What is a Resume?
A resume is a document that contains a summary of your work experience and qualifications. Your resume helps you secure an interview for a position. Resumes typically include a heading, education section, experience section, an awards and activities section, and a skills and certifications section.
Format and Appearance
Do NOT use a template when making your resume. It may lead your application reviewer to believe that you don't have good computer skills. Instead, format your resume yourself. Make sure you are consistent with formatting and spacing! Use headers and size of text to your advantage to draw your reviewer's eye to what you want them to see.
Use bullet points throughout your resume, not paragraphs. Resumes are meant to be skimmed, not read like a book.
Your resume should be simple and not flashy. If you use color on your resume, choose dark colors that will print to black and white easily.
Keep your resume to one page. If it's longer than a page, you need to cut things.
Choose a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial.
Your resume should contain ZERO grammatical errors.
Use bullet points throughout your resume, not paragraphs. Resumes are meant to be skimmed, not read like a book.
Your resume should be simple and not flashy. If you use color on your resume, choose dark colors that will print to black and white easily.
Keep your resume to one page. If it's longer than a page, you need to cut things.
Choose a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial.
Your resume should contain ZERO grammatical errors.
The Heading
Your heading should have a larger font size than anything else on your resume and should include your name and contact information.
If you have a LinkedIn or a relevant social media account, you can put it in your heading.
Restrict your heading to one or two lines.
If you have a LinkedIn or a relevant social media account, you can put it in your heading.
Restrict your heading to one or two lines.
The Education Section
List the most recent school you've attended first on your resume.
List the type of degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, etc) and the year you obtained it. If you are working on the degree, list your expected graduation year.
List any awards or recognitions you received from that school.
List your GPA, if it is higher than a 3.0. If it is lower, do not include your GPA.
List the type of degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, etc) and the year you obtained it. If you are working on the degree, list your expected graduation year.
List any awards or recognitions you received from that school.
List your GPA, if it is higher than a 3.0. If it is lower, do not include your GPA.
The Experience Section
Be sure to use the official title of any job you've worked at. Don't put "Grocery Store Worker." Put "Cashier."
If you have relevant informal experience (from a club or other organization that isn't a job) that will take more than one bullet point to explain, list it as experience.
The positions you've held should be listed from most to least recent. You should not include anything from before high school on your resume.
Include two to five bullet points for each position. Each bullet point should start with an action word and be short and descriptive. Each bullet point should be no longer than two lines.
If you have relevant informal experience (from a club or other organization that isn't a job) that will take more than one bullet point to explain, list it as experience.
The positions you've held should be listed from most to least recent. You should not include anything from before high school on your resume.
Include two to five bullet points for each position. Each bullet point should start with an action word and be short and descriptive. Each bullet point should be no longer than two lines.
Awards and Activities
Use this section highlight any awards you've received or activities you've participated in that you want your employer to know about
Keep each award/activity to one or two lines long
Do not include activities that you can't make relevant to the position you're applying for
List your activities and awards from most to least recent
Keep each award/activity to one or two lines long
Do not include activities that you can't make relevant to the position you're applying for
List your activities and awards from most to least recent
Skills and Certifications
Use this section for any relevant formal certifications you have
You can also list any relevant skills you have
You should only do a Skills and Certifications section if you still have room on your Resume. If you're out of room, don't include one.
You can also list any relevant skills you have
You should only do a Skills and Certifications section if you still have room on your Resume. If you're out of room, don't include one.
Other Resources
Having trouble picturing how to make this work for you? Check out these sample resumes. There is also a list of Action Words you can use for your bullet points!
Once you've finished your resume, your College Adviser is happy to provide feedback! Print it off and bring it in or you can email it to me.
Once you've finished your resume, your College Adviser is happy to provide feedback! Print it off and bring it in or you can email it to me.