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Remember the
purpose of a resume is to generate interest in you and to provide a
reviewer or prospective employer with an inventory of your skills,
abilities and experiences |
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Your resume is a written picture of you. |
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It should answer the question "Why should I be given this
position?" |
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Resume Formats |
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Reverse
Chronological Resumes |
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This format lists
your background in a reverse chronological sequence, starting with the most
recent. |
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With this format, headings
can be arranged in various orders based on elements of background that you want to
stress. |
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This type works
well when experiences (work, volunteer, academic) relate directly to the position for
which you are applying. |
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This type is often better
suited
for a continuing career. |
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Skills/Functional
Resumes |
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This
format that draws attention to accomplishments and highlights important skills and
functions, rather than work experience. |
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Headings
are built around the function. Job titles, employers and
employment dates are listed in a brief section at the bottom. |
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This format allows
you to highlight relevant skills, abilities and knowledge regardless of how you obtained
them. |
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This type works
well when experiences (work, volunteer, academic) are not directly related to the position
for which you are applying. |
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This type is often better
suited
to career changes and first entry into the job market. |
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Combination
Resumes |
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Combines
reverse chronological and functional formats by grouping experiences and/or key selling
points together by functional area and listing chronologically within
sections. |
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Make
sure that the structure seems logical and is easy to follow. |
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This type works
well when you have relevant experiences in each of several skill areas. |
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A
resume may consist of many different parts. You need only include
those which are relevant to your experiences. |
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Identification
Information (top of
first page of resume) |
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Name; Address with zip code |
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E-mail
address (also see
Electronic Messages); |
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Phone numbers with area code (home phone,
cell phone - where you want a prospective employer to contact you. |
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URL of Personal Web Page if you want the
prospective employer to view it. |
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Career
Objective
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A one line description of the type of
position and/or career goal desired. |
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It should
be at near the top of the resume, just following the identification information. |
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An
objective statement is not necessary; a
poorly written, vague, unfocused objective is worse than not having
one. |
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Objective
statements should be used to focus the resume to a specific type of position. |
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Education
(work experience may come before Education if more relevant) |
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College
or University
Information:
Should
include the name of the school, the major, degree received (expect to receive), graduation
date (projected date), or dates of attendance if you did not get a degree from a
particular school. |
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If you attended more than one school,
list the most recent first; you do not need to list your high school. |
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Additional training may also be listed
here or under a separate heading |
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A GPA is not
required, but be warned - because there is an implied axiom that if you
have it, you should flaunt it, if your GPA is not provided, many
reviewers will assume it is poor. GPA only really matters for the
first job or admittance to graduate school. |
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You may include
courses relevant to the position by listing appropriate course titles. |
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Experience/Work
History |
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In
this section you can list any paid employment, volunteer work and military experience. |
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Provide
job title; Organization; Dates |
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The
experience need not be paid to be included (for additional
information see
Get Resume
Credit For Volunteering!) |
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First, you want to emphasize accomplishments, skills and abilities.
Second, you may provide duties and
responsibilities. Concentrate
on the accomplishments, skills, abilities, duties and responsibilities pertinent to the
position for which you are applying. |
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Quantify
whenever possible. |
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Describe
the experience using action words (also see
Action Verbs
handout). |
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You may still provide information on jobs
that do not "fit" the position. This information helps
an employer see you as an individual and avoids the appearance of
unexplained gaps of unemployment. |
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Skills
and Abilities |
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Computer skills are increasingly more
important to employers (Minelli
2001). |
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You may also list any other skills that
may not be apparent elsewhere on the resume. |
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Languages |
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Mention on your
resume if you are fluent in one or more languages |
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Language skills do
provide a differential advantage in hiring
(Albers-Miller, Sigerstad and
Straughan 2000). |
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Honors
and Activities |
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Honors
and extracurricular activities are optional, but they do matter to
employers. |
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Academic
honors should be listed first (e.g. Dean's List, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society). |
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Scholarships should be listed second. |
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Student
activities and organizations can be listed in the order of importance (show leadership,
initiative and pertain to career interest). You should list
any offices held. You may indicate any skills you
acquired by participating in the activity. Be
prepared to talk about the experience if you put it on your resume |
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Interests
and Hobbies |
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This section can be used to help an
employer see you as an individual. |
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Community
involvement and volunteer activities are often valued. |
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If
involvement is political or religious, you may use generic titles rather than specific affiliations,
if you have concerns. |
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If
community or volunteer work is substantial, it may be listed under the Experience heading. |
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Significant
travel experiences can distinguish you from others. |
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Be
prepared to talk about what you gained if you put it on your resume |
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Research and
Publications |
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Involvement is
research projects is very distinguishing, if you can show how you
have grown from the experience. |
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List articles, papers or books that have
been published. |
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References |
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Create a separate references page title
"References". On that page, list
names, titles and contact information of your references. Do not
put them on your actual resume. |
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Ask
the person's permission before listing; Do not
list anyone that seems reluctant. |
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Do not
use relatives or close friends as references. People
with experience in your field or work-related abilities are best. Consider
faculty, former employers, and/or volunteer project leaders. |
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A line stating that references furnished
on request is not necessary. |
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You may put that "Writing samples or
portfolio available upon request." |
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Resume Insights |
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A resume should catch
attention and make a favorable impression without drawing negative opinions. |
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It should
represent you at your best, and therefore, it must
looks as professional and polished as you want to appear.
It is an example of your best work. |
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Only those with the most extensive experience should
exceed a one page resume. |
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Resumes should be on high quality paper (at least 20 lb. bond - 100
percent cotton bond is best). |
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Your resume tells the reader what you have prioritized
and what you consider to be the most important elements of your
background. |
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A resume need to be easy to read.
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Black lettering on white paper is the easiest to read.
Use color only very sparingly. |
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You may use bullets, bold, italics and underlining to highlight, but
keep in mind that color, italics, underlining and columns will be lost in scanning and
ASCII format (see more about
Electronic Resumes) |
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It is imperative that you use a font which is easy to read
and a font size that is easy to read. |
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A resume should be easy to skim. because most resumes
are looked at - not read.
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You should make good use of space and be concise. |
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You need to avoid extra wordiness (complete sentences are
not necessary). |
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Your resume need to communicates marketable skills and relevant
accomplishments.
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Your resume need to be completely honest and accurate (Dishonesty is deadly, do not
exaggerate.) |
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You need to sell your abilities, skills and potential - what did you do,
what did you accomplishments, what were the results. |
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Be sure to match the position for which you are
applying to your skills, attributes and qualifications. |
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Proofread and get feedback (preferably from people within
the industry for which you are applying.)
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Final Notes
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Do not
include personal information, such as marital status, children,
social security number, or age. |
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Review everything
before you send it. |
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Make files and keep copies of all
correspondence. |
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