Resume How To

Resume Purpose

Your resume is your personal brand

  • You have 6-10 seconds to catch a recruiter’s attention, so be savvy and do the research.
  • Prove your experience, skills and achievements by matching them to the job description requirements.
  • Add value by quantifying specifics. For example, rather than “Coached student teams at summer camp”, use “Coached 3 girls’ soccer teams ages 7-12”.
  • The best received resumes demonstrate excellent written communication skills and encourage the hiring professional to interview you.

Resume Writing Tips

  • Be attentive to detail. Proofread carefully to ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Keep verb tenses consistent throughout. Use present tense for current activities and employment.
  • Use past tense for activities and employment not presently held.
  • Phrases, rather than complete sentences, are generally most effective.
  • Use a variety of action verbs to bring your skills and experiences to life.
  • Avoid using each verb or adjective more than once.
  • Spell out all acronyms the first time they are used, followed by the acronym in parentheses.
  • Thereafter, in the same document you may use the acronym alone.
  • Have your resume reviewed multiple times. This gives you varied insights and multiple perspectives. The Career Center provides opportunities to have your resume reviewed.
  • Faculty, academic advisors, family and friends can also provide good insight.

Resume Formatting

  • Take advantage of white space. Use it as a mechanism to appropriately convey emphasis and organization to your information and skills.
  • Be consistent with alignment and appropriately use left, center, and right alignment.
  • Make use of bold, underline, and italics to emphasize different aspects of your resume.
  • The length of your resume depends on your degree level, academic major, and number of relevant experiences you have conducted.
  • Rather than being creative in the design and format of your resume, demonstrate your creativity in the content you choose.

When writing a resume, be sure to keep your audience and reader in mind. Information should be clearly communicated, consistent, and relevant so the reader can quickly identify your unique strengths and skills.

  • Investigate each potential employer and consider preferences for length, format, and content of your resume.
  • Be sure to follow special instructions for supplemental application materials. Provide all documents requested, and determine if appropriate to send additional, e.g. reference list.
  • If possible, save all of your documents in one PDF and attach them to your application.
  • Review the job description and consider the responsibilities for each position you apply to. Make changes to your resume accordingly.
  • Resume Reviews - No need to schedule an appointment. Please bring a paper copy to Donna Felty in Bristol 108.
  • Career Coaching - Schedule a 30 minute appointment with a career coach.

Sample Cover Letters