Movement Talent was fortunate to have Katelyn Chacon as our summer intern this year. We asked Katelyn to share a bit about what she learned here, particularly updating her resume. In this blog post, we share Katelyn in her own words, with additional guidance based on our team’s experience reviewing thousands of resumes over the past several years. Especially for those who are currently job seekers, we hope you take away some tangible ways to improve your resume.

The task I look forward to least when it comes to the job application process is updating and editing my resume. As a college student in my early stages in the workforce, I have found it difficult to either fill up my resume or make what is there as effective as possible.  During my summer internship with Movement Talent, I reviewed many resumes as part of a data migration project. A common theme I observed is that many people underrepresent themselves and their work.

I am also guilty of this, as seen in the resume I submitted for this internship earlier this year. Much of the information on this resume is very vague and irrelevant to the position I was applying for, and I can’t say this accurately represents how I’ve spent my time these past few years. Knowing this – and getting a better understanding of what I should change after a summer spent reviewing the resumes of others – I’ve edited my resume with the help of my Movement Talent supervisors, including Tony, Chiyomi, and Linda (that’s us pictured during an event in DC!).

I had to ask a big question: How can I convey transferable skills in my resume even though I am still relatively inexperienced in the fields I am applying for? This has haunted me throughout this process, and I probably wouldn’t have gotten through it without specific advice from my supervisors. After gathering up all the projects and tasks I performed under each role I’ve fulfilled these past few years, I was asked to write my bullet points in this format: 

  1.  What were my responsibilities?
  2.  How did I do my tasks? 
  3.  What impact did my work make? 

This three-question method helped me go from this entry in my resume:

Office of the President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Director   

    • Working alongside and assisting various multicultural groups on campus, working to bring a more inclusive culture to UC Berkeley
    •  leading a department of 11 people; delegate tasks and oversee projects produced by the department, including workshops, programs, and events.
    • 8-10 hrs per week

To this entry in my resume:

Office of the President’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Executive      

    • One of eight Executives in the Presidential Cabinet, considered to be the highest office within UC Berkeley’s student government, an independent 501(c)(3) organization with a ~1.7M budget 
    • Led all internal projects focused on fostering a deeper sense of belonging on campus, advocating administration to address the needs of marginalized student groups, and connecting students with basic needs
    • Professionally communicate with University administrators, local elected officials, and campus stakeholders regarding matters related to Diversity, equity, and inclusion and its relation to our campus communities 
    • Led a campus-wide fundraiser for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and surpassed fundraising goal 
    • Hosted a campus-wide Vigil for United Against Hate Week, coordinated speakers, marketing and venue
    • Oversee and mentor 11 associates and interns, responsible for delegating tasks and retaining personnel

The bullet points now more accurately reflect how I spent my time. In this new version, I also clearly demonstrate valuable skills like leadership, mentorship, event planning, communication on different levels, fundraising experience, and more. These are skills that I can apply to just about any position I might apply for in the future.  With this revised resume, potential employers not only know what I can do but also know how I do my work as a mission-driven leader and emerging professional.

Thank you, Katelyn, for sharing your original resume and a concrete example of how you updated it. Let’s talk a bit more about each of these bullet points.

  1. What were my responsibilities? It’s easy for us to think in terms of tasks. We did one thing, then we did the next thing, etc. But reciting your to-do list doesn’t fully convey all that you contribute. Thinking about responsibilities – what are you held accountable for that perhaps no one else is – can help you more easily see the value you bring to your role (and future roles, as well!). 
  2. How did I do my tasks? This prompt is a great opportunity to reflect upon the techniques, tools, and technologies you deploy to fulfill your responsibilities. Again, this is not a recitation of your list of tasks. Consider instead any specialized skills you’ve developed, such as learning a software application, refining processes, or taking on leadership responsibilities. For Katelyn, “Professionally communicate with University administrators, local elected officials, and campus stakeholders” shows that she is testing and improving her communication skills.
  3. What impact did my work make? Here’s where data – qualitative and quantitative – comes into play. Katelyn surpassed a fundraising goal – that’s amazing! Don’t be shy in sharing such achievements and, when possible, include information such as dollars raised, an increase in the number of volunteers recruited, or concrete changes to operating procedures. For Katelyn, “fostering a deeper sense of belonging on campus” demonstrates that her actions resulted in a much bigger shared goal. Ultimately, you want to convey how your existing organization is better off for having had you as an employee.

We get it. As Katelyn said, updating one’s resume is often a dreaded activity. You want to balance a bit of boasting with being accurate and need to stand out from the crowd.  Start by applying these three tips as you edit each experience on your resume. Once you start having a mindset of responsibilities and contributions, you’ll surely see all of the transferable skills you have to offer to your next workplace.