Resume

Format

For your resume, use Jake’s Resume template [Insert Link] since it looks clean and is very easy to modify. This is a tried and tested template that helped many CS students land jobs. Keep your resume to one page, since it’s industry standard. For your header, you should include your name, phone number, and email. If your LinkedIn [Insert Link] is polished and your GitHub is active, include those as well.

Section Ordering

Keep your education section first. Most jobs heavily favor college students / graduates, so don’t bury it. Hiring managers often skim resumes, so order the remaining sections based on importance. If you have relevant job experience, prioritize it. You may want to reorder your resume based on the job you are applying for. It only takes a minute and it can significantly boost your chances of getting the job.

Bullet Points

Your resume shows an employer your writing skills, so be professional and concise. Start each bullet with a past action verb. They highlight your accomplishments and create a more confident tone. Include relevant statistics when possible. For example, a cashier should write “serviced 100+ customers daily” or “managed $1,500+ worth of groceries daily” rather than “bagged and packaged groceries.” The first two examples show more responsibility than the third.

Education

Include Penn State, your major, and your expected graduation date. Be honest about your graduation date. Lying about being a junior for more job prospects is becoming increasingly common, but this often gets internships revoked or prevents return offers. For your GPA, include it if it’s above 3.5, otherwise leave it off. If you have room and you did well in high school, include it, but it should be the first thing to go when you need room.

Experience

If you have technical experience, put it directly under education. Don’t simplify it for the reader. It’s fine if they don’t completely understand what you were doing, as long as it’s clear you know what you’re doing. Non-technical experience is still important to show character. Many hiring managers look for non-technical experience that builds communication or teamwork.

Projects

Aim for 2-3 projects on your resume to show expertise and motivation outside the classroom. Quality is better than quantity here. Build projects similar to the work you hope to do after college. For example, if you want to be an AI engineer, try to include AI in each of your projects.

Technical Skills / Keywords

Many software engineering positions are now filtering resumes using AI or keyword filters. Include keywords, like programming languages or software you use, to help these programs match you to the position. A technical skills section handles this by listing the languages, frameworks, and libraries you’re proficient in. Only list skills you’re actually proficient in, so you don’t get caught off guard if asked about them during an interview.