Having a resume is pretty important and you will need to submit one for an internship or a research opportunity. It’s a headache to make, but after you do it for the first time, all you need to do is update it now and then. Whether you are an incoming first-year student or a graduating senior, you can always polish up a resume for a potential employer!
Generally, if someone reads your resume, they should be able to figure out if you could do the job. If so, they will ask for an interview during which you will prove that you are a worthy candidate. CSE majors resumes are slightly different from from most majors in that the skills part of your resume will have far more content then the average resume(due to different coding languages and programs you will put in there). So don’t be afraid to list down the technical projects you have been working on, the work experiences you’ve had, and your involvements in extracurricular activities. Here’s the basic list of things your resume should have:
- Name, basic contact information
- Like your email and cell phone number
- Your address.
- It’s best to use this if your internship is near your home (Optional)
- School name, major, and graduating year
- Technical projects you’ve worked on
- You should include personal ones as well. Employers love to see enthusiasm outside of the classroom!
- Research, internship, or TA positions
- Involvement in extracurricular activities
- GPA, especially useful if your GPA is above a 3.0 (Optional)
- Notable coursework (Optional)
- Skills (Optional)
- Interests (Optional)
The more relevant your resume is to the position you are applying to, the better. If you don’t really have any technical experience just yet, don’t worry! Just put what you have for now, and over the next four years, your resume will grow and you can replace your not-so-relevant experiences with your relevant ones.
Even if you placed everything above on your resume, it would probably be better to go to Career Services: http://www.buffalo.edu/career/resumes.html. I would also recommend you make an appointment with them when you have a draft of your resume ready. They are located in Capen Hall 259. They can really help you iron out the kinks in your resume and tell you where to look for internship/jobs. They are paid through your tuition so you might as well use them).
Another option is to attend a UBACM or a UBScientista resume workshop. The clubs usually have resume building workshops at least once a semester, so attend general student meetings and keep an eye out for an email from them for a date for their resume workshops.