Resume WritingResume Writing

Organizing Your ResumeOrganizing Your Resume A resume is a concise summary of an A resume is a concise summary of an

applicant’s qualifications for applicant’s qualifications for employmentemployment

A good first impression is crucialA good first impression is crucial– Easy to read, attractive, crisp, and cleanEasy to read, attractive, crisp, and clean

Organizing Your ResumeOrganizing Your Resume Guidelines:Guidelines:

– Use a word processing resume template Use a word processing resume template for appropriate formattingfor appropriate formatting

– Limit to one page (unless you have Limit to one page (unless you have extensive experience)extensive experience)

– Never use the pronoun Never use the pronoun II as the first as the first word of a sentenceword of a sentence

– Correct all spelling, grammar, and Correct all spelling, grammar, and punctuation errorspunctuation errors

Organizing Your ResumeOrganizing Your Resume Using Reverse Chronological OrderUsing Reverse Chronological Order

– Lists most recent experience and Lists most recent experience and education first, then works backward to education first, then works backward to earlier experiencesearlier experiences

Organize into SectionsOrganize into Sections– ObjectiveObjective– Work ExperienceWork Experience– EducationEducation– Activities, Interests, and AchievementsActivities, Interests, and Achievements

Preparing Your ResumePreparing Your Resume HeadingHeading

– List your name and contact informationList your name and contact information ObjectiveObjective

– Brief statement that states your interests and Brief statement that states your interests and goalsgoals

– Should also benefit the employerShould also benefit the employer Work ExperienceWork Experience

– Paid or volunteer workPaid or volunteer work– Use action verbs to describe past Use action verbs to describe past

responsibilities and accomplishmentsresponsibilities and accomplishments

Preparing Your ResumePreparing Your Resume Work Experience (con’d)Work Experience (con’d)

– Use reverse chronological orderUse reverse chronological order– Be sure to list all of the followingBe sure to list all of the following

Name of company you worked forName of company you worked for City and stateCity and state Dates of employmentDates of employment Job titleJob title Description of responsibilities and Description of responsibilities and

accomplishmentsaccomplishments

Preparing Your ResumePreparing Your Resume Work Experience (con’d)Work Experience (con’d)

– Action wordsAction words ExamplesExamples

Design Create Manage Verify Assist

Administer Supervise Complete Maintain Train

Develop Operate Analyze Organize Initiate

Preparing Your ResumePreparing Your Resume EducationEducation

– Use reverse chronological orderUse reverse chronological order– Be sure to list all of the followingBe sure to list all of the following

Each school (high school and beyond)Each school (high school and beyond) Degree or certificate earnedDegree or certificate earned Major area of studyMajor area of study Completion datesCompletion dates Include credit and noncredit workshops or Include credit and noncredit workshops or

seminarsseminars GPA (if good 3.0 to 4.0 or A)GPA (if good 3.0 to 4.0 or A)

Activities, Interests, & Activities, Interests, & AchievementsAchievements

Include activities that reflect a Include activities that reflect a willingness to work hard, to be willingness to work hard, to be creative and show initiative, and to creative and show initiative, and to work well with otherswork well with others– ExamplesExamples

Achievements, awards, honorsAchievements, awards, honors Leadership rolesLeadership roles Public SpeakingPublic Speaking Membership in civic organizationsMembership in civic organizations