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How to Prepare
an Effective Resume :
1. Resume Essentials
Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment
on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as
well as your work experience and extracurricular
activities. This will make it easier to prepare
a thorough resume.
2. The Content of Your Resume
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Name, address, telephone, e-mail
address, web site address.
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All your contact information should
go at the top of your resume.
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Avoid nicknames.
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Use a permanent address. Use your
parents' address, a friend's address, or the
address you plan to use after graduation.
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Use a permanent telephone number
and include the area code. If you have an
answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
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Add your e-mail address. Many
employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose
an e-mail address that sounds professional.)
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Include your web site address
only if the web page reflects your professional
ambitions.
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Objective or Summary. An objective
tells potential employers the sort of work
you're hoping to do.Tailor your objective
to each employer you target/every job you
seek.
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Be specific about the job you
want. For example: To obtain an entry-level
position within a financial institution requiring
strong analytical and organizational skills.
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Education
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New graduates without a lot of
work experience should list their educational
information first. Alumni can list it after
the work experience section.
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Your most recent educational information
is listed first.
- Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.),
major, institution attended, minor/concentration.
- Add your grade point average (GPA) if it
is higher than 3.0.
- Mention academic honors.
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Work Experience
- Briefly give the employer an overview of
work that has taught you skills. Use action
words to describe your job duties. Include
your work experience in reverse chronological
order—that is, put your last job first
and work backward to your first, relevant
job.
Include:
- Title of position,
- Name of organization
- Location of work (town, state)
- Dates of employment
- Describe your work responsibilities with
emphasis on specific skills and achievements.
- Other information
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A staff member at your career
services office can advise you on other information
to add to your resume. You may want to add:
- Key or special skills or competencies,
- Leadership experience in volunteer organizations,
- Participation in sports.
- References
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Ask people if they are willing
to serve as references before you give their
names to a potential employer.
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Do not include your reference
information on your resume. You may note at
the bottom of your resume: "References
furnished on request."
3. Resume Checkup
You've written your resume. It's time to have
it reviewed and critiqued by a career counselor.
You can also take the following steps to ensure
quality:
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Content:
- Run a spell check on your computer before
anyone sees your resume.
- Get a friend (an English major would do
nicely) to do a grammar review.
- Ask another friend to proofread. The more
people who see your resume, the more likely
that misspelled - - - words and awkward phrases
will be seen (and corrected).
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Design:
These tips will make your resume easier to
read and/or scan into an employer's data base.
- Use white or off-white paper.
- Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper.
- Print on one side of the paper.
- Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.
- Use nondecorative typefaces.
- Choose one typeface and stick to it.
- Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.
- Do not use horizontal or vertical lines,
graphics, or shading.
- Do not fold or staple your resume.
- If you must mail your resume, put it in
a large envelope.
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