Career counselors can help students draft and edit effective and persuasive resumes as they begin their job search.
The guide below is intended as an introduction; Students are strongly encouraged to work with a counselor to fine-tune their resume prior to beginning a job or internship search. While the information below will orient you to what to include in a basic resume, Visual Art and Performing Art students may need to adapt their resumes to include exhibit or performance experience and information.
Resume Formats
There are two basic resume formats. The most common is the reverse chronological which is particularly appropriate for individuals whose most recent work and educational experience match closely with their career/job objectives. In this format, the most recent education and experience are listed first, followed by the next most recent, and so on.
The functional format is less frequently used and is most appropriate for people who do not have experience in their chosen field, such as new job seekers or career changers. It is designed to highlight specific transferable skills that would be relevant to an employer, rather than focus on chronology or employment history.
Tailoring your resume to the opportunity
Since the purpose of a resume is to catch the attention of an employer and help them see your fit for a particular job, it is common for resume writers to highlight and emphasize particular experiences or skills that are relevant to the job being applied to. By prominently emphasizing relevant experiences and skills through formatting and content selection, it is possible to create a resume that is focused specifically towards one type of job. Job hunters may have two or three different versions of their resume which they use as they apply to specific job categories. For example, a person may have one version that emphasizes their office and administrative experience, another that emphasizes teaching or tutoring experience, and a third that emphasizes artistic or creative activities depending on the opportunities they are pursuing.
Length
One-page resumes are generally preferred for most fields. Two-page resumes are appropriate only if you have a great deal of relevant experience. Make sure your name is at the top of the second page, if you use two pages.
Appearance
Use a word-processor to experiment with different fonts and layouts in order to produce a resume that effectively presents your qualifications. Be sure that the font is of a legible size, and that the information is distributed in a way that does not "overcrowd" the page.
Print the resume on 8 1/2 by 11 inch white, ivory, or light beige bond paper. It is preferable to use a laser printer to achieve the highest quality print of your resume.
Have others proofread your resume for clarity, grammar, and spelling - your resume is intended to reflect upon you in the best light; sloppy grammar or spelling will act as a strike against you from the employer's perspective.
Information To Include In Your Resume
The following categories are typically included in a reverse-chronological resume; however, your particular situation will dictate which ones are most appropriate for you.
NAME
Include first (given) name FIRST, middle name/initial (optional), then last name (surname) LAST.
ADDRESS
Include local and/or permanent addresses. Refer to sample for possible layout.
PHONE NUMBER/E-MAIL
Include day and/or evening numbers, as well as e-mail if applicable. Indicate the use of each number (Home, Mobile, Residence, Work)
OBJECTIVE (optional)
Briefly indicate your interest in a specific position. e.g. "To obtain an editorial assistant position in a major publishing firm" The objective should be tailored to each job for which you are applying.
EDUCATION
List in reverse chronology. Include institution, location, school division, degree, graduation date or expected graduation date, all majors and minors, and GPA if above a 3.0.
HONORS
List any honors, scholarships, or awards you have received, including any received from community or civic organizations.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
List courses related to the field you are targeting, even if outside your major. Focus on electives and upper-level courses.
EXPERIENCE
Paid employment, internships, volunteer work, and military service should be included in this section. List employer/organization, location (city and state only), job title, dates of employment, and a brief job description.
When writing the job description, be concise and concrete. Use action verbs. Describe responsibilities and skills used. Emphasize results and accomplishments! Do not lead with "Duties" or "Responsibilities." Omit pronouns.
Include specific details of the experience that is relevant to your job objective. Six or seven lines of information is enough. For less relevant experience, (e.g., babysitting, when you want a job in broadcasting), summarize the responsibilities in one or two lines.
ACTIVITIES
These include Purchase College club memberships, student government, community service, and participation on athletic teams. Emphasize leadership duties, if any. If the bulk of your experience was gained through an activity, list it under EXPERIENCE, and describe your work as recommended above.
SKILLS
Include job related and other marketable skills in this section, especially computer related skills or foreign languages. Categorize your computer experience as "Expert", "Proficient", or "familiar with"; language skills can be described as "fluent" "knowledge of". You may wish to create separate language and computer skills sections.
INTERESTS (optional)
This is an optional section that allows you to reflect interests and experiences that make you stand out as a unique person. Choose examples that you feel reflect positive qualities about yourself, and that you feel the employer will also regard in a positive light. Reading, Travel, Athletics, and other hobbies or activities can reflect your curiosity, intelligence, initiative, and interpersonal interests or skills
REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST (optional)
This is simply to indicate that you have professional references who can vouch for your strengths or past performance. This is optional, as employers will typically let you know if they require references. Omit it if you need more space.
Resume Submission Formats - E-mail and internet posting
Resumes are submitted to employers through numerous channels, including mail, email, and on-line resume boards. Those submitted through electronic mediums have specific formatting requirements to be effectively transmitted. Check with the career office for more details on how to most effectively use these mediums.
LINKS
Reverse Chronological Resume Sample 1
Reverse Chronological Resume Sample 2
Additional Samples are available in the Career Development Center, including our Artist's Resume Guide
For online samples and tutorials, try the following links:
www.damngood.com
The Damn Good Resume Site: a website based on the Damn Good Resume book series, with tips and suggestions on successful resume writing
www.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume
Resume Tutor: an online resume tutorial brought to you by the University of Minnesota
www.jobweb.com/resumes.aspx?folderid=116
Sample resumes in multiple major/industry areas from JobWeb. (brought to you by the National Association of Colleges and Employers - NACE)