The Importance of Your Resume
Your resume is an essential tool in your professional branding toolkit. It lets the recruiters know a little about you in a short amount of time and is traditionally used to apply for employment, internships, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Keep in mind that resumes do not get you hired, they get you an interview. Writing a relevant resume is critical, as most recruiters screen resumes for a few seconds before deciding if they will keep reading or not. Utilize keywords and phrases that will show the reader that you are a fit for whatever opportunity it is that you are applying for. Use the following resources to help you get the most out of your resume!
Resume and Cover Letter Help
In-person walk-in hours
- Bring a printed copy of your resume or cover letter for a 15-minute session. First-come, first-served basis.
- Our Walk-In hours are on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Located at the Vasche Library, L230
Attend a Resume Writing Workshop
Join us for workshops outlining what should be in your resume and how to make it stand out. View our schedule of events for dates and times or view our archived sessions.
Handshake Resume Review Tool
Use Handshakes new Sidekick AI powered feature to optimize your resume .
Sidekick helps you quickly create a recruiter-ready resume and land more interviews by highlighting your relevant skills and optimizing it for employer screening.
With Sidekick, you can:
- Upload an existing resume or start from a resume already stored in your Documents
- Document uploads must be 1MB or smaller, and files must be in PDF, .DOC, or .DOCX format.
- Get an instantly improved resume
- Chat with an AI assistant to get further suggestions for improved wording, structure, and how to highlight your skills
- Ask for edits focused on a particular job or type of role (for example, “software engineering internships” or "lab assistant")
- Download an updated version and/or save it back to your Documents so you can use it when applying on Handshake
Meet with a Career Coach
Make an appointment with a career coach through Handshake to meet 1:1 with a coach. Email us if the times listed do not match your availability: career@csustan.edu
Resources and Examples
Updated: July 20, 2026