Building that perfect résumé

What is a résumé?

 

A résumé is a marketing tool that summarizes one’s employment qualifications for a targeted audience.
  • The product being marketed is you.
  • It should be factual, accurate, honest and result-oriented.
  • It is a documentation of your past and it is geared towards your future.
  • Emphasis is on skills and accomplishments rather than on attitude and personality traits.
  • The goal is to enable you to get into face-to-face interaction with the person who has authority to hire you.
  • A résumé is not a work of fiction.

Elements of a Résumé

Most résumés includes seven parts:

 

  1. Your name, address, and phone number.
  2. A job or employment objective.
  3. Your skills.
  4. Your work experience.
  5. Your education.
  6. Your special interests.
  7. Your references.

Checklist to ensure that your résumé is complete

 

  • One to two pages only, unless you have significant previous experience.
  • Word processor generated, with full spell check and proofing.
  • Times Roman or other Serif font, 10 point to 12-point size.
  • No more than two fonts or two sizes.
  • Margins no less than .75" and no more than 1.5".
  • Quality bond paper, 8 X 11 inches.
  • Contact information clearly stated; campus and permanent addresses both listed if appropriate, e-mail addresses, fax number and telephone number.
  • Clear, focused objective
  • Summary of your top three or four skills listed as bullet points.
  • Degree listed first, college second.
  • Graduation date listed, even if you have not yet graduated.
  • Experience section listing most notable accomplishments.
  • Descriptive or actual job titles.
  • Industry buzzwords and key words included.
  • Activities section listing your most notable extra-curricular activities.
Download Sample Résumés
Word PDF