Creating a Great Resume

Creating a Great Resume • Landing a job is not the purpose of the resume; rather, its purpose is to help you obtain a job interview. • A resume is a marketing tool — an advertisement that highlights your education, skills, qualifications, and experiences. • It should arouse an employer’s interest and motivate the employer to contact you for more information.

Table of Contents The Resume Tutorial contains the following sections: • Introduction • Four Common Types of Resumes • Frequently Asked Questions • Typical Sections of a Resume You can click on the section title to go directly to that section or simply proceed through the entire tutorial.

Introduction There are as many opinions about resumes as there are people who read them! But there are some basic pointers to follow. • Think of your resume as a dynamic and constantly changing document. Format and target your resume(s) to market your best qualifications for specific jobs. • Lead with your strengths. Put first the parts of your education, experience, and skills that will be of greatest interest to the employer. Make them the most detailed and prominent part of your resume. Make it easy for an employer to see that you are a qualified candidate who should be invited for an interview. • Determine the purpose of each resume and address that purpose. For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, focus on your marketing experience. Table of Contents

Introduction(cont.) • A resume’s brevity emphasizes the importance of the information you select to include. Write in a straightforward style and do not repeat information. • Resumes must be typographically and grammatically perfect, honest and verifiable, targeted and results oriented. Proofread! Spell check does not catch proper names and homophones/homonyms. • Some employers scan resumes to determine qualifications. Include industry- or occupation-specific keywords as they relate to your skills and experience. • Visit the CAREER CENTER and meet with a staff member to discuss you individual situation. Drop by during Express Hours or call 410-704-2233 to schedule an appointment! Table of Contents

TIP:Gear your resume to its purpose: to obtain an interview for a job, internship or volunteer opportunity or to apply to a school. Table of Contents

Four Common Types of Resumes Over the next several slides, you will see a description of each type of the four most common types of resumes. • Chronological The chronological resume is the most widely used resume and is preferred by many employers. The educational and work experience is presented in reverse chronological sequence (current or most recent first) with short, concise statements about each experience. Table of Contents

Four Common Types of Resumes • Functional This style suits individuals making a career change, re- entering the workplace, or those who have frequently changed jobs. It emphasizes skills and qualifications developed in work and draws upon work experience, education, and personal background. Headings are used to separate particular skills. Sample headings include: “Managerial Skills,” “Financial Skills,” and “Organizational Skills.” Table of Contents

Four Common Types of Resumes • Combination The combination resume is a blend of chronological and functional. Less traditional headings may be used while maintaining basic chronological format. Table of Contents

Four Common Types of Resumes • Artistic Fields You may demonstrate your creative or artistic skills by using a less traditional layout and font style, but prepare a traditional resume to accompany your creative resume. Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions about Creating a Great Resume 1. Should my resume be one page or two? 2. Should I list references on my resume? 3. Should high school information be included on my resume? 4. What classes should I list? 5. Can I just use a template? 6. I don’t have any relevant experience. How do I start? 7. How far back should I list my work experience? Should I include dates for jobs that go back too many years? Click on each FAQ to view the answer or simply click forward to view all FAQs. Table of Contents

FAQ 1: Should my resume be one page or two? If you are a current student or recent graduate, you may be able to fit your resume on one page. However, don’t short-change yourself by omitting significant information just for the sake of maintaining a one-page resume. Keep the information focused on your qualifications, skills and accomplishments. If you do go onto a second page, be certain that the second page is as strong as the first, and fill at least ⅓ of the second page. If you do add a second page, type your name, “page two of two,” and your phone number in the top right or top left corner; this way, if the first page becomes separated from the second, an employer will be able to contact you. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. FAQ Home

FAQ 2:Should I list references on my resume? List professional references on a separate page. You do not need to type the phrase, “references available upon request” on your resume. If an employer wants to see references, the employer will ask you for them. FAQ Home

FAQ 3: Should high school informationbe included on my resume? Generally no, but include it if you feel it strengthens your resume. For example, if you attended a school with a specialized curriculum that relates to your job or career goal, you may list the school. If you are applying for an internship or part-time job during your first or sophomore year in college, listing relevant high school information may be appropriate. As you gain college-level and professional experience, remove high school information and replace it with more recent experience. FAQ Home

FAQ 4:What classes should I list? To an employer the skills and experience you gained and developed from classes are more important than just listing the names of the classes. Include items such as lab experience, business plans, or advertising campaigns that show experience related to the job. TIP: Don’t give the catalog description of the course. Describe your classroom experience just as you would describe work experience. FAQ Home

FAQ 5:Can I just use a template? Templates, such as those found in Microsoft Word, can limit your flexibility. They can be rigid or hard to reformat and may not be your most effective way to showcase your skills. Avoid the “cookie cutter” look. Create a distinctly personal impression by designing your own resume. FAQ Home

FAQ 6: I don’t have any relevant experience.How do I start? If you’ve had numerous jobs throughout college you don’t need to list every job, especially if it’s not related to the position to which you are applying. You should list all related jobs. If your related and unrelated jobs are out of order sequentially you can include a section entitled “Related Experience” and another one entitled “Other Work Experience.” This allows employers to see your related jobs first, rather than including your unrelated and related jobs together. FAQ Home

FAQ 7:How far back should I list my work experience? Should I include dates for jobs that go back too many years? Ten years is a general guideline. However, include experience that you think strengthens your resume. If a job is important enough to include, use dates. Be consistent throughout the resume. If you decide not to include dates because of gaps in experience or dated work history, then consider using a functional format or format other than chronological. FAQ Home

TIP: Consider creating an “everything, all-encompassing resume” where you write in great detail about experiences that enable you to develop new skills or enhance the skills you already have. Include information about duties and responsibilities, accomplishments, decisions made and problems solved as an employee, an intern, a volunteer or a student. Write about leadership experiences; organization, club and committee memberships; conferences or seminars you have attended; on-the-job training; certifications and anything else that demonstrates your skills and strengthens your qualifications for jobs. Table of Contents

TIP (cont.) You won’t send this very detailed resume to any- one (it may be many pages long), but you will use it as your own working document from which you will extract relevant information to create targeted resumes based on requirements for targeted jobs. Committing this information to writing will save you from having to “reinvent the wheel” each time you respond to a job advertisement, and it is a great document to read before an interview because it will refresh your memory about information you may need to respond to interview questions. Table of Contents

SectionsEach resume consists of sections that group your experiences together in a meaningful way. The following slides will show examples of sections that your resume may/may not contain. Some resume sections may not apply to you. • Organize your information using headings that will help you highlight your strengths as they relate to the desired job. • Arrange sections in an order that best markets your skills and experience. • Lead with your strengths. Put first and make most detailed and prominent the parts of your education, experience and skills that will be of greatest interest to the employer. • Make it easy for an employer to see that you are a qualified candidate who should be invited for an interview. Table of Contents

HEADING/Identification Section This section includes: • Your name (no non-professional nickname) • Mailing address • Phone number • Email address Be sure to include area and zip codes. All of this information is located at the top of the page and typically is centered. Table of Contents

HEADING/Identification Section (cont.) • Use both current and permanent addresses when in transition • Use one phone number per address where a reliable message can be left • Use only a professional or .edu email address that you check regularly (you can set your professional or school email to forward to your personal account) • Remember, your email address or voice message influences the impression a prospective employer develops of you. Be prepared to create a positive impression at all times. • Do not include personal information such as sex, age, marital status, health or social security number. Table of Contents

The OBJECTIVE Section • Write an employer-centered objective that targets a specific job, employer and/or industry. Focus on what you can contribute to the company (such as the skills you can offer). • The objective should be specific and it may change for each position you seek. Avoid using generic or trite phrases such as “an entry-level position.” • If you include an objective, everything else on your resume should support or show evidence that you qualify for the targeted job. • When posting your resume to a job search Web site, incorporate keywords in your objective that reflect your skills and career goals. Table of Contents

Profile/Summary/Highlights Section • A profile highlights the best of your qualifications for a particular job. • You may use headings such as, “Profile,” “Highlights,” or “Summary of Qualifications.” • A well-written profile or summary can positively influence the way the rest of your resume is interpreted. • It should address the all-important question on the hirer’s mind, “What can this candidate do for the organization?” Select details that highlight your strengths. Table of Contents

Profile/Summary/Highlights Section (cont.) Statements in this section must be supported elsewhere in your resume. As a marketing statement, the profile may include the following kinds of information: • “Hook” line - determine the essence of the job, then make a connection between what the employer needs and what you can do for the organization; convince employers that it is worth their time to continue to read your resume! • Professional certifications • Honors, awards, scholarships, any relevant and impressive recognition you have received as a student, intern, employee, consultant, board member or volunteer; any published writing • Any unique skills, e.g. fluency or conversational ability in a second language Table of Contents

Profile/Summary/Highlights Section (cont.) Statements in this section must be supported elsewhere in your resume. As a marketing statement, the profile may include the following kinds of information: • Leadership roles or memberships in student clubs, sports, organizations; memberships in professional organizations or associations • Technical skills and/or specialized equipment you can operate • Transferable skills such as leadership, team work, customer service, problem solving • Anything that speaks to your success! Table of Contents

Profile/Summary/Highlights Section(cont.) TIP: If you feel it would be more effective to emphasize details for awards, skills or organization involvement, then consider listing such details in a separate section with its own heading rather than use in a profile. For example, if your technical skills are your strongest qualification for a job, consider a separate section called “Technical Skills.” Table of Contents

The EDUCATION Section • List degrees or certifications, in reverse chronological order, current or most recent first, then list your major along with any minors or concentrations. • Indicate the month and year when you graduated or expect to graduate. There is no need to include the words “expected” or “anticipated” before the month and year of graduation. On the next line list the name of the school, along with location (city, state). • Recent grads may include coursework, but be sure it is unique and/or relates to the job. Don’t list “Intro” or “Principles” courses. • It is recommended that you include your G.P.A. if it is a 3.0 or higher. You may also want to include a strong major G.P.A.; be sure to label it appropriately. Table of Contents

The EDUCATION Section(cont.) TIP: If you feel your experience is a greater strength and that employers will be more interested in your experience, then list“Experience” here and follow it with “Education” – lead with your strengths! ► NOTE: For undergraduate students at Towson University, if you complete through the intermediate level of a language other than English, you earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, regardless of major. If you do not complete through the intermediate level of another language, you earn a Bachelor of Science degree. (The exception is a Bachelor of Fine Arts.) Table of Contents

The EXPERIENCE Section You may use separate headings called “Related Experience” or “Other Experience” in order to highlight and put first your career-related experience. You also may include subheadings such as “Student Teaching Experience” and “Research Experience.” Don’t minimize the value of food service, retail and other college work experience. Employers want to know that you have a strong work ethic, know how to treat customers, how to get along with co-workers, how to communicate effectively and work as a team member, and how to respond to supervision. Table of Contents

The EXPERIENCE Section(cont.) Using key words of your field, focus on the skills and tasks developed at each job. Write in short concise statements using action verbs and adjectives to describe each skill or task. Cite specific responsibilities and accomplishments for each position. Statements may be displayed in either bullet or paragraph style. TIP: Avoid phrases such as “responsible for” and “duties include.” Table of Contents

The EXPERIENCE Section(cont.) • Include your job title, name of organization, location (city, state), and dates of employment (month/year). • Show advancement in level of responsibility. • Quantify information when appropriate and when the numbers are significant. • Include any achievements, recognition, contributions, innovations, positive outcomes, anything that “works better” as a result of your being in the job or demonstrates your effectiveness. Table of Contents

The Internship(s)/Service Learning Section(s) These opportunities help you acquire hands-on experience and develop networking contacts. Employers value this type of experience, so it merits a stand-alone section on your resume. • Include your title (which may be “Intern”), name of organization, location (city, state) and dates of internship. • Use action verbs to describe your most complex and professional duties. • Describe what you observed and learned. • Include any achievements, contributions, innovations, positive outcomes. • Include service or internship experience from high school only if it strengthens your resume. Table of Contents

Volunteer Experience/Community Service These experiences may speak to your commitment to your field, if job related; your altruism; your willingness to give back to the community; and your time management skills. • Include your title (which may be “Volunteer”), name of organization, location (city, state) and dates of service. • Use action verbs to describe your most complex and professional duties. • Emphasize skills you developed or enhanced and connect them to your value on a prospective job. • Include any achievements, contributions, innovations, positive outcomes, and recognition for service. Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL SECTIONSIf you have not included this information elsewhere, consider the following sections as they relate to your particular experience and the purpose of your resume. Incorporate transferable skills into these sections. Click on each section to see a description of each type. Or simply continue to click forward to view each slide. Academic Projects Awards, Honors, and Achievements Special Skills Publications or Research Organizations Activities and Special Interests Extracurricular Activities Study Abroad/Cross-Cultural Experience Portfolio/ePortfolio Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Academic Projects: Especially if you have limited experience and/or no internships, consider describing significant academic projects/assignments that demonstrate your skills and subject matter knowledge. Describe academic experience in the same way you would describe work or any other, related experience. Place this section after education or related experience sections. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Awards, Honors, and Achievements: Include any of these if they are relevant to the position you are seeking. Make sure to mention what the award was for and be able to describe it in more detail in an interview. Special Skills: Examples of headings include “Computer Skills,” “Laboratory Experience,” or “Languages.” Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Publications or Research: List titles of papers, articles, poems, or other literary pieces that have been published in a student or professional publication. Describe research that relates to the field in which you are seeking employment. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Organizations: Include any organizations, clubs, community service, or volunteer experience, especially those that show achievement or professional standing and any offices that you held. You can show leadership and other skills or related experience gained through student or social awareness organizations rather than name a specific organization. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Activities and Special Interests: List personal interests if they relate to a skill or area of knowledge associated with your career goal. For example, list that you are a world traveler if applying for a geography teaching position. Activities may show well roundedness but can be meaningless if they are irrelevant to the position. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Extracurricular Activities: Other examples of headings may include “Memberships,” “Certifications,” and “Athletics.” These sections show involvement, but limit to those activities that strengthen your qualifications. For example, athletics participation can show leadership, team work, and the ability to thrive in a competitive environment. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Study Abroad/Cross-cultural Experience: List experience in which you have studied/lived with persons of a different cultural background to show your understanding of different perspectives and traditions. Additional Sections Home

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS (cont.) Portfolio/ePortfolio: Instead of stating “references available” at the end of your resume, include “portfolio available for review” or list the Web address for your eportfolio. Additional Sections Home

Now you should be all set to begin • creating your own stellar resume! • And remember, you can get personalized help and one-on-one attention at the Career Center. Call us, stop by during Express Hours or schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable staff members! • Phone: • (410) 704-2233 • Web site: • www.towson.edu/careercenter/ • Email: • careercenter@towson.edu • Campus location: • 7800 York Road, Suite 206 Table of Contents

Creating a Great Resume