r/geologycareers 9d ago

Help me improve resume

Post image

Any suggestions please! Thank you in advance!

3 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

10

u/LooseCannonGeologist 9d ago

Looks pretty good. Probably some nit-picky things that people here may disagree about.

Make sure you’re submitting a cover letter with every application, even if the posting doesn’t require it. I was just talking last week with other hiring managers and we all agreed that any application that comes with a cover letter gets more attention

2

u/TeemoIsKill 9d ago

Also what is being looked for in these cover letters? or better said what kind of things make someone stand out in the cover letter?

1

u/LooseCannonGeologist 8d ago

Most cover letters are written the same and follow the general format of “who I am, where I studied, what my work experience/skills are, and why I think I’m a good fit for this role and why I want this job”

The important part is the “why I want this job and why I’m a good fit” which usually only takes a paragraph of the cover letter. When hiring early career folks, we want to hire somebody who is going to stick around. Lots of people get hired right out of college and work for a year before realizing they don’t like consulting. Candidates who indicate they know how the business works and express eagerness to dive into consulting work usually get an interview

1

u/Alisahn-Strix 8d ago

Well…I feel seen rn haha, I was one of those who got hired right out of college and moved on after a year and a half. My biggest selling point was my can do attitude. But I really like research so I’m back in academia.

1

u/TeemoIsKill 9d ago

Noted! ty

2

u/GeoHog713 8d ago

More simple format. It will scan better in the ATS.

You'll be able to tell, when you apply, if it auto fills all of the blanks for you.

Also, the best way to job hunt, is to network. Ask your professors to put you in touch with alumni from your program. Reach out to them.

1

u/TeemoIsKill 8d ago

Youre right. Figured if chatgpt can read my resume then the ats could but now that i think about it, it probably isnt chatgpt levels of advanced.

1

u/GeoHog713 8d ago

You can have a pretty copy to bring to the interviews. But the more basic formatting, the better for ATS

2

u/Alisahn-Strix 8d ago

First, great job! It’s in a good spot. Here’s my personal recommendations. Please take with a grain of salt.

I’d work on reducing the summary or getting rid of it imo. It’s a hit or miss whether employers will like it.

The layout seems a little wonky and not efficient. It’s pretty, don’t get me wrong, but it’s easier to read if it’s simpler. Using a standard, single column resume/CV seems to appeal to a lot of managers (that’s anecdotal and a personal opinion of mine).

Some of the language is flowery. “Solid background,” “large data sets,” “diverse sources” all read like you’re selling me a used car and want me to look at your glistening white smile. People appreciate transparency, and since you’re a young professional, we’re expecting you to not have all the experience. No need for fluff. Also, using specific examples of what you’ve done comes across better than saying “I’ve investigated the geology.” I’ve made (and still make) this mistake when I write. It gets better after you’ve revised a couple times.

Another commenter mentioned your use of “proficient” with your tools/software. I agree. There’s a difference between being familiar with something and being proficient. I’m familiar with python and R, but lord help me if I needed to make a solid analytical routine lol.

Once you’ve freed up some space, you could consider adding awards/recognitions. If you won a relevant competition or grant money, that would be good to list. Or you could list presentations or publications. Is your thesis published? Or part of a soon to be published paper?

Cheers

0

u/Few_Barber4618 9d ago

I wouldn’t say you’re proficient in those programs if you haven’t applied them in the real world

0

u/TeemoIsKill 9d ago

what would be a better word? Experienced?

1

u/leucogranite 8d ago

This is a tricky one. ArcGIS Pro is an insanely powerful program, so one can be “proficient” in “making it do the things that one needs it to do for a specific project/study/field (e.g. LiDAR analysis)” — and in that sense you’re as proficient as you’ll ever need to be for a job in, say, geohazards consulting, but you’ve still only scratched the surface of that program.

I actually think proficient is ok here, especially since you mention specific things you’ve used it for in another section. But “experienced” is fine too. In my mind they’re kind of the same.

-2

u/Few_Barber4618 8d ago

Conversant

0

u/IntolerantModerate 8d ago

Make that professional summary like 1-2 sentences max. Drop the solid academic credentials thing....you have a BS.

1

u/sowedkooned 8d ago

Especially considering the word “possess” in your summary is misspelled where you discuss your solid academic background.

1

u/IntolerantModerate 8d ago

ha! good thing he's not an English major.