Advice on how to refine my resume would be appreciated! Looking to be competitive in FAANG-level companies as a new grad.
#2025 Grad Resume Refinement
vagrant hull
I currently have a Software Dev job that I work part-time due to funding issues. How can I leverage this to get better opportunities? Need to secure a high-paying job cry
fallow onyx
This US right?
vagrant hull
Yeah
fallow onyx
why is ur res 2 pages
vagrant hull
I feel like each project showcases a different set of programming languages but I’m open to getting rid of a few if you have suggestions on which one
fallow onyx
yeah no it should never be more than a page at this exp level
u have way too many bullets on that one exp
also avoid bullets that go to the next line by like 1-2 words, it looks rlly bad visually
vagrant hull
How many bullets do you think is good for the job? I feel like that’s my selling point since it’s work experience
fierce delta
I feel like each project showcases a different set of programming languages but ...
if you can, try to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying to. in other words, figure out what to remove (what’s irrelevant) or what to add by looking at the job description
should always be one page. always. unless you have like 15 years of experience lol
first experience should have 5 bullets max (maybe 6 but ehhh 🤷♀️), but at least 4 bullets. When you get more job experience, maybe then it can be less than 4
TA role doesn’t need that many bullet points. 3 max
in the TA role, can remove the bullet point with courses entirely (that first bullet is super weird imo) or put them next to the job title or university/company
Can keep the skills section I guess but it’s not necessary tbh
If you’re keeping the skills section, use the rest of the space above it for the projects that can fit. If you get rid of it, now you have more space to put another project or so. Whichever you choose, include your best projects for now. Then later when you’re applying to the job, tailor this section (e.g. if the job description mainly emphasizes having Python and React skills, include all the projects where you used Python or React at the top of the section; if you have space left, fill it with another project(s))
Each project should have 2 or 3 bullet points. No more, no less (imo)
Put yourself in the shoes of the person looking at your resume. They will probably spend less than 30 seconds viewing it (some spend like 10 seconds, crazy i know). And they have tons of resumes to go through. Make it easy for them to find what they need to find on your resume
In all your bullet points from experience and projects section, try to include the impact/outcome/result of what you did and bonus points if the impact is measurable (number, percent, etc.). But no need to go overboard on the quantifications; nobody wants to see a number on every single line. These formulas (Google them) will help (can alternate): XYZ, STAR, CAR, [what/how/why/result], etc.
Also, every bullet point in your experience and projects should be one line only. Should not span two or more lines. Trust me
You need to be more concise/straight to the point
feel free to use ai tools (chatgpt, gemini, deepseek, etc.) to help you with the bullet points. the prompt you use can literally just be what I’m saying rn (copy everything I said and paste it in, along with your resume)
Include your LinkedIn and GitHub profile at the top (can put before the U.S. citizen thing)
Also, I don’t think the projects section really needs your dates. A way better use of that space would be to put the links (GitHub repo and/or live site/demo) to your projects there. Should hyperlink if you do (say something like “GitHub | Live Demo” or “GitHub” or “Project Link” or etc, then put the link(s) in them) because most likely the real urls to your projects will be long and ugly looking, lol
Please try your best to use all or most of this advice. Wanna see you succeed since I’m also a Girls Who Code girly 💅 good luck!!!!
tawny egret
Also, I don’t think the projects section really needs your dates. A way better u...
really good advice!
fierce delta
really good advice!
thanks ☺️
fallow onyx
In all your bullet points from experience and projects section, try to include t...
i think this is all great but one point ill add here is that these formats (xyz/star/car) will make your bullets go to two lines if you try to hit all the parts
most of the time to keep it one line ur bullet will prolly be more like xz or xy or smth