Table of Contents IntroductionWriting the ResumeGeneral TipsHints on Resume ProductionScannable and Electronic Resume GuidelinesTips on Curriculum Vitae (CV's)
1. Introduction
There is no one right way to write a resume. There are, however, resumes that are more or less effective than others in conveying a positive, meaningful message to a given audience. The following are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.
2. Writing the Resume
Required Sections:
Header
Center your full name at the top of the resume. Employers should see this piece of information firstInclude your complete mailing address with zip code, phone number, and e-mail address. (If you are using one address, center it under your name. For two addresses, place the current, i.e. college or summer, residence on the left-hand side and the permanent residence on the right-hand side) Education Section
List schools attended (including study abroad) in reverse chronological order. Include institution name, city, state, degree, certificate or course of study, date of completion, and major/concentrationInclude high school only if you are a first-year or sophomore or if it's highly relevant to your job searchState grade point average if it's 3.2 or higher; either cumulative GPA or major GPA is acceptable
Consider including a brief listing of relevant courses outside your major including independent course work Experience Section
(can also be broken into two sections: Related Experience and Experience)
List experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first)Include employer name (or organization in which you volunteered, interned, etc.), position title, city, state, dates involved, and accomplishments (in other words, not just duties, but what resulted from them)Use action verbs, key nouns, and adjectives to quantify and qualify your responsibilities (i.e., "Created database which could produce lists of target donors"; "Supervised 15 campers, 8 to 12 years old.")Where possible, indicate how you progressed in a position or organization (i.e., "Started lawn care business. Grew from 2 employees to 13 in three years. Grossed $12,000 last year")
Additional Section
(can also be called Skills or Additional Information)
Allows you to feature specifics such as language proficiency, computer skills, and travel experienceList extracurricular activities here if not already mentioned in education or experience sectionsReferences available upon request
Read this article to learn the best way to approach references.
3. General Tips
The Do's
Check (and double- and triple-check) for misspellings and typosKeep your resume to one pageBe consistent with format, writing style, font, bulleting, margins, verb tense use, using a period with bullet points, using bold/caps/underlining for text emphasis, etc. The Don't's
DO NOT EVER LIE!!Don't use a font point size less than 11Don't state a job objective (unless requested by the recruiting employer) or put "references available" anywhere on the resumeDon't leave e-mail addresses hyperlinked or use ampersands (&), especially if sending electronically
4. Hints on Resume ProductionKeep your margins even and between .75" and 1" by using the tables function or by setting left or right tabs
Print on clear clean white paper or higher quality paper; avoid irregular paper sizes and colorsResumes and cover letters should appear on the same type of paper coordinated with matching envelopesSend resumes and cover letters together; if submitting by e-mail include both in same message
5. Scannable and Electronic Resume Guidelines
Include key nouns and industry jargon-found in the position description, on a company's website and in trade publications-that would appear in a keyword searchIf submitting via e-mail, save document in the lowest possible version of MS Word and send by attachmentIf a hard-copy address is provided, send a laser printer quality original of your resume and cover letter tooFor scannable resumes, always use white or light 8.5x11" paper, printed on one side onlyDon't use horizontal lines, underlining or italics or compress the space between the lines of your resume
Tips on Electronic Resumes
It is more and more common for employers to accept, and even request, resumes submitted electronically. Although the guidelines mentioned above generally apply here as well, there are unique formatting considerations to keep in mind. The following link provides an excellent overview of these considerations; however, please feel free to consult a career counselor if you still have questions about electronic resume submission.
WetFeet.com Resources:
Deliver A Perfect e-ResumeTen Tips for Submitting Resumes to Dot ComsAsk the Expert: Should You Send a Cover Letter With an E-Mail Resume? 6. Tips on Curriculum Vitae (CV's)
Please visit the following sites for information:
Going Global
Great resources for tailoring resumes for specific countries.A Psychology Student Handbook-How to Prepare a VitaColorado College Career Resourceshttp://www.cvtips.com/cvlinks.htmhttp://www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/career.htm
(Click on the graphic/large text area of this screen to download a guide in Adobe Acrobat format, which addresses a Curriculum Vitae on pages 6-7)