| |
Identifying
Information
This includes name, address (permanent and current,
if applicable), telephone numbers (home, work, fax, cellular), and e-mail
address. You could also include your web site URL if the site is professional
and contains information you would want an employer or admissions committee
to view. Your name and the page number should be placed at the top of
additional resume pages.
Objective
(optional)
An objective is your job target; it is a theme
statement that can help you organize the supporting information in the
body of the resume. Whether you write your objective on the resume or
in your cover letter is up to you. If you do use an objective on your
resume, it should be written from the perspective of what you can contribute,
rather than what you want. A strong, targeted objective may address
the following questions:
- What
type of position do you want?
- Where?
(type of organization or work environment)
- What
level of responsibility?
What
special circumstances, contributions, or skills
are you offering. If you are pursuing several
career objectives, you may want to create
a separate resume for each career alternative.
Another approach is to omit the objective
from your resume and deal with it in your
accompanying cover letter, or you might choose
to create a Highlights or Summary of Qualifications
section (described below). In any case, avoid
clichés such as a challenging
and rewarding position utilizing my education
and experience.
| |
EXAMPLES OF AN OBJECTIVE
Trainee
position in real estate property management,
with opportunity to contribute strong
financial skills and relevant experience.
Administrative
role in health care education, with
special emphasis on community relations
and local employers.
|
|
Highlights
or Summary of Qualifications (optional)
In lieu of an objective, you may decide to use
a Summary of Qualifications section at the top of your resume. Be sure
to summarize the type of experience, skills and personality traits most
applicable to your career objective. The summary may be arranged in
either paragraph or bullet form and should entice the reader to continue
reading the rest of the resume.
| |
EXAMPLE OF SUMMARY IN PARAGRAPH FORM
Extensive
experience in public relations for both
public and private employers. Four years
of marketing development for a Fortune
500 company. Assisted in the promotion
of a successful advertising campaign
that increased client base by more than
50%. Strong background in grant and
proposal writing for nonprofit funding.
EXAMPLE
OF SUMMARY IN BULLET FORM
- Excel at oral communication, evidenced
by four successful years on forensic
team.
- Extensive experience in varied computer
applications including Microsoft Word,
Access, Excel, Power Point, Adobe
Quark Express, SPSS-X.
- Highly organized with proven ability
to meet deadlines.
- Effective ability to work independently
and as a team member on group projects.
- Skillful at getting diverse groups
to work together.
- Willing to travel and/or relocate.
|
|
Education
Begin with your most recent education and work
in reverse chronological order. Include degrees awarded, major, minor,
date of graduation or dates of attendance (if no degree was awarded)
and name and location of the school. Other academic information, if
relevant and supportive of your objective could include:
- relevant
course work
- scholarships,
honors, awards
- GPA
(overall or in major), if 3.0 or higher
- special
projects, such as research or teaching
- thesis
or dissertation topics
- study
abroad
- academic
honor societies and clubs
-
training programs or certifications
- percentage
of college expenses earned
- clinical
or field experience associated with your
degree program
If
you have transferred from another school where
you did not receive a degree, you may choose
either to include or not include that school.
Some reasons to include another school might
be that you wish to call attention to honors,
activities, or other accomplishments at that
school, to communicate that you were enrolled
in school during that period of time, or to
identify specific course work related to your
current major or career objective. High school
is rarely included unless you are a recent
high school graduate, have attended a special
focus high school (e.g. Duke Ellington School
of the Arts), or attended school in a foreign
country.
| |
EXAMPLE OF AN EDUCATION SECTION
B.S.
in Economics, Minor in Spanish,
Expected May 2002
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
Course
work includes: Econometrics, National
and International Money and Banking,
Analysis of Economic Policy, Economic
Development of Latin America, International
Economics.
Study
abroad at the University of Madrid in
Spain, fall and spring semesters 1999-2000.
Completed extensive course work in Spanish
language and culture, and economics.
Financed
75% of college costs through part-time
employment.
|
|
Experience
This section includes full-time and part-time
employment, Co-op jobs, and internships, as well as significant volunteer,
leadership, practicum, and field experiences. The job title, name and
location (city and state only) of each organization and the participation
dates should be indicated. Do not assume that titles describe what you
did. Description should highlight your skills, accomplishments, functions
performed, knowledge demonstrated, and responsibilities assumed. Use
reverse chronological order to list experiences, or group together related
experiences. Following are some tips to create the most effective descriptions:
- State
your experiences in phrases that begin with
action words (verbs) and show the scope
and results (achievement) of your activity
(e.g. improved a procedure, clarified a
problem, increased efficiency). The list
of action verbs in this article may
help you compose your description.
- Qualify
and quantify your accomplishments such as,
trained more than 300 persons from
100 companies to use. Often, the descriptive
details will help communicate your initiative,
follow-through, and problem-solving skills.
- Avoid
using phrases such as, was responsible
for or duties included.
- Describe
your most responsible functions first even
if they occupied only a small percentage
of your time.
| |
EXAMPLE OF AN EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION
Accounting
Assistant, May 2000-present
ABC Accounting Firm, Fairfax, Virginia
- Maintained
accounts payable and receivable for
more than 200 office clients.
- Created
and implemented a system for ordering
and maintaining inventory of office
supplies.
- Developed
a tracking log of client contacts
resulting in greater office efficiency
|
|
Skills
(optional)
Any specialized skills, such as computer skills
or foreign language skills may be included in this section. Be specific
and identify skills by name. Many employers now scan resumes using a
key word search so naming specific skills is increasingly
important. Be sure also to indicate your levels of proficiency or familiarity.
| |
EXAMPLE OF A SKILLS SECTION
- Computer
proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel,
Power Point, and Internet research.
- Familiarity
database management using Microsoft
Access.
- Fluency
in Spanish; conversational ability
in French.
- Effective
leadership and oral communication
skills.
|
|
Activities
(optional)
Student activities, community service, leadership
positions, and personal interests or hobbies may strengthen your resume
and emphasize marketable skills. Whether or not to include specific
activities may be determined by the amount of space available, the relevance
of the information to your objective, or the potential contribution
to a representation of you as a well-rounded person.
| |
EXAMPLE
OF A STUDENT ACTIVITY
President,
American Marketing Association,
George Mason University, 1999-present
- Coordinate
the activities of 75 members and lead
a committee of five officers.
- Plan
professional development programs
with local community business.
- Market
all chapter activities to students
through class presentations, activity
fairs, and electronic communication.
|
|
Special
Information (optional)
Additional information may be described in separate
categories or included in other applicable sections. Try to avoid putting
only one item in a category. Psi Chi Honor Society, for example, can
be included in the education section rather than an honors section,
if it is the only honor listed. Other information or categories may
include:
- Publications,
research, awards, special certifications
or licensure, professional memberships,
professional development or continuing education,
presentations;
- Citizenship
status, type of visa, or work authorization
(necessary for positions that have specific
citizenship requirements);
- Extensive
travel or multicultural experience;
- Availability
for travel and/or relocation;
- Security
clearances.
| |
TIP! Avoid including personal
information such as weight, height,
health, age, marital status, race, religion,
or political affiliations unless they
directly relate to the qualifications
of the job.
|
|
References
Names of references should not be included on
your resume. Rather, create a separate page to list the name, title,
address, and phone number of three to five individuals who know you
well enough to appraise your abilities and work habits, and who have
agreed, in advance, to answer inquiries about you. References may include
current or former supervisors, co-workers, or faculty members. You can
help them provide a better reference if you supply a copy of your current
resume and a job announcement, if applicable.
Return
to page top
|
|