2. What is the best formatWhat is the best format
or style?or style?
Your resume should emphasize yourYour resume should emphasize your
strong points while expressing yourstrong points while expressing your
uniqueness and individuality.uniqueness and individuality.
ChronologicalChronological
–– Present education and work experience in reversePresent education and work experience in reverse
chronological orderchronological order
FunctionalFunctional
–– Your experience is explained under major skillYour experience is explained under major skill
headings, while job titles, employers, and datesheadings, while job titles, employers, and dates
are listed separately.are listed separately.
3. Gather the informationGather the information
Make a list of all categories that youMake a list of all categories that you
wish to include on your resumewish to include on your resume
Put each activity, educational exp,Put each activity, educational exp,
work exp, etc under a categorywork exp, etc under a category
Organize the order in which you wantOrganize the order in which you want
each to appear.each to appear.
4. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
ObjectiveObjective
One or two concise, easyOne or two concise, easy--toto--read statementsread statements
focusing on the type of position you arefocusing on the type of position you are seeking,theseeking,the
skills you want to utilize, and/or the tasks in whichskills you want to utilize, and/or the tasks in which
you want to become involved.you want to become involved.
AvoidAvoid clichescliches or jargon, such as,or jargon, such as, ““To contribute toTo contribute to
the profitability of an employerthe profitability of an employer”” oror ““A challengingA challenging
position offering opportunity for growth andposition offering opportunity for growth and
advancement.advancement.””
If you include an objective, make sure it is anIf you include an objective, make sure it is an
effective statement. If you choose not to include aneffective statement. If you choose not to include an
objective, make sure that your cover letter isobjective, make sure that your cover letter is
compelling.compelling.
5. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
EducationEducation
List degrees in reverse chronological orderList degrees in reverse chronological order——
most recent first. Keep the information easymost recent first. Keep the information easy
to scan.to scan.
You may want to include details relevant toYou may want to include details relevant to
the job you are seeking, such as courses,the job you are seeking, such as courses,
special projects, a minor or area ofspecial projects, a minor or area of
emphasis, etc.emphasis, etc.
You can list Education Abroad experiencesYou can list Education Abroad experiences
here as well.here as well.
Most employers expect to see your G.P.A.Most employers expect to see your G.P.A.
(either overall, major or both).(either overall, major or both).
6. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
ExperienceExperience
Reverse chronological order is what readers expect, but if you hReverse chronological order is what readers expect, but if you have aave a
mixture of experiences, you can break this into two major categomixture of experiences, you can break this into two major categories,ries,
such as RELATED EXPERIENCE and OTHER EXPERIENCE. This allowssuch as RELATED EXPERIENCE and OTHER EXPERIENCE. This allows
you to put the most relevant items together and move older,you to put the most relevant items together and move older,
relevant items to the beginning.relevant items to the beginning.
Give details of your accomplishments and responsibilities ratherGive details of your accomplishments and responsibilities rather thanthan
a general list of duties. Numbers make strong statements and cana general list of duties. Numbers make strong statements and can
enhance credibility; these numbers can show volume, percentages,enhance credibility; these numbers can show volume, percentages,
dollar amounts.dollar amounts.
Include information and skills that relate to the position you aInclude information and skills that relate to the position you arere
seeking.seeking.
Consolidate information when possible; avoid repetition andConsolidate information when possible; avoid repetition and
excessive details in describing experiences.excessive details in describing experiences.
Make the formatMake the format scannablescannable and put relevant action verbs first. Useand put relevant action verbs first. Use
bulleted statements, not paragraphs.bulleted statements, not paragraphs.
Do not be discouraged if you have never had employment in yourDo not be discouraged if you have never had employment in your
field. Instead, focus on your strengths, skills, and accomplishmfield. Instead, focus on your strengths, skills, and accomplishments.ents.
7. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
ActivitiesActivities
List the most relevant activities and offices heldList the most relevant activities and offices held
first. Include college, community, professional, andfirst. Include college, community, professional, and
occasionally, outstanding high school activities.occasionally, outstanding high school activities.
You can add brief explanatory details of theYou can add brief explanatory details of the
position and your accomplishments.position and your accomplishments.
Include hobbies and interests only if they areInclude hobbies and interests only if they are
relevant to the job objective or if they revealrelevant to the job objective or if they reveal
characteristics important to the job.characteristics important to the job.
This section can add individuality and flavor to yourThis section can add individuality and flavor to your
resume, so you may want to include unusual orresume, so you may want to include unusual or
interesting items.interesting items.
8. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
Honors/AwardsHonors/Awards
Optional; include only if you haveOptional; include only if you have
several honors. If you have only oneseveral honors. If you have only one
or two honors, you can include themor two honors, you can include them
in a combined ACTIVITIES/HONORSin a combined ACTIVITIES/HONORS
section.section.
9. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
SkillsSkills
You may want to consider a specialYou may want to consider a special
skills section to highlight skills youskills section to highlight skills you
have on specific computer hardware orhave on specific computer hardware or
software, foreign languages, orsoftware, foreign languages, or
machinery required for performancemachinery required for performance
on the job. You could also groupon the job. You could also group
CERTIFICATIONS in this category.CERTIFICATIONS in this category.
10. Resume SuggestionsResume Suggestions
ReferencesReferences
Most organizations will not expect references onMost organizations will not expect references on
your resume. But, you may want to prepare a list ofyour resume. But, you may want to prepare a list of
references on a separate page formatted to matchreferences on a separate page formatted to match
your resume for use when employers requestyour resume for use when employers request
references.references.
Usually, three to five references are appropriate.Usually, three to five references are appropriate.
Consider individuals familiar with your academicConsider individuals familiar with your academic
achievements, leadership and teamwork skills,achievements, leadership and teamwork skills,
and/or your work habits.and/or your work habits.
Include the referenceInclude the reference’’s name, title, organization,s name, title, organization,
mailing address, phone number, and emailing address, phone number, and e--mailmail
You should always seek prior approval fromYou should always seek prior approval from
individuals you plan to list as references.individuals you plan to list as references.
11. AppearanceAppearance
LengthLength
–– One to two pages is usually typical for aOne to two pages is usually typical for a
new grad.new grad.
–– May also vary by career fieldMay also vary by career field
Type of paperType of paper
–– Use Resume PaperUse Resume Paper
–– White or offWhite or off--whitewhite
ProofreadProofread
12. Using Keywords in yourUsing Keywords in your
ResumeResume
Keywords are nouns and phrases that highlight technical and
professional areas of expertise, industry-related jargon,
projects, achievements, special task forces and other
distinctive features about a prospect’s work history.
Analyzed Applied Arranged Assisted Conducted
Controlled Coordinated Created Earned Edited
Eliminated Enabled Fostered Generated Guided
Harnessed Managed Mastered Mediated Monitored
Prepared Presented Produced Programmed
Scheduled Screened Selected Served Surveyed
Targeted Taught Teamed with
13. What next?What next?
ExamplesExamples
PracticePractice
–– LetLet’’s begin to gather the informations begin to gather the information
Make an appointment with CareerMake an appointment with Career
Services to go over your resume.Services to go over your resume.
14. HandoutsHandouts
How to avoid resume bloopersHow to avoid resume bloopers
How much belongs on your resume?How much belongs on your resume?
Resume WritingResume Writing
The four year planThe four year plan
Resume ContentResume Content
