What is a résumé?
A résumé is a written document that lists your work experience, skills, and educational background. This is your main marketing tool when applying for internships and jobs. To hold a job in the United States, your résumé and cover letter should meet basic, generally-accepted standards. The American résumé is succinct, including only information which is relevant to an employer’s requirements. Personal information is usually excluded. In most cases, a résumé is limited to one page.How do I write a résumé?
The easiest way to begin writing a résumé is to make a list of your academic, extracurricular, volunteer, and employment activities. The more things you can add to your list, the easier it will be to write your résumé!For more specific information about writing your résumé, please visit the Career Center.
Résumé formats
There are many different formats that can be used to write a résumé. Keep in mind that the format you choose should be one that best highlights the qualifications for the job you are interested in. For example, if you are applying for a computer programming position and you have extensive employment history in this field, you would want to use a résumé format that highlights your work history. If, on the other hand, you have no practical work experience in the computer programming field, you would want to choose a format that would put more emphasis on your education in this field.Basic Parts of a Résumé
Contact Information
In this section, you will list your full name, mailing address (including city, state, and zip code), phone number, and email address. Make sure to type your name in a font that is bolded and slightly larger than the rest of the text so that your name stands out.
Objective
An objective should state what you have to offer to an employer. It should not state what you want from the employer, position, or job.
Education & Related Coursework
This is the area where you will include your educational history. List the name of the college(s) that you have attended. Be sure to include the city and state of the colleges and what type of degree you earned. If you hold more than one degree, list the most current related degree first. Only include your GPA if it is above a 3.0.
You can also include a “related course” section of your résumé. In this section, include courses that you have completed that are directly related to the job or field of work for which you are applying. Do not include coursework that is not related to the field.
Honors & Accomplishments
Your accomplishments and extracurricular activities show an employer about your interests, motivations, and skills. If applicable, include the source of the award or accomplishment and the applicable date.
Skills
If you are applying for a position that requires specific skills, such as a computer programmer, it is a good idea to list the specific skills that you have in this field. For instance, if you are knowledgeable in C++ and Java, it would be a good idea for you to list these skills here.
Relevant Work Experience
Each paid and non-paid employment position that you have held can be listed on your résumé. When describing your jobs and experiences, be sure to give specific examples of your duties, accomplishments, and achievements. Include the job title, company name, location, and dates that you held the position.
For each job you list, you will want to describe your exact job duties. The action verbs you use in these descriptions are very important because they show the actual actions that you performed in your work. For a list of useful verbs to use in your résumé, click here.
References
At the very bottom of your résumé, include a line that states, “References available upon request.” You should only provide references if requested by the employer. References should include past supervisors, bosses, instructors, or anyone else who is familiar with your past work or educational experiences.
To view sample résumés, visit these websites:
