ResumeMrs. Sullivan

What is a resume?A resume is a brief document that summarizes your education, employment history, and experiences that are relevant to your qualifications for a particular job, scholarship, internship, etc. for which you are applying.

What should it look like?● Brief & Concise

○ no shorter than 1 page and no more than 3 pages● Style

○ bulleted lists rather than long sentences○ lead words are action verbs○ designed to be skimmed quickly

● Content Specific to Audience○ collect information on the job position & its

requirements○ tailor resume to fit the needs/expectations of what

you’re applying for

Quick FactEmployers, scholarship committees, etc. will usually take, at most, only 35 seconds to look at a resume before deciding whether to keep or discard it.

Design Principles That’ll Help You Pass the 35-Second Test

❏ Quadrant Test❏ Divide your resume into 4 quadrants. Each quadrant

should have an equal amount of text & white space❏ Use Columns❏ Manipulate Fonts (Consistently)❏ Bold❏ Capitalization❏ Underlining

3 Sections typically found on resumes:

1. Contact2. Education3. Experience

Contact Information SectionThe contact information section is where you detail how potential employers can get in touch with you. Make sure all information is current AND accurate. You should, at minimum, include:❏ Name❏ Address❏ Phone #❏ Email

Education SectionState the most recent information first:

● The school(s) you have attended● The location of those school(s)● The date of your graduation, actual or

anticipated● The degree(s) you earned● GPA (*not required; if your GPA is lower

than a 3.0, consider omitting it)

Experience SectionInclude the following experiences under this section:● jobs● volunteer positions● internships

Experience SectionThe section on work experience is usually broken down by company or position. For each, provide the following:

● Name & address of the organization (city, state)● Dates of employment or involvement● Position title● Responsibilities

*include skills learned that are necessary/essential with your current position interest*Action Verbs to describe duties!

Optional Sections● Honors & Awards● Certifications● Professional Memberships

These sections are typically located near the bottom of the page because they provide additional evidence of qualifications that isn’t necessarily needed.

Readers’ Expect:❖ to find your name at the top of the resume❖ your name to be the largest item❖ sections to be bold & categorized consistently❖ your resume to free of grammatical & spelling

errors

*A Formula For Success*1. Tailor for your audience

2. Use appropriate headings3. Include required content4. Organize your sections strategically5. Develop your descriptions6. See through a potential viewer’s eyes