Resumes

Give yourself a leg up on the competition
Your resume is an opportunity to make a positive and lasting impression on a potential employer. A relatively small amount of work on your part can make a big difference. Here are some general tips on writing a winning resume, followed by specific recommendations.

General Tips
In general, a resume should be concise, easy to understand, and organized logically; in most cases it should be only one page in length, and should include the following information:

Header – your contact information
Objective – your immediate career goal
Work Experience – most recent first
Skills – technical, communication, and language
Education – including technical training
Activities – work-related and civic organizations

Spend some extra time checking the spelling, grammar, verb tense, and punctuation on your resume; a sloppy resume makes a very bad first impression. Also, be sure your resume is easy to read by using standard fonts in 10 to 12 point sizes. Using action verbs to describe your experience can create a more dynamic and energetic writing style.

Header
The Header is where you put all your contact information, including name, address, phone, and email address. Generally, this is centered at the top of the page.

Objective
If possible, consider personalizing your objective to better focus on the needs of a particular employer. Use keywords from the job description, or in terms the company uses to describe itself. Then, be sure that all the other content in your resume refers back to that objective.

Work Experience
Start with your most recent job first; include the company name, your position, and the dates of employment. Describe your role as specifically as possible, and include examples of areas in which you were successful. Although you don’t have to list every job you have ever had, you should be prepared to answer questions about extended gaps in your employment history.

Skills
Be as specific as possible in describing skills you have that may be of value to a potential employer. For instance, software programs, verbal and written communication skills, and foreign languages should all be included. However, you should be careful not to mention skills that you aren’t extensively familiar with.

Education
Education can include high school, college as well as, technical and vocational training important to your career objectives. Highlight the degree and the date it was received, rather than where it came from. Depending on your level of education and the amount of your professional experience, you may choose to emphasize this section of your resume more or less.

Activities
Focus primarily on organizations and clubs that are related to your career objectives, but also include any civic organizations that show your ability to assume positions of responsibility. If you held a leadership position (management, assistant management, president, etc.), list it along with a description of your duties. This is also the part of the resume where you could list any volunteer work you have done that might add value in your new job. For additional help with your resume, take a look at the links below.

Riley Guide: Help with your resume

CollegeGrad.com: Entry Level Resumes

Job Web: Sample Resumes and Cover Letters

University of Minnesota: Resume Tutor

Job Seekers Action Verbs