Resume & CV Writing | Welcome to CSO

Whether you're applying for an internship, full-time job, or graduate school, a well-crafted resume or CV is your first step to making a strong impression. The CSO is here to help you highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements effectively.

Already have a resume draft? Send it to CSO for a review by clicking here.

What's the Difference?

Resume

1–2 pages
Tailored to a specific job or field
Focus on skills and work experience
Common in industry and private sector

CV (Curriculum Vitae)

Can be multiple pages
Used for academia, research, or grad school
Focus on academic achievements and research
Common for graduate programs, fellowships, research

Not sure which one you need? Check the job/scholarship posting or ask your advisor.

Use the Official LUMS Resume Template & Guidebook

Before you begin writing, download the LUMS Resume Template—designed for undergraduate and graduate students—and follow the LUMS Resume Guidebook for clear, step-by-step instructions.

Clean, recruiter-friendly layout
Examples of bullet points and formatting
Tips to avoid common mistakes

Download the LUMS Resume Template (Word)

View the LUMS Resume Guidebook (PDF)

Key Elements of a Resume

Include the following sections, in a clear and consistent format:

Contact Information
Education
Experience (Internships, jobs, leadership, volunteering)
Skills (e.g., languages, technical tools)
Projects (optional but helpful)
Awards, Certifications, or Activities

Tailor your resume for each opportunity. Use keywords from the job description.

Resume Writing Tips

(from the LUMS Guidebook

Start bullet points with strong action verbs
Focus on results and contributions, not just tasks
Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led a team of 5," "reduced processing time by 20%")
Keep formatting simple and consistent
Stick to 1 page for most undergraduates unless otherwise specified

How to Use AI to Help With Your Resume

Below are ways in which you can use AI to help you enhance your experience descriptions with sample prompts that you can use (if you are confused about how to customize these for your case, get support from a career counsellor at CSO by emailing cso@lums.edu.pk)

Brainstorm Achievements:

Ask AI to suggest quantifiable results or achievements you may have overlooked

Starting from scratch:

"I worked as a project coordinator at a mid-sized tech startup, leading a small team and collaborating with marketing. Based on this context, can you suggest several quantifiable achievements or specific results I could highlight in my resume experience section to demonstrate my impact and leadership?"

Revamping existing text:

"I have a bullet point that says: 'Improved team efficiency.' Can you suggest a more measurable version that includes metrics or percentages to show tangible impact (e.g., time saved, cost reduced, or productivity increased)?"

Refine Language:

Ask AI to rewrite bullet points with stronger action verbs, improved clarity, and a professional, results-focused tone.

Enhance individual bullets:

"You are an expert resume reviewer. Here's a draft bullet point from my resume: 'Responsible for software project tasks.' Can you rewrite this using a stronger action verb and a more results-focused tone, highlighting what I achieved rather than just what I did?"

Enhance content into multiple bullets:

"You are an expert resume reviewer. Please review the below content and rewrite them using strong action words, result-focused tone, professional and impactful phrasing: [insert your text here]"

ATS Optimization / Tailoring:

Request industry-specific keywords from AI to ensure your experiences section is optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems.

General:

"Below are my current experience bullet points for a Software Engineering position. Could you rewrite them by incorporating common keywords and phrases (e.g., 'Agile methodologies,' 'AWS infrastructure,' 'API integration') to improve their alignment with Applicant Tracking Systems and typical tech industry standards?"

For specific jobs:

"You are an expert resume reviewer. I have attached the job I want to apply to. Can you please review the JD and use it to rewrite the below content in a way that uses the appropriate keywords and phrases to improve its alignment with Application Tracking Systems: [insert your text here]"

Check Grammar and Consistency:

"Here is the current version of my experiences section. Please ensure all bullet points have consistent tense, parallel structure, and proper punctuation. Also, simplify any overly complex sentences without changing their intended meaning."

Verify AI-generated suggestions for accuracy and relevance:

(sometimes AI results are exaggerations of your actual work because AI does its own interpretations without knowing the actual context):

"The AI-generated bullet point reads: 'Strategically engineered a cross-functional collaboration matrix to catalyze operational synergy.' This sounds exaggerated. Can you rewrite it in a way that remains professional, aligns closely with my actual responsibilities, and feels authentic and genuine?"

Run your write-up through multiple iterations to get the strongest write-up:

"I've integrated your previous suggestions into my experience bullet points. Could you review them once more, refining language for clarity and impact, and ensuring each statement is as concise and effective as possible?"

CV Writing for Graduate Applications

For academic or research opportunities, your CV should include:

Full academic history

Research or thesis work

Publications or presentations

Awards, scholarships, and fellowships

Teaching experience (if any)

Use our dedicated CV resources for academic applications:

CV Template (Grad Focus) – Word

Grad School CV Writing Tipsheet (PDF)

Downloadable Resources

LUMS Resume Template (Word)