Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of student stories about using VMock, BU’s newest online tool for improving your resume. Try it today at vmock.com/bu.
By Annie Wu (CAS’20, Statistics & Psychology)
I think VMock is fast and convenient. Different from the in-person resume/cover letter review, VMock can be used anywhere at any time as long as you have a laptop connected to the internet. There is no worry for those who might be unable to book an in-person appointment. Vmock is really quick as it can scan through your resume in less than a minute and give you systematic and detailed feedback.
VMock breaks your feedback into bullet points and can give you both systematic feedback and suggestions for each bullet. From that systematic feedback, you can see your score on impact, presentation, and competencies. Therefore, you know which aspect you should improve, and you can reference the examples that VMock provides to improve your resume. Suggestions from VMock might include that you need to add a stronger verb at the beginning of your bullet or you need to specify the scope of your work.
Nevertheless, VMock can only review a resume in general but not targeting a specific position. It cannot advise on what content you should put in your resume or how to arrange them to attract potential employers. Therefore, I think the best way to optimize resume review experience is to first use VMock for basic and systematic review and then go to in-person appointment for a targeting review.
For my own experience, I only got a score of 62 when I first used VMock. I was really frustrated because I thought I was experienced in crafting a resume. I had wanted to use my resume to apply for upcoming internship opportunities, and I was afraid that my resume would hinder me from finding an internship.
Fortunately, VMock didn’t just give me that score and then leave me alone. Rather, I found lots of resources on VMock which guides me refining my resume. First, I fixed my format following VMock’s instructions. Then I reviewed the systematic feedback and realized I need to add more scope and impact to my resume using numbers. I learned examples from VMock and adopted them in my resume. After all those efforts, I made huge progress. It took me a few passes to get my resume to the “green zone;” for example, after the first edit I went back and checked my feedback again and realized I overused words a lot. Therefore, I revised my sentences and substituted some words I often used.
Finally, my resume reached the “green zone.” It was so exhilarating not only because I finally crafted a good resume, but also because I made so much progress along the way. I was so gratified that my work paid off. In the meantime, I know myself better during this process.
VMock was like a mirror that reflected the problems that I neglected in my resume; but VMock was also like a beacon that lighted up my direction for improving my resume.
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