Résumé Writing

What is the purpose of a résumé?

This serves as your introduction to an employer. It is a personal advertisement promoting yourself for a position. The résumé can also help create a favorable first impression. It can show the employer your qualifications and bridge the gap between your qualifications and the needs for the position. The ultimate goal of the resumé is to create such an impression that an employer will want to set up an interview.

Resume Power Point presentation: How to Write an Effective Résumé.

What are the different formats of a résumé?

Chronological -- This résumé starts with the most current information and works its way towards the past. Therefore, your most recent job would be the first one listed in a section titled "Work Experience".
Functional -- This résumé groups skills together by functional area. Examples would be section titles such as: Communication, Counseling, Supervision, Event Planning, and more.
Combination -- This type of résumé would combine different parts of a chronological resumé with different parts of a functional résumé.

What are the different things that make up a résumé?

Contact Information/Heading -- The first thing that should be on every resumé is some kind of contact information. Your name followed by an address, phone number, and email address are commonly used. Do not abbreviate Street, Road, Boulevard, etc. It is also a good idea to have a professional sounding message on your answering machine.
Objective -- (optional) An objective states what type of position or internship you are seeking. Objectives should be very general and broad so the focus is not too narrow. Example: "Seeking a management position in the hotel industry utilizing communication, management and problem solving skills".
Education -- Always put your highest level of education. If you are currently in college, state where you go to school and when you expect to graduate and your major also. If you have already graduated, state when you graduated and what degree you obtained. Optional information to list includes a concentration or emphasis of study, Dean's List(2 or more times), Grade Point Average (if it is relatively high), study abroad, dissertation or thesis, honors, awards, and scholarships (however, honors, awards and scholarships can have a separate section ).
Course Highlights -- (optional) If you are applying for a position in a very technical field (computers, engineering, science) you can highlight some of the courses that you have taken. This can be very helpful if you do not have a lot of work experience in a certain field.
Experience -- In this section elaborate on jobs, internships, and other relevant experience. May use a title called "Related Experience" for this section. List Chronologically backwards. Need to include the name of the employer, city, state, and dates of employment, job titles, and a job description. For the job description section, highlight skills that you obtained, duties that you held, and different achievements that you attained while holding the position. Use action verbs in the description and be consistent with past/present tense. Break up large blocks of text with bullets.
Special Skills -- (optional) This is a place to highlight special skills that you possess. They could range from computer skills to foreign language proficiencies.
Activities, Honors, and Awards -- (optional) This is a place to highlight awards that you have won or different organizations that you have been affiliated with.
Volunteering, Community Service -- (optional) If you have a lot of experience with community service, it looks great on a resumé. So does volunteer work.
Interests -- (optional)

What are some tips about scannable resumés?

Some employers scan résumés for key words that pertain to the position.
The résumé should be minimally formatted.
The résumé should be on plain white paper.
Focus on nouns instead of action verbs on a scannable résumé.
Sometimes italicized words do not scan very well.

What should NOT be included on a resumé?

Your picture.
Salary requirements or previous salaries.
The name or contact information of previous supervisors.
Personal information (e.g. birth date, marital status, health status, etc.)
References. Place them on a separate sheet

How can I condense my resume since I have a lot of experience?

If you have a long work history, or if you’ve been in school for a long time, it’s not uncommon to have trouble whittling that resume down to a reasonable length. Here are some quick guidelines:

Find out if the application requires a CV or a resume. This is important, because a CV has no page limit (see CV guidelines via the link below).

Page Guidelines: A resume should be in the range of 1 to 3 pages. If you’re a new grad, 1 or 2 pages should do it. If you’ve been in the workforce a longer time, 2 to 3 pages is fine. If you’re planning to hand it out at a job fair, try to create a 1-page version.

Tailor the Resume for the Job. You don’t need lots of details about every job you’ve ever done. Elaborate on the ones that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. For your other jobs, just list the title and dates.

Cut! If you have experiences that doesn't relate at all to the direction you’re headed professionally, leave it out. UNLESS this would create gaps in your resume. But if you’re covered without it, make the cuts and leave space for the most relevant jobs.

What should a reference page look like?

You should have at least three references.
Ask people before you use them as a reference.
Provide references with a resumé and keep them informed of your progress.
Put a heading on the reference page similar to the one on the resumé including your contact information.
List the names, company or organization, address, and phone number of your references.
Email addresses can also be included.

Example Reference formatting:

Ima Smartie Pants, Ph.D.
Research Supervisor
Professor of Sociology
012 Building Name
Corvallis, Oregon 97301
541-737-1234
ima.smartiepants@oregonstate.edu

Articles/Videos about Resume Writing:

Debunking Common Resume Myths - There are several resume myths that continually circulate about creating the "perfect" resume. Don't believe the hype.
Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume - Think you shouldn't include these on your resume? Think again!
Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume: A Do or a Don't? - Do interests and hobbies have a place on your resume? Read why one author thinks of them as the key to landing jobs.
It's How You Say It: Use of Language - When it comes to resume writing, there is a specific use of language to keep in mind. For those of you who may feel insecure about your writing--fear not.
Creating a Stand-Out Resume Video
Your Resume Checklist - Armed with the following checklist, you can learn to make the most of your one-page pitch and enter the running for the positions you want.