What is a résumé?
A résumé is a short, selective account of your experience. It helps an employer see why your work is relevant to a particular role.
What to include
Start with contact details, then choose the experience, projects, education, and skills that matter for this application. Early-career applicants can lead with projects. Put the most relevant evidence where a reader will find it quickly.
Describe the work
Say what you did, the context, and the result. 'Built a Python script' becomes more useful when you say what it processed and how you checked it worked. Use numbers only when you know where they came from. Tailoring changes which facts you emphasize; it does not change the facts.
Résumé or CV?
In many US contexts, a résumé is brief and targeted, while an academic CV is a fuller record of research, teaching, and publications. In other countries, 'CV' may simply mean the document used for a job application. Follow the employer's instructions and local convention. Our CV guide explains the distinction.