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A resume is a summary
of your qualifications for employment. It will typically
let the reader know what type of position you are
seeking and will highlight your education, experience,
skills and other relevant information. The primary
purpose of the resume is to get you an interview.
Resumes are also used as a marketing tool when conducting
informational interviews and when networking.
There are
basically three types of resumes.
- Chronological
This type of resume is used most frequently. With
this format, you present information in reverse
chronological order (most recent first) and give
a detailed account of education, work experiences
and other relevant skills.
- Combination
This type of resume includes functional skill
categories that highlight work experiences and
transferable skills; it also includes a reverse
chronological listing of work history.
- Functional
This type of resume includes functional skill
categories that highlight work experiences and
transferable skills. A functional resume may be
used if your experience and/or education do not
support your professional objective. Many employers
are suspicious when reviewing these resumes, as
they may be used to hide evident gaps in, or a
lack of, work experience.
APPEARANCE/FORMAT
AND GENERAL GUIDELINES
Abbreviations and Pronouns
Avoid using abbreviations and personal pronouns (I,
me, etc.).
Computer
Templates
Do not use a computer program template. Employers
can identify these formats immediately and they limit
your flexibility in changing the content and style
of your resume.
Enhancements
Use indention, bolding, underlining and bullets to
enhance important information. Avoid using italics
because some resume scanners have difficulty interpreting
this information.
Envelopes
Purchase large manila or white envelopes that allow
you to mail your resume and cover letter without folding
them.
Font and
Font Size
Use only one font. The font should be professional;
when using Microsoft Word, it is suggested you use
the Arial. Font size should be no larger than 12 point
and no smaller than 9 point.
Honesty
Make sure that your resume is an honest and accurate
account of your qualifications.
Ink
Use only black ink. Do not use colored inks.
Layout and
Format
Select a resume layout that is eye appealing and allows
the employer to quickly retrieve information. Remember
that the eye reads left to right, top to bottom; therefore,
you should avoid centering subheadings. Try different
formats to determine which one best highlights your
skills and qualifications.
Length
Limit your resume to one page. If you have extensive,
relevant experience (10+ years), your resume may be
two pages long.
Margins
Set all margins (left, right, top and bottom) no smaller
than ½ inch and no larger than 1 inch.
Paper
Print your resume on quality bond paper. White or
off-white paper is preferable. Avoid parchment-style,
flecked or dark papers because they do not photocopy
or scan well. To create a professional presentation,
the cover letter and reference page should be printed
on the same paper.
Personal
Information
Do not include personal information such as age, height,
weight, health status, marital status, number of children,
military classification, etc. unless it is required
for the specific position. Remember that this information
may be necessary for certain career fields such as
acting. If you are conducting an international job
search, please note that personal information may
be required in some countries.
Photographs
Do not incorporate personal photographs into your
resume unless it is necessary to obtain the position.
Printers
Print your resume using a laser printer for a sharp,
clean look. Avoid lower quality dot matrix, ink jet
or bubble jet printers. Do not distribute photocopies
of your resume.
Proofreading
Request that several people review and comment on
your resume. Write and edit your resume until it is
perfect.
White Space
Use white (blank) space effectively to make your resume
look professional and easier to read. Avoid filling
every blank space with information.
RESUME ORGANIZATION
F
ollow these guidelines when deciding
how to organize your resume. Please note that the
most important information is listed first.
- Identifying
information (name, contact information) is listed
first.
- Objective
is listed second.
- All
other headings are listed as they relate to the
objective.
Resume information should be prioritized and presented
in a manner that best supports the objective.
For example, if you have limited professional
experience, your educational information should
appear before your experience. However, if you
have professional experience that is directly
relevant to your objective or your major does
not support your objective, you should list experience
before educational information.
- All
information is listed in reverse chronological
order.
When organizing a resume, the most recent information
should be listed first. For example, if you have
both a master's and a bachelor's degree you would
list the master's degree first when presenting
educational information. This also applies to
work experience and other sections of the resume.
RESUME
CONTENT
The following information is typically included in a
resume:
-
IDENTIFYING
INFORMATION
Your name, complete address, and telephone number(s)
should be listed at the top of your resume. An
e-mail address may be listed if the account is
checked daily. Do not put pager numbers on your
resume. Students who have contact information
at home and school should distinguish the separate
addresses by date. For example:
Before
December 19, 2003
Webster University
Maria Hall 225
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, Missouri 63119
314.961.2660 x9876 |
After
December 19, 2003
2345 Happy Trails Lane
Hopetown City, Illinois 62500
217.424.5555 |
- OBJECTIVE
The objective appears near
the top of your resume and tells the reader about
your career goals and/or expresses interest in
a specific job or vacancy. The objective gives
direction and focus to your resume. You may call
this section a variety of things including:
-
Career Objective
- Objective
- Position
Desired
- Professional
Objective
- Summary
The major components of the objective, in their
suggested order, are:
- General
or specific job title
Examples: entry-level position, accountant,
graphic designer, actor, musician, biologist,
sales representative, teacher, etc.
- Occupational
field or industry
Examples: human resources, retailing, health
care, manufacturing, banking, education, entertainment,
etc.
- Qualifications/skills
Examples: computer competencies, languages,
teamwork, problem solving, creativity, management,
organization, etc.
- Information
related to the position that may entice an
employer to consider you (optional)
Examples: willingness to travel and/or relocate,
work authorization (Green Card).
Sample objectives for various majors:
Education
major
To obtain a teaching position in a Chicago-area
private elementary school utilizing experience
and demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication,
classroom management, teamwork and leadership.
Interested in opportunities to sponsor extra-curricular
activities.
English
major
To obtain an editor position with publishing company
utilizing an English degree and skills in proofreading,
writing and project management.
Marketing
major
To obtain a management trainee position in the
retail clothing industry utilizing a degree in
marketing, two years of retail experience and
skills in interpersonal communication, creativity
and time management. Possess work authorization
(Green Card).
Music
major
To obtain an organist position utilizing three
years of organist experience, a degree in music
performance and skills in time management, organization
and interpersonal communication.
Nursing
major
To obtain a position as a cardiology nurse in
a medical center utilizing education, clinical
experience, and demonstrated skills in problem-solving,
supervision and interpersonal communication.
Sales
Representative position
To obtain a position as a pharmaceutical sales
representative utilizing education, four years
of sales experience, an understanding of medical
terminology and skills in persuasion and interpersonal
communication. Willing to relocate.
- EDUCATIONAL
INFORMATION
This section of your resume
outlines your educational background by listing
the degrees, certificates or licenses you may
have earned. You may call this section, and sections
like it, a variety of things including:
- Academic
Background
- Academic
Training
- Certificates
and Licenses
- Degrees
Earned
- Education
- Educational
Highlights
- Educational
Preparation
Required Educational Information
- Degree
and Major
- Date
of Graduation (Month and Year only)
- College
or University
- Location
of College or University
Optional Educational Information
- Overall
Grade Point Average (if 3.0 or higher)
- Major
Grade Point Average (if 3.0 or higher)
- Minor(s),
Area of Concentration or Related Coursework
Example
Master of Arts in Counseling, May 2003
Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri
GPA 3.5/4.0
- EXPERIENCE
INFORMATION
This section of your resume
tells the employer what type of experience you
have that may qualify you for a position with
the employer’s organization. You may call
this section, or sections like it, a variety of
things including:
- Employment
History
- Career
Highlights
- Internships
- Career-Related
Experience
- Clinical
Experience
- Professional
Experience
Required Experience Information:
-
Job
Title
-
Date
of Employment (month and year to month and
year)
-
Employer
Name
-
Location
of Employer (City and State)
-
Bulleted
job descriptions which start with a list of
action verbs and clearly state your experience-related
actions, outcomes and accomplishments.
Example
Career Specialist, January 2002
- Present
Career Services, Webster University, St. Louis,
Missouri
-
Developed
and facilitated resume and cover letter writing
workshop; 100 students participated
-
Educated
students about effective job search strategies
including resume writing, interviewing, networking
and salary negotiation.
-
Received
Presidential Recognition Award for creating
new career programming that provided outreach
to extended campuses.
- OPTIONAL
RESUME INFORMATION
Once you have listed your objective,
education and experience, you will need to decide
what else you want to communicate to a potential
employer. You may want to consider grouping related
information. Here are some common resume categories
with sample headings: Awards/Honors
- Achievements
- Distinctions
- Scholarships
- Special
Honors
Involvement/Leadership:
- Activities
- Campus
Activities
- Campus
and Community Involvement
- Leadership
Experience
- Volunteer
Activities
Professional Information:
- Conferences
- Exhibits
- Performances
- Presentations
- Professional
Affiliations/Associations
- Professional
Involvement
- Publications
Skills:
- Computer
Competencies and Skills
- Language
Proficiencies
Other Areas:
- Interests
- International
Travel
- Military
History
- Travel
REFERENCES
Instead of cluttering your resume with this information,
prepare a separate sheet listing your references.
This sheet should be printed on the same paper as
your resume and should indicate that it is your reference
list. This can be done by putting your name, address
and telephone number at the top of the page just as
it appears on your resume.
When providing references
to a prospective employer make sure that you provide
information that would be included on the person’s
business card. This includes the reference’s
name, title, organization, complete address and telephone
number of the individual serving as a reference. Fax
numbers and e-mail addresses are optional.
Before including
someone as a reference, make sure that you contact
the person and ask if he/she would be willing to serve
as a reference for you. Also, make sure that you keep
your references informed about your job search.
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS
- Look at the sample
resumes provided.
- Read books on resume
writing. Several are available in the Career Services
resource library and in most public libraries.
- Make an appointment
to discuss your resume with a Career Services staff
member.
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