Contact information: Full name, phone number, school and permanent addresses, email address, and phone number(s).

Education: School, degree, date of completion, honors, GPA if 3.0 or higher. If you haven’t received your degree, indicate your expected date of completion. In this section, you may want to list some of the related coursework you have completed to give the prospective supervisor a better idea of your expertise.

Experience: Include work history as well as non-professional experience. Internships, extracurricular activities, honors and awards and significant volunteer work are great additions.

Skills: List software programs, computer systems, office equipment with which you have experience.

Other categories: If relevant, include publications, awards, leadership positions, and other notable achievements.

Your resume should reflect your own words, personal touch and unique personality. It often creates the employer's first impression of you.

Employers seek talented candidates who are creative, free thinkers. Keep in mind that a “fill-in-the-blank” resume undercuts the very image you are attempting to create. Suggestion: don't use a Resume Wizard to create your resume.

Based on your resume and cover letter, the employer may select candidates to interview for the job. Therefore, your credentials must be an informative, well-organized, concise description of your qualifications for the given position. Be certain to write with enthusiasm and excitement. PROOFREAD your work and remember that it usually takes three or four drafts to create a good document.

Remember, the resume is designed to get you the interview, not the job! It cannot and should not be a substitute for the interview.

The resume is NEVER more than two pages; one is preferred. Fill each page. Advertise/market your skills, talents, abilities and experience. Always place the most important information first. Research has shown that your resume will receive only 15 to 60 seconds of reading the first time it is seen.

A resume must...

• keep the reader's interest
• contain action verbs, not state-of-being verbs
• be exciting and moving
• contain phrases, not sentences
• be consistent in content and indentation
• be given to each of your references so they have accurate, up-to-date information.

Eye appeal is vital; therefore, do not crowd your information. Leave enough white space on the page so that the resume is easily read. For emphasis, use numbers when possible to express dollars, people, savings, miles - anything quantifiable. To be journalistically accurate, numbers nine and less should be spelled out while 10 and greater should be expressed in numerals.

Finally, follow these important resume rules:

• Don't state past salary or wages. The same is true of height, weight, marital status and other personal information.
• Don't give reasons for leaving past employment.
• Don't use abbreviations for any information that could possibly be misinterpreted or misunderstood.
• Don't use slang words or phrases.
• Don't send a resume with typographical errors.
• Don't send a resume without an accompanying cover letter.

Put the most important topic headings first and organize by importance all material within each heading. There are three styles of resumes: Reverse Chronological, Targeted and Functional. Each uses different combinations of Topic Headings in a variety of orders. For ease of organization, these sections have been given alphabetical designations A through I. These sections are explained later in this document. Each style is defined below with an indication of the sections which are typically included.

Information used by permission from Indiana University-Southeast.

What Should I Include On My Resume?

Objective

Provide a statement of the type of position you are seeking. You may change this statement to fit each position you are seeking, as long as your education and experience qualify you. Use the job description for clues. The remainder of your resume must support your career objective in some way. If it does not, the resume becomes ineffective. See job objective examples below:

Good : A part-time lab tech position utilizing interests in chemistry and biology.

Bad : A position which allows me to use my skills and experience.

Education

List any education you have had since high school, in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Do not include any high school entries once you are in college. Do not include colleges from which you have transferred unless you earned a degree there. Supply the following information:

Experience

List in reverse chronological order (most recent first) your work experience. Attempt to select skills and duties that directly relate to the position you are seeking. Supply the following information:

• Created a safe and supportive atmosphere.
• Maintained highly accurate database for Marketing Department.
• Supervised clerical staff of 12 regarding all administrative activities.
• Planned and organized special events: concerts, dinners, receptions.

Use short phrases, not paragraphs -- may want to use bullet points. Quantify whenever possible. Do not highlight skill areas that you no longer want to use. Include Volunteer experiences if they relate to the type of position you are seeking.

If your previous work experiences did not relate to the position for which you are applying, develop a special section headed Personal Attributes and list those personal traits that would be valuable for the employer to know about you, for example: "Able to learn quickly" or Dependable, honest, and hard working." Again, read the job description carefully for clues.

Activities

This section may be headed with a variety of titles: Activities and Honors, Community and Campus Activities, or Volunteer and Campus Activities and may include your activities on campus and in the community. Be sure to include information about scholarships won, club memberships, awards, and extra-curricular activities. Do not include hobbies or any personal information such as marital status, age, health, etc.

Computer Skills

List all the software programs with which you are familiar.

References

For this section, simply use a phrase such as "Available upon request." Then, on a separate sheet of paper, list at least three people who know you well and who are willing to be positive references for you. Ask their permission, and give each of them a copy of your resume as a courtesy. Tell them what kinds of positions you are seeking. If possible, include at least one professional reference (someone who knows about your work habits), at least one education reference (someone who knows about your educational abilities), and at least one personal reference (someone who knows you as a member of the community and can vouch for your character). Be certain that you use the same heading (your name and contact information) on your reference sheet as was used on your resume. 

Information used by permission from Indiana University-Southeast.

Chronological: Emphasizes your work history, and lists your jobs and activities sequentially. Be sure to list these in reverse chronological order—place newest, most recent first. This resume style is good if (1) you have a good job history with no gaps in employment or (2) if the new job you are considering is directly related to your work history.

• Sample Chronological Resume
• Sample Chronological Resume

Functional: Emphasizes your skills sets. Group your experiences under headings such as Leadership, Professional Profile, or Technological Qualifications. Functional resumes are utilized when you want to emphasize your career growth and show related skills. If your position titles and organization names do not communicate the skills and experiences you have that are related to your goals, this style may be effective for you.

• Sample Functional Resume
• Sample Functional Resume
• Sample Reference List
• Sample Reference List

The Identification Section

This is the first section on the resume regardless of any other priority. It identifies the name of the writer and how to contact the person. Always include ZIP codes and area codes. In this high tech age, many candidates also include cell phone numbers, e-mail, and home web page addresses.

The Career Objective Section

Many resume guides suggest including a Career Objective section. This section is optional. If included, this statement must cover a particular career area or specific career position. If too general, it may imply that the candidate is shopping around or has not established a well-defined career goal. The required cover letter, or letter of introduction, also relates your career objective. Whether the objective statement appears on the resume or in the cover letter, the remainder of the resume must support the career objective. If it does not, the resume becomes ineffective. Never give an employer a resume with a career objective statement that doesn't relate to the position the employer is attempting to fill.

Some examples follow:

• Production Management - To begin my career in a production phase of a manufacturing firm with the eventual goal of moving into plant management. Initial assignment may be in scheduling, first-line supervision or quality control.
• Public Relations - Seek an entry level position with a publishing firm or major manufacturing organization. Would consider assignments in photography, journalism, layout, design, editing, or web design.
• Social Work - Seek a position with a social service agency as a family practice counselor.

The Abilities and Skills Section

Targeted resumes usually contain an Abilities and Skills section. Research the target field thoroughly to identify needed skills and abilities. This section (sometimes called Capabilities) must highlight the candidate's background as it directly relates to the job target. This and the Summary of Qualifications or Accomplishments section constitute the body and main thrust of the Targeted resume. Each short statement must start with a descriptive action verb in present tense. Seven to 10 statements are common. For example:

• Edit corporate policy and procedures manuals. * Create advertising campaign philosophy for major product lines. * Buy media time on national and local radio and TV channels. * Design copy for corporate sales brochures. * Provide guidance and feedback to artists. * Anticipate market trends and product life expectancy. * Plan effective use of creative personnel to meet overall office goals.

The Accomplishments Section

This section may also be called Summary of Qualifications, Innovations, or Achievements section. It highlights the candidate's skills as they relate to the desired position. Use action verb phrases in simple past tense. Five to seven statements are typical. For example:

• Supervised staff of seven journalists, commercial artists and editors and managed departmental budget of $1,500,000. * Successfully bid on three $500,000 advertising accounts. * Established firm's reputation by winning Gute awards in three consecutive years. * Planned and directed campaign for nationally advertised consumer hair-care product. * Conducted Story-Board Seminar for regional professional association. * Managed community program for ADII of Louisville.

The Job Functions Section

The main body of the Functional resume contains three or four short paragraphs of two or three sentences each to highlight specific skill areas closely related to the candidate's career objective. Each paragraph begins by noting a specific function or skill, which is then described. Specific examples of accomplishments are highlighted. Examples should come from a variety of jobs and activities and should not identify which employment situation produced the activity. For example:

• Troubleshooting: Answered telephone inquiries at a major appliance manufacturer's service facility. Researched customers' problem, determined malfunctions and suggested possible alternative actions and their probable costs. Serviced approximately 50 customers per day.
• Editing: Reviewed articles written in major periodicals and prepared synopsis of the content to be made available to subscribers of national data base. Consistently awarded for excellence in copy content, brevity, and clarity.
• Creativity: Organized and managed small advertising group that revamped company image and established positive reputation for product line.

The Educational Background Section

This is a major section in the Chronological Resume and will appear toward the top of the resume if the educational program has a direct bearing on employability and has been recently completed or will shortly be completed. If, on the other hand, the employment history is of greater importance to the prospective employer, skip this section for now and prepare the section on Employment. Return to this section upon completion of that section. For a Targeted or Functional resume, the Education and Work History sections are to be brief outlines of your activities and their dates. These parts of the resume are used as minor supports for the main body.

The Education section will vary based on the level of education attained. List this information in reverse chronological order (most recent education first) regardless of which type of resume you select. Also, the most important information within each section should be listed first.

List degree earned first. State institution attended and include information such as location (use complete mailing address if you need to fill up space), major field of study or concentration area, minors, dates of attendance or graduation date (use month and year), grade point average if it enhances employability, academic honors. Do not include information on educational experiences prior to college.

Use spacing, bolding, underlining, centering and indentations to emphasize important words and titles. Make similar words and phrases look alike. If you bold one school name, bold all school names; if you underline one major, underline all majors, etc.

The Employment History Section

This section is also written in reverse chronological order. Begin with the current or most recently held position and work backward. Normally, positions held while in high school are not included unless they are unusually relevant to the new position. For the Functional and Targeted resume styles, an Employment History section giving only employers' names and dates of employment is often included later in the resume.

When preparing the entries for the Reverse Chronological style, remember to list the most important information first. This means that either the position title or the name of the employer will lead off each entry. It is also typical to include the employer's address, dates of employment and a description of responsibilities, emphasizing those aspects that relate to the prospective career.

Bold, CAPS, underline or indent items of importance. Skip spaces to separate title words and phrases from copy. Consider using bullets (thick dots) to bring attention to special data.

Always use action verbs. For current positions, use present tense verbs. For former positions, use past tense verbs. Avoid the phrase "responsible for..." or "responsibilities included...". Express measurable results of the work. In other words, quantify information when possible. Instead of "Managed office staff," say "Managed office staff of 11 professionals." A subheading titled "Innovations" or "Accomplishments" may be included to highlight how the position has grown during your tenure. Again, use past tense action verbs for these phrases.

Don't forget part-time or summer jobs, internships, cooperative education and military experiences. These are all valuable work experiences.

Other Informational Section(s)

These areas are optional for all resume styles. There often is information which has a bearing on one's employability but which doesn't fit conveniently into any of the above sections. You may create additional sections which contain information such as memberships in professional associations, special skills, computer software and hardware, college activities, key words and foreign language skills. If the information positively impacts the hiring decision, include it.

The References Section

References are often required during the employment search. In the past, it was common to list all references on the resume. Today, because space is valuable, you may wish to simply state:

• References: Will be furnished upon request.
• Sample Reference List

This will provide additional space for more important information. A Reference Page should now be created that can be available when requested. It must contain your name, address, and telephone information as a part of the heading. The balance of the sheet will consist of the name, title, mailing address, and telephone number for three or four academic and/or business references. Do not use relatives, personal friends, or students as references. Be sure to obtain permission from each person you plan to use. Check the accuracy of the contact information with each reference. Be sure to select references who are knowledgeable, articulate, and who can speak and write clearly. They will be representing you to the prospective employer. And finally, be certain to provide each of your references with a copy of your resume so they have accurate information to pass along to the employer.

Information used with permission from Indiana University-Southeast.

Keep it brief. Try to limit to one page, however, there are cases when resumes must be longer. Use bullet points to be succinct.

Use keywords or action verbs when describing your work experience. For example, “Supervised a staff of ten part-time employees,” or “Developed and coordinated editorial and art production schedules.”

Format your Resume. Use underlining, capitalization, boldfacing to help organize your resume and give it “eye appeal.”

Proofread. Utilize the spell check feature on your computer AND have friends read your resume to catch any errors you or the spell checker may have missed. One misspelled word can cause your paperwork to go into the “undesirable” pile.

Revise. Rewrite your resume as necessary depending on the type of job for which you are applying.

Above all, make sure your resume has a “balanced” look when printed. Is it easy to find information on your resume? Is it too wordy? Remember resumes must have no misspellings, be grammatically correct, and be short and to the point.