Resume as source of new info or reinforcement?

[wayofjungle]

These online applications already ask all the content that would appear on an average resume:

academic history
employment history
extra curricular
awards and recognition

Obviously your most important examples should be stated in the application sections, but does that mean they don't need to be repeated on your resume? In that case, if the resume is a mirror image is that okay? or can/should it include other/additional info?

I find it slightly hard to understand why they essentially ask the same thing twice. Why would they read all the application sections and then the resume too? Thanks!

[myEssayReview]

Resume is a complete picture of your profile , your first introduction to the Ad Come, with special emphasis on your accomplishments under each job position.

All the 4 sections in the online application listed by you (academic history,employment history,extra curricular,awards and recognition)do not provide information about your professional accomplishments.'Awards ' are given in recognition of your accomplishments.Right!

I hope it helped.

[wayofjungle]

Thanks for your response. At least for the schools that use the "ApplyYourself" software (almost all the top schools) there is required space to provide your professional accomplishments:

nature of business
responsibilities
greatest challenge
greatest accomplishment
(each section in 200 characters)

Therefore my question remains; what is the purpose of the resume repeating this information? and is there a better strategy, such as using new information, further condensing an otherwise wordy resume, etc.

[westsidah408]

I saw someone post somewhere that your resume is meant to be your "greatest hits"

[myEssayReview]

In the online application, all the information about you (nature of business, responsibilities ,greatest challenge, greatest accomplishment) is scattered in different sections. Also each section , as you say, is 200 characters , which is roughly two sentences.

On the other hand, resume serves the purpose of providing a a complete and condensed picture of the candidate in one single document.Also, it provides the AD Com an opportunity to evaluate the candidates' ability to present a bulleted list of all relevant information about their career,education and extra- curricular activities concisely ,using action-oriented terminology .

[wayofjungle]

It still feels like a waste of time for the ad com to read the same thing 3 times: on the resume, on the essay, and on the application information sections. If they want to condense application size, this seems like an obvious issue to start with.

I'm starting to get the idea that is works this way; the resume is more of a formality, the online application sections make sure you provide the information they want, and the essay is your opportunity to tell the story and surrounding details.

On the original topic, there is no need to give completely new information on the resume but instead reinforce the overall package. I think I was looking for an unnecessary micro application strategy.

[machichi]

I completely agree with you wayofthejungle, but my guess is they completely skim through everything and take more time on the resume and essays. The sections that ask about accomplishments provide space for additional details. So for example, you won an award and put on your resume "Bert and Ernie Award in 2011." And in the accomplishment section you could say "I won this award for my work promoting Sesame Street with Ugandan refugee families."

[Jon@Admissionado]

Actually I think a lot of folks are passing by what is often (though not always) the biggest difference between resume and application form and that is - the size of the text available to you.

Very often application forms will be MUCH longer and offer you a LOT more space than your resume, in which you should take the opportunity to go into detail about your profile highlighting all your strongest achievements, awards, promotions etc. Every single word available for you to write, be it in resume, essays, application form, etc. is an OPPORTUNITY for you to boost your profile.