Resumes

Is There Such a Thing As a Correct Resume?

There is no right and wrong when it comes to résumé content and format. Each résumé is as unique as the individual it represents. You get to choose the content that best highlights your skills for the opportunity you hope to acquire, and then effectively communicate your qualifications in a format that is clear and easy to read.

Our Career Planning Guide - Student Toolbox has examples of resumes and cover letters for you! You can download our sample resumes into Microsoft Word files for your convenience!

Choose a format that highlights your most relevant and impressive experiences. Be sure to emphasize your key skills and accomplishments with the use of action verbs. It is important to ensure your resume is formatted to be easily scanned by both humans and software programs. 

Reverse Chronological Resumes - the most common

• These resumes list the most recent experiences first. This format has the advantages of being easier to read and more familiar to employers.

• These resumes emphasize skills and capabilities instead of the timeline of a person's experience. Very often students or alumni with significant experience will used this format to categorize the breadth of skills and involvement.

Identification Information:

• Your name, email address, telephone number.
  • If you have a professional personal web page include this as well. Tip - Be sure you make your name stand out.

Education:

• In reverse-chronological order include the schools degrees you have completed (or are currently working on), the major, minor, dates of graduation.
  • Consider also including: scholarships, honors, related coursework, and special projects (e.g. research projects, thesis, and dissertations).
  • List GPAs over 3.0.

Experience:

• Include paid positions, related volunteer, field experiences, and internships.
  • Include the name and location of employers, years of employment, work related title and a detail of the level of responsibility.
  • This is also listed in reverse-chronological order.
  • Bullet points should focus on accomplishments or unique contribution you made. Quantifiable information supports the scope of your accomplishments and give range to your duties.
  • Consider categorizing in two sections: Relevant Experience and Additional Experience.

Additional Information:

• Think about where you spend your time outside of coursework.
• Include languages, activities, sports, organization affiliations that may generate interest from the employer.
  • Include level of proficiencies for any languages and software applications that you have significant strength.

• Keep it short and provide facts
• Individualize your resume, not everyone will have the same categories or format
• Maintain professionalism and keep information updated
• Refrain from listing personal information such as: age, height, social security number etc.
• Don't add, "References available upon request"
• Edit and proofread several times
• Set margins 1/2 to 1 inch
• Present your strongest qualifications first
• Make it an appropriate length: one page for every 5-7 years of work experience
• Omit references to high school after your sophomore year of college
• Chronological resumes lists information in reverse date order
• Use action words to describe experiences
• Consider separating relevant and other work experience
• Quantify information to indicate results
• Always include your name and contact information at the top of the resume
• Customize your resume to a specific opportunity
• Develop several resume versions depending on type of job or purpose of resume, i.e. graduate school application
• Keep resume to one page unless you have extensive related experience
• Organize headings so the most important points are listed first
• Use similar paper and headings when writing your cover letter

DOs

• Keep it short and provide facts
• Tailor your resume, with your strongest qualifications first
• Maintain professionalism and keep information updated
• Use action words to describe experiences
• Quantify information to indicate results
• Always include your name and contact information at the top of the resume
• Organize section headings so the most important points are listed first
• Maintain consistency with format: alignment, bullets, fonts, sizes, etc.

DON'Ts

• Don't use Templates that use text boxes; format manually
• Don't list personal information such as: age, height, social security number, picture, etc.
• Don't add, "References available upon request"
• Omit experiences from high school after your sophomore year of college
• Don't use busy or decorative fonts