Building Better
CVs and Resumes
Choosing the right document and using it well!
Resume & CV Workshop
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club
WORKSHOP FRAMING
Why this matters
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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Students are often told to “make a resume” or “make a CV” without being taught the difference.
Wrong document
A strong resume cannot do the job of a full academic CV, and a long CV usually fails in employer review.
Wrong emphasis
Important to think about the purpose of the document and what you need each one to showcase
Workshop goal
By the end of the session, students should know which document they need and leave with a working draft.
What we will do today
Define the difference between a resume and a CV
See the same experience rewritten for two different audiences
Learn a bullet-writing method you can use in either document
Choose the right template and start drafting
Today is about choosing strategically and developing understanding.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
What is a CV?
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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A CV is a fuller academic and research record used in holistic applicant review.
Comprehensive
Preserves the broader academic and research record.
No page limit
Length grows with experience and output.
Academic-facing
Graduate programs, fellowships, and research settings.
Continuously updated
Maintain it as your record grows.
Typical Structure
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Can include research, professional experience, awards, presentations, certificates, skills, and affiliations
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Keeps more methodological and scholarly detail than a one-page resume
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Section order can be strategic, but completeness matters
Example of a fuller academic record with expanded sections and greater detail.
Model page
RESUME
What is a resume?
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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A resume is a focused document designed for a specific role or application.
Typical structure
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Usually one reverse-chronological Experience section
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Keep only the strongest experiences and bullets for the job you want
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Revise it for every application
Model page
Example of a one-page, employer-facing document with a unified Experience section.
One Page
Prioritize only the most relevant material
Targeted
Tailor it for a specific role or application
Impact-first
Lead with results, contribution, & relevance
Industry-facing
Jobs, internships, biotech, pharma, and clinical roles
SIDE BY SIDE
CV vs. Resume
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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Category
CV
Resume
Length
No fixed limit
Usually one page
Purpose
Full academic record
Targeted application tool
Audience
Faculty, PIs, review committees
Recruiters, hiring managers
Sections
Research, awards, presentations, affiliations, certificates, skills, references
Experience, education, selected skills or projects
Bullet style
More context and methodological depth
More compressed and impact-driven
Updated
Continuously as your record grows
Revised for each application
Tone
Comprehensive and scholarly
Concise and selective
TRANSLATION IN PRACTICE
How the same experience changes across documents
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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Hypothetical example, not a real person’s record | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Molecular Biology Lab
Teaching Example
CV Version
Resume Version
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Investigated treatment-associated changes in gene expression in cultured mammalian cells using qPCR, Western blot, and fluorescence microscopy across multiple experimental conditions.
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Maintained detailed records of reagent preparation, protocol adjustments, and troubleshooting notes to support reproducibility across repeated assays.
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Reviewed relevant literature on signaling pathways and assay design to contextualize findings and refine next-step experiments.
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Presented preliminary findings at a campus research symposium and contributed to lab discussions regarding interpretation and follow-up work.
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Performed qPCR, Western blot, and microscopy assays to evaluate treatment-associated gene-expression changes in cultured cells.
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Maintained organized experimental records and troubleshooting notes that improved consistency across repeated assays.
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Presented preliminary findings at a campus research symposium.
CV
Keeps fuller method, context, and academic framing.
Resume
Keeps only the most relevant contribution and outcomes.
The Bullet Formula
Every strong bullet answers three questions.
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What did you do?
Action verb + task
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How did you do it?
Methods, tools, scale, or context
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Why did you do it?
Consequence, outcome, or what it enabled
Weaker
Assisted with experiments in a molecular biology lab.
This names the task, but not the contribution.
Stronger
Performed qPCR and Western blot assays to evaluate treatment-associated gene-expression changes in cultured cells, generating data used in weekly lab meetings and a campus research poster.
Task + method + consequence
Note: Strong bullets always reach “So what?” 🡪 this framework works for both documents.
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A bullet can name a task, but every entry should include at least one bullet that reaches “So what?”
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This framework works for both a resume and a CV. The difference is how much detail you keep.
What + How + Why
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
BEFORE YOU DRAFT
Which document are you building today?
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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Take 30 seconds. Check the application prompt. The right answer is usually in the instructions.
Resume
CV
Job, internship, or clinical role
Biotech or pharma company
Graduate school or PhD program, NIH, NSF, or research fellowship
Not sure? Check the application prompt!
DECISION GUIDE
Which one do you need?
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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Use the application itself as the ultimate guidance when provided in application instructions!
Job, internship, or clinical role?
Resume
Graduate school or PhD application?
CV
NIH, NSF, or research fellowship?
CV
Biotech or pharma company application?
Resume
Faculty-mentored research program?
Ask
Not sure which one they want?
Ask
Rule of thumb
Industry usually means resume. Academic, research, and fellowship settings usually mean CV.
WORK SESSION
Now build your draft or pair up with someone to offer revisions!
Research for Diverse Scientists × CSULB Biotechnology Club | Resume & CV Workshop
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The linked templates have a lot guidance to help you make the strongest version of your CV or resume
Templates for today
Resume template
CV template
Each template contains section guidance, placeholder text, and bullet-writing prompts.
Your next steps
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Choose the right document first: resume or CV
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Keep only the sections that fit your goal
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Replace every bracketed placeholder with real content
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Delete all grey guidance before submitting
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Revise every bullet until it answers: “So what?”
Goal for today
Leave with a working draft and an idea for how to move forward