Resume Writing Guide

Resume Writing

Guide

Chronological & Combined

© Copyright 2015. Christine Shine, M.A. All rights reserved.

[email protected] 619-379-6967

Careerfoundations.org

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RESUME WRITING

What is a Resume? A marketing tool used to sell your experiences and qualifications to potential employers. The

purpose of a resume is to get you an interview!

When will I need a resume? When you are applying for a job or internship you will most likely

need a resume.

Remember…

The employer will spend between

30 seconds to 1 minute looking at your resume so make it brief and concise! Try and

fit everything on one page.

What is the employer looking for? The employer is looking for education and experience that proves to them that you are qualified

for the job. This is why it is important to gear your entire resume towards the position you are

applying for.

How can I increase my chances of getting an interview? Get a copy of the job description, determine if your qualifications are similar to those listed on

the announcement. If they are, make sure they’re on your resume!

What are the general rules when writing a resume?

Should be one page. Experienced professionals may use 2 pages

Geared towards the position you are applying for

Statements should be brief and concise

10 – 12 point font for everything but your name. Name should be 14-16 point font.

Use a font that is easy to read like Arial or New Times Roman

Use professional resume paper (color should be white, off-white, or light gray)

Things To Avoid

Don’t use the words “I” or “We”

Don’t staple your resume

Avoid folding your resume (if possible)

Don’t use abbreviations unless absolutely necessary

Don’t include personal information like birth date,

height, or weight.

Don’t cram content

Don’t lie or stretch the truth. Companies do background checks on all the information

you list on your resume.

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RESUME FONTS

Helvetica New Times Roman

Resume Writing Resume Writing

Cover letters Cover letters

Interviewing Skills Interviewing Skills

Networking Networking

Informational Interviewing Informational Interviewing

Job Search Job Search

Arial New Century Schoolbook







Univers ITC Bookman







Optima Palatino







ITC Avante Garde Gothic Courier







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HEADING

Name o Name should be bold

o Can be all caps

o 14 – 16 point font

Address o Keep current

Phone Number o Home, Office, or Cell Phone

Email Address o Only include email address if you check it regularly

o Should be professional If your address is something like [email protected], you may want to

change it.

OBJECTIVE

Your Objective tells the employer what position you are applying for. It should be stated in a

short single sentence.

Avoid long vague statements: To obtain a position in which I can utilize my strong technical

background with a growing company offering challenge and

growth potential.

MICHAEL SMITH

400 Grape Street • San Diego, CA 92107 • (619) 555-1000 • [email protected]

MICHAEL SMITH 400 Grape Street

San Diego, CA 92107 (619) 555-1000

[email protected]

OBJECTIVE: To secure a position as a financial analyst.

OBJECTIVE To obtain a position as a marketing assistant.

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QUALIFICATIONS

Use this section to emphasize your strengths including experiences and skills. Also known as

“Career Profile”, Profile”, “Qualifications”

Examples

Multi-lingual – fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and English

Extensive knowledge of computer software applications

Excellent communication, presentation, and public speaking skills

Experience in marketing and advertising in Brazil and the United States

Exceptional analytical and problem solving skills

Ability to work well in high-pressure situations and consistently meet deadlines

Extensive experience working with people from different backgrounds and diverse cultures in the

United States and Abroad

International business and marketing teaching experience

Deeply committed, professional attitude

Willing to accept responsibilities and challenges

Capability of handling multiple tasks simultaneously

Able to interact well with the public

Diplomatic and able to work with a variety of constituents

Detail-oriented, organized, able to prioritize

Excellent public speaker with a keen ability to engage participants in discussion

High level of enthusiasm and motivation

Strong working knowledge of marketing principles and practices

Ability to handle multiple tasks in a hectic business environment

Strong cross-cultural communication skills and extensive international experience

Computer skills: Microsoft Office, Publisher, and Adobe Photoshop

Mastery of cross-cultural strategic marketing principles and practices

Fluent in English and German, proficient in Spanish and French

Experience working abroad in Germany, France, Mexico, and China

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Two years experience in marketing

Skilled in conducting market research

Proven success in increasing sales and customer base

Highly motivated and dependable in achieving goals

Extremely well organized; detail oriented

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Excellent leadership, team building, problem solving, and management skills

Ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds

Results driven professional with significant experience in sales and marketing

Mastery of business management principles and practices

Exceptional organizational and project management abilities

Outstanding interpersonal skills with a positive attitude and professional demeanor

Excellent analytical, strategic, quantitative, and problem solving skills

Skilled at working with people from diverse cultures

Excellent skills in group, couple, family, and individual counseling

Five year background teaching, supporting, and motivating adults

Exceptional ability to quickly master new software

Six years experience with personal computers of all types

EDUCATION

If you’re in college or received your degree within the last five years, education should follow

Summary of Qualifications. If you have more professional experience than education, education

will follow experience.

Education should include the following:

Name of college, location: city and state/country

Degree sought or received (Bachelor of Arts, Master of

Science)

Major, concentration, and/or minor (if they support your

objective)

Date of graduation, anticipated date, or dates attended

Special workshops, seminars, or related coursework

Honors (dean’s list), GPA if it is above 3.0.

It isn’t necessary to list your high school education.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Alliant International University, San Diego, CA

May 2001 – Present

EDUCATON: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, June 2001 Alliant International University, San Diego, CA

GPA: 3.75

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EXPERIENCE

Can be titled “Work Experience”, “Professional Experience”, “Experience”, “Relevant

Experience”, or “Employment History”.

Includes the following:

Name of company, month/year employed

Title of position

Job duties

o Should relate to the position you are currently

applying for

o Can be in bullet or paragraph format

o Be clear and concise

o Use action statements, not sentences

o Avoid using “I”, “We”, “My”

o Can include full-time, part-time, volunteer, or

internship experience

o Use the jargon of your chosen field

Work Experience:

Freelance Graphic Designer, San Diego, CA May 1998 - Present Market services to prospective clients

Develop logos, brochures, business cards, and websites

Collaborate with clients to define needs and develop graphic concepts

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Union Bank, San Diego, CA Sept. 1998 – June 2001

Service Associate

Handled cash transactions up to $2,500

Took the initiative to open accounts during peak periods for new and returning customers

Provided assistance as needed to customers and employees experiencing language barriers

Met/exceeded quarterly sales referral records

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ACTION VERBS

Accelerated Communicated Eliminated Influenced Persuaded Streamlined

Accomplished Compared Empathized Inspected Planned Strengthened

Achieved Compiled Endorsed Installed Prepared Submitted

Acquired Completed Enforced Instituted Presented Substantiated

Acted Complied Enlarged Instructed Presided Suggested

Adapted Conceived Enlisted Interpreted Processed Summarized

Adopted Concluded Established Interviewed Produced Supervised

Addressed Conducted Evaluated Introduced Programmed Supported

Adjusted Consulted Examined Invented Projected Targeted

Administered Contracted Exhibited Investigated Promoted Taught

Advised Contributed Expanded Involved Proposed Tested

Advocated Controlled Expedited Irrigated Proved Trained

Aided Coordinated Experienced Joined Published Translated

Allocated Copied Experimented Judged Purchased Tutored

Analyzed Corrected Extracted Kept Pursued Updated

Applied Corresponded Facilitated Launched Qualified Utilized

Appraised Counseled Filed Learned Recommended Wrote

Arranged Created Financed Lectured Reconciled

Ascertained Credited Fixed Led Recorded

Assembled Decided Focused Lifted Recruited

Assigned Defined Followed Listened Reduced

Assisted Delegated Forecast Made Regulated

Assumed Delivered Formulated Maintained Reinforced

Attained Demonstrated Founded Managed Related

Audited Described Gathered Manipulated Reorganized

Awarded Designed Generated Mapped Replaced

Balanced Detected Governed Mediated Reported

Bought Determined Guided Mentored Represented

Briefed Developed Handled Met Researched

Brought Devised Headed Modeled Resolved

Budgeted Diagnosed Helped Monitored Revamped

Built Directed Hosted Motivated Reviewed

Canceled Discharged Identified Negotiated Saved

Catalogued Discussed Illustrated Observed Scheduled

Caused Distributed Imagined Offered Screened

Chaired Documented Implemented Operated Selected

Changed Drafted Improved Ordered Served

Checked Dramatized Improvised Organized Shipped

Classified Drove Incorporated Oversaw Sold

Coached Earned Increased Participated Solved

Collected Edited Indexed Perceived Specialized

Combined Educated Informed Perfected Specified

Commended Effected Initiated Performed Studied

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OPTIONAL INFORMATION

These sections are optional and include any additional skills, experience, awards, or professional

memberships that were not included in any other section.

HONORS/AWARDS: Academic scholarships, grants, and Dean’s list (may also

be included under Education).

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Foreign languages (conversant, proficient,

fluent).

COMPUTER SKILLS: Computer languages, software, hardware,

operating systems if appropriate.

MEMBERSHIP/ Professional and community affiliations,

AFFILIATIONS: Clubs/organizations, and student groups.

Include name of organization, dates of

membership, and offices held, if any.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE Any relevant experience not included in

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE other sections. May include clubs or offices

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: held.

Honors: Graduated with honors – magna cum laude, 1999 President’s Honor for Academic Excellence, 1998 Alliant International University Leadership Award, 1999

LANGUAGES Fluent in Spanish and Japanese

Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word, Access, Publisher, Excel, and PowerPoint

MEMBERSHIP:

Sigma Iota Epsilon – Honorary and Professional Management Fraternity, 1999 – Present

International Entrepreneurs Club at Alliant International University, 2000 – Present

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

2000 – Present AIU Student Ambassador

1999 – Present Editor, AIU Yearbook

1998 – 1999 Secretary, Student Council

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QUICK RESUME GUIDE

FULL NAME

Address • City, State zip • Phone # • email

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a position as a ______________.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:

Use this section to emphasize your strengths

Gear your summary towards what the employer is looking for

Can be paragraph or bullet format

EDUCATION: Name of college, location, degree received, major, date of graduation

Minor or concentration if any

GPA is optional – list if it is above 3.0, include academic honors or dean’s list

Optional: Relevant coursework, study abroad experiences

EXPERIENCE:

Job Title Month/Yr – Month/Yr Name of Company, City and State

List job duties (must be relevant to the position you’re applying to)

Begin sentences with action verbs

Can be in bullet or paragraph format

Should support the objective

Can include full-time, part-time, volunteer, or internship experience

Use the minimum number of words – short statements

Use the jargon of your chosen field

Try to list accomplishments rather than just describing duties

HONARS/AWARDS: Optional – can include academic scholarships, grants, and awards

LANGUAGE SKILLS: State degree of mastery (conversant, proficient, fluent). Don’t add this section if the information

is already included in your summary of qualifications.

COMPUTER SKILLS: List familiarity with computer software, hardware, and operating systems. Don’t add this section

if the information is already included in your summary of qualifications

MEMBERSHIP: Professional and community affiliations, Clubs/organizations, and student groups. Include name

of organization, dates of membership, and offices held

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: OPTIONAL: Activities, offices held, on-campus leadership, or travel experiences.