Career Development Center

Writing Your Résumé

Heading
Center your name at the top of the page in a large bold face type.
Provide complete present and permanent addresses. Be sure to include area code, phone number and email address if available. Make sure your email address username appears professional.

Objective
State the position you are seeking. If applying for various positions, state the direction you would like to go in your field instead. This will tell employer specifically what sort of work you are hoping to do. It is optional, and if included, should be kept short; it is not your philosophy on life.

Education
Must include:

• Name of degree
• Name of university, city, state
• Graduation date or expected graduation date

Optional:

• GPA (Usually a 3.0 or better is good to include)
• Minor
• Related coursework (if relevant- don't list every class you have taken)
• Academic scholarships and academic honors
• Percentage of your education that you financed, if more than half.

Experience
This is a crucial part of your résumé. List job experience from most to least important, regardless of date. Be organized and consistent:

• Job title (dates at this job)
• Name of company, city, state
• Describe current job responsibilities in present tense
• Describe previous job responsibilities in past tense
• Begin each phrase with an action verb, avoid phrases like "responsibilities
  included"
• Use a bullet in front of brief descriptions, avoid decorative designs
• For long descriptions, divide each phrase with a semi-colon (;)
• Describe your skills and accomplishments, how well you did what you did
• Tailor the information to the position for which you are applying; unrelated
  experience like receptionist or babysitter can go in a skills section.

Internships
These are normally included in the Experience section, but if you have several, you could make them a separate section.

Volunteer Work
Describe your experience if it is related to the position for which you're applying. This can also be listed in the Experience section, but not both.

Honors & Activities
If not included in the Education section, list any significant involvement in order of importance:

• Dean's List
• Scholarships
• Leadership positions
• Clubs
• Committees
• Sports
• Intramural activities
• Hobbies and interests

Skills

• Proficiency in computer programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or
  graphics programs
• Fluency in a foreign language
• Anything else that might make you unique among other applicants

References
Three to five references should be listed on a separate sheet. Include name, title/position, employer, complete mailing address, phone number and email address if applicable. We recommend mailing your reference list with your résumé instead of waiting for the employer to request it. Some guidelines for references:

• Your references should know you professionally and know you well
• Chose someone that will give you a positive recommendation
• Inform your references of your career plans and jobs you have applied for
• Provide them with a copy of your résumé for a complete picture of you
• Keep them informed on your job-search progress
• Send them a thank-you for their assistance

Helpful Suggestions

Salary
Leave out all references to salary, but do some research before your interview.
Resources that might be helpful include: the company's annual financial report, NACE Salary Survey, Dynamite Salary Negotiations, Job Search Handbook, and Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Check the Career Development Center Library for these references or look on the internet.

Do not include or mention the following:

• Age
• Health
• Religion
• Weaknesses
• Sex
• Height
• Marital Status
• Disabilities
• Race
• Weight
• Photograph
• Childhood

In writing...

• Do not use third voice.
• Do not use "I" or other pronouns.
• Do draw attention to important information with bold or underline.
• Do not abbreviate (except for states) or in the use of contractions.
• Do not use technical jargon and slang.
• Do proofread; check for correct punctuation and misspellings.

In producing...

• Do produce your résumé on a computer using a minimum 12 point type
  size.
• Do use high quality ivory or white paper.
• Do print on a laser printer.
• Don't mix type fonts.
• Strive for consistency in graphic elements

Final Checklist

• Did I address all of the key areas that this employer is looking for?
• Did I use appropriate tenses?
• Is my résumé free from spelling errors and typos?
• Is my format consistent and easy to read (state abbreviations, dates and
  locations in consistent locations)?
• Are my most highly related experiences and skills impossible to miss?
  Is there anything missing from my résumé that would be important to this
  employer?
• Have I taken the job description into account when constructing this résumé?
• Have I taken this company's culture, history and values into account when
  constructing this résumé?
• Are my margins and tabs lined up correctly?
• When I look at my résumé, is it pleasing to the eye, or does it seem
  crowded/busy?
• Have I double checked my name, address, phone number, e-mail for errors?
• Have I double checked my references for errors in phone and fax numbers?
• Have I dared at least two people to find and error in this résumé and made
  corrections?

Bring your résumé to the Career Development Center, and one of the CDAs as well as Chris Confer will critique and proof-read it for you.

Different occupations often require different kinds of information in their résumé.  To help you get a good idea of the kind of information and format for the job you are applying for, please visit:
http://www.jobweb.com/resumes.aspx?folderid=116