Creating Your Resume
What to Include:
- Your resume is not an autobiography. Make sure it passes the 'skim test':
- Can a potential employer see your main qualifications within 10-15 seconds?
- Does critical information jump off the page?
- Do you effectively sell yourself as an asset to the organization on the top quarter of the page?
- Don't include irrelevant information.
- Leave out hobbies (unless related to the job), birth date, high school graduation information and irrelevant or older jobs (i.e. when you worked at a fast food chain in high school).
- Do your homework.
- Find out which skills the employer is seeking and be sure to showcase them. Tailor your resume to the job posting.
- Be thoughtful before you send out a resume - make sure your resume targets the right audience.
- Explain gaps in employment history.
- If you took a year off to do something neat or different, let the employer know.
- Job duties might be similar. To avoid repetition, focus on accomplishments instead.
- For example, instead of "responsible for mailings, answering phones, and internet research," try "drafted a report on the Clean Air Act; inventoried and re-organized mailing system."
Make it pop!
- Don't be long winded- one page is all you get.
- This is not an essay. Use action verb phrases, not sentences, and eliminate unnecessary words.
- Have an experience section.
- Many students don't have much work experience. Instead of "Employment", try "Experience." Include internships, class projects, independent study, campus leadership, volunteer positions, etc.
- Take the time to make your resume visually pleasing.
- Make sure font and formatting styles are appropriate and consistent. Make sure all your documents are done in the same style.
- Don't include pictures, graphs or links.
- Realize the visual power of white space . Print the resume on heavy resume paper.
Check and Check Again
- Make sure all your information is correct.
- Update your address as it changes (if in school, include school and home address).
- Make sure past employer's information and dates are correct.
- Don't use an inappropriate e-mail address. Make sure it is professional.
- Appropriate e-mail addresses: jane.smith@hotmail.com; jsmith@university.edu.
- Inappropriate e-mail addresses: sassygirl01@yahoo.com; pinkpanda40@aol.com.
- Do not lie or exaggerate.
- Have no mercy for mistakes! Mistakes show carelessness. Let your first impression be a good one!
- Edit.
- Revise.
- Re-read. Re-read again.
- Have two other people proofread your resume.
