1. Writing a Results Oriented
and Relevant Resume for
College Students
Ronald G Shapiro, PhD
DrRonShapiro1981@SigmaXi.Net
Based Upon A Program Offered at the Annual Meeting of the
The Eastern Psychological Association
New York, NY
March 4, 2016

2. Abstract
There is an art to making your resume ROAR
(Results Oriented And Relevant) so that you will
be offered interviews for the best jobs available for
people with your expertise and interests.
Dr. Ron Shapiro, who spent most of his career in
industry, will present guidelines for developing a
great resume.
Thank you to Cynthia Roebuck of Penn State University, Anastasiya Tsoy of
Columbia University, Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Hettich of DePaul University and
Consultant Dr. Margarita Cossuto for helpful comments.

3. Presented as multiple choice and true-false questions

4. Multiple Choice Questions
• What is a quality resume?
A. A complete career history
B. A sales pitch
C. A description of professional responsibilities
D. All of the above

5. Multiple Choice Questions
• What is a quality resume?
A. A complete career history
B. A sales pitch
C. A description of professional responsibilities
D. All of the above
• A quality resume is a sales pitch which
presents a job candidates major
accomplishments and shows why they are
relevant to the potential employer.

6. Multiple Choice Questions
• Which of the following belong on a USA resume?
A. The statement References furnished upon request
B. A list of job responsibilities
C. A high quality head and shoulders photograph
D. None of the above

7. Multiple Choice Questions
• Which of the following belong on a USA resume?
A. The statement References furnished upon request
B. A list of job responsibilities
C. A high quality head and shoulders photograph
D. None of the above
• Option:
A. 1950’s, unnecessary and insulting
B. Rarely adds useful information
C. May result in your resume being discarded
D. Is the correct choice

8. Multiple Choice Questions
• The ideal length of a resume is:
A. One page or less
B. One to two pages
C. More than two pages
D. As long as it needs to be

9. Multiple Choice Questions
• The ideal length of a resume is:
A. One page or less
B. One to two pages
C. More than two pages
D. As long as it needs to be
• Experts will give varying opinions. We recommend
that a resume be as long as it needs to be as long as
each phrase increases the reader’s interest in
continuing to read and meet the job candidate.

10. Multiple Choice Questions
• You should include significant high school
accomplishments on your resume:
A. If they are part of a story you are developing
B. If you received an award for them
C. Always
D. Never

11. Multiple Choice Questions
• You should include high school accomplishments on
your resume:
A. If they are part of a story you are developing
B. If you received an award for them
C. Always
D. Never
• Include high school activities (and even prior) if they
are really relevant to the position you are applying
for (e.g., if you worked as a camp counsellor and are
applying for a job as a camp director).

12. Multiple Choice Questions
• Amongst all of the resumes Ron has reviewed,
__ percent needed no improvement.
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%

13. Multiple Choice Questions
• Amongst all of the resumes Ron has received to
review, __ percent needed no improvement.
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
• I have never seen a resume that could not be
improved. Obviously, some need more
improvement than others.

14. Game Time
Ready

16. Game Time
Draw exactly what
you saw on the
previous slide

17. • Did you draw the
banner at the top of the
page?
• Did you draw the dot in
the lower right corner?
• Did you get the number
of X’s correct?
• Did you put the X’s in
the correct place?
Game Time

18. Game Time
• As you prepare your resume remember people
may:
▫ Remember a schema that stands out (defective
“E”) rather than individual details (the number of
X’s).
▫ Not notice details unless you emphasize them
and/or they are looking for them (e.g., the dot).
▫ Not pay much attention to content which is
constantly repeated (e.g., the banner).

19. True – False Questions
• If you list an organization you belong to on your
resume, you should show an accomplishment or
two associated with it.
A. True
B. False

20. True – False Questions
• If you list an organization you belong to on your
resume, you should show an accomplishment or
two associated with it.
A. True
B. False
• A laundry list of clubs provides little useful
information. A list of accomplishments provides
a great deal.

21. True – False Questions
• You should list professors names on your
resume – as in Worked in Professor John
Smith’s Lab.
A. True
B. False
C. It depends

22. True – False Questions
• You should list professors names on your
resume – as in Worked in Professor John
Smith’s Lab.
A. True
B. False
C. It depends
• Only list the professor’s name if the reader is
likely to know Professor Smith personally or
because of Professor Smith’s reputation.

23. True – False Questions
• Center your name, address, email, and telephone
number in a single column at the top of your
resume.
A. True
B. False

24. True – False Questions
• Center your name, address, email, and telephone
number in a single column at the top of your
resume.
A. True
B. False
• The single column was popular decades ago.
More recently, the style has been to have
multiple columns to save space.

25. True – False Questions
• Creative resume design enhances your chances
of getting your resume noticed when submitted
to a resume database.
A. True
B. False

26. True – False Questions
• Creative resume design enhances your chances of
getting your resume noticed when submitted to a
resume database.
A. True
B. False
• Major corporations frequently use electronic
scanners to read resumes. The resume system may
become confused and your resume may be ignored.
(If handing a resume to a design firm, the answer
may be different).

27. True – False Questions
• The primary purpose of a resume is to help
convince a company to grant you an interview.
A. True
B. False

28. True – False Questions
• The primary purpose of a resume is to help
convince a company to grant you an interview.
A. True
B. False
• The primary purpose of the resume is to help
you secure an interview. The resume may also
be used, secondarily, during the employee
selection process.

29. Extra Credit Question
• The problems associated with hiring an
inexpensive resume writing service:
A. The writers may not be very good
B. The service may present content following a
rigid template making all candidates “average”
or “C” and the A’s get the job
C. If the writers are good and the resume produced
is great, the style may not match with “you” at an
interview or on the job
D. All of the above

30. Extra Credit Question
• The problems associated with hiring an inexpensive
resume writing service:
A. The writers may not be very good
B. The service may present content following a rigid
template making all candidates “average” or “C” and
the A’s get the job
C. If the writers are good and the resume they produce
is great, the style may not match with “you” at an
interview or on the job
D. All of the above
• Do not hire a resume writing service!!! Your resume
should be a sample of your work!!!

31. How did you score on the quiz?
• Allow 10 points for each correct answer
• Maximum score: 110 points
• How many people scored:
▫ A: 90% and above?
▫ B: 80% and above?

32. Resume Basics Summary
• A resume is a sales pitch.
• Never include photo, job responsibilities, or
References furnished upon request on resume.
• A resume should be as long as it needs to be.
• Include all relevant accomplishments on resume.
• Keep working on and perfecting your resume.
• Emphasize what is really important on your resume.
• All resume entries should include accomplishments.
• Only include people’s names on resume if reader
will recognize them.
• Use a simple, but modern resume style.
• Do your own resume to help you secure an interview
and not eliminate you at the interview time.

34. Results Oriented Statements
• For each and every job, club or activity listed on
your resume develop two to six statements which
demonstrate how you excelled in the position.
• Examples for a cashier:
▫ Won employee of the quarter recognition from
management and peers at least once per year.
▫ Recognized as most productive cashier based upon
number of customers served per day.
▫ Always recommended purchases to customers to
increase customer satisfaction and store revenue
▫ Sought out by repeat customers.

35. Exercise
• Select one position (paid or activity) in which you
excelled.
• Write:
▫ The company name and job title.
▫ Two Results Oriented statements for the position.
• Review your statements with a neighbor. Are they
Results Oriented?
• Review your statements with a colleague or friend.

36. Relevant Statement
• Imagine that you have completed Results Oriented
Statements for each position on your resume.
• Now imagine a company and position you want to
work for.
• Write a few sentences that begin something like:
▫ Enthusiastic college graduate with extensive sales
experience eager to become a regional sales
representative for ABC corporation. My background
of sales experiences, which led to our college
psychology club doubling membership and raising
more money than any other school club, will be an
asset to me as I exceed ABC’s sales quota.
• Place this statement under your name and contact
information at the top of your resume.

37. Exercise
• Write a relevant statement for yourself.
• Review your statement with a colleague or
friend. Does it tie in the imaginary job with the
Results Oriented statements you wrote
previously (and others you will write later)?

39. Be Sure to Write a ROARing Resume
• It is a great deal of work to do, but worth it!!!
• This chapter of your resume development ends
once you accept a job offer, not before. Resumes
can always be improved.
• You immediately begin the next chapter of
resume development, preparing for promotion
or your next job. Always keep notes of your
major accomplishments after completing major
projects.