A resume critique is simply a conversation a student or alumni job seeker might have with someone who, based on experience and knowledge, can suggest resume improvements. This someone might be a co-worker in a field, a faculty member, an employer representative, a recruiter, or a career advisor in the Career Services Network.

With all the written and online guidance, why is a personal critique critical?

First, not all the available guidance is aimed at college students and recent grads. Experienced people do different things with their resumes than students, and book/article writers frequently offer advice aimed at the experienced person without saying so very directly. Secondly, much the same criticism can be leveled at templates offered by advisors or word processing programs - they just aren't designed with the student in mind. Lastly, advice isn't always placed in the context of the greater effort the resume writer has launched to secure an opportunity, and may not reflect industry-specific preferences.

Where is critiquing available at Syracuse?

Students should start by determining if such help is available in their home college career office. Critiquing is a regular service of the Center for Career Services (235 Schine Center) where time is set aside from 12 - 3:30 pm each weekday for students to spend 10-20 minutes with an advisor for, among other things, resume critiquing. These times are referred to as "drop-in hours." Print and online guidance aimed at students can achieve a draft that can be brought to a critiquing session.

When should students begin to have resumes critiqued?

Writing a solid resume is one of the key skills students will need to secure internships, summer jobs, and permanent positions, so it is never too soon to start. It is arguably most important for first and second year students to start early because they may not have as much "professional" experience as their older peers and will need to learn to focus on what is transferable from their existing experience base.

A good resume can open many doors, so students should seek guidance and critiquing early and often.