CREATING THE EFFECTIVE RESUME

What is a Resume?
A resume is a one-page summary of your skills, education, and experience. The
resume acts much like an advertisement for a company trying to sell something.
The resume is your advertisement. Just as a sneaker company spends countless
hours (and millions of dollars) designing their latest advertising campaign, you too
must spend a good deal of time creating, proofreading, editing, and perfecting
your resume. A resume is one of the most important pieces of writing you will ever
create. A solid resume is the key that will open the door to good jobs. Don’t cheat
yourself...work hard on it.

What should be included in a resume? Not all resumes are the same, but there
are some common elements that they all should include. The necessary elements
are:

Heading - Your heading should include the essential personal information. Your
formal name (not nickname) should appear at the top and it should stand out above
all else on the paper. You want them to remember who you are in less than 30
seconds. Also include your address (both permanent and temporary) and phone
number. If you use email, include your email address.

Objective - (Also called “Career Objective”) Employers often say this is the most
important part of a resume. It is generally a one sentence explanation of the type of
job you are seeking. Your objective should be fairly specific. If you are applying for
different types of jobs, change your objective to match each type of job. If you are
uncertain about the specific positions available, note your areas of interest.

Education - As students, this should be your next section of information. If you are in
college, you only need to include college because it is assumed that you have
graduated from high school. For the same reason, high school students should not
include information from junior high/middle school. You should specify the dates of
attendance or graduation (or expected graduation). As a college student, include
your major and the degree you expect to receive. Some people include education-
related honors in this section. If your education is particularly relevant to a job, you
may want to include a section titled “Relevant Courses.” In this category, you can
list classes that might contribute to your employability.

Experience - (Also called “Work Experience” or “Employment Experience”) In this

section, you should include previous employers, their locations, your dates of
employment, and your job title. You may have to create a job title if you did not
have one. You should include at least two one-line descriptions of what your job
duties and responsibilities were. You cannot assume that the job title explains what
you did to all readers. Use action verbs to start each of these descriptions. Do not
use “I” in descriptions.

Activities - Employers like to see people who have been involved in school or
community activities. In this section, list special activities you participated in (prom
committee) and organizations you joined (drama club, baseball team, etc.). Include
the years in which you participated. Be aware, however, that some employers may
eventually view this information as irrelevant. As high school students, this should
not be a concern.

Summary of Skills - Some people use this section to include special skills or talents
that are not included elsewhere on the resume but would be relevant to the
employer. Some possibilities are:
• Type 60 words per minute
• Fluent in French
References – Although it is common practice to put “References Available Upon
Request” at the bottom of a resume, most career advisors say it is unnecessary.
However, there is nothing wrong with taking a nicely printed list of personal
references with you to an interview. You should have 2 - 3 people who have
observed your work habits (employers, teachers, coaches, etc.) and 2 - 3 people
who can speak about your character. Make sure you have asked their permission to
include them as

references. Only ask people who will speak well of you. Create a separate list of
references including their names, addresses, employers, job titles, and phone
numbers. It is best to list work numbers since some people don’t appreciate calls at
home. You know an employer is interested when they request a list of references.

How do I set up a resume? Your resume should be divided into distinct sections.
The italicized words above are typical section headings. Do not label the heading
section. Headings should stand out as boldfaced, larger text. Employers tend to
have certain headings that interest them most. Make it easy for them to find them.
Here are some suggested headers:

Major Headers (to be used in almost all resumes): Objective, Education,

Employment History/Work Experience, School Activities.
Minor Headers (to be used if appropriate): Computer Experience, Associations,
Certifications, Community Activities, Highlights of Qualifications,
Honors/Awards, Interests and Hobbies, Projects, Relevant Courses, Summary
of Qualifications, Volunteer Experience.

Should items be arranged in any particular order? Yes! You want your resume
to be coherently organized. There are two distinct types of resumes. Most young
people utilize a Chronological Format. The chronological style is exactly what it
sounds like: It follows your work history backward from your current job, listing
employers, dates, and job responsibilities. This is the format that you would most
likely use if you were new to the workforce and have limited experience. Frequent
job changes and work instability show up dramatically with this format. For
someone who has held many jobs, the Functional Format is more useful. A
functional resume is created without employment dates or company names. This
format concentrates on skills and responsibilities and is more likely to be used after
you have developed your career skills and have accomplishments to your credit.

How important is the format? The importance of the format lies in its
consistency. There is no one best resume format. Remember to stick to one format.
It shows off your organizational abilities.

Should I use complete sentences when describing jobs? Not usually. Use
action phrases instead. Leave out unnecessary words. Try to match your skills and
experience with the employer's needs.

Do the looks of a resume matter? Absolutely! When sending a resume to an

employer or college, don’t skimp. Use white or off-white professional weight paper
and black ink. Avoid using colored paper or fancy graphics in your resume unless
the job you are applying for is in a career area that might stress this type of
formatting (art, graphic design, advertising, etc.) Always print resumes using a
quality laser printer.
 RESUME TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Final hiring decisions are rarely based solely upon the resume. The resume is
your advertisement (just like the Nike swoosh or McDonald’s arches) that will get
you an interview. The resume should be a concise, factual, and positive listing of
your education, employment history, and accomplishments.

2. Make sure your resume is PERFECT! It only takes one error in spelling,
punctuation, or grammar to cause an employer to stop reading. Ask people to
proofread your resume. Go over it with a fine-tooth comb.

3. Limit your resume to one page. Only people with a great deal of related
experience should have resumes longer than one page.

4. One-inch margins around the page and blank lines between sections will make
all the information easier to read. Use a 10-point font size minimum and avoid
overuse of italics, bold, and underlining.

5. Since you probably have little work experience, you will want to emphasize your
accomplishments in and out of the classroom. Volunteer activities, hobbies,
sports, honor roll, and student organizations are things that help define who you
are and should be highlighted. List only recent honors and awards unless they
are specifically relevant to the position for which you are applying.

6. Present your job objective in a manner that relates both to the company and the
job description.

7. Sell yourself! Create a good first impression by highlighting skills and abilities
appropriate to the position. If you don’t sell yourself, your resume will stay in the
pile with all of the others. Separate yourself!

8. Tell the truth and nothing but the truth! Employers will pick up on “little” white
lies when they interview you.

9. Choose your words carefully. In a resume, you need to sound positive and
confident, neither too aggressive nor overly modest. Do not use “I.” Each
description of your responsibilities should begin with a verb. The following words
and phrases are intended as suggestions for thinking about your experience and
abilities:

accomplish; achieve; analyze; adapt; balance; collaborate; coordinate;

communicate; compile; conduct; contribute; complete; create; delegate direct;
establish; expand; improve; implement; invent; increase; initiate; instruct; lead;
organize; participate; perform; present; propose; reorganize; research; set up;
supervise; support; train; travel; work (effectively, with others)