7 Career Services Guide How to Write Resumes

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Copyright 2010 by The Trustees of Princeton University

No part of this handout may be reproduced without written permission.

Career Planning Guide 2010The O ce of Career Services at Princeton University publishes the Career Planning Guid

as a resource for our students to assist them in developing their career plans and the ski

and relationships necessary to pursue their post-graduation goals. It is best used as a

complement to the full array of services, programs, and resourc ered b ce

36 University Place, Suite 200

Princeton, NJ 08544

Please visit our website at www.princeton.edu/career for the complete publication

The following pages are excerpts from Career Services

How to Write Resumes


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SIX STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE RESUMESelf-EvaluationIf you have never written a resume, start with simple

brainstorming to identify some of the skills and abilities you

may have to offer a potential employer.

Think about your experiences (past and present)including education, coursework, jobs, internships,activities, honors, publications, language skills, studyabroad experiences, and community service projects.

Create a rough outline that covers the past three to veyears.

Industry ResearchNext, research your eld of interest using the resources andlinks available on the Career Services website to becomemore familiar with the skills and abilities employers arelooking for in potential candidates.

Review several job descriptions, on various job postingsites, to help uncover specic needs and key words inthe industry. In general, all employers will be interestedin communication and leadership skills.

Key words are nouns and phrases, industry buzzwords, or acronyms used within a particular eld. Theseare found in the job description or the list of employerrequirements. If your resume includes some industrykey words, it is more likely to be selected. However,only list terms you are familiar with and can answerquestions about during an interview.

Compare your qualications to the requirements ofemployers and decide what to highlight on your resume.

Write Your First DraftFollow the general guidelines on the next page and the tips

below to create each section of your resume. There are alsosample resumes included later in this section that offer avariety of formats and styles.

Be concise! Express your qualications andaccomplishments using as few words as possible.For students and recent graduates with limited workexperience, a one-page resume is recommended. If youhave extensive experience, or are applying for graduate/

professional school or academic fellowships, you maycreate a two-page resume or CV.

ow to Write Resumes

Resume writing is different from other styles of writing.Do not use rst-person pronouns (I, me, my) or articles(a, an, the).

Do not include your age, gender, religion, politicalafliation, ethnicity, marital status, social securitynumber, references, or salary expectations/history.

Create Multiple Versions (optional)You may need to have multiple versions of your resume fordifferent industries or types of positions you are interestedin. Using industry research as your guide, you can developtailored resumes that emphasize relevant skills pertainingto any number of elds. You will also need to create aformatted and non-formatted version of your resume forvarious modes of distribution (see the information below).

Edit, Proofread, and CritiqueThis is the most critical step of all and will involve enlistingthe assistance of others.

Make sure that you have organized your resume so thatthe most relevant information appears closer to the topof the page.

Read each section over carefully and be sure thatyou have effectively conveyed the skills, abilities, oraccomplishments you are trying to emphasize.

Proofread for spelling, capitalization, or punctuationerrors.

Have your resume critiqued by a career counselor and, if

possible, others within the eld.

Save in Multiple FormatsYou will need formatted and non-formatted versions of yourresume for various modes of distribution.

Convert your Word document version into a PDFto retain the original formatting when sending as anattachment. Save asyourname.pdf.

Use Notepad to convert your Word document version toa text-only/non-formatted version suitable for copyingand pasting into online applications and into the bodyof an e-mail message (some companies do not acceptattachments). Save asyourname.txt.

HOW TO WRITE RESUMESTHAT GET NOTICED

A resume is a succinct outline of your education, experience, activities, accomplishments, and skills asthey pertain to your employment goals. Employers may spend only 30 seconds scanning a resume to

determine whether your background matches their requirements. So, you need to think of your resumeas a marketing tool that demonstrates that your product (you) meets the needs of your potentialcustomer (the employer).

Effective resumes get noticed because they: Emphasize relevant accomplishments and potential contributions Focus on the skills necessary in a particular field or the requirements of a specific position Are concise, well-organized, and easy to read


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SECTIONS OF THE RESUME

FULL NAME (in size 14 font and boldfaced)E-mail address (use professional language)

CURRENT ADDRESS PERMANENT ADDRESS

Campus Box Number or Street Street Address

City, State, Zip Code City, State, Zip Code

Phone number Phone number

CONTACT INFORMATION

EDUCATION

Name of Institution, City and State, Country Date of Graduation

Degree, Major, Month, and Year of Graduation

Indicate your major or concentration, if appropriate.

Indicate your overall and /or major GPA if it is 3.0 or higher. (Freshmen do not need to include a GPA.)

If you attended other institutions, list in reverse chronological order and use either dates of attendance or graduation

date, if appropriate. (Freshman may include high school information in this section.)

List academic honors and awards in order of importance. (This can be a sub-heading of Education or another

separate section.)

List relevant coursework (six to ten courses without course numbers). (This can be a sub-heading of Education or

another separate section.)

Include a brief description of your junior paper or senior thesis.

How to Write Resu

OBJECTIVE OPTIONAL

Including an objective on top of your resume is optional. However, a well-written, concise statement (one sentence

in length) describing your employment goal and some of your unique selling points can provide some context for

your reader as they review the rest of your resume. If you are planning to target more than one eld, you should

prepare multiple versions of your resume and develop a specic objective for each. For example,

A_________position within the ___________eld using _____________ and __________ skills.

Follow the general guidelines found on the next two pages when developing the content in each section of yoresume.

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is used in academia and in certain

scientific fields. A CV is really just an expanded resume (morethan one page in length) that includes additional sections such

as Publications, Conferences, Presentations, Research Experience,Teaching Experience, and Professional Organizations. Check CareerServices Library resources such as The Curriculum Vitae Handbook

by Anthony and Roe for samples. You can also visitThe Chronicleof Higher Educations CV Doctor at http://chronicle.com.

DidyouKnow?
http://chronicle.com/http://chronicle.com/


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Tip

SKILLS

Computer, Management, Language, or Laboratory Skills

Include key words based on your research of the field or industry.

Use subheadings when listing more than one skill set.

EXPERIENCE

This section can be labeled in a variety of ways to highlight pertinent experience and can include paid or unpaid

internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and/or work-study positions.

Use section titles like RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, RELATED EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, or titles that

pertain to your career goal like JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, and TEACHING EXPERIENCE.List internships, part-time, full-time, summer, and volunteer experience directly related to your career goal.

Use the title EMPLOYMENT, OTHER EXPERIENCE, or ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE for all other part-time, full-time, and

summer jobs that may not directly relate to your career goal.

For each work experience or major extracurricular activity, think about major responsibilities, projects worked on,new skills learned, and goals achieved. Focus on writing about your achievements or the skills used, rather thanroutine duties or merely listing job responsibilities (avoid using Responsibilities included or Duties included).

If possible, quantify the accomplishment in some way.

For all positions you are listing, use the following general format and list positions in reverse chronological order:

Name of Organization Month, YearMonth, YearCity, State

Your Job Title

Be sure to begin each bullet statement with an action verb.

Your first bullet statement should provide a general overview of your job function.

Describe a specific function focusing on transferable skills and key words from the industry (one-to-three bullets).

Include accomplishment statements (using the APR formula on the next page) focusing on contributions and results

(one to three bullets).

ACTIVITIES

Membership and Leadership within Organizations

Begin with your title (Member, Treasurer, Special Events Committee Chair, etc.) and then state the name of the

organization and the dates of participation.

If leadership positions were held, title this section Campus Leadership or Leadership and Activities and follow

with a brief description as you did for your experience section.

ow to Write Resumes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This section can be included for special accomplishments (e.g., completed New York Marathon), distinctions (e.g.,

filed patent for invention), or unique experiences (e.g., traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa).

Do not include references on your resume, or the phraseReferences Upon Request. See the section on Choosing

References.



Coordinated

How to Write Resum

ACTION VERBS

Adapted Delegated Fostered Observed Screened

Administered Delivered Founded Operated Selected

Advised Demonstrated Generated Organized Served

Analyzed Designed Guided Participated Set upApplied Determined Harnessed Performed Sold

Arranged Developed Illustrated Persuaded Solved

Assisted Directed Implemented Planned Streamlined

Balanced Earned Improved Prepared Structured

Billed Edited Innovated Presented Supervised

Briefed Eliminated Instructed Produced Supported

Carried out Enabled Introduced Programmed Surpassed

Communicated Enforced Invented Provided Surveyed

Compiled Enhanced Launched Published Targeted

Completed Established Led Received Taught

Computed Evaluated Maintained Recommended Teamed with

Conducted Expanded Managed Reduced Tested

Controlled Expedited Mastered Reorganized Trained

Coordinated Facilitated Mediated Reviewed Tripled

Created Filed Monitored Revised Utilized

Dened Formed Negotiated Scheduled Wrote

WRITING ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

Coordinated three fundraising events for local shelters, which raised over $8,000 (20%over goal) and greatly improved community awareness.

Use Accomplishment Statements to describe your achievements in the experience section. The APR (Action +Problem/Project + Result) formula makes it easy to highlight your accomplishments. Begin by thinking of a projectyou completed or a problem you solved at a job or through volunteer efforts. Choose an Action verbthat describesthe actions you took to complete a Projector solve a Problemand theResultsyou achieved. Quantify your resultswhenever possible. Heres an example:

ction verb

+

=

roject

esult

three fundraising events for local shelters

which raised over $8,000 (20% over goal) and greatly improved community awareness.

+


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q Sample Freshman Resume

ow to Write Resumes

Thomas FreshmanSchool Address: [email protected] Permanent Address:5555 Frist Campus Center 609-555-1234 1 Main Road

Princeton, NJ 08544 Central, NJ 08888

EDUCATIONPrinceton University, Princeton, NJ June 2014Intended Major: PoliticsIntended Certificate: French Language and CultureCoursework includes: Campaigns and Elections; American Politics; Religion, Law, and Society;Multivariable Calculus; Microeconomics; The Civil Rights Movement; French

Central High School, Central, NJ June 2009Salutatorian

Captain of cross-country and track teams with 10 varsity letters and all-state honors; peer leader;secretary of debate team; student government committee chairperson

EXPERIENCENew Jersey 5k Run, Central Jersey Educational Foundation, Central, NJ 2008Present

Assistant Race DirectorPlan events that draw 1,000+ participants and raises $30,000 annually for local nonprofit educationalfoundation. Direct entire registration process prior to and on day of event, including creatingcomputer database and coordinating the efforts of 30 volunteers. Update and maintain website(www.jersey5K.com).

Bill Richardson for President, Primary Election Campaign,Manchester, NH Jan. 2009

VolunteerStaffed five campaign events and performed Get-Out-The-Vote activities including phone banking,canvassing, and writing letters.

Global Care Unlimited Club, Central High School, Central, NJ 20072010Co-Founder/PresidentCo-founded club to raise awareness of humanitarian crises. Led weekly club meetings and increasedmembership from 10 to 25 dedicated members. Organized conference that brought in expertspeakers to educate school on conflict in Darfur. Managed fundraising campaign that raised over$3,500 from student community to support medical care for Sudanese refugees.

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

The Daily Princetonian, Copy Editor, Fall, 2010Present

Department of Public Safety, Student Worker, Fall, 2011PresentPrinceton Running Club,Member. Spring, 2011PresentPrinceton Preview Program, Residential College Recruitment Captain, Spring, 2011

SKILLSStrong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.Familiar with Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and IllustratorBasic proficiency in French



q Sample Sophomore Resume

How to Write Resu

Emily Ima Dancer

EDUCATION Princeton University, Princeton, NJ June 2013A.B. in Art and Archaeology, Certificate in Dance GPA: 3.33Coursework includes: Modern Repertory and Choreography; Topics in Dance History, Criticism, andAesthetics; The Russian Avant-Garde; Behind the Scenes of the University Art Museum

Maggie L. Walker Governors School, Richmond, VA June 2008Virginia Commonwealth University dual-enrollment courses in Art History and B&W Photography

EXPERIENCE Cookie magazine, New York, NY Jan. 2010PresentEditorial Intern

Gather research and pitch story ideas to travel editors.

Write online stories and blurbs for the Travel and Daily Find pages.

Procure research and photo shoot supplies for editors.

Post daily responses to Letters to the Editor and the Travel Forum.

Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA JulyAug. 2009Gallery Shop Intern

Researched, wrote, and designed artist cards for represented artists.

Streamlined Gallery Shop for Domino magazine photo shoot.

Performed administrative and clerical tasks.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA JulySept. 2008Photographic Resources Intern

Archived the photography of objects in the collection.

Utilized Adobe PhotoShop to polish images.

New York International Ballet Competition, New York, NY Summer 2007

Counselor (Live-in position with professional dancers, ages 1724) Directed dancers daily schedules.

Ensured fairness in competition by monitoring and timing rehearsals.

Coordinated daily delivery of supplies.

Demonstrated communication skills in interactions with judges and visiting companydirectors.

The Richmond Ballet, Richmond, VA June 2005June 2006Trainee

Trained daily and performed with the professional company in The Nutcracker, The SleepingBeauty(world premiere), andA Midsummer Nights Dream (world premiere).

Created educational PowerPoint presentation, The Evolution of Dance in America.

CAMPUS The Review Sept. 2009PresentACTIVITIES Staff Writer for On-the-Town Section

Contribute bi-weekly stories covering the Princeton area on such topics as food and fashion.

Program in Dance Sept. 2008PresentSelected Performer

Performed solo in Susan Marshalls Name by Name.

HONORS Princeton University: Outstanding Freshman Award in Dance (June 2010)High School: Member of the National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction

SKILLS Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with PCs and Macs; Photoshop experienceConversational Spanish

Campus Address:Princeton UniversityFrist Campus Center Box 9999Princeton, NJ 08544

Permanent Address:555 Maple Road

New York, NY 10000646-111-9999

[email protected]


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q Sample Junior Resume

How to Write Resumes

D A V I D O . C A M P U S 1 1 O c e a n B l v d . | U n i o n C i t y , C A 9 9 8 8 8 | 9 9 9 . 5 5 5 . 1 2 3 4 | d o c @ p r i n c e t o n . e d u

EDUCATIONPrinceton University,Princeton, NJ

A.B. inEcology and Evolutionary Biology GPA: 3.45 June 2012

Relevant Coursework: Advanced Physics; Molecular Evolutionary Genetics; Comparative Physiology

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Is Xq28 Linked to Sexual Orientation? Fall 2011

A junior paper submitted that investigated the linkage between genetic evolution and male sexual orientation

Revising the Phylogenetic Reassignment of Oxytricha trifallax Spring 2010

A paper submitted that revised the phylogeny of O. trifallaxusing several conserved gene sequences

RELATED EXPERIENCEPrinceternship with Orthopedic Associates, Phillipsburg, NJ Spring Break 2010

Intern

Shadowed orthopedic surgeon during office hours and several surgeries for 40 hours during spring break

Learned numerous medical practices and strategies and made referral from previous internship

Surgical/Clinical Volunteer at University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ), Newark, NJ Summer 2009

Volunteer Intern

Observed surgeries from within the operating room and assisted in various tasks for attending physicians

Interpreted between English doctors and Spanish-speaking patients in the clinic utilizing medical vocabulary

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Beach Town Beach Patrol, Beach Town, CA Summer 2008

PresentSenior Crewmember

Collaborated with 15 adult and peer crewmembers on a daily basis to ensure the safety of patrons in a

high-risk, constantly changing environment, while utilizing professional life-saving training and skills

Directed and evaluated the professional training of five new crewmembers eight hours each week

Princeton University Reunions, Princeton, NJ 2010, 2009

15th

Reunion Crewmember

Assisted managers during 20-hour work days including tending to all needs of alumni

SAT Prep and Individual Tutoring, Palo Alto, CA 2008, 2007

Tutor

Counseled and guided three high school students in SAT prep, college essays, and high school physics

SKILLS

Technical: Microsoft Office, Java, C, C++, R, Perl

Language: Conversational German

ACTIVITIES

MemberPrinceton University Varsity Swimming and Club Cycling Team (2008-Present); Math Coach, Lets Get

Ready (Volunteer Program), Trenton, NJ (Spring 2009-Present); ESL Tutor, Padelante, Princeton, NJ (Fall 2008)


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q Sample Senior Resume

How to Write Resum

Wendy W. Wilson1000 State NW Apt.1Washington, DC 20000

[email protected](123) 456-7890 (mobile)

EDUCATION

Princeton University, Princeton, NJA.B. from Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs June 2011

Cumulative GPA: 3.17

Senior Thesis: Lessons on developing a highly qualified teacher workforce in state pre-kindergarten programs Allen Macy Dulles 51 Award for the senior who best exemplifies Princetons motto of in the Nations Service

and the Service of All Nations

EXPERIENCE

Vice President, PrincetonEngineers Without Borders, Princeton, NJ February 2009PresentLocal chapter of national humanitarian organization that implements sustainable engineering projects in developingcountries

Communicate with university administration and national Engineers Without Borders staff to ensure the

financial backing and technical support necessary for project approval Represent chapter in promotional events and organize regular chapter meetings on campus

Planned three-week service project in summer 2009 to Huamanzaa, Peru, to install solar energy power

Designed and conducted accompanying instructional and educational program to teach Peruvian villagersabout basic physics, the benefits of sustainable technology, and how to operate and maintain new technology

Fundraised to meet goal of over $15,000 and created 60-page collaborative report for Peru project

Intern, Mothers-to-Mothers, Cape Town, South Africa Summer 2009Mentoring program offering peer education and support to HIV-positive pregnant woman and new mothers

Collaborated with a team of three to organize and formalize a 400-page training curriculum

Designed a structure that would make the progression of the material clear and logical

Identified gaps in the curriculum and composed modules to fill those gaps to create a comprehensive trainingprogram

Intern, Medical Health Research Association

Maternal Infant Care,New York, NY Summer 2008Network of eight womens health centers in disadvantaged New York City communities

Conducted wait-time study on four clinics with three other interns

Developed data collection tools, gathered data, and analyzed information on over 1,000 patients

Identified bottlenecks in patient flow and sources of patient wait time, making recommendations toadministrators of how to improve patient scheduling and general efficiency of clinics

Intern, National Teaching Academy, Washington, DC Summer 2007Start-up nonprofit that provides professional development program to talented urban teachers

Created an interview guide and online survey, interviewing 40 teachers and collecting 130 surveys

Synthesized research to identify critical issues, outline profiles of model teachers, suggest design structure forworkshops, and propose strategies to cope with the challenges of urban schools

Designed 20-page report to help lay basis for market strategy, admissions criteria, and program design

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Member, Princeton Varsity Womens Lacrosse Fall 2007PresentNJ Intercollegiate Athletes 2008 Woman of the Year for leadership, service, academics, and athletics June 2009The Art Lane 34 Citizen Athlete Award for selfless contribution to sport and society June 2008United States National Lacrosse Team Member June 2007

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Engaged in bi-weekly campus discussion on race through Sustained Dialogue Fall 2008Spring 2009Led 10 freshmen on a six-day outdoor orientation trip September 2008 & 2009Tutored local immigrants in English as a volunteer in an ESL program Fall 2006

Documents

7 Career Services Guide How to Write Resumes