Résumé Guidelines
A resume is a summary of your qualifications for employment. It will typically let the reader know what type of position you are seeking and will highlight your education, experience, skills and other relevant information. In most cases, employers will request that you submit a resume to be considered for vacancies within their organizations. The primary purpose of the resume is to get you an interview.
There are basically two types of resumes. The traditional, reverse chronological resume is used most frequently. With this format, you present information in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and give a detailed account of educational and/or work experiences.
Another type of resume is the functional or skills-based resume. College graduates with limited experience should avoid preparing this type of resume because many employers are more suspicious when reviewing these resumes. A functional resume may be used if your qualifications do not support your professional objective. When preparing this type of resume, you would concentrate on skills developed through education or work experiences. This is typically done by listing the skills you have developed and documenting specific examples of when you utilized those skills.
A combination of the two resume types can also be used to effectively present your qualifications. If you are thinking about writing a functional or a functional/reverse chronological resume, please make an appointment with a Career & Experiential Education Center staff member. Together you can determine how to write one of these resumes effectively.
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND FORMATTING GUIDELINES
Abbreviations and Pronouns
Avoid using abbreviations and personal pronouns (I, my, me, mine, etc.).
Computer Templates
Do not use a computer program template. Employers can identify these formats immediately.
Enhancements
Use indention, all capital letters, bolding, underlining and bullets to effectively enhance important information. Avoid using italics because some resume scanners have difficulty interpreting this information.
Envelopes
Purchase large manila or white envelopes that allow you to mail your resume and cover letter without folding them.
Font and Font Size
Use only one font. The font should be a professional font that does not distract from the content of the resume. When using Microsoft Word, it is suggested you use the Arial Font. Font size should not exceed 12 point and should not be smaller than 9 point.
Honesty
Make sure that your resume is an honest and accurate account of your qualifications.
Ink
Use only black ink.
Layout and Format
Select a resume layout that is eye appealing and allows the employer to quickly retrieve information. Remember that the eye reads left to right, top to bottom; therefore, you should avoid centering subheadings. Try different resume formats to determine which one best highlights your unique skills and qualifications.
Length
Limit your resume to one page. For some career fields, this is not always the case. However, employers always prefer concise writing.
Margins
Set all margins (left, right, top and bottom) no smaller than _ inch and no larger than 1 inch.
Paper
Print your resume on quality bond paper. White or off-white paper is preferable. Avoid parchment-style, flecked or dark papers because they do not photocopy or scan well. To create a professional presentation, the cover letter should be printed on the same paper.
Personal Information
Do not include personal information such as age, height, weight, marital status, number of children, etc. unless it is required for the specific position. Remember that this information may be necessary for certain career fields such as acting.
Photographs
Do not incorporate personal photographs into your resume unless it is necessary to obtain the position.
Printers
Print your resume using a laser printer for a sharp, clean look. Avoid lower quality dot matrix, ink jet or bubble jet printers. Do not photocopy your resume.
Proofreading
Request that several people review and comment on your resume. Use our office staff members, professors, and professionals in the field you wish to enter. Write and edit your resume until it is perfect.
White Space
Use white (blank) space effectively to make your resume look professional. Avoid filling every blank space with information. This makes the resume easier to read.
RESUME ORGANIZATION
Follow these four simple rules when deciding how to organize your resume. (Keep in mind that the most important information should be listed first).
- Identifying Information (name and contact information) is listed first.
- The objective is listed second.
- All other headings are listed as they relate to the objective.
All resume information should be prioritized and presented in a manner that best supports the objective. For example, if you have limited professional experience, your educational information should appear before your experience. However, if you have professional experience that is relevant to your objective or your major does not support your objective, you should list experience before educational information.
- All information is listed in reverse chronological order.
Typically, when organizing a resume, the most recent information should be listed first. For example, if you have both a master's and a bachelor's degree you would list the master's degree first when presenting educational information. This also applies to work experience and other sections of the resume.
RESUME CONTENT
The following outline lists the information that is typically included in a resume:
1. Identifying Information
Your name, complete address(es), and telephone number(s) should be listed at the top of your resume. An e-mail address is optional. Do not put pager numbers on your resume. Students who have contact information at home and school should distinguish the separate addresses by date as shown in this example:
- Before May 18, 2006:
Millikin University
Blackburn Hall 202
1184 West Main Street
Decatur, Illinois 62522
217.424.5555
- After May 18, 2006:
2345 Happy Trails Lane
Hopetown City, Illinois 62500
217.424.5555
2. Objective
The objective is a statement that appears near the top of your resume and tells the reader about your career goals and/or expresses interest in a specific job or vacancy. You may call this section a variety of things including:
- Career Objective
- Job Objective
- Objective
- Position Desired
- Professional Objective
The major components of the objective, in their suggested order, are:
- A general or specific job title
Examples: entry-level position, accountant, graphic designer, actor, musician, biologist, sales representative, teacher, etc.
- An occupational field or industry
Examples: human resources, retailing, health care, manufacturing, banking, education, entertainment, etc.
- Any qualifications that need to be stated:
Examples: computer competencies, years of relevant work experience, education, skills (computers, teamwork, problem solving, creativity, management, organization, communication, leadership), etc.
- Additional information that may entice an employer to consider you for the position (optional):
Examples: desire to accept additional responsibility, seeking opportunities for advancement, willingness to travel and/or relocate, desire to learn more about a particular industry, willingness to accept or sponsor other work related activities, etc.
Here are some sample objectives for various majors to help you start developing your own. To learn more about writing your professional objective, make an appointment to discuss your objective with a CEEC staff member.
- English major
To obtain a position as an editor with a publishing company utilizing a degree in English, experience, and demonstrated skills in proofreading, writing and project management.
- Music major
To obtain an organist position in a church utilizing three years of church music experience, a degree in music performance and skills in time management, organization and interpersonal communication.
- Nursing major
To obtain a position as a nurse in a medical center utilizing education, clinical experience, and demonstrated skills in problem-solving, supervision and interpersonal communication. Interested in opportunities to work in cardiology or oncology.
- Sales Representative position
To obtain a position as a pharmaceutical sales representative utilizing education, four years of sales experience, an understanding of medical terminology and skills in persuasion and interpersonal communication. Willing to relocate.
- Education major
To obtain a teaching position in a Chicago-area private elementary school utilizing education, experience and demonstrated skills in classroom management, interpersonal communication, teamwork and leadership. Interested in opportunities to sponsor extra-curricular activities.
- Accounting major
To obtain a staff accountant position with a public accounting firm utilizing education, experience, and computer, organization, and analytical skills. Interested in opportunities to work in tax accounting.
- Marketing major
To obtain a management training position in the retail clothing industry utilizing a degree in marketing, two years of retail experience and demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication, creativity and time management.
3. Educational Information
This section of your resume outlines your educational background by listing the degrees, certificates, or licenses you may have earned. You may call this section, or sections like it, a variety of things including:
- Academic Background
- Academic Training
- Additional Training
- Certificates and Licenses
- Course Highlights
- Degrees Earned
- Education
- Educational Highlights
- Educational Preparation
- Professional Training
- Internships
Required Educational Information
- Degree and Major (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry)
- Date of Graduation (Month and Year only)
- College or University (Millikin University)
- Location of College or University (Decatur, IL)
Optional Educational Information
- Overall Grade Point Average
(should be included if a 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale)
- Major Grade Point Average
(may be included if a 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale)
- Minor(s), Areas of Concentration or Curriculum
- Emphasize Related Coursework
(list no more than eight and do not include course numbers)
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, May 2004
Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois
GPA 3.5/4.0
4. Experience Information
This section of your resume tells the employer what type of experience you have had that may qualify you for a position with the employer’s organization. You may call this section, or sections like it, a variety of things including:
- Experience
- Employment History
- Additional Experience
- Career Highlights
- Internships
- Career-Related Experience
- Clinical Experience
- Professional Experience
- Classroom Experience
- Teaching Experience
Required Experience Information
- Job Title
- Date of Employment (month and year to month and year)
- Employer
- Location of Employer (City and State)
Optional Experience Information
Include a brief description of work using action verb phrases
Attempt to individualize this information so that you outline your actions, not a general job description.
- Example:
Career Specialist , January 2000-June 2000
Career & Experiential Education Center, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois
- Assisted approximately 100 students in resume and cover letter writing
- Acquainted students with effective job search strategies and office resources
5. Additional Resume Information
Once you have listed your objective, education and experience, you will need to decide what else you want to communicate to a potential employer. You may want to consider grouping related information. Here are some common resume categories with sample headings:
- Awards/Honors
- Achievements
- Awards
- Distinctions
- Honors
- Scholarships
- Special Honors
- Skills
- Computer Competencies
- Computer Skills
- Computer Systems
- Equipment Competencies
- Language Proficiencies
- Languages
- Software
- Special Skills
- Involvement/Leadership
- Activities
- Campus Activities
- Campus and Community Involvement
- Campus Involvement
- Community Activities
- Community Involvement
- Leadership Experience
- Volunteer Activities
- Volunteer Experience
- Professional Information
- Conferences
- Exhibits
- Performances
- Presentations
- Professional Affiliations
- Professional Associations
- Professional Involvement
- Professional Memberships
- Publications
- Other Areas
- Interests
- International Travel
- Military History
- Travel
6. References
Instead of cluttering your resume with this information, prepare a separate sheet listing your references. This sheet should be printed on the same paper as your resume and should indicate that it is your reference list. This can be done by putting your name, address and telephone number at the top of the page just as it appears on your resume.
When providing references to a prospective employer make sure that you provide information that would be included on the person’s business card. This includes the reference’s name, title, organization, complete address and telephone number of the individual serving as a reference. Fax numbers and e-mail addresses are optional. A sample reference page is provided.
While you should not include references on the resume, you may include a statement at the bottom of your resume that states you will provide references upon request.
Reference Tips
- Choose your references carefully – Select people who know your work ability such as previous employers or teachers. It is often helpful to pick a reference who works in the same field you are pursuing. Professional references from work or school tend to carry more weight than personal/character references.
- Ask permission – Ask each reference if they will serve as a reference for you before you list them as a reference.
- Send each reference a copy of your resume – Help your references remember your strengths and your involvement by showing them in black and white. It is important for your references to have access to specific information about you.
- Notify your reference about the type of work you are seeking – Your reference should know the type of job you are looking for in order to recommend and relate your positive attributes to that position.
- Recommendation letters – Ideally, a reference would write a letter for each position, but time seldom permits that. Ask your references to write a general recommendation letter addressed, “To whom it may concern.” It is helpful to have recommendation letters on hand if an employer requests letters on the spot.
- Reference page – Instead of cluttering your resume with references, prepare a separate page with 3 to 5 references. This page should be printed on the same quality paper as your resume and cover letter. When providing references to a prospective employer, list the name, title, place of employment, complete address, and phone number for each reference. The reference page should be taken to the job interview or can be sent with the resume.
TIPS FOR LEARNING MORE ABOUT WRITING RESUMES
- Make an appointment to discuss your resume with a Career & Experiential Education Center staff member.
- Read some books on resume writing. Several are available in the CEEC office.
- Look at the sample resumes provided (see links on Resumes main page).
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