Your resume is an essential part of your job search, it is your opportunity to make a good impression on employers. For this reason, the information on your resume should be relevant, easy to read, and attractively presented.
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Your resume should provide the reader with a general background check. Don’t clutter your resume with frivolous details. Some critical areas to include are: data identification, education, work experience, and student / community activities.
Identification data: Your name, address and telephone number are required. An email address can also be included. Do not include information such as height, weight, and race, as they are not qualifications for the job. Information such as willingness to travel or date of availability can be included in an “Additional Information” category at the end of the resume.
Objective: Although there are different points of view on whether or not to include a professional objective, this information allows the reader to quickly learn about your professional interests. Objective guidelines: too specific can be limiting, too broad doesn’t make sense. If you include an objective, consider writing 2-3 versions of your resume, each with a different objective. If you choose to have a goal, it should be no more than two lines. You can also drop the objective and include it in the cover letter.
Sample objectives:
“Looking for an entry-level position as an accountant at a public accountancy firm”.
“Obtain a position as a financial and investment analyst at a major investment bank or large corporation.”
Education: This information should appear in reverse chronological order, with your most recent education first. Include institution, undergraduate degree, major (s), and honors awarded. Include your GPA only if it is clearly an asset. If you have questions about putting your GPA on your resume, speak with a Career Services staff member. Publications, professional licenses or special training may appear in this section. In general, information about high school should not be included. Finally, the degree to which you financed your own education can also be included here (e.g. 80%)
Work Experience – Usually listed in reverse chronological order (present-past), the information includes the name of the organization, location, position held, dates of employment, and a description of your accomplishments. Focus on the areas that relate to the position you are seeking and provide evidence of your ability to take responsibility, keep going, and work hard. IF you have had numerous part-time jobs, please highlight the most related experiences. Military experience can be included in this section or in its own category.
Student Organization / Community Activities – Here’s your chance to show your commitment to your core field and leadership positions outside of the classroom. This can include social organizations like sororities, student clubs, and volunteer work. Additional categories can be included to emphasize specific accomplishments, such as “Honors” or “Activities.”
References: Do not include references on your resume. Rather, indicate on your resume that your references are “available upon request.” Prepare a separate list of professional references (3-5), including the name, title, address, and business phone number of each person who agreed to be a reference for you. Remember to include your name at the top of the page. Take your Reference List with you when you interview.
Specific CVs
“Segmenting your resume means you are customizing your resume for a particular position, company, different goals, or career field. For example, you may be interested in both financial banking and accounting, but you don’t want to use the same resume for both areas. This is when your resume orientation comes in handy. You can tailor your resume to each industry, narrowing the focus of your resume. If you download your resume in Microsoft Word, this is where you can create and save different specific programs.
Design
The appearance of your resume is critical.
Margins – Keep margins even, using the proper balance of whitespace to the printed word.
Style: Sentences do not need to be complete. Do not write in the first person, in the singular (do not use “I”). Use 8.5 “x 11” resume bond paper in a conservative shade.
Length: Try not to exceed three pages, unless you have significant and relevant experience.
Format
There are two commonly used formats:
Chronological – Presents education, experience, extracurricular activities, skills, and accomplishments in reverse chronological order in each category. Advantages of this style:
Employers are comfortable with this style because it is used often
It is the easiest way to write
Achievements can be shown as a direct result of work experiences.
Functional – Organize skills and accomplishments into functional groups that support your job objective, which should be stated. Advantage:
Draw attention to your achievements
It allows for greater flexibility in presenting skills acquired through low-paying jobs or personal experience.
Useful when you have a short or scattered work history or when changing career fields
Choosing a format: If your skills and accomplishments match your most important work experiences, choose the chronological format. If you must bring together certain skills and accomplishments from a variety of experiences to show your strengths, the functional format may work best for you.
No two resumes are the same; the choice of format is personal. There are two basic questions to answer:
Am I communicating the skills I have acquired in a way that meets the needs of the employer?
Is the design I have chosen the best way to present those skills?
Idiom
Use language that is as persuasive and descriptive as possible. Using action words will help develop a concise and professional resume.
Scannable CVs
Today, many employers use computerized scanning systems to review resumes. It’s a good idea when submitting your resume to a company that sends two versions: your regular resume and one marked “Scannable” at the top. If you are unsure or hesitant to submit two resumes, the human resources or college recruiting department of most companies should be able to tell you if they use resume scanning programs. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when designing your “scannable” resume:
Use only plain white paper, letter size (8.5 “x 11”)
Keep your resume aside only
Laser printed resumes scan best (not a dot matrix printer)
Do not use underlining or italics as they will not scan well.
Try to keep a 12-step font
Send your resume in a large envelope – do not fold it as the words in the folds will not be scanned correctly
Limit the use of bullets and avoid the use of graphics.
Scanning systems often search for keywords or descriptors, so please review your resume to make sure you have properly used keywords that are relevant to your field.
The electronic curriculum
An “electronic resume” can mean a number of things, but it is generally a resume that is sent to an employer electronically, either via the Internet or by email. Some business home pages will include a form that you can fill out online and submit, which is a type of electronic resume. Some websites, which are geared towards job search assistance, also include these types of resume services. Many students are also creating personal home pages that include a link to their resume. You can find more ideas about using technology with your resume in Joyce Lain Kennedy’s Electronic Resume Revolution.
Organize resume writing
Step 1: write a draft and put it aside for a day or two
Step 2: Edit the draft, seek feedback from Career Services staff
Step 3: make changes to the final draft
Step 4: have two people check the spelling
Step 5: Take a laser printed copy to a printer for copies to be made. Get extra paper and matching envelopes for cover letters