CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

1. CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER RPI Career Development Center Darrin Communications Ctr., Suite 209Phone: (518) 276-6234 Resume Development 101

2. What is the purpose of a resume? For: • Yourself: defines who you are and who you will be • Job Search: helps you get an interview • Prior to the interview: Great cheat sheet that sums you up to review • During the interview: serves as a discussion guide Should answer the questions: • Who am I? • What have I done? • Employer’s question, “What can you do for me?”

3. SAMPLE SECTIONS OF A RESUMEChoose the ones relevant to you • Heading • Objective • Education • Skills • Computer • Technical • Field Related • Other • Relevant Coursework • Honors/Awards • Activities • Experience • Relevant • Work / Professional • Project • Leadership • Research • Volunteer • Professional Associations • Interests

4. BUILDING YOUR RESUME The Heading • Name • Address (Present & Permanent) • Phone Number(s) • E-mail Address (should be professional) • Online Portfolio or Personal webpage (professional) Example: Stacy Smith Phone: (333) 333-3333  Email: SmithS3@rpi.edu  Portfolio: www.ssmith.com Present Address: 110 8th Street , Troy, NY 12180 Permanent Address: 5 Brookline Drive, Salem, MA 01970

5. BUILDING YOUR RESUME Your Objective • The objective can tell the employer what you have to offer and what you would like in return. • The objective should be general yet geared towards the job you are seeking. • Don’t be too specific or it could exclude you from an opening. Example of an Objective: • To obtain a summer internship to expand my knowledge and interest in the field of Electrical Engineering.

6. BUILDING YOUR RESUME Education section • List most recent education first • No need to include high school after sophomore year • Recommended that you include your GPA if a 2.8 or above Example: Education: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Graduation: May 2011 Current GPA: 3.8/4.0 Troy High School, Troy, NY Regents Diploma June 2007 Final Average: 99/100Salutatorian

7. BUILDING YOUR RESUME Relevant Coursework Section • Try to choose 3-4 courses that have really provided you with a better understanding of your field of study. Good courses to use are ones that you did a project in and applied theory, completed research, used special equipment or lab procedures, learned vicariously through case study analysis, etc. Example: RELEVANT COURSEWORK Introduction to Engineering Design: Fall 2004 • Designed and managed the construction of an egg launcher device with precise targeting mechanism. • Produced a mouse trap powered car which carried a load and optimized it to go the furthest distance in the given time limit. • Created a car powered by a battery to go up an incline to a plateau and maintain its position against an opposing car coming up the incline from the other end.

8. BUILDING YOUR RESUME Work Experience section • Begin with your most recent employer • Entries should include: • Employer Name, City, State • Position Title • Dates of Employment ( Month and Year) • Description of job duties • Use bullet format • Use ACTION/POWER words (i.e. developed, trained, converted, reduced, increased, assisted, provided, coordinated, implemented, achieved) to begin each bullet / thought. • If you’re no longer employed at a certain organization make sure that the position description is in the past tense

9. BUILDING YOUR RESUME Work Experience Example PROFESSIONAL HISTORY KMART, Albany, NY August 2006 – Present Sales Associate • Assist customers with product selection and provide the best possible service. • Named 2007 Top Performer in Customer Service and Sales. RPI Career Development Center, Troy, NY January 2006 - October 2006 Workstudy • Answered office phone and attended to questions from students. • Assisted staff on various projects and assignments on a regular basis. • Assisted in organizing recruiting and employer sponsored events.

10. Common Resume mistakes Your resume represents your skills and provides a first impression of yourself to a potential employer. Therefore, one mistake on your resume can reflect poorly and decrease your chances of receiving an interview. The following are common errors: • Poor spelling/grammar • Lying about your experience • Providing too much information • Improper formats/paper

11. FINAL RESUME TIPS • Type on your resume should be between 10pt. and 12pt. font • When emailing resume, attach MS Word File • Be selective with what you emphasize using bullets or bolding-don’t over-emphasize • Try to keep everything short and concise • visually appealing- when done with content look at format • Ensure format is consistent throughout (Dates is same place, same font used throughout, section headings are uniform, etc.) • Error Free (proof read for grammar, punctuation and spelling) • Quality paper and printing ( Resume Paper) • Be honest! • Update resume as you acquire new skills/experience. • Look through the attached PDF of resume samples for examples on formats • Make an appointment with a counselor in the CDC to have your resume reviewed before sending it out.

12. Stop in to get your resume critiqued during walk-in hours Monday: 1:00pm – 3:00pm Tuesday: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Wednesday: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Thursday: 10:00am – 12:00pm Friday: 11:00am – 1:00pm To make a 30 minute appointment at a specified time outside of walk-ins with a counselor please visit: Appointment Scheduler Career Development Center (CDC)  Darren Communications Center, suite 209 Phone: (518) 276-6234