Need your resume critiqued?
- Take advantage of ACES Career Services Fall 09 drop-in hours:
- Tuesdays 12-3; Wednesdays 1-4; and Thursdays 11-2
- The Career Center Resume Review: M-F 2:00-4:15 pm
- Schedule an appointment with ACES Career Services
Build your Resume
Optimal Resume - An easy-to-use online tool that provides step-by-step instructions to create a resume. Available only to currently enrolled students.
Sample Resumes
- VAULT Guide to Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews - only available to currently enrolled Illinois students
- Sample resumes from JobWeb.com
Writing a Resume
There is no "perfect" or "right" resume format. The format you choose will depend upon the job for which you are applying and your past experiences. The following guidelines are just that—guidelines for what to include in your resume. Use common sense and imagination to highlight your background and experience in a well-focused resume. Remember, the purpose of a resume is to get a job interview. The interview gets you the job.
Length
A one-page resume works well for the recent graduate. If you have an extensive work history, limit information to what is pertinent to the position to which you are applying. Students with advanced degrees will likely have a vitae instead of a resume. Vitas are much longer and more detailed than resumes.
Appearance
An organized, readable layout determines whether a resume is read or tossed aside. Make sure the information is well-organized and concise. Use bullet points and lists while avoiding dense text and paragraphs that are difficult to read. Using high-quality white or light-colored paper is recommended.
Content
Design your resume with a particular objective in mind. Present information important to the objective first. List information in descending order of importance. Be selective about what you include in your resume, but never falsify or exaggerate information. Sell yourself—attract attention to your special abilities and concentrate on your skills and competencies.
Resume Sections
Contact Information
Make sure your name is the most obvious piece of information on your resume. Also include your mailing address, email address, and phone number with voice mail capabilities. Do not include personal information such as age, marital status or health condition.
Education
List your educational background in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest college degree and working your way backwards. Do not include high school information. If you have not yet completed your degree, be sure to include your expected graduation date. Listing your grade point average is optional, but recommended if it is over a 3.0. Dissertation and thesis topics are also included in this section as are honors bestowed at graduation time. You can also choose to include formal study abroad experiences here.
Relevant Experience
This category includes volunteer or intern experience as well as employment that is relevant to the position being sought. Military experience is also listed in this section. Include job titles, employers, responsibilities, and dates. Concentrate on your contributions and impact using action words. You may include paid work experience, academic assignments of significance, and extracurricular assignments relative to your desired field of employment.
Leadership and Campus/Community Involvement
Use this section to list your extra-curricular activities, membership on committees, volunteer experiences, or other experiences that may be relevant to a potential employer.
References
It is acceptable to use the phrase, "Available upon request." Be prepared with a typed list when requested. Generally, a reference sheet will consist of the name, title, business mailing address, email address, and phone number of three to five academic or business references. Do not use relatives, friends or other students as references. Be sure to obtain permission from each person you plan to list as a reference.
Optional Sections
Objective Statement
An objective gives your resume a focus. It also gives credibility and direction to your resume and suggests commitment on your part. It should be specific enough to tell the employer the kind of work you seek, yet general enough to include the full range of jobs you will consider. If preparing your resume for a career fair, the objective should state if you are seeking an internship or full-time employment.
Qualifications or Technical Skills
Qualifications, or skills, may be established from any prior employment, educational achievement, internship, volunteer experience, and hobby or community service. This section is particularly helpful to students whose major is not obviously related to the job objective.
Language Ability
You can list this section separately, as a part of the qualifications statement, or in the additional information section if there is likelihood that this ability will be viewed as beneficial. Specify the language(s) you read, write, and/or speak and your facility in each.
Publications and Presentations
List articles you have published and those which have been accepted for publication. Bold your name in the citation. You can also list any seminars or presentations which you have given in this section.
Research Experience
Give employers insight into your professional abilities and training by listing relevant research projects on which you have worked.
Links to other great resources:
- Writing a resume - referenced from The Career Center
- Make Your Resume POP - Video
- How to Make Your Resume POP - Cheat Sheet
- Resume tips for your international experience - referenced from Univ. of Minnesota
- Preparing for an interview - referenced from The Career Center
