Writing Your Resume
What is a resume?
Your resume is your greatest marketing tool. It is your personal marketing brochure. A great resume
communicates a compelling reason for the prospective employer to need and want your services. It will
enable you to present your qualifications to potential employers, and get an interview.
How do I get started?
Make a list of all extracurricular activities you are involved in (social clubs, honor organizations, major-
specific organizations, student government, etc.)
Compile a list of all community activities of which you are a part (PTA, church, clubs, volunteer work, etc.)
What leadership positions have you held?
Gather job descriptions from your past positions. If you haven’t saved copies of these, you should from now
on!
Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your
work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.
The following guidelines will help you develop an effective resume:
Keep it short. For recent college graduates, one page should be sufficient. If you have ten or more years of
professional experience, it can be two pages.
Portray what you can do by revealing what you have done.
Highlight results. This is more impressive than highlighting only responsibilities.
Keep it simple and straightforward. The more you can simplify it for the recruiter or hiring manager, the better
your chances. Avoid the obvious.
An effective resume will present company names, dates, job titles, academic information, and all other
pertinent data in a clear manner, so that a quick glance will tell the contact person what they need to know.
Target your resume to be as specific to the position you are applying for as possible
Be accurate. Discrepancies will be discovered.
Do not use personal pronouns such as "I", “me”, or “my”.
Make your resume visually attractive and easy to read.
Use white space effectively. No one wants to read a text-heavy document with sentences that run on for four
or five lines. You must get your point across quickly, with a minimum of words presented as bulleted
sentences within special sections (i.e. Professional Experience, Education, Qualifications Summary), separated
by well-placed white space.
Use quality resume paper.
Choose white, off-white, cream or buff colors.
Pay attention to the balance of white space and type.
Print your resume on a laser printer rather than photocopying it.
Print on one side of the paper.
Ensure that your Microsoft Word resume looks as you intended it to on your potential employer's computer?
Select a font that is standard on most systems (Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Garamond, Century Schoolbook and
Times New Roman). When in doubt about font choice, always err on the conservative side.
Use a font size 10 to 14 points, no smaller, or the text will be difficult to read.
Left and right side margins should always be the same size. As a general rule, margins should be no smaller
than .5 inches and no larger than 1 inch.
Do not fold or staple your resume.
If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.
* McMurry Career Services is available to assist you. Make an appointment for a resume
consultation.
What should I include in my resume?
There are several basic components to a resume:
HINT: Develop each component individually. By creating your resume in stages, you can easily put together an
effective document.
1. Personal data
All your contact information should go at the top of your resume. This includes your name, address, telephone number
and e-mail. The information should be current. Hand corrections are not acceptable.
Bold or capitalize your name, using letters two to six points larger than the rest of the text. Place
your name on the first line of your page. The traditional place to put the name is at the center of
the page, but many now prefer to right justify their names so when the resume lands in a folder,
your name is clearly visible.
Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to
use after graduation.
Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine,
record a neutral greeting. Avoid cute greetings
If you must use your cellular phone number - be sure not to answer it every time it rings. If you
are not in a position to have a professional conversation and consult your calendar to make an
appointment - DON'T answer; rather, let your voicemail pick it up and you can return the call
when you are ready.
Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional. Check it on a regular basis (everyday!)
Don't include information about your marital status, age, race, etc. These could trigger a negative
bias in the reader.
For Example:
Sarah Black
932 Elmwood Drive
Abilene, Texas 79605
(325) 699-9999
sarahblack@hotmail.com
or:
Sarah Black
932 Elmwood Drive (325) 699-9999
Abilene, Texas 79605 [email protected]m
2. Career Objective
Including a career objective helps you target a specific employment opportunity and increases the effectiveness of your
resume
An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.
An objective is like the thesis statement of your resume. Everything you include after it should support it!
Ideally target your objective to include job title desired, position level, field, industry, and/or company name. If
you are sending this resume for a specific position at a specific company - SAY IT HERE!
Be specific about the job you want.
Tailor your objective to each employer you target and every job you seek.
Avoid trite phrases such “a chance to apply my skills,” and “a challenging opportunity” or “an opportunity for
growth.”
.
Examples:
An entry-level position in office management
An executive secretary position to utilize organizational skills, and attention to detail, to create
an efficient and friendly environment.
To obtain a professional position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and
organizational skills.
To obtain a summer position in the field of marketing to expand experience with market
research and analyzation.
To obtain a position in pharmaceutical sales utilizing business background and knowledge of
biology.
3. Summary of Qualifications
This consolidates the best you have to bring to the job, really makes you stand out and pulls the employer in for a closer
look. Exaggeration! Misrepresentation! LYING is a deadly error. Don't do it! Employers do background checks. Only
solid facts and verifiable experience should highlight your experience and accomplishments. This should be a brief
paragraph that showcases your most effective skills and experience as they pertain to this job. More importantly, it's
your chance to convince a hiring manager of the skills you can bring to the position. This is essential, given that hiring
managers generally afford no more than 10 seconds to an applicant's resume, unless they're compelled to read further.
4. Education
List your educational background in reverse chronological order beginning with your most recent achievement. Do not
include high school information. Include the following information:
Period of attendance or graduation date
Degree attained
Program of study including your specialization
Name and location (City and State) of educational institution
Examples:
.
McMurry University Abilene, Texas
B.S. in Mathematics 2004
McMurry University Abilene, Texas
B.A Major – Psychology May 2005 Anticipated
Minor - Sociology
You may consider including:
Scholarships or academic awards
Field placements
Related courses, workshops, etc (only if they directly relate to the job sought).
GPA, if greater than 3.0
Honors bestowed at graduation
5. Work Experience
Work experience will be the main body of your resume. List your experience in reverse chronological order beginning
with the most recent position held.
Include:
Position title and dates of employment
Name and location (city and state) of the employer
In bullets under each job, list major accomplishments to describe your contributions. Try to avoid our resume
should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and
demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your
achievements and accomplishments, ask yourself:
o How did you perform the job better than others?
o What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results?
o How did the company benefit from your performance?
o Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotions as a result?
What is an Accomplishment?
1. Increasing the company's bottom line (i.e. facilitating its growth)
2. Streamlining procedures
3. Promotions
4. Special projects successfully completed
5. Decreasing costs
6. Company- or industry-sponsored awards
7. Certifications and licensure
What is not an Accomplishment?
1. Daily responsibilities that are included in your job description
2. Regular attendance at work
3. Getting along with co-workers
4. Working full-time while going to college at night
5. Volunteer or community service unless it has a direct bearing on your job search
Examples:
2004-present
.
ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
Custodial Trust Company Abilene, Texas
Analyzed financial statements, reconciled bank and
general ledger accounts, and investment funds.
Collaborated on the design of a new billing system.
Achieved a $2,500 monthly savings for company within
three months of hire by streamlining procedures.
Begin with an action verb and be specific (e.g. quantify and qualify whenever possible).
To make your resume stand out, use action phrases that hold the reader's attention and highlight the outcomes of your
work. It is important to create energy in order to entice the recruiter to want to contact you for more information.
57 Action Verbs
This list of action verbs will assist you as you write your accomplishment statements. These words can be applied to
virtually any field or industry to demonstrate how your skills would be beneficial to an employer.
directed
organized
eliminated
planned
established
prepared
evaluated
produced
expanded
promoted
focused
provided
headed up
published
identified
reduced
implemented
researched
improved
restructured
increased
reversed
initiated
saved
innovated
scheduled
instituted
solved
introduced
streamlined
led
supervised
maintained
taught
managed
trained
negotiated
trimmed
Key Words
Think about the words which may catch the reader’s attention. The first pair of eyes to look at your resume may not be
human. Many companies scan resumes into a database, and then select applicants by searching keywords. So you need
to include a broad range of the right keywords in your resume. Determine what ones to include by checking job listings
to see which buzzwords appear in the descriptions of positions that interest you. Make a list of all the words you can
truthfully include on your resume, and then work them into your job descriptions.
Action Phrases
To make your resume stand out, employ words that attract and hold the reader's attention. An interview-winning resume
contains a balance of job content and accomplishments.
Dull
With impact
1. Raised level of sales previous year.
1. Reversed negative sales trend; sales up 41 per cent over
prior year.
2. Started new employee programs that lowered turnover.
2. Created and implemented two new employee relations
programs resulting in a 33 per cent reduction in turnover.
3. Handled books for elderly pop group.
3. Managed bookings, travel and accommodations for
sexagenarian sextet.
4. Housewife of household with six people for past 7 years.
4. Managed and organized six-member household with
annual budget of $65,000.
5. Handled incoming calls.
5. Handled over 200 calls daily for insurance claims center.
6. Professional Affiliations
List current memberships in organizations that are related to the industry in which you are seeking employment. This
will give the impression that you are serious about developing your career.
7. Other Categories
You may include any of the following if applicable: Additional Skills, Additional Qualifications, Interest/Activities,
Honors/Awards, Extracurricular Interests / Activities. This section is optional. If this section does not support your
qualifications for the job, why have it. If you do list these items you should include organizations in which you are a
member and offices you have held. You may also wish to include awards, honors, hobbies, and interests in this
category. In this section you may list both specific and general skills or activities that are noteworthy, such as
knowledge of foreign or computer languages, familiarity with statistical or laboratory techniques, typing speed,
volunteer work leadership positions or specific technical skills related to the position you are seeking (e.g. computer
skills). Avoid listing controversial activities, particularly those that are political or religious in nature.
Language Ability. You can list this section separately or in the additional information section if there is likelihood that
this ability is desirable by the employer. Specify the language(s) you read, write, and/or speak and your skill level in
each.
8. References
You don't need to include references in your resume. List your references on a separate sheet. It is acceptable but not
necessary to use the phrase, “References available upon request.” However, be prepared with a typed list when
requested. Generally, a reference sheet will consist of the name, title, and business mailing address, phone number and
email addresses of three to five professional business or education references. You may want to include the number of
years you have known the individual and the type of relationship (co-worker, direct report, manager, or professor, etc.)
Personal references are usually seen as a less objective source of information. Ask people if they are willing to serve as
references before you give their names to a potential employer. It is a good idea to use the same header and font on your
references page as you used on your resume.
What should I not include in my resume?
Photographs or illustrations unless they are required by your profession (e.g. actors' composites).
Reasons for leaving past jobs.
Feelings about travel or relocation.
Recommendations. These carry more weight if you include them with the resume, not on the resume.
The heading "Resume."
Abbreviations, unless they are well known.
Negative information.
Personal data such as height, weight, health, age, marital status, sex, race, disabilities, religion, church
affiliations, and political affiliations (unless they directly relate to the job).
Salary information or address of prior employer; the name of the company and city and state where it is located
is sufficient.
What are the Typical Resume Mistakes?
Mistake #1: Writing your resume to sound like a series of job descriptions (Describe
achievements, not just responsibilities)
Mistake #2: Writing in the first person. Never use “I” or “My”
Mistake #3: Using passive language or no action words
Mistake #4: Repetitiveness
Mistake #5: Poor formatting or formatting that is too flashy
Mistake #6: Sending a resume without a cover letter
Mistake #7: Sending an unfocused or generic resume
Mistake #8: Typos and other spelling or grammatical errors
Mistake #9: Sending your resume to a nameless, faceless person
Mistake # 10: Lying or grandiose embellishments
Mistake # 11: No apparent accomplishments. Results sell!
Mistake # 12: Lengthy resume
Mistake #13: Use of micro-type
Things to keep in mind when writing your resume
Avoid half-truths and gross exaggerations.
Most hiring managers and recruitment professionals have had their share of résumés pass across their desks during their
career. So they are usually adept at deciphering embellishments in a résumé.
Keywords can help your résumé stand out.
Rather than embellish your titles and accomplishments, use recognizable industry keywords that will jump out at hiring
managers reading your résumé and communicate exactly where your expertise lies. Keywords also help your résumé get
flagged if you're submitting it electronically or posting it on a job site.
Focus on quantifiable accomplishments.
Use specifics when detailing your past accomplishments -- the amount of money you saved the company, the number of
employees you managed, etc. Rather than saying you saved the company millions, state precisely that you "saved the
company $2.4 million." Actual numbers and percentages sound much more credible.
Change titles only if it clarifies your position.
If your title uses little known, company-specific jargon, such as being called an "office contact," when you performed
duties consistent with an "administrative assistant," then go ahead and use the better suited title. You could list your title
on your résumé as "office contact/administrative assistant." Of course that doesn't give you the latitude to promote
yourself to "vice president of administration."
Address gaps in your résumé.
Instead of fudging the dates of your past jobs to cover an employment gap, address the lapse in your résumé or cover
letter to maintain chronological clarity. For instance, if you were out of work for a year during which time you took
courses to enhance your education or professional credentials, list this academic stint on your résumé, rather than
pretending the period of unemployment never happened.
Half-finished degrees should not be listed.
If you "almost" completed your degree, you cannot list it as an earned degree on your résumé. However, no education is
ever wasted. Be sure to give yourself credit and list any completed coursework in a particular major or concentration.
Number Usage
Are you writing numbers correctly in your resume? Numbers one through ten should be spelled out, while figures
should be used for 11 and higher. Exceptions include numbers used with dates (April 9), percentages (5%), money ($5
million), ratios/proportions (2-to-1) and time (2 p.m.). However, some job seekers don't spell out any numbers, because
the eye gravitates to numerals, drawing attention to important accomplishments. The main point: Be consistent in
formatting numbers throughout your resume. Consistency is important in every aspect.
McMurry Career Services is available to critique your resume when you have it completed.
Make an appointment for a resume consultation.