How to write a Resume and what other points you must keep in mind while drafting a Resume. | Summaries English Language

HOW$TO$WRITE$A$RESUME$

A!résumé!is!one!of!the!most!important!tools!to!assist!you!in!getting!an!interview!for!a!job.!It!brings!together!

your!education,!work!experience,!interests,!and!skills!into!one!comprehensive!but!brief!outline!for!the!

employer!to!read.!A!résumé!should!be!a!good!reflection!of!who!you!are,!since!it!is!the!first!impression!a!

potential!employer!has!of!you,!so!take!your!time!when!preparing!your!résumé.!!

Writing!a!résumé!can!be!a!confusing!and!long!process,!but!with!the!right!guidelines!you!can!create!a!résumé!

that!does!what!it!is!made!to!do:!catch!an!employer’s!eye.!It!is!important!to!think!of!your!résumé!as!your!own!

personal!sales!pitch.!Ask!yourself,!‚Why!should!he/she!hire!me?!When!you!write!your!résumé!keep!in!mind!all!

of!your!experiences,!education,!and!qualifications.!Here!are!a!few!guidelines!we!hope!will!assist!you!in!that!

process:!!

Basic$Elements$of$a$Resume$

Choose!the!headings!that!best!reflect!your!experience.!Your!headings!do!not!have!to!come!directly!from!this!

list,!as!it!is!not!comprehensive.!!

• HEADING!!

• OBJECTIVE!(optional)!

• EDUCATION!!

• EXPERIENCE!!

• HONORS!AND!AWARDS!!

• SKILLS!/HIGHLIGHTS!

• REFERENCES!(on!a!separate!page)!

HEADING:$This!section!of!a!résumé!is!one!of!the!most!important.!It!should!include!your!name,!address,!email!

address!and!phone!number.!Make!sure!to!let!your!name!STAND &OUT&by!using!bold!and!enlarging!the!font!size!of!

your!name.!Use!a!professional!email!address!(i.e.!do!not!use!crzychick@aol.com,!starwarsfan@hotmail.com,!etc.)!!

OBJECTIVE:!The!objective!is!a!one‐sentence!declaration!of!the!type!of!job!that!you!are!seeking.!It!appears!beneath!

the!heading!and!is!as!specific!as!possible,!noting!the!company!you!are!applying!to,!the!job!title!you!are!seeking!and!

skills!you!would!like!to!use!in!that!job.!This!should!only!be!in!cluded!if!you!can!be!specific!about!the!position!you!

are!seeking.!Otherwise,!omit!it.!

EDUCATION:$This!section!of!a!résumé!lists!all!the!colleges!you!have!graduated!from,!along!with!their!addresses!

and!any!degrees!you!have!earned!with!the!date!you!attained!them.!If!you!are!in!the!process!of!attaining!a!degree,!

list!the!expected!date!that!you!will!receive!it.!Do!not!list!your!high!school!unless!it!is!of!importance!to!the!employer!

that!you!are!applying!to!(i.e.!applying!to!be!a!teacher!at!the!same!high!school!you!graduated!from).!!

EXPERIENCE:$An!experience!section!on!a!résumé!can!refer!to!paid!or!unpaid!jobs!and!should!include!your!job!title,!

the!name!of!your!employer,!city!and!state,!followed!by!dates!of!employment.!Next,!summarize!your!contribution!to!

the!position,!achievements,!and/or!responsibility!assumed.!Give!numbers!when!applicable.!Make!sure!to!use!action!

verbs!to!begin!your!statements!(see#the#action#verb#list#in#this#booklet).!Use!a!present!verb!tense!only!when!

describing!a!current!position.!This!should!not!be!a!job!description,!but!instead!should!illustrate!your!

accomplishments!and!results.!!

HONORS$&$AWARDS:$This!is!an!optional#section!of!your!résumé!and!should!include!scholarships!and!other!related!

honors.!These!can!be!school!or!non‐school!related.!Make!sure!to!include!the!date!you!received!the!honor!or!award.!

For!clarification!it!may!be!necessary!to!give!short!descriptions!of!the!nature!or!purpose!of!some!of!the!

organizations,!awards,!honor!societies!or!service!organizations.!Only#include#scholarships#that#are#based#on#merit,#not#

financial#need.!!

SKILLS/HIGHLIGHTS$:$In!this!section!you!should!inform!the!reader!of!any!unique,!relevant!or!necessary!skills!that!

you!have!but!are!not!reflected!in!the!other!sections!of!your!résumé.!For!example:!foreign!languages!

(conversational,!fluent,!and!bilingual),!computer!applications,!certifications,!etc.!!

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HOW TO WRITE A RESUME

A résumé is one of the most important tools to assist you in getting an interview for a job. It brings together

your education, work experience, interests, and skills into one comprehensive but brief outline for the

employer to read. A résumé should be a good reflection of who you are, since it is the first impression a

potential employer has of you, so take your time when preparing your résumé.

Writing a résumé can be a confusing and long process, but with the right guidelines you can create a résumé

that does what it is made to do: catch an employer’s eye. It is important to think of your résumé as your own

personal sales pitch. Ask yourself, ‚Why should he/she hire me? When you write your résumé keep in mind all

of your experiences, education, and qualifications. Here are a few guidelines we hope will assist you in that

process:

Basic Elements of a Resume

Choose the headings that best reflect your experience. Your headings do not have to come directly from this

list, as it is not comprehensive.

HEADING
OBJECTIVE (optional)
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
- HONORS AND AWARDS
- SKILLS /HIGHLIGHTS
- REFERENCES (on a separate page)

HEADING: This section of a résumé is one of the most important. It should include your name, address, email

address and phone number. Make sure to let your name STAND OUT by using bold and enlarging the font size of

your name. Use a professional email address (i.e. do not use crzychick@aol.com, starwarsfan@hotmail.com, etc.)

OBJECTIVE: The objective is a one‐sentence declaration of the type of job that you are seeking. It appears beneath

the heading and is as specific as possible, noting the company you are applying to, the job title you are seeking and

skills you would like to use in that job. This should only be in cluded if you can be specific about the position you

are seeking. Otherwise, omit it.

EDUCATION: This section of a résumé lists all the colleges you have graduated from, along with their addresses

and any degrees you have earned with the date you attained them. If you are in the process of attaining a degree,

list the expected date that you will receive it. Do not list your high school unless it is of importance to the employer

that you are applying to (i.e. applying to be a teacher at the same high school you graduated from).

EXPERIENCE: An experience section on a résumé can refer to paid or unpaid jobs and should include your job title,

the name of your employer, city and state, followed by dates of employment. Next, summarize your contribution to

the position, achievements, and/or responsibility assumed. Give numbers when applicable. Make sure to use action

verbs to begin your statements ( see the action verb list in this booklet ). Use a present verb tense only when

describing a current position. This should not be a job description, but instead should illustrate your

accomplishments and results.

HONORS & AWARDS: This is an optional section of your résumé and should include scholarships and other related

honors. These can be school or non‐school related. Make sure to include the date you received the honor or award.

For clarification it may be necessary to give short descriptions of the nature or purpose of some of the

organizations, awards, honor societies or service organizations. Only include scholarships that are based on merit, not

financial need.

SKILLS/HIGHLIGHTS : In this section you should inform the reader of any unique, relevant or necessary skills that

you have but are not reflected in the other sections of your résumé. For example: foreign languages

(conversational, fluent, and bilingual), computer applications, certifications, etc.

REFERENCES: This section should be on a separate sheet of paper that matches the font/format of your resume

and cover letter. The heading on this page should also match your resume. You should always secure the

permission of anyone you choose to use as a reference before giving his/her name.

Good references might include professors, advisors or employers. Never use relatives for references. Give a copy of

your resume to these references so they can speak highly of your when your potential employers speak with them.

Employers might ask your references questions such as: “How reliable was this individual?” “what was it like to

work with this individual?”, and “What kind of contributions did this individual make in his/her job?” Be sure to list

your references in order of how well they know your qualifications and include their name, title, company, city,

state, zip, phone, and email address if appropriate.

TYPES OF RESUMES

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME: The chronological resume lists your work experience from the most recent

backwards. This is the simplest of resumes, and it is a useful format if used properly. This resume format is

preferred by most employers and works bests when you’ve had a long, steady work history and promotions that

you want to showcase.

FUNCTIONAL RESUME: The functional resume is arranged around your skills and abilities. For example, if you are

strong in communication skills, under that major heading you would list variety of supportive experiences from

different jobs, school or volunteer situations. This format is sometimes used by those with little or no work

experience, or those who are career changers.

COMBINATION RESUME: The combination resume combines elements of chronological and functional resume to

improve the clarity or presentation of a resume. For example, if you have a good work history that supports your

current job objective, you could start with a skills section that supports the skills needed in the job you want, then

include a shorter work experience.

RESUME LANGUAGE, FORMATTING, AND TIPS

Resume language is distinct in that it utilizes action verbs and is very direct. Remember, you are trying to

communicate all your best selling attributes in a smalls space. Use powerful words to try and accurately reflect the

assets that you would bring to a job. When formatting, remember there is no one absolute format. Create a format

that best represent you. A few formatting rules apply:

Margins can be as small as .5 inches
Font can be 10pt if necessary
Your should always include a cover letter with your resume
Do not use the word “I”
Use few abbreviations
Do us capitalization to highlight job titles
Do use bullet points to emphasize job descriptions
Always use action verbs in job description

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME SAMPLE

FUNCTIONAL RESUME SAMPLE

REFERENCE SHEET SAMPLE

SAMPLES OF ACTION VERBS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR FUNCTIONAL SKILLS Abstracted Achieved Acquired Acted Adapted Addressed Advertised Advised Advocated Aided Answered Anticipated Applied Approved Arranged Ascertained Assembled Assessed Assisted Attained Audited Augmented Authored Bolstered Briefed Brought Budgeted Built Calculated Cared Charged Chartered Checked Clarified Classified Coached Collaborated Collected Comforted Communicated Compared Completed Complied Composed Computed Conceived Conducted Conserved Consulted Contributed Contracted Converted Coordinated Copied Correlated Counseled Created Critiqued Cultivated Dealt Debated Defined Delivered Designed Detected Determined Developed Devised Diagnosed Directed Discovered Discriminated Dispatched Displayed Dissected Documented Drafted Drove Edited Eliminated Empathized Enabled Enforced Enlightened Enlisted Ensured Established Estimated Evaluated Examined Exceeded Excelled Expanded Expedited Experimented Explained Explored Expressed Extracted Facilitated Fashioned Financed Fixed Followed Formulated Fostered Founded Gained Gathered Gave Generated Governed Guided Handled Headed Helped Identified Illustrated Imagined Implemented Improved Improvised Inaugurated Increased Indexed Indicated Influenced Initiated Inspected Instituted Integrated Interpreted Interviewed Introduced Invented Inventoried Investigated Judged Kept Launched Learned Lectured Led Lifted Listened Located Logged Made Maintained Managed Mapped Maximized Mediated Memorized Mentored Met Minimized Modeled Modified Monitored Narrated Observed Obtained Offered Operated Ordered Organized Originated Overcame Oversaw Participated Perceived Perfected Performed Persuaded Planned Practiced Prepared Presented Prioritized Produced Programmed Projected Promoted Proposed Protected Proved Provided Publicized Published Queried Questioned Raised Ran Ranked Rationalized Read Reasoned Recorded Received Reduced Referred Related Relied Reported Researched Responded Resorted Revamped Reviewed Scanned Scheduled Schemed Screened Set Goals Shaped Skilled Solicited Solved Specialized Spoke Stimulated Strategized Streamlined Strengthened Stressed Studied Substantiated Succeeded Summarized Synthesized Supervised Supported Surveyed Sustained Symbolized Tabulated Talked Taught Theorized Trained Translated Upgraded Utilized Validated Verified Visualized Won Wrote EXAMPLES OF ADAPTIVE SKILL WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL TRAITS Active Adaptable Adept Aggressive Analytical Assertive Broad‐Minded Committed Competent Conscientious Cooperative Creative Dedicated Dependable Determined Diligent Diplomatic Disciplined Discreet Effective Efficient Energetic Enterprising Enthusiastic Exceptional Experienced Fair Familiar Firm Forceful Honest Independent Innovative Instrumental Keen Logical Loyal Mature Methodical Objective Open Minded Outgoing Personable Pleasant Poised Positive Practical Productive Receptive Reliable Resilient Resourceful Self‐Confident Self‐Motivated Self‐Reliant Sensitive Sharp Sincere Strong Successful Tactful Tenacious Well‐Organized

TOP TEN PITFALLS IN RESUME WRITING

1. TOO LONG: most new graduated should restrict resumes to one page. If you have trouble condensing, get help from the Career, Transfer & Job Placement Center (CTJPC). 2. TYPOGRAPHICAL, GRAMMATICAL OR SPELLING ERRORS: These errors suggest carelessness. Have at least two others proofread your resume before submitting. Do not rely on spell or grammar checkers on your computer alone. 3. HARD TO READ: A poorly typed or copied resume looks unprofessional. Use a plain font (Times Roman, Helvetica, etc.), and a point size no smaller that a 10 (11 in the body of your resume). Asterisks, bullets, underlining, bold and italics should only be used to make the document easier to read. 4. TOO VERBOSE: Using too many words to say too little. Do not use complete sentences or paragraphs. Say as much as possible with few words as possible (this is where the action words come in handy!). Be careful in your use of jargon and avoid slang. 5. TOO SPARSE: Give more than the bare essentials, especially when describing related work experience, skills, accomplishments, activities and club memberships that will give employers desired information. 6. IRRELEVANT INFORMATION; Customize each resume to each position you see (when possible). Of course, include all education and work experience, but emphasize only relevant experience, skills and accomplishments. Do not include: marital status, age, sex, children, height, church memberships, etc. 7. OBVIOUSLY GENERIC: Too many resumes scream “I need a job‐any job!” The employer needs to feel that you are interested in that position with that company. 8. TOO SNAZZY: Of course, use good quality paper, but avoid colored or pre decorated paper. Become familiar with converting your resume from word to pdf files, as companies are requesting resumes via email. 9. BORING: Make your resume as dynamic as possible. Begin every statement with an action verb. Use active verbs, describing what you accomplished on the job. Don’t write what someone else told you to do; write what you did. Take advantage of your rich vocabulary and avoid repeating words, especially the first word in a section. 10. TOO MODEST: The resume showcases your qualifications in competition with the other applications. Put your best foot forward without misrepresentation, falsification or arrogance. ONE MORE THING ; Your resume should never travel alone! When providing your information to a potential employer, you should be providing them with: Cover Letter, Resume and Reference Sheet. (In that order, paper clipped together)

How to write a Resume and what other points you must keep in mind while drafting a Resume., Summaries of English Language

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