Queen’s Best Resumes - About This Guide - Writing Great Resumes - Resume Basics

Sep 13, 2026

A practical guide to writing effective resumes for part-time jobs, internships, volunteer roles, and entry-level positions after graduation. It explains how to connect your knowledge, experience, skills, and attributes to a specific role, and why customizing for each application can improve interview chances. The guide covers key differences between resumes and CVs, offers actionable strategies such as using role keywords, concise descriptions, action verbs, proofreading, and avoiding templates, abbreviations, and acronyms. It also provides resume structure basics including introduction and education formats.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

About This Guide

How to use this guide

Icons legend

Writing Great Resumes: Key Ideas

Key Differences Between Resume and Curriculum Vitae

Resume Basics

Introduction: Profile, Objective, or Summary of Skills

Education

Relevant Experience

Queen’s Best Resumes Table of Contents About This Guide .................................................... 5 Writing Great Resumes................................................... 6 Resume Basics............................................................. 8 Resume Examples.......................................................10 Acknowledgments Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. Students and Alumni We would like to thank all the students and alumni who generously shared their applications to be used as examples in this guide. Editors and Designers Thank you to everyone who contributed to the editing and development of this magazine and its previous editions. A special thank you to Kavita Thomas, SWEP student, for her innovation and design in creating this guide. Sponsors A heartfelt thanks to the employer and educator advertisers whose support helps make this publication available to Queen’s students. 2 ABOUT THIS GUIDE Whether you are applying for a part-time job, an internship, a volunteer opportunity, or your first role after graduating, the resources in this guide will help you communicate your skills and experiences. We have compiled examples from Queen’s students to help you write your best application and prepare for an interview! How to use this guide In this guide you will find ideas and strategies for writing resumes. Each section includes examples to help you understand how you can best communicate your knowledge, skills, experience, and attributes. Each example is labeled with the strategies or approach the student has used to communicate their strengths and relevant experience. For easy scanning, the examples are tagged with icons that indicate the student’s experience. These tags can help you see how students with similar experiences to you describe them. Consider also looking at examples that don’t match your experience; you might find a valuable strategy that you can use. We have compiled these examples for your review, but no resume is perfect. As you read this guide and prepare your application, use your judgment to decide how to best tell your unique story of your skills and experience. For more information on writing resumes, preparing for interviews, conducting a job search, or exploring your career options, visit us at Career Services! ICONS LEGEND: 2nd or 3rd Graduating Graduate Year Year Student Extracurriculars Work or Study Abroad Entrepreneur 4 © WRITING GREAT RESUMES: KEY IDEAS A resume is a written document that demonstrates the connection between your knowledge, experience, skills, and attributes and the position you are applying to. It highlights your relevant experience, shows why you will be successful in the role, and gives evidence of what you can contribute. Taking the time to customize your resume for each application to show how your experience relates to a specific role can increase the likelihood of getting an interview. Key Differences Between Resume and Curriculum Vitae The terms resume and CV are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. In Canada, resumes are used to apply for workrelated positions ([e.g. jobs](e.g. jobs), volunteer roles, internships). CV’s are usually used to apply for academic or research-related roles. If you are not sure what type of document is being asked for, look at the position description and/or reach out to the organization for clarification. 1 Use the role description or position posting as a reference to guide what skills, experience, knowledge, and attributes you highlight on your resume. 2 Use keywords and phrases from the role description to show you have the experience and qualifications they are seeking and that you have read the description carefully. 3 Describe your skills and experience concisely. People may review your resume quickly, so it’s important to present your information concisely. 4 Demonstrate

FAQs

What is the main purpose of a resume in this guide?

A resume demonstrates the connection between your knowledge, experience, skills, and attributes and the position you are applying for, highlighting relevant experience and evidence of what you can contribute.

How are resumes different from curriculum vitae (CVs) in Canada?

Resumes are used for work-related roles such as jobs, volunteer roles, and internships, while CVs are typically used for academic or research-related roles.

What strategies does the guide recommend to improve resume results?

Customize for each application, use keywords from the role description, describe skills and experience concisely with action verbs, avoid templates and abbreviations, and proofread before submitting.

Sep 13, 2026

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