Resume Drop-in Hours: Monday-Friday, 2:30-4:30

Need some help starting a resume? Have a resume but need to update it? Not sure what size font to use or how to make use of the margins?

Stop by the Center for Career Development Monday-Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. for resume drop-in hours. We're located at 53 West Stevens St., next to the Department of Public Safety.

Read our Resume Handout!

Resume Layout Guidelines

• Resume length: 1-2 pages
• Font type and size: Arial, Times New Roman, Gill Sans (easy to read types), 10 - 12 pt size
• Name and headings should stand out and be easy to read
• Margins: ½ inch to 1 inch on all sides. Keep sides symmetrical.
• Use bold, italics, and underline to highlight content
• Use a consistent verb tense (past or present tense)
• Use action oriented words to describe your experiences
• Organize your content in a way that reflects your professional pursuits
• Proofread your resume and have others review it for grammar and clarity
• Name the document appropriately when saving to your computer, (ex. Jane Doe Resume 2011.doc)
• Save your final resume as a .pdf document for easy electronic transmission
• If printing, do so on resume paper using a laser printer

Why would I need two or more different resumes?

It is common to have a few different resumes, all ready for use. One may be geared towards a job in marketing, while another may be better for a legal assistant position. Know that your resume should be tailored for the type of position you seek to pursue. Subtle differences can create a distinctive resume and one that highlights the skills and experiences you have which are most relevant to the available job or internship.

Before You Begin

Below is a list of what you will need to know/have before you begin writing your resume:

1. Your current contact information
2. Career objective (optional)
3. College information (major, gpa, study abroad information, etc.)
4. List of honors and awards (including date)
5. List of professional presentations, papers, and conferences (if appropriate)
6. List of experiences (jobs, activities, volunteering). Name of organization, your title/role, city, state, dates.
7. List of skills and certifications (foreign language, lab, and computer skills, etc.)

Choose Your Style

Your resume is unique and reflects your own experiences. It is important to choose a visual format to your liking, along with a suitable structure for content. Be consistent with the presentation and content. Browse through the resume book at Career Development and choose a few resumes that you like. Having these on hand will help you create your document.

TIP: Do not use the Resume Templates in Microsoft Word. These can be helpful, but eventually they create a document which is difficult to edit.

Ready, Set, Type!

Once you are ready to start putting words to paper, it is time to begin! Most resumes will include several sections; they are listed below and reviewed in more detail.

Section 1: Name and contact information

Your name should be the largest text on the page and it is usually bolded. Include your college and home addresses, telephone, and email. If you list your cell phone, be certain that your outgoing message is appropriate for potential employers. Similarly, only use professional email addresses. U.S. resumes do not need additional personal information; however, if you seek employment outside the US, you should prepare a resume specifically for that country.

Section 2: Objective (optional)
The objective is a brief statement indicating the type of position you seek. Example: A summer internship in the media department of a large advertising agency.

Section 3: Education
List the name of your college, type of degree earned (ex. Bachelor of Arts), and the month and year of your gradation. Your GPA may be included if it is a 3.0 or higher.

Study abroad information should be included here. Provide the name of your program, location, and a brief description.

Honors and awards can be listed in this section, or in their own section. State the name of the honor/award and the date earned. It is helpful to describe the award/honor if not widely known.

High school information can be included up until your junior year. At that time, you should have plenty of college-related experience for a full page resume.

Section 4: Related Experience
Items in this section should be directly related to the job/internship you are pursuing. List your most recent experience first. Possible format: Your job title/role, name of employer/organization, city, state. Dates.

Provide a concise and relevant description of this job/activity/volunteer experience. State what you accomplished, who you worked with, and how you completed these tasks. See above for a simple example.

Section 5: Additional Experience
Items in this section are probably not related to the job/internship you are pursuing, but you want the employer to learn about your additional responsibilities. Possible format: Your job title/role, name of employer/organization, city, state. Dates.

Provide a concise and relevant description of this job/activity/volunteer experience. State what you accomplished, who you worked with, and how you completed these tasks. See above for a simple example.

Section 6: Skills
Foreign language competency, technical ability, scientific/lab experience, and certifications should be included in
this section. Only list skills that you are comfortable using on a regular basis.

Section 7: Activities
This section contains information on other involvements that are not of great substance. For example, you may list a club/organization membership here. However, if you held a leadership position it would be listed in the Additional Experience section.