1. Spend an hour; write a resume!
STEPS TO A PROFESSIONAL
RESUME FOR STUDENTS AT HIRAM
COLLEGE
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A
RESUME?

2. Remember the purpose of a resume!
To obtain an INTERVIEW
by showing you are qualified for the job!
A resume is NOT an autobiography.

3. Step One
Find a “sample” internship or job
that really interests you. Choose one
for a new college grad/intern with
qualifications similar to yours.
 Ignore practical issues like location.
This is only a sample!

4. Step Two
Three types of resumes:
 Chronological – focuses on experience
 Functional
-- lists transferable skills
 Combination -- a little bit of both!
College students often use a
chronological resume.
Teacher candidates usually use a
chronological format.

5. Step Three
 Focus on the requirements for that
internship or job.
 What are your greatest strengths or
qualifications for it? Think about how
you can make those qualifications
stand out.

6. Step Four
 Choose Sections to emphasize your
qualifications such as
 Education; Study Abroad, Languages
 Experience, Writing Experience, Field

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
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Experience
Clinical Background; Research; Teaching
Laboratory Skills
Professional Development; Technology
Awards and Honors
Community Involvement; Campus Involvement

7. Step Five
 Under each Section, describe your
experience. Write consistent
Headings that are easy to read with
important information first.
Example:
Job Title, Employer, Location, Dates

8. Step Six
Use these professional resume-writing
guidelines for each Entry :
 Focus on what YOU did, not on your





responsibilities
Use active past tense verbs on every phrase
Fragments only; no full sentences or “I”
Be consistent in your format
Add transferable skills
Proofread: no errors!

9. Entry example:
Intern, Leukemia Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 2011
 Wrote marketing materials for newspapers
 Called local businesses to recruit volunteers
 Scheduled volunteers for walking times and food
stations
 Developed, conducted, and compiled evaluations

10. Step Seven
 Design your page to make it easy to read and
interesting.
BOLD, italics, underlining but not all at once
 Lines for emphasis
 Thoughtful heading placement
 Don’t overdo it!

11. Final details….
Edit, edit, edit -- no mistakes.
Keep your resume to one page unless you have a great
deal of relevant experience.
Don’t include your references; create a Reference Page
to provide only when requested.
Print copies on resume paper –available in bookstoresfor recruiters at a career fair or while networking.
Save as document “lastname, firstname.doc”

12. Always add a cover email/letter
Three paragraphs that show your writing skill:
 What are you applying for and why does it
interest you?
 Why are YOU qualified?
 Thank you and follow up
(See sample in your materials)

13. Try it on your own.
Think of a summer job, internship, volunteer
experience or campus activity you have done.
Write a heading to describe it:
Job title, employer, location, date
Then write two to three phrases to explain what
you did.
You’re on your way to a great resume!