PURPOSE OF A RESUME AND RESUME FORMAT

The goal of your resume is to obtain an interview. A resume is a professional representation of your education, experience, and skills.

HEADING

Your heading should include your full name, address with zip code, telephone number, and e-mail address.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is optional. If used, it is simple and one sentence in length. It indicates your immediate career ambitions and should correspond with the position that you are applying for. DO NOT use the words, "I" or "me".

EDUCATION

List only the schools from which you have received (or will receive) a degree. Include study abroad experience and your GPA if higher than a 3.0. State the institution name, city, and state, FULL degree title, and graduation date. DO NOT include your high school education.

Include any licensure/certifications you have obtained, honors, scholarships you've earned, and relevant courses. Select courses that are relevant to your career goals.

EXPERIENCE

This is where you emphasize your skills. In this section, list professional experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first). When listing your experience indicate the employer name, city, state, dates of employment (month and year) and the title of the position you held.

Start each sentence or bullet with an action verb (an action verb list is provided here for your convenience). Remember, use present tense for current positions and past tense for positions no longer held.

Experience includes paid employment, internships, cooperative education positions, extracurricular activities/leadership experience or volunteer work. Identify each title and description accurately.

COMPUTER AND LANGUAGE SKILLS

Be specific when addressing your computer and language skills. List relevant software and working knowledge with each program. List your level of competency with programming, software, and languages. Indicate whether you are fluent, proficient, or conversational.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Join professional organizations related to your academic major and career goals. Employers want you to see how involved and invested you are in your field. A great way to start networking!

RESUME CHECKLIST

Is your resume....

• Focused on the most recent/relevant information?
• Displaying a professional email address?
• Printed on high quality bond paper (white, cream)?
• Tailored to a specific job?
• Consistent in style and format?
• Created in Word (avoid using templates)?
• Using a font size of 12 or higher (if 10, use Arial or Helvetica)?
• Honest...don't mislead or exaggerate
• One page (maximum two) in length

Your resume should NOT....

• Use personal pronouns (I, me, or my)
• Abbreviate anything
• Include personal information such as age, photos, marital status, or political affiliations

Your resume should be....

• Reviewed and approved by and advising and career specialist in CACE
• Uploaded to Central Connections
• Carried with you at all times. You never know when an opportunity will present itself

RESUME SAMPLES

The following sample resumes have been provided to assist you in developing your resume.

Resume Sample I

Resume Sample II

Resume Sample III

Resume Sample IV

Resume Sample V

Resume Sample VI

Resume Sample VII

Resume Sample IX

Resume Sample X

Resume Sample XI

Resume Sample XII

Action Verbs