Your resume is essentially a one-page advertisement that sells your qualifications and skills to potential employers. If you’re writing one for the first time, here are few guidelines to help you get started.
Formatting
• Format your resume yourself and avoid using resume templates
• Make the information easy to read or skim
• Use typical headings like Education, Experience, Leadership Activities and Awards & Honors
• Use consistent formatting (e.g., bolding, spacing, italics, etc.)
• Include an objective statement that clearly defines your career goal or desired position
Contact Information
• Provide your name, address, phone number and email
• Include relevant social channels but make sure to set your privacy settings
Education Section
• Cite your degree correctly followed by your major and institution
• If you earned more than one degree, list the most current degree first
• Include any minors, endorsements and relevant coursework.
• Omit high school information, unless it is relevant to the position
• If you are a transfer student, include the name of your first school only if you refer to it elsewhere
• Include your graduation month and year or anticipated graduation date
• Include study abroad programs or other honors, such as the Dean’s List, Honors Program or Honor Societies (optional)
Professional or Relevant Experience
• List professional positions in chronological order, with the most recent position presented first
• For each position, provide your job title, location and dates of employment
• Use one-line bulleted statements with strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments
• Quantify accomplishments whenever possible
• Avoid using weak words such as responsible for, helped and duties included
• Use “buzz words” whenever possible
• Include relevant leadership positions and volunteer work
Other Suggestions
• Omit personal information such as religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, salary requirements, age, etc.
• Include relevant technical and soft skills (e.g., proficient in Microsoft Excel, detail-oriented producer, proactive collaborator, etc.)
• List references on a separate page
For more tips and to see resume examples, download the Career Planning Guide.
