Developing An Effective Resume printable pdf download

Developing an Effective Resume

A resume is one of the most important documents in your internship or job search. It is a personal marketing tool

that may lead to an interview. Think of your resume as a summary of the knowledge, skills and experiences you will

bring to a specific position or industry.

Format: What should my resume look like?



Resume formats should be readable, well organized and concise. Most employers spend fewer than 20-30

seconds reviewing a resume.



Avoid using resume templates! Creating your own document demonstrates your computer skills and

initiative.. Templates can be difficult to edit, download and format over time.



One page resumes are preferred by employers for interns and entry-level opportunities. A two page

resume is acceptable for experienced candidates, and within many non-profit or academic fields.

What should my resume include?

Your resume is unique to YOU. It should include your skills, experiences and accomplishments. A resume should

include:



Contact information: Tip: Avoid using “headers” if possible, as MS Word may not print or fully download this

information. Avoid text boxes as well, as this can lead to difficulty with future edits.



Objective, Summary Statement or Skills Summary: Answers the questions, what do I want to do, where, and

what can I offer?



Education: School, Degree(s), Graduation date, or level of student (currently a Sophomore, Junior, etc.)



Skills (optional): Describes skills that are relevant to the job sought or above and beyond what is expected.



Experiences: Work, internship and/or volunteer experiences, accomplishments, and related leadership roles.



Honors & Activities: Honors/scholarships awarded, extracurricular activities and leadership roles

Resume Do’s and Don’ts

DON’T



Use conservative font styles (Times New Roman,



Don’t include personal pronouns such as I, me , or

Arial, Arial Narrow, or similar styles). Font size may

my.

range from 10-12.



Don’t include: age, marital status, height/weight, birth



Set page margins between 0.5 and 1.0 inches (top,

date, or a photograph.

bottom, left and right).



Don’t abbreviate (other than for the states - SC).



Use bullet points to keep text action-focused and



Don’t exaggerate or lie on your resume. It will catch

concise.

up with you.



Include accomplishments.



Don’t include “References upon Request” at the



Print your resume using a laser printer; white or off-

bottom of your resume. Most employers who want

white bond paper is preferred. (Dark paper does not

references will ask for this. Use the space on your

copy or fax well!)

resume to share more details about you and your



Keep your resume up to date, with correct addresses

experiences.

and phone numbers!



ALWAYS include a cover letter when mailing your

resume to an employer.



Proofread carefully!

The Career Center

Developing An Effective Resume

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