Resumes
Resumes
Creating the Structure:
Create your heading (Name, Address, etc.) and place these two categories first.- Objective
- Education
- Projects
- Experience
- Related Experience / Other Experience
- Skills
- Computer Skills
- Study Abroad
- International Leadership
- Honers & Activities
- Choose your own!
Choosing the Content:
Heading – include your name, current address, phone, and e-mail (be sure your e-mail address is professional).Objective – in one or two lines, briefly state the type of position you seek or career area of interest. You may include specific skills you will contribute, allowing the employer to match these to positions. Customize your objective for each position, when possible. A general objective is advisable for situations such as career fairs.
Education – place TDU first, previous degrees next. Mention High School if you are a freshman or if you attended a High School of distinction. Highlight your best GPA. Study abroad fits well here, but you may prefer to create a separate section for this experience.
Projects – list career-related projects.
Experience – list internship, co-op, volunteer, and other work experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Select those most relevant to the reader. Include name and location of the employer, your title, and the dates you worked. Use action verbs and create short statements in bullet or paragraph form to describe your duties, skills developed, and accomplishments.
Skills – create a list or use subcategories (such as laboratory, computer, language, technical, artistic) to organize your skills.
Computer Skills – prioritize a list of skills developed in class, at home, and at work. Use subcategories (such as operating systems, programming languages, software) if they help to organize information. Use descriptive words (such as proficient, experienced, exposed, familiar) to help describe your ability.
Honors & Activities – prioritize honors and activities from campus and the community. Include awards, leadership, organizations and clubs, athletics, conferences, travel experiences, interests and hobbies. Note leadership roles or specific accomplishments when appropriate.
References – it is not necessary to place a statement such as “References Available Upon Request” on your resume. Employers assume that you will provide them if requested.
If you have the benefit of a job description, look for ways to incorporate their requirements into your resume.
Characteristics of a Resume that Gets Results:
- Professional in appearance
- Clear, concise, well-organized
- No errors
- One page preferred (two if needed)
- White or off-white paper
- 10-12 point font
- Tailored for the organization or position
- Career-related projects, skills, interests
- Relevant paid & unpaid experiences