Career & Job Resources: Résumés

Résumé Tips:

• concise (1 page), truthful, positive action words, show your unique skills
• consistent font size 10 or 12 throughout
• have 1 inch margins, with balanced white-space
• use keywords, Career Objective or Mission Statement
• résumé matches job description
• less is always better  
• update your LinkedIn Profile
• clean up your online social accounts

Résumé Types:  Chronological, Functional, and Combination.  

• Chronological resumes are great for current college students or recent graduates. 
• Functional resumes are appropriate for those who have extensive and relevant work experience.  
• Combination resumes use reverse chronological work history and are functional as well.  
  
  There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but make sure to use the appropriate format if you have gaps in your employment.

Creating your Résumé

• free downloadable templates
• gather your employment history
  (keep separate document with addresses, contact information for each former employer)
  (keep separate document with references and contact infromation)
• brainstorm your goals, skill strengths, objective or mission statement
• use keywords in your objective or mission statement to match job description
• list work experience by giving each one a job title and then list bullets to describe your duties (tasks)
• Do NOT use complete sentences
• different verbs for each duty listed
• show how your skills positively affected past employers
• combine duties that are similar to prevent redundancy
• list your education, including any degrees you will complete in the next year
• list any other skills or experience that highlights how you could improve the organization to which you are applying  

Create different truthful resumes versions to match job descriptions when applying for different jobs.

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