Résumé Writing

RÉSUMÉ WRIT

ING

B Y AL E X D

O Y E

Résumé Workshop

HEY COLLEGE STUDENTS…

Looking For a Job?!

This Presentation Will Help You

• Market yourself effectively• Stand out form other applicants• Secure your interview

And most importantly…

• Get that job!

ObjectivesFormat your pageChoose a style that works for youOrganize accordinglyChoose the right words

What You Already KnowRésumés can come a dime a dozen but having a résumé

that really stands out is valuable asset in your job hunt

Many college students already have a résumé or at least have a good idea of one but in order to make yours stand out and land the position you’ve been hoping for, you have to make it stand above the rest.

Choosing a StyleThere are typically 3 types of résumé Chronological

Jobs and positions are listed in chronological orderUsed often by those who have been in the same field a long time because they

show promotions and roles with added responsibility Functional

Focuses more on skills and knowledge, grouping experiences togetherUsed often by those who have less experience or have taken jobs in a variety of

fields Combined

Brings aspects of both Chronological and Functional stylesVery often used

Formatting Your Resume Font

Font should be easy to readFont should be about 12pt, headers can be about 14 to 16Font should be in black font

Layout StyleRegardless of your chosen style of résumé, it will need to be broken down

into sectionsA section at the top should include contact informationEffective use of text that is bolded, underlined, or italicized is encouraged

when highlighting main points.Résumé should be devoid of pictures, colored lettering, fancy borders or

other additions that will distract from the actual content.

Sections & Content Contact Information Section

A contact information section is essential and should contain:Name, Number, Email, Mail address (home and college if applicable)

Objective SectionA section for your objective is optional

If you choose to have an objective section it should be no more than a sentence or two that relates directly to the job you are applying for

Education Educational information should be basic and include:

College/University name and location (city, state), Major/Minor/Program of study, (expected) graduation date

Adding a GPA is optional. A good rule of thumb is if it is above a 3.25, include it

Sections & Content Continued Experience

The experience section can be broken down many ways depending on the applicant and the job they are seeking

Experience section may be titled: Work History, Relevant experience, or other titles.

For each role/experience give details about the organization, its location, how long you worked there, and your responsibilities.

Other SectionsOther sections may be more relevant to certain applicants or positions. They

include:Research Experience, Leadership Experience, Volunteer/Service Work,

Extracurricular Involvement, Relevant Coursework, Publications, Awards and Achievements, Skills, etc.

Sections & Content ContinuedReferences

Typically 3 references should sufficeReferences should not be family membersGive their name, title/position, and their contact

information (email and phone)An alternative to providing references on the résumé is

to note at the bottom “references available upon request”

Wording of SectionsTo make your content stand out keep these tips in

mind:Use the Active voiceUse Action wordsUse evidence and numbers when relevant (oversaw

3,000 dollars, lead a team of 20 people)

PITFALLS• Too much detail• try to limit input to only one page, especially if you are

a college student• Information is unclear• Keep name center and large

• Contact information is wrong• Double and Triple check your email, phone number, and

address.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURNThis information is only useful if you apply it• Get a piece of high quality, white paper• Break out the Time New Roman Font• Get started!

EXAMPLE RESUME

Name is central, large, bolded.

Action verbs used

Dates and locations present

High GPA is included

Headers are bolded

Separation betweensections

Reverse chronological order

Good

Poin

ts

Only college address listed

No mention of references

Try to limit white space

Bad

Poi

nts

CONTACT INFORMATION

For More Help Send Questions to..

Resume Workshop Alex DoyeDoyeap@dukes.jmu.edu

We would love to give you feedback!

EXTRAS

For more…

Check out this HowCast Video

REFERENCESThanks to

Jobsearch.about.com

Ball State University Career Center

James Madison University Career Center