How to Write Resumes

Resume Fundamentals

Your resume is your first impression with potential employers, how you market your value-add to a company. In the AI and tech industry, it needs to showcase both your technical expertise and your ability to solve their complex problems.

Structure and Format

• Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
• Use a clean, professional format
• Ensure consistent formatting throughout
• Use a readable font (11-12pt)
• Include plenty of white space

Essential Sections

Contact Information

• Full legal name
• Phone number and personal email address--avoid using controversial email addresses
• LinkedIn profile URL
• GitHub profile (for technical roles)
• Location (city, state). Street address is not required.

Professional Summary

Write a compelling 2-3 sentence summary that highlights:

• Your professional title, experience level, and specialization
• Key relevant technical skills and achievements
• What value you bring to employers--ability to deliver results

Technical Skills

Organize your technical skills by category:

• Programming Languages: Python, C++, Rust, etc.
• Frameworks & Libraries: PyTorch, TensorFlow, NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Theano, OpenNN, etc.
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elastic search, etc.
• Cloud Platforms: Amazon SageMaker, Google AI Cloud, Microsoft Azure AI, Salesforce Einstein AI Cloud, IBM Watson, Oracle Cloud AI, etc.
• Tools & Technologies: Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Podman, Ollama, LM Studio, GPT4All, MCP, A2A protocol, AP2 agent protocol, etc.

Experience Section

For each role, include:

• Job title, company name, and dates
• 3-5 bullet points describing achievements
• Use action verbs and quantify results
• Focus on impact, not just responsibilities

Writing Effective Bullet Points

Use the CAR Method

Structure your achievements using Context, Action, Result:

• Context: What was the situation or challenge?
• Action: What did you do to address it?
• Result: What was the outcome or impact?

Examples of Strong Bullet Points with Metrics

• Developed machine learning model that improved prediction accuracy by 25%, resulting in $2M annual cost savings
• Led cross-functional team of 8 engineers to migrate legacy system to microservices, reducing deployment time by 60%
• Implemented automated testing pipeline that decreased bug reports by 40% and improved release cycle time by 2 weeks

AI and Tech-Specific Tips

Showcase Your Projects--include a projects section highlighting:

• Personal or open-source projects
• Technologies used and problems solved
• Links to GitHub repositories or live demos
• Measurable outcomes or impact

Education and Certifications

• Include relevant degrees and coursework
• List AI/ML certifications (AWS, Google, etc.)
• Mention relevant online courses or bootcamps
• Include GPA if recent graduate and above 3.5

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using generic job descriptions instead of specific achievements
• Including outdated or irrelevant technologies
• Making spelling or grammar errors
• Using overly technical jargon without context
• Forgetting to tailor your resume to each job application

Final Tips

• Use keywords from the job description extensively
• Proofread multiple times and have others review
• Save as PDF to preserve formatting
• Keep your resume updated with recent accomplishments
• Consider using ATS-friendly formats for online applications--avoid using multiple columns and images, which are often not searchable/indexed. Simpler formatting is better.