include pronouns in your resume. It’s becoming more common to see personal pronouns in email
signatures, on Zoom, and in LinkedIn profiles, typically beside people’s names. Personal pronouns are unique for everyone
and might be:
• they/them/theirs • ze/zir/zirs
• she/her/hers • he/him/his
But should you include pronouns in your job application documents? There’s no blanket rule or policy, it’s really up to
you. Including your pronouns can help employers understand how to refer to you, and they are part of a gender-inclusive
practice. However, there is no obligation and including pronouns on your application documents depends on your
personal preferences.

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 There are a few ways that you can clarify your pronouns in the job application process. You can include your pronouns on
your resume by adding them under your name or in the header (before your contact information). In your cover letter,
you could include your pronouns:
• Beneath your signature at the bottom of the • In parentheses next to your name in the header
page

 Your contact information

Your current city Phone number with a professional voicemail
Professional email address (ideally includes LinkedIn account URL
your first and last name instead of something A relevant personal website or social media
like [email protected]), which you account, e.g., Github (optional)
check often

How to design an appropriate header?

Keep in mind the values of the relevant company and industry. Some employers prefer a colourful and creative header,
while others may want something more traditional. Your header should appear on all pages of your resume and cover
letter. Keep it consistent across both.

Here are some sample headers for inspiration:

Jim Roogle Vancouver, BC

(604) 123-4567, [email protected]
linkedin.com/in/jimroogle

REGINA LAM
business student | non-profit director | coffee enthusiast

Vancouver, BC | 604.123.4567 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/r-lam

Jaime Sangha
They/them/theirs
Vancouver, BC [email protected]
604 123 4567 linkedin.com/in/jsangha

Target your profile

Make a great first impression
A profile or summary section is optional, especially for undergrad students. For graduate students or students with work
experience, you can include a brief professional introduction highlighting your skills and experiences relevant to the job.

Remember, if you’re applying to jobs in finance or consulting, don’t include a profile or key competencies section.
Employers in these industries want to jump right to your education and work experience.

For other industries, a profile can help showcase relevant skills, experience, training and certifications, areas of expertise,
fluent languages, and technical skills.

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 Stay relevant: Use language specific to the industry and employer to make a good impression early. Only include
information that’s relevant to the job posting.

Provide proof: Even though you don’t have much space, be convincing. For example, “strong leadership skills from
student club executive experience”, sounds better than just, “strong leadership skills”.

Sample profiles: BCom, MM, MBA

BCom

PROFILE
Fifth-year BCom Business Technology Management candidate striving to disrupt global hardships using technology.
Seeking a challenging, immersive role in business development or operations in the tech industry. Natural self-starter
with a strong belief in the power of passionate teams. Diligent and quick to contribute energy and empathy.

PROFILE
UBC Sauder School of Business BCom student with a high level of critical thinking, strong analytical skills,
and desire to explore capital markets. Proven ability to apply entrepreneurial skills to solve complex
problems, as seen in leadership positions in internship roles in the banking sector.

MM

SUMMARY

Dynamic and enterprising UBC Sauder Master of Management student. A goal-oriented achiever and mentor
through leading student government initiatives. A disciplined student and employee who actively applies
critical thinking skills to drive results. Lives by the values of celebrating passions, leading with integrity, and
striving for success.

MBA

PROFILE
UBC Sauder MBA candidate with seven years of IT management experience leading complex web application
projects in the healthcare and telecommunications industries and the public sector. Proven team leader of multi-
site development teams with skills in delegating effectively and motivating team members to achieve defined
goals. Extensive knowledge and understanding of information technologies, including processes, operations,
roles, responsibilities, and procedures. Highly motivated, enthusiastic communicator in three languages with
exceptional analytical and interpersonal skills. Valued contributor who performs confidently and effectively
under pressure and quickly grasps new concepts and technical skills.

Key competencies are your profile in bullet-point form

Competencies highlight what you’re good at and like to do. These are your key selling features and set you apart from
other candidates. You can include either a profile or key competencies section in your resume, but not both.

Your key competencies should include three or four concise, bulleted statements:

• Bullet 1 should highlight the experience you bring to the position (hint: use the word “experience”):
o “Three years of sales and customer service experience in the food and beverage industry”
o “BCom student with two years of experience working in a professional office environment”

• Bullets 2-4 should highlight key skills, experiences, or qualifications the employer is looking for:

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 o “Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for digital brand building and social media”
o “Culturally sensitive with the ability to adapt to diverse international business environments”

Sample key competency statements

KEY COMPETENCIES
• Fifth-year Business Technology Management student with proven experience working in teams
• Strong knowledge of SAP enterprise software and proficient in programming languages such as R
• Excellent at building and maintaining relationships with key business stakeholders

Key Competencies .
- Four years of marketing and sales experience in the retail industry
- Proven skill in generating sales by executing marketing projects for large international clients
- Strong interpersonal skills with a solid ability to lead teams and projects

KEY COMPETENCIES
 One year of consultancy experience providing advice to small-to-medium sized businesses on strategic
planning and data analysis
 Proven experience with analytical, project coordination, teamwork, and leadership skills
 Excellent at fostering key business relationships which translate into profitable business results

Technical role? Describe your technical skills

Recruiters looking for MBAN, BTM, and BUCS candidates often prefer to see technical skills listed at the beginning of
resumes or in the key competencies section. For technical roles, you can choose to include a technical skills statement in
addition to, or instead of, a profile section. Recruiters look here to quickly assess if your skills match their needs.

If you’re applying for a position that doesn’t require extensive technical skills, consider listing these skills in a “Skills”
section instead.

Sample technical skills statement

Technical Skills
Programming Languages Java | ActionScript | SQL | HTML | CSS
Operating Systems Windows | MacOS | Linux
Development Tools/Frameworks Intellij | Eclipse| Adobe Flex | Sublime Text | Firebug | Github
Software/Applications JIRA | Quicken | SAP ERP | HyTek Team Manager
Other Agile Development (Scrum) | SDLC | JSON | Bootstrap

Further Reading
If you’re looking for more resources, here are a few of our favourite articles about tech skills:

• Technical Skills for a Resume (Tech Domain Skill Examples), Zety

• Technical Skills: Definitions and Examples for a Resume, Indeed
• Important Technical Skills With Examples, the balance careers

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 Highlight your education
Show off the value of your UBC Sauder education
Before you graduate, your education section should come after your profile or key competencies. After graduation, it
typically goes below your experience section.

If you want to highlight your education because it’s directly relevant to the role and experience level of the position, put
your education section at the top – or under the profile section – of your resume.

If your education is less relevant to the role, or you’re an experienced MBA student with direct experience, put your
education section after your work experience section.

Here’s what you may want to include:

Current Degree:
• Degree title, option (include Co-op if applicable), school name, and completion date
• Cumulative GPA, but only if your GPA is 80% or higher, and only recommended when applying to a highly
competitive industry such as accounting, consulting, or finance
• Scholarships and awards (university only), including a brief description of why you received the award
• Up to three courses related to the position you are seeking (optional)
• Class projects that involve the use of applicable industry skills
• Results from business competitions, case competitions, or other extracurricular events

Specialized Training:
• Note any training related to the position or career you’re targeting (e.g., Canadian Securities Course, Chartered
Financial Analyst – Level 1, Google Analytics Qualification)
High School Diploma:
• After your first year in any UBC Sauder program, you shouldn’t include your high school diploma on your resume.
Employers want to see recent experience

Sample education sections

BCom

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Commerce | UBC Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia Completion: May 20XX
Combined Major in Computer Science & Business | Co-op
• Deans Honour Roll (Cumulative GPA: 82.8%)
• Relevant Courses (avg %, class avg %): Software Engineering (94, 72), CIO Strategies (90, 77), New Venture
Design (1/45 students accepted from campus-wide application)

Education
Bachelor of Commerce, UBC Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia Completion: May 20XX
Double Option: Accounting & HR Co-op (based on analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills)
• Awards & Scholarships: Vancouver Canucks ($750), Abbotsford Minor Hockey ($500), Natasha Buttar
(awarded to a well-rounded individual, $2,500), Commerce Undergraduate Society Service (Silver)
• Competitions: Deloitte Case Competition (1st place of 15), KPMG Crack the Case (regional finalist)

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 EDUCATION
Bachelor of Commerce, UBC Sauder School of Business, Vancouver, BC Completion: May 20XX
- Specialization: Marketing and Business Technology Management
- Key Courses: Introduction to E-Business, E-Marketing, Digital Media Foundations

Exchange Term, National University of Singapore, Singapore Aug 20XX – Dec 20XX
- Awards: Second place in NUS Case Competition

BCom transfer student

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Commerce, UBC Sauder School of Business, Vancouver, BC Completion: May 20XX
- Specialization: Marketing and Business Technology Management
- Key Courses: Introduction to E-Business, E-Marketing, Digital Media Foundations
- Awards: Outstanding International Student Award ($5,000 for showcasing leadership and
academic achievement), Entrance Scholarship (for high incoming GPA)

Commerce Transfer Program, Langara College, Vancouver, BC Sep 20XX – May 20XX
- Cumulative GPA: 3.9 – Dean’s Honour Roll

B+MM

Education
Bachelor of _____ + Master of Management Dual Degree Program, Completion: May 2020
UBC Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia
- Awards: Outstanding International Student Award ($5,000 for academic achievement)

MM

Education
Master of Management, UBC Sauder School of Business Completion: May 2023
• Key Courses: Statistics, Leadership, Corporate Finance

Bachelor of _____, University of British Columbia May 2019

• Specialization: _________
• Awards: Dean’s Honour List, 2016-2019

MBAN

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 MBA

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration Completion: December 2022

UBC Sauder School of Business, Vancouver, BC
Recipient of MBA Entrance Scholarship

Bachelor of Science, Anatomy and Cell Biology 2016

McGill University, Montreal, QC

PMBA/ALUMNI or Mid-Career (more than 15 years)

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Certificate in Agile Leadership 2022

UBC Executive Education, Vancouver, BC

• Project Management Professional (PMP) 2012

Project Management Institute, Vancouver, BC

• Master in Business Administration Degree (MBA)

*No year written because it was
UBC Sauder School of Business, Vancouver, BC
achieved more than 15 years ago
*No courses/no grades/no awards as the focus is on professional
experience

• Bachelor of Arts (Economics Major) Same as above

Vancouver Island University (prev. Malaspina University-College), Nanaimo, BC

Describe your experience

Prove you are the most suitable candidate
Your work and professional experience are what recruiters and employers are most interested in. They examine this
content closely to see if your experiences and skills match the needs of the job.

Your experience shows off the skills you gained, which could include: leadership, decision-making, initiative, flexibility,
customer service, teamwork, or communication skills.

The skills you highlight in your resume should mirror the ones in the job description. This helps position you as an
appropriate candidate.

Explain your experience with accomplishment statements

Accomplishment statements describe your work and volunteer experiences that showcase your skills. They might
describe a time when you made an impact in your job, saved money for a student club, received recognition for an award,
or organized a successful event. This is your chance to sell yourself.

Write accomplishment statements in the past tense, third person, without pronouns, and with few filler words:

✔ developed materials ✘ develop materials ✘ I developed the materials ✘ I develop materials

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 The accomplishment statements on the right (below) stand out because they are specific, personal, relevant, and
quantifiable. Where possible, quantify your achievements by including dollar values, percentages, team size,
impressions, etc.
✘ Volunteered for the food bank ✔ Initiated and launched a campus-wide campaign for the Vancouver
Food Bank, collecting and delivering 2,000 pounds of non-
perishable goods.

✘ Filled prescriptions for customers ✔ Attained 100% error-free record by learning detailed
characteristics of 25 pharmaceutical drugs and filling over 200
prescriptions.

✘ Recovered debts from customers ✔ Maintained positive client relations and dealt professionally with
conflict when contacting companies regarding overdue accounts
and outstanding debts.

Each accomplishment statement should start with a strong verb, such as directed, improved, or developed. Other
examples of strong verbs:
Attained Decreased Saved Generated
Exceeded Maximized Surpassed Enhanced
Eliminated Minimized Improved Optimized
Increased Reduced Created Established

For more action verbs read 185 Powerful Action Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome, The Muse.

Use the RATS model to create powerful accomplishment statements

R What was the result? How did your organization benefit from your actions?
Ideally, results are quantitative: increased participation by 20%, increased revenue by $2,000
Results can also be qualitative: promoted to a supervisor role, received positive client feedback

A What concrete action did you take? What did you personally do? What skills did you use?
T What was your task? Did you improve something? Did you solve a problem?

S What was the situation? Be specific: a job, club, group, class, etc.

The RATS table below may look familiar. It’s the reverse of the STAR model to use when writing a cover letter.

Result Action Task and Situation

Start with a strong verb Include skills used Fill in the details
Increased page views and click-
by analyzing and optimizing keywords using Google Analytics
through rate by 55%
Developed a sales process and
that outlined lead conversion process
promotional activities to support by leading team meetings
to clients
the company brand
to organize a two-day campus-wide
Raised over $700 for United Way by collaborating with five AMS clubs
sales campaign
Increased student grades from B- by preparing weekly lesson plans and tailored to individual strengths and
average to A-average in six months assessing progress weaknesses

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 for modelling consistent conflict
Appointed team lead by manager over three-month period
resolution and customer service skills
Created and delivered a three-hour by developing thorough, well-timed
to 45 summer campers aged 10-12
workshop lesson plans and interactive activities

Note: the RATS model is a guideline. You can modify the order of the accomplishment statement as long as it includes
each element and makes an impact. You may prefer to use the CAR formula for your accomplishment statements instead.
CAR stands for Challenge, Action, Result. Learn more here.

Volunteer work counts, too

After work experience, you can include a section describing your volunteer and extracurricular work. Here are some tips
for selling your volunteerism:
 You can call this section “Community Leadership”, “Community Involvement”, “Leadership Experience”, or
“Volunteer Experience”. Pick what fits best with your situation.
 When appropriate, use the RATS or CAR model and accomplishment statements to describe these roles, just like
you would for paid experience.
 Consider all types of experience, including:

o Volunteer service
o Involvement in student clubs or professional associations

o Leadership roles in team sports, etc.

How to showcase your experience?

When listing your work and volunteer experience, follow these guidelines:

 List your experience in reverse chronological order (most recent experience first, based on the start date).
 Include the employer’s name, job title, dates of employment, and location (if relevant).

• As long as you are consistent, you can put the employer’s name or your job title first. Consider which is
more impressive: your job titles or the companies that employed you.
• If the position titles are too long, include them on a separate line.
• Employment dates should be right-justified. How you showcase employment periods differs based on
your degree.

BComs & Specialty Masters (MMs and MBANs), include employment months to highlight short-term
work experiences, such as summer internships and contract work (e.g., May 2019 – August 2019).
MBAs & PMBAs shouldn't use months to show employment periods because their terms of
employment are generally longer than one year, so months are not necessary (e.g., 2017 – 2019).
• If a past employer isn’t a recognizable brand, you can include a sentence explaining what they do (e.g.,
Boosted creates motor-assisted skateboards for urban commuters).
 Include 1 to 4 accomplishment statements per position relevant to the job posting.
 Include recent experience. If your volunteer or work experience was in high school or years before your time at
UBC Sauder, don’t include it on your resume unless it’s directly relevant to the role. If an older experience ties
directly to your unique career journey, use your judgement to determine if including it in your resume is needed.

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 Sample work and volunteer experience sections

WORK EXPERIENCE

Grocery Clerk, Canada Safeway Limited, Richmond, BC Feb 20XX-Present

• Increased shelving efficiency by 17% through implementation of a product sorting process aimed to provide a
solution to move thousands of products to store aisles

District (Class 3) Referee, British Columbia Soccer Association, Burnaby, BC May 20XX-Present
• Awarded two scholarships for refereeing over 250 games by efficiently analyzing plays and communicating fouls
to surrounding players, coaches, and spectators
• Selected as top youth referee of the season through displaying excellent decision-making skills, attention to
detail, and consistent application of game rules

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Tax Volunteer, UBC Student Tax Assistance Clinic for Students, University of British Columbia Sep 20XX-Present
• Completed three error-free tax returns per hour by scanning relevant information and accurately reporting it on
tax forms
• Received a 95% Satisfied/Very Satisfied feedback rating by showing genuine interest in customer concerns and
explaining tax returns in a clear and concise way

Work Experience

Customer Service Representative (CSR), Prosperitas, Abbotsford, BC Jan 20XX - Present

Prosperitas is a leading credit union with over 20 locations across British Columbia
• Exceeded branch CSR goal by 50% in Prospero product sales by clearly identifying customer needs
• Achieved “Employee of the Month” and received two customer service awards through attention to
detail by minimizing errors in orders and greeting every customer with a smile
• Selected by management out of a group of seven to train two new hires, resulting in trainees surpassing
standards for new CSRs by 45%

Career Highlights
Private Consultant 20XX - 20XX
Investment Consulting Ltd. Vancouver, BC

 Advised hundreds of small-to-medium sized organizations on business plan development and assisted 50
private investors in evaluating potential investment opportunities
 Major clients include - ABC company, XYZ company, and the EFG organization

Product Manager– Broadband Internet 20XX - 20XX

Stargate Corporation Santiago, Chile

 Raised US$176 million of debt financing through creating and authoring a customized
business plan
 Increased growth by 30% and enhanced pricing strategies by developing industry-specific profitability
metrics

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 15

 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Co-President Jan 20XX – Present
Data-Driven Net Impact Vancouver, BC
 Developed long-term strategic plan and implemented community awareness, education, workshops,
fundraising, and volunteer Initiatives
Add at least 2 accomplishment statements to each entry

Volunteer Feb 20XX – Present

Business 101, Downtown Eastside Vancouver, BC
 Advised income assistance individuals on fundamental business practices
Add at least 2 accomplishment statements to each entry

Showcase your interests

Express your personality
Describing your interests shows that you’re a balanced and well-rounded individual. It can also lead to interesting non-
work conversations (ice breakers) in a job interview, which can help an employer assess your personal and professional
suitability for the role.

List your interests and hobbies that are team-based, goal-oriented, social, or industry-related. For example:

• Competitive soccer player • Reader of classic literature

• Avid hiker of North Shore mountains • Die-hard Whitecaps fan
Be specific and interesting. Saying, “Backpacked across six countries in Eastern Europe”, instead of, “travel”, makes it
much more likely for a conversation with an employer to develop around your interests.

You can also use this section to highlight your skills or other examples of unique training (if you haven’t already included
this). If you already have work experience and can fill a one-page resume with relevant skills and qualifications, don’t
include interests unless they are relevant to the job posting.

Sample interest sections

INTERESTS
Triple-A competitive soccer (forward), contemporary ballet (5 years’ experience), backpacking through South
America, reading classical fiction by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens

Interests

• Blogging about future technologies and the future of work (furtherinthefuture.ca)

• Ultimate Frisbee (5-time team captain in the Vancouver Ultimate League)
• Playing chess (fourth-place in the UBC Chess Club fall tournament)
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

INTERESTS
Snowboarder and Whistler enthusiast, avid reader of historical non-fiction, journal writer.

INTERESTS
Podcasts: Named Top Podcaster at UBC. Travelling: 27 countries. Content Creator, specialty: Top 10 Lists.

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 16

 Optional sections to help you stand out
Leverage your strengths
We each have unique skills, interests, and experiences that we can leverage when applying for jobs. You can include an
optional section that highlights your suitability for the position. The general rule is you need to have two or more
examples (bullet points) to merit a standalone section. If you have one academic award, you can list it under the degree
where you received it. Or, if you have one leadership experience, you can list it under work or volunteer experience.

However, if you have two or more solid examples that correlate to the new position you are applying for, consider
adding an optional section such as one of the below examples.

Sample section: Leadership

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
PEER LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANT, An Awesome Not-For-Profit, Vancouver, BC (Sept 2022 – Dec 2022)
Program geared towards enhancing student leadership skills and developing “responsible leadership” through group
exercises, activities, and peer mentoring. Accepted through a rigorous application process.
• Created a peer mentoring program with two other BCom participants to help first-year students with
confidence and leadership development
• Successfully enrolled over 25 students in the program, including developing and implementing a standardized
training and onboarding program

CAREER PEER ADVISOR, UBC Sauder School of Business, Vancouver, BC (Sept 2022 – Present)
• Guided over 50 students in making career decisions by providing resume and cover letter reviews, job search
strategies, and interview skills support to serve individual needs
• Increased awareness of operations and logistics careers by developing additional student resources while
working with career centre staff

Sample section: Awards & achievements

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS:

AWARDS
Go Global Scholarship (nominated based on academic merit) Sept 2022
Dean’s List (honours) Jan 2019 – present
ACHIEVEMENTS
MVP – Women’s intramural volleyball 2021, 2022
Gained full-time contract from internship (NAME OF COMPANY) Dec 2022
Won 1st place in UBC MBAN Hackathon 2022

Learn more about what to put in your awards & achievements section and how to put it on your resume here.

Additionally, Projects can be great to include if you’re a freelancer, have limited paid experience, or want to highlight a
track record of skill use. You can include:
• Your role
• The project name
• How you did it in short (include any software or
• Date platforms)
• Team size • The results

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 17

 Sample section: Relevant Projects

Visit this link to find some great examples of how to list your projects within the education section, work experience
section, or as its own section.

Test your resume with VMock

Get instant feedback on your resume
VMock (log in with CWL) is an online resume feedback system that uses data science, machine learning, and natural
language processing to instantly assess your resume. As a UBC Sauder student, you have access to 10 free VMock
resume uploads each academic year.

VMock works best with resumes with basic formatting and design. We recommend uploading a simply designed
version of your resume to VMock for assessment. You can then make design adjustments to your resume after using
VMock.

Once you upload your resume to VMock, the system will give your resume a score out of 100. This score is calculated
based on three core modules:

 Impact  Presentation  Competencies

Don’t be surprised or discouraged if you get a low score the first few times. VMock provides line-by-line feedback,
which you can use to improve the impact of your resume. After making recommended edits, you can re-upload your
resume to see your new score. Work to make improvements, not achieve perfection.

Aim to score as close to 75 as you can, then book an appointment with a Career Peer Advisor or Career Manager for
more feedback about the content and look of your resume. If you’re having trouble reaching a score of 75, still book an
appointment, we’re here to help!

Try VMock (log in with your CWL)

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 18

 Start with a template
For best results with VMock, the formatting on your resume should be simple. For a strong start, log in to VMock to
download the UBC Sauder resume template (Microsoft Word).

Access the resume template in VMock

Get feedback
Show your resume to at least three people
Your resume should be 100% error-free. However, it’s hard to spot mistakes yourself because you’ve likely spent hours
looking at it. Before submitting a resume, you should:
 Use VMock as your first point of resume feedback and make the recommended updates
 Get at least 3 people to check it over—send your resume off to family, friends, or classmates to ensure you
haven’t made any spelling, grammar, or content mistakes
 Book an appointment with a Career Peer Advisor or Career Manager for feedback on your resume’s content
and formatting, and help to customize your resume for the job you want

Book a coaching & advising appointment on COOL

Download the more user-friendly COOL app!

Now you can access COOL anytime, anywhere.
Download the Symplicity Jobs and Careers mobile app and
log in with your CWL.

Available for iPhone (App Store) and Android (Google Play).

Resumes are important but they're just one part of the process
No matter how impressive your resume is, it’s still hard to stand out in a pile of hundreds of other resumes. The best
way to get your resume noticed is if the employer already knows you. That’s why it’s so important to make a personal
connection beforehand. For strategies to get noticed, work on developing your network. See our Networking &
Informational Interviews Toolkit for more on how to do that.

And, of course, always submit your resume with a targeted cover letter. Review our Cover Letter Toolkit.

Additional reading
If you’re looking for more information, here are a few of our favourite articles about resumes:

• Resumes | Tips and Advice, The Muse

• Resumes | Sample Resumes | Tips and Advice, Firsthand
• How to write a resume that wins a job in 2022 | 7 Free Templates & Examples, Cultivated Culture

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 19

 Appendix: Resume checklist
Format & Header

 Header contains your name, contact info, and LinkedIn profile URL; itis identical to your cover letter header
 Header font size is larger than the rest of your resume to stand out
 Margins are 2-3 cm, consistent use of spacing, use of white space, and no walls of text
 Body text font size 10-12pt, appropriate use of bold and italics
 Spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are correct
 Resume formatting is consistent (e.g., dashes, fonts, capitalization, verb tense)

Branding

 Keywords from the job description included (especially skills and qualifications)
 Fonts, colours, and other design elements are appropriate for the industry and the organization
 Uses technical terms or industry jargon to demonstrate familiarity
 Resume includes specific details to paint a picture for the reader

Profile/Key Competencies

 Summarizes strengths, experience, and skills

 Aligns convincingly with the rest of the resume
 Customized to the job posting

Education

 Relevant classes, projects, scholarships, and awards

 Only include grades of 80% or higher

Work/Volunteer/Extracurricular Experience

 Dates listed in reverse chronological order

 Accomplishment statements start with a strong action verb
 Accomplishment statements follow RATS or CAR: Result, Action, Task, Situation or Challenge, Action, Result
 Numbers quantify achievements wherever appropriate
 Accomplishment statements and skills mentioned are relevant to the job

Interests

 Demonstrate well-roundedness or relate to skills needed for the job

 Be ready to hold a 5-minute conversation about any of your interests
 Include skills less relevant to the job posting in this section

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 20

 Appendix: Sample resumes
1-page resume

Your Name (optional: your pronouns)

City, Province The header should be identical to your cover letter Professional Email Address
Phone Number LinkedIn URL

PROFILE Optional

Your profile is a 2 to a 3-sentence description of your top skills and abilities. You could include a “Key Competencies”
section instead. In this case, provide 3-4 bullet points that showcase your most impressive skills and experiences
related to the job. List relevant languages spoken at the end. A profile and your GPA are not always needed, especially
for undergraduate students who may not have much experience yet.

EDUCATION

Degree Name, UBC Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia Completion: 20XX
• Specialization: Option Name Put “Intended Specialization” if you haven’t chosen yet
• Key Courses (%, class avg): Class Name (XX%, YY%), Class Name (XX%, YY%) Include grades if 80%+
• Key Projects: Briefly describe an important class project that relates to the job you’re applying to Optional
• Awards: List scholarships, awards, competitions, or any other academic achievements

WORK EXPERIENCE List in reverse chronological order (newest first)

List as many positions as are relevant to the job you are applying to
Job Title 1, Organization Name, City, Province or Country Jan 20XX – Present
• 2-4 bullet points per position
• Brief accomplishment statements using the RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR formula (Challenge,
Action, Result)
• Be sure to include the Result (the outcome and impact of the action you took to address the challenge; this is
qualitative or quantitative proof of your success), the Action (what you did, how you did it, skills you used), the
Task (your objective), and the Situation (who, what, when, where)

Job Title 2, Organization Name, City, Province or Country Jan 20XX – Dec 20XX
• Too vague: “Researched topics to write articles for online newsletter”
• Better: “Increased readership in weekly online newsletter by 40% by researching timely topics and keeping the
target audience in mind”

EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE List in reverse chronological order

Volunteer Title 1, Organization Name, City, Province or Country Jan 20XX – Dec 20XX
• 2-3 bullet points per position
• Brief accomplishment statements using the RATS model (Result, Action, Task, Situation)

Volunteer Title 2, Organization Name, City, Province or Country Jan 20XX – Dec 20XX

INTERESTS & HOBBIES (and/or SKILLS) Each section is consistently formatted

Include specific interests (you should be able to hold a 5-minute conversation about each interest). For example,
traveling around Eastern Europe, reading science fiction, trading stocks in a personal portfolio, and being captain of an
intramural soccer team.
Ideally, your resume is one page – a maximum of two pages as you gain more experience

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 1-page resume: highlighting community service experience

FIRST NAME LAST NAME

City, Province | Professional email | Phone number | linkedin URL

Summary • Showcase your most impressive skills and experience that relate to the new job
• You would highlight your experience (paid or unpaid) here - for the job or industry
• Highlight tech skills if relevant
• Highlight motivation or soft skills

Education UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver, Canada

20XX- Degree name and specialization spelled out
Present • Cumulative GPA: ?/4.0, Major GPA: ?/4.0
• Tests: [GMAT Placeholder] (Xth percentile)

Community ORGANIZATION NAME City, Country

Experience Volunteer Title
A sentence about your primary responsibility
20XX-
Present Name one key area of competency (e.g., Coordinating)
• Brief accomplishment statement using RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR
formula (Challenge, Action, Result)
Name a second key area of competency (e.g., Reliability)
• Brief accomplishment statement using RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR
formula (Challenge, Action, Result)

ORGANIZATION NAME City, Country

Summer 20XX Volunteer Position Title
A sentence about your primary responsibility
One key competency that relates to the job you're applying for
• Brief accomplishment statement using RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR
formula (Challenge, Action, Result)

ORGANIZATION NAME City, Country

Winter 20XX Job Title
A sentence about your primary responsibility
Product Strategy
• Brief accomplishment statement using RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR
formula (Challenge, Action, Result)

ORGANIZATION NAME City, Country

Leadership Title (e.g., Captain of the Soccer Team)
20XX-Present A sentence about your primary responsibility
• Brief accomplishment statement using RATS (Result, Action, Task, Situation) or CAR
formula (Challenge, Action, Result)

Personal • Specific Interest - Passion for XYZ - generated ? through specify efforts.

• Specific Interest -

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 2-page resume: highlighting projects, patents & professional memberships
of an experienced MBA candidate:

Charlize Gonzalez, M.A.Sc., MBA, P.Eng

Vancouver, BC cell: (604) 123-4567
LinkedIn personal URL [email protected]
MANAGEMENT / ENGINEERING:
Project Management, Process Improvement, Business Development, Strategic Planning
Project Engineer (P.Eng. - Mechanical) with a proven track record of successfully completing projects on schedule and on
budget. Skilled at coordinating multidisciplinary engineering projects to collaborate as a unit internally while liaising externally
as project lead with customers and vendors. Keen interest in utilizing MBA business skills further in an Engineering
environment, particularly in functions related to Strategic Management, Business Development, and Operations
Management. Reputation for strong work ethic, high energy level, approachability and consistent commitment to corporate
success.

• Project Management • Business Development • Strategic Planning

• Process Improvement • Budget Management • Intellectual Property Management
• Operations Analysis • Team Leadership • Client & Vendor Relations Mgmt.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ACER SOLUTIONS CANADA INC. (Acer Chemetics) • Vancouver, BC 2018-Present
Project Engineer, Sulphate Removal Systems (SRS)
Lead for Project Engineering (Mechanical) duties for all division projects, prepare budgets, cash flow statements, and
schedules for design and fabrication. Liaise and collaborate with clients, support groups, manufacturers, vendors, and other
technical teams. Specify & source all mechanical components and subcontractors for skid package assembly. This is a
mandate statement that summarizes the tasks that fall under this role
• Project Cost Control System): Increased project margins by 20% by implementing changes to cost reporting
structure, leading to improvements in equipment configuration, material sourcing, and inventory management
practices.
• Saved over $30,000 per system through design optimization, reduced components, and labour by 25%
• Championed a new initiative to protect project Intellectual Property and other proprietary information safe.
• These are examples of accomplishment statements

GO ENERGY CANADA INC. • Richmond, BC 2016-2018

Project Engineer, Energy Plants
• Coordinated all Mechanical & Process Engineering activities for two Thermal Energy System turnkey projects for
OSB and sawmills in northern BC and Alberta, worth approx. $16 M USD each. Specified all mechanical components;
procured and scheduled capital equipment deliveries to site. Reviewed and approved technical documentation;
served as key point-of-contact with clients, vendors, and site personnel for all technical issues.
• Led implementation of ISO-9000:2000 quality system in Canadian office and performed all internal audits.
• Developed a system to track technical documentation transmittals and reduced processing time by 50%.

HELIPRO GLOBAL SERVICES INC. (now Apex Aerospace Helicopter Services) • Richmond, BC 2014-2016
Mechanical Engineer, Government Programs
Led Dynamic Components Engineering of the Government Programs division supporting Canadian and US military
helicopter fleets. Determined work scope for repair and overhaul operations, liaised with customers and shop personnel to
resolve technical issues, and approved repair procedures and configuration changes.
• Supervised a project to build a custom helicopter transmission test cell worth $4.6 M CDN. Liaised with contractors
and vendors, managed project schedule and budget changes, and coordinated installation.
• Reduced technical report preparation time by 40% through a new database to track resolved issues.

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 23

 MYCEL CHEMICAL PROCESS CORP. (now Mycelekawa USA Inc.) • Torrance, CA 2013-2014
Junior Project Engineer
Managed complete projects to build customized screw compressor skid packages ($1M each). Designed and specified
components, demonstrating excellence in thermal analysis, technical datasheet interpretation for compliance with
ASME/API specs, manufacturing & team development. Liaised with vendors, customers, and shop personnel.
• Reduced weld re-work by 60%, establishing a new welder certification program & shop inspection process.
• Established new Quality Control system and completed ISO-9000 and ASME U Stamp joint certification.
• Implemented Pro/E as new mechanical design software and trained a team of 10 Engineers and designers.
CAREER NOTE: Additional experience as Product Design Engineer for C&D Aerospace, Mirabel, QC
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Mechanical Engineering 20XX
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC)
Project Management Professional (PMP) – In Progress (Expected: Dec. 20XX)
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Strategic Management 20XX
Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC
Specialization in Strategic Management with sub-specializations in Accounting and Supply Chain Management
SELECTED ACADEMIC PROJECTS:
• Technology Commercialization Business Plan – Vision-Guided Robotics
Developed business plan to commercialize new vision-guided robotics software. Created financial projections and an IP
management plan, and presented business plan to venture capitalists and angel investors.
• Intellectual Property Management Plan for Gaming Company
IP Management plan detailed types of IP protection, security measures, and valuation of IP; established IP Auditing process
for game development and IP protection duties for creative teams and senior management.
Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.), Mechanical Engineering 20XX
University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Mechanical Engineering and Management 20XX
Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) Monterrey, México
AWARDS
Access to Commercialization Scholarship (ACS) 20XX
British Columbia Innovation Council
• Awarded to MBA students to develop a business plan to commercialize a new technology-based product or service with
an Engineering student. (See Vision Guided Robotics project in MBA section)
PATENTS
Created and patented a new device to provide an interactive and enjoyable experience for students to learn the Periodic
Table of Elements in junior high. Filed improvement patent in Mexico at age 14.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
XYZ Conference, PMI Canadian West Coast Chapter 2018
Internal Auditor Training Conference, Toronto ISO Accelerate 2016
Association of Professional Engineers of British Columbia, Panelist 2015
LANGUAGES
English & Spanish (Bilingual), basic German and Japanese

Resume Toolkit | Created by: Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre 24