Resume PreparationResume Preparation

What is the best format What is the best format or style?or style?

Your resume should emphasize your Your resume should emphasize your strong points while expressing your strong points while expressing your uniqueness and individuality.uniqueness and individuality.

ChronologicalChronological–– Present education and work experience in reverse Present education and work experience in reverse

chronological orderchronological order

FunctionalFunctional–– Your experience is explained under major skill Your experience is explained under major skill

headings, while job titles, employers, and dates headings, while job titles, employers, and dates are listed separately.are listed separately.

Gather the informationGather the information

Make a list of all categories that you Make a list of all categories that you wish to include on your resumewish to include on your resumePut each activity, educational exp, Put each activity, educational exp, work exp, etc under a categorywork exp, etc under a categoryOrganize the order in which you want Organize the order in which you want each to appear.each to appear.

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsObjectiveObjective

One or two concise, easyOne or two concise, easy--toto--read statements read statements focusing on the type of position you are focusing on the type of position you are seeking,theseeking,theskills you want to utilize, and/or the tasks in which skills you want to utilize, and/or the tasks in which you want to become involved.you want to become involved.Avoid Avoid clichescliches or jargon, such as, or jargon, such as, ““To contribute to To contribute to the profitability of an employerthe profitability of an employer”” or or ““A challenging A challenging position offering opportunity for growth and position offering opportunity for growth and advancement.advancement.””If you include an objective, make sure it is an If you include an objective, make sure it is an effective statement. If you choose not to include an effective statement. If you choose not to include an objective, make sure that your cover letter is objective, make sure that your cover letter is compelling.compelling.

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsEducationEducation

List degrees in reverse chronological orderList degrees in reverse chronological order——most recent first. Keep the information easy most recent first. Keep the information easy to scan.to scan.You may want to include details relevant to You 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 of special projects, a minor or area of emphasis, etc.emphasis, etc.You can list Education Abroad experiences You 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).

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsExperienceExperience

Reverse chronological order is what readers expect, but if you hReverse chronological order is what readers expect, but if you have a ave 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 allows such 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 than than a general list of duties. Numbers make strong statements and cana general list of duties. Numbers make strong statements and canenhance 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 are re seeking.seeking.Consolidate information when possible; avoid repetition and Consolidate information when possible; avoid repetition and excessive details in describing experiences.excessive details in describing experiences.Make the format Make the format scannablescannable and put relevant action verbs first. Use and 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 your Do 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.

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsActivitiesActivities

List the most relevant activities and offices held List the most relevant activities and offices held first. Include college, community, professional, and first. Include college, community, professional, and occasionally, outstanding high school activities.occasionally, outstanding high school activities.You can add brief explanatory details of the You can add brief explanatory details of the position and your accomplishments.position and your accomplishments.Include hobbies and interests only if they are Include hobbies and interests only if they are relevant to the job objective or if they reveal relevant 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 your This section can add individuality and flavor to your resume, so you may want to include unusual or resume, so you may want to include unusual or interesting items.interesting items.

Resume Suggestions Resume Suggestions Honors/AwardsHonors/Awards

Optional; include only if you have Optional; include only if you have several honors. If you have only one several honors. If you have only one or two honors, you can include them or two honors, you can include them in a combined ACTIVITIES/HONORS in a combined ACTIVITIES/HONORS section.section.

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsSkillsSkills

You may want to consider a special You may want to consider a special skills section to highlight skills you skills section to highlight skills you have on specific computer hardware or have on specific computer hardware or software, foreign languages, or software, foreign languages, or machinery required for performance machinery required for performance on the job. You could also group on the job. You could also group CERTIFICATIONS in this category.CERTIFICATIONS in this category.

Resume SuggestionsResume SuggestionsReferencesReferences

Most organizations will not expect references on Most organizations will not expect references on your resume. But, you may want to prepare a list of your resume. But, you may want to prepare a list of references on a separate page formatted to match references on a separate page formatted to match your resume for use when employers request your 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 academic Consider 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--mailmailYou should always seek prior approval from You should always seek prior approval from individuals you plan to list as references.individuals you plan to list as references.

AppearanceAppearance

LengthLength–– One to two pages is usually typical for a One to two pages is usually typical for a

new grad. new grad. –– May also vary by career fieldMay also vary by career fieldType of paperType of paper–– Use Resume PaperUse Resume Paper–– White or offWhite or off--whitewhiteProofreadProofread

Using Keywords in your Using 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 ConductedControlled Coordinated Created Earned Edited Eliminated Enabled Fostered Generated GuidedHarnessed Managed Mastered Mediated MonitoredPrepared Presented Produced Programmed Scheduled Screened Selected Served SurveyedTargeted Taught Teamed with

What next?What next?

ExamplesExamplesPracticePractice–– LetLet’’s begin to gather the informations begin to gather the information

Make an appointment with Career Make an appointment with Career Services to go over your resume.Services to go over your resume.

HandoutsHandouts

How to avoid resume bloopersHow to avoid resume bloopersHow much belongs on your resume?How much belongs on your resume?Resume WritingResume WritingThe four year planThe four year planResume ContentResume Content