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Developing a Resume UMW Academic and Career Services WHAT IS A RESUME?A resume is an advertisement about you. It should be arranged to draw the reader's attention to your strengths and the reasons you are applying to that particular organization. The resume is normally the first impression the prospective employer has of you. Therefore, it is imperative that it be of the highest quality in content and style. Not only does the resume explain factual data about your abilities and life history, it also shows that you have organizational skills and that you can present yourself professionally. It is designed to show the employer that you have something to contribute to his or her organization. Most of all, THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME IS TO GET AN INTERVIEW! While a resume alone will not guarantee a job, a poor resume can screen you out of consideration very quickly.GENERAL RESUME GUIDELINESLimit your resume to one page. Typically potential employers skim resumes in search of relevant experiencesand skills and do not continue reading after the first page. However, if you have extensive leadership or workexperience that you think are important for an employer to know about, it is better to go onto a second page than omit something significant In general, you can omit high school information unless it is extremely relevant to the position you are applying for, or if you have limited work/education experience to highlight otherwise.Your resume must be organized. Arrange information logically and use clear/relevant section headers. Beconsistent in display techniques, verb tense, punctuation, and phrasing.Target your job search with a clear job objective. If you choose to include a job objective, it must be very specific and your experiences and abilities should support your goal. Or, consider alternatives to job objectives. If you cannot identify a specific job objective, do not panic! It is appropriate to omit an objective on the resume as long as it is clearly stated in your cover letter. If you have numerous objectives, you may choose to design more than one resume, each with a different objective.Be positive. Do not use negative words. Don't ever apologize for lack of experience or any weaknesses. Capitalize on your strengths and focus on transferable skills and accomplishments. Avoid wordiness. An employer typically reviews a resume for five to 15 seconds and then decides whether or not to give it further consideration so every word must count. Use short phrases beginning with action verbs (examples later in this guide). Avoid slang and trite expressions. Avoid using "I" to introduce your accomplishments. Eliminate unnecessary words.Be specific. Quantify and qualify your statements if possible to make them more effective. Use detail to describe your accomplishments, especially numbers, whenever possible. (i.e. Independently raised $3,000 for phonathon. Supervised 13 staff members. Created and implemented five educational programs.)8.Include key information to support your accomplishments. Always include your title (i.e. Feature Editor, Volunteer, Sales Associate), the company/organization name, the dates that you worked at the company, the city and state, and a bulleted list of responsibilities that lead with strong action verbs in the right tense. This makes the content easier to read:Web Designer, Commonwealth Information Security Center, Richmond, VA, June 20XX-May 20XXDesigned and updated three corporate websites for nonprofit organizationsOrganized documentation to ensure that application scripts were dynamic and readily updatableProvided advice regarding graphic design and layout issuesBe professional. Your resume should be printed on white, ivory, cream or light gray quality bond paper. Unless you are seeking a position in a field such as advertising or the arts, do not use gimmicks such as fancy lettering or colored paper. Print your resume on a laser printer. A laser printer is available for your use in the Office of Academic and Career Services.GENERAL RESUME GUIDELINES CONT.Edit and proofread for possible errors. Watch out for typographical, grammatical, and/or spelling errors. Ask friends, family, and faculty to give your resume a good critical review. We also recommend that you schedule an individual appointment with a Student Success Coordinator for further review. You may email your resume to casv@umw.edu for critique. You will find a helpful proofreading checklist later in this guide.11.Effectively highlight your accomplishments. Some techniques for emphasis include:Vertical and horizontal spacing. The more space you devote to an item, the more important it should be. If possible, within each category or section, place the most important items first. CAPITALIZATION OF LETTERS ALSO DENOTES IMPORTANCE.Bold print is also effective.Use these techniques selectively. You might choose one or two methods to highlight your accomplishments, but don't overdo it! Excessive use of shading, boldface, italics, or underlines can be distracting to the reader and make the document illegible if the company uses a scanner.12. Include your email address on your resume and check it regularly. List a professional email that you have created or use the UMW email address you have been provided. If you have published your resume on the Employ-An-Eagle site, be sure to update it periodically.FEDERAL RESUME GUIDELINES1. Length of a federal resume depends on relevant experiences. Federal resumes tend to be longer and include more detailed information than private sector resumes. The general length tends to be 2-3 pages. Information is generally listed in a paragraph form, instead of using bullets, to avoid formatting issues. Also, avoid the use of semicolons within paragraphs to link duties together because it becomes difficult to comprehend. 2. Format of a federal resume. The favored format begins with the applicant’s contact information, U.S. citizenship status, Veterans Preference status, Federal Civilian status, and title and number of position applying for. Other essential information to include within your past work history is your supervisor’s name, title, permission to contact them and phone number, how many hours a week you worked, and your ending salary. Follow the application instructions and include all of the information that is requested. If you have questions about how to apply or what to include, contact the agency by calling the phone number listed on the job description.3. Use functional headings. Since the federal resume is longer, you may consider adding a “Summary of Qualifications” or “Profile” section as the first section in the resume. Use key words located on the skills and qualifications section of the posted federal job within these types of sections. You may also use these key words to highlight related work experience within your field of interest, such as “Writing Experience” as a section heading instead of “Work Experience”.4. Create a resume within an electronic builder. It is to your benefit to create a paper federal resume (using the guidelines above), however some federal agencies prefer you apply to open positions by submitting a resume built within a specified system (i.e. Resumix, USA Jobs). Follow all instructions when applying, and fill in all available text blocks with your information. If spell check is not available, type your information in Microsoft Word, check it for spelling errors, and copy/paste the text into the text boxes.5. Describe experiences in detail. Add concrete, specific details that highlight related skills when describing work duties and leadership roles. Whenever possible, quantify experiences with numbers (i.e. “Maintained a log of over 500 visitors’ computer activity.”). Unless you describe your related skills the reviewer will assume you do NOT have the required skills for the position. Also, show that you are results-oriented, by listing the results of your work duties (i.e. “Decreased average customer wait time by one minute by assisting customers with purchases quickly.”).For more information on creating a federal resume or applying for a federal position check out The Student’s Federal Career Guide by Kathryn Troutman from the Academic and Career Services’ book collection. RESUME TYPESThere are numerous ways to write a resume. After you choose the type of resume that is best for you, make certain that the format is consistent throughout. Many programs now provide resume templates. While they can be useful if you need to format a resume quickly, using a template makes a resume difficult to modify later and often includes sections and formats that don’t work well for the typical college student. Templates also make copying and pasting into an online application difficult. Listed below are two of the most common types of resumes. Keep in mind while you are reviewing this information that it is to be used as a guideline - not as a standard.REVERSE CHRONOLOGICALThe reverse chronological resume is the format most commonly used by college students. It is organized into titled sections such as "Education", "Honors", "Experience", "Activities", etc. The data you present is listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent information under each title listed first. The content of each section should describe what you did, when you did it, and what you accomplished. Your accomplishments should be tailored to your career objective (if noted) and with the potential employer in mind - i.e., what an employer would consider to be relevant and impressive. You may divide experience into "Relevant" and "Additional Experience" sections to highlight experiences that might be less visible using a strict chronology. FUNCTIONALIn the functional resume, categories are created by your abilities as represented by your background, e.g., jobs, activities, travels, etc. There are no standard headings for functional resumes. It is essential for the individual to assess his/her background and abilities and organize them accordingly with carefully selected headings.ELECTRONIC RESUMESSince applying for positions online has become the norm, it is essential to create an electronic resume. Employers sometimes use computer software to “read” resumes for key words related to the job openings’ required qualifications. When creating an electronic resume remember to:Use functional headings including key words (i.e. Teaching Experience, Research Experience).Avoid bold, italic, underline, lines, graphics, columns or script, bullets, ornate font styles, and shading.Use standard font styles (Times, Univers, Courier, etc.) and a font size between 10-14.Create a Plain Text version of your resume to copy and paste in text boxes or within the body of an email.Use headings like: Summary of Experiences, Key Words, or Areas of Ability.Limit contact information, if you will be posting it online to protect your privacy.Use industry specific jargon and acronyms.Minimize abbreviations and when you use acronyms, also spell out their meanings.Avoid stressing about the length of your resumes as electronic versions can generally be longer than one page.Use an electronic resume if you are applying to a large company, for an IT position, or through an online system/email; know your resume will be scanned by a computer.ADDITIONAL CORE CONTENT AREASEvery resume should include the basics: contact information, educational experience, professional experience. However, there may be other sections that you will want to add to your resume to help you stand out as a candidate. Every student has had different experiences. Depending on your personal experience, you will want to select sections that are relevant to you that best highlight additional skills that you bring to the table for an employer. Consider the following:SummaryProfileAreas of ExpertiseSummary of QualificationsAchievementsAccomplishmentsEducational HighlightsEducational BackgroundEducational PreparationAcademic BackgroundAcademic TrainingEducation and TrainingRelated CourseworkCourse ProjectsCertifications/LicensureEndorsementsStudy AbroadScholarships andFinancial SupportProfessional ExperienceTeaching ExperienceResearch ExperienceRelevant ExperienceExperience SummaryExperience HighlightsCareer HighlightsProfessional BackgroundMilitary ExperienceMilitary ServiceWork ExperienceAdditional ExperiencePart-Time & Summer WorkCareer-RelatedExperiencesInternship and Co-opExperiencesHonors/AwardsHonors and ActivitiesHonors & OrganizationsSpecial HonorsCollege DistinctionsPublicationsExhibitsResearch InterestsConferences AttendedPoster PresentationsPresentationsSkillsAreas of KnowledgeCapabilitiesTechnical SkillsComputer SkillsLaboratory SkillsLanguage CompetenciesVolunteer ExperienceVolunteer ActivitiesCivic ActivitiesCommunity ServiceExtracurricular ActivitiesCollege ActivitiesActivities & DistinctionsOrganizations, Activitiesand HonorsMembershipsProfessional MembershipsProfessional AffiliationsProfessional OrganizationsUniversity InvolvementLeadership ExperienceOrganizations and ActivitiesInterestsTravel AbroadTravel*Adapted from VCU’s Resume Writing Guidelines 4/21/10ACTION VERBS accomplishedachievedactedadministeredallocatedamendedanalyzedappointedapprovedarrangedassistedattainedauditedawardedbroadenedbuiltcalculatedcataloguedcheckedchosecollectedcommunicatedcompiledcompletedcomputedconceivedconceptualizedconductedconsolidatedconstructedcontractedcontributedcontrolledconvincedcoordinatedcreatedcutdelivereddemonstrateddesigneddetermineddevelopeddeviseddirecteddelegateddocumenteddraftededitedeliminatedensuredestablishedevaluatedexaminedexecutedextendedforecastedformulatedfoundedgatheredgeneratedgovernedguidedhandledheadedhiredimplementedimprovedincreasedinitiatedissuedinstalledinstitutedinstructedinsuredinterpretedinterviewedintroducedinventedlaunchedledliaisonmaintainedmanagedmarketedmodeledmoderatedmonitoredmotivatednegotiatedofferedopenedorganizedoverhauledoversawperformedplannedpreparedpresentedproducedprogrammedproposedpromotedpublishedpurchasedrecordedrecruitedreducedresearchedrestoredresultedrevampedrevisedreviewedscheduledselectedservedstrengthenedstudiedsuggestedsummarizedsupervisedtrainedtransferredtranslatedunifiedupgradedutilizedwonwroteADJECTIVES AND ADVERBSacademicaccurateactiveambitiousanalyticalartisticassertivebroadmindedbusinesslikecalmcapablecarefulcautiouschallengingcompetentcompetitiveconfidentconscientiousconservativeconsiderateconsistentcooperativecreativecuriousdeliberatedeterminedeasygoingefficientenergeticfair-mindedfar-sightedfirmflexiblefrankfriendlyhelpfulhighhonestimaginativeimposingindependentindividualisticindustriousinformalintellectualintelligentinventiveliberallikeablelogicalloyalmethodicalmeticulousmoderatemotivatednaturalobligingoptimisticorganizedoriginaloutgoingpainstakingpatientperseveringpleasantpoisedpracticalpreciseprogressivepurposefulquickquietrationalrealisticreflectiverelaxedreliableresourcefulresponsibleself-confidentself-controlledsensiblesensitiveserioussignificantsinceresociablespontaneousstablesteadysuccessfulsupportivetactfulthoroughthoughtfultoleranttrustworthyunaffectedunderstandingverbalversatile(Sample Reverse Chronological resume using a bulleted format)Mary T. Smith115 Mack Dr. ? Norfolk, VA 23501 ? (703) 430-5489 ? m.smith@ EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts, Double major in Linguistics and PsychologyUniversity of Mary Washington (UMW), Fredericksburg, VA (May 20XX) Included course work in research methods, social psychology, and sociolinguistics Performed a discourse analysis of NCAA athletes’ interviews following winning gamesDean’s List (GPA 3.5+) four semesters; President’s List (GPA 4.0), Spring 20XXCumulative GPA 3.4, Major GPA 3.7RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Completed a 20-page research paper using print, video, personal interviews, and internet sources. Analyzed findings and articulated results that confirmed initial hypothesis. Presented and defended findings in front of 32 peers. Developed and implemented an in-class activity to highlight the significance of the findings. (Applied Behavioral Analysis, Spring 20XX- Awarded: A-)RELATED EXPERIENCECommittee & Communications Coordinator, Federal Circuit Bar Association, Washington, DCIntern (May - August 20XX)Planned and developed budgets for regional and annual events/conferences Assisted in creating and disseminating marketing materials for membership and program attendeesWorked closely with committees and assisted with program planning and implementationCompiled, formatted and edited the monthly Case Digest Wrote and distributed periodical newsletters to the membershipRappahannock Area Council for Children and Parents, Fredericksburg, VASite Coordinator (May 20XX - May 20XX)Assisted in volunteer recruitment and training: coordinated speakers, reserved space, and budgeted for foodEnsured appropriate number of volunteers were present each nightSupervised volunteers and led children’s group by developing interactive group activitiesADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE Resident Advisor, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA (Fall 20XX - Spring 20XX)Counseled individual residents on personal and academic matters, sometimes in a crisis environment.Planned and implemented five 20-minute programs to increase awareness of safety, study skills, and career plans for the residents.Served on RA planning and initiative committees to coordinate three campus wide events.Sales Associate, Staples, Richmond, VA (June 20XX - January 20XX)Assisted in the training of eight new associatesRecognized for excellent customer service- received the “Top Associate of the Week” award ten timesTeacher Aide (full-time), Lady Bug Day Care, Manassas, VA (June 20XX to August 20XX)Worked with children ages three months to 12 years of age and obtained CPR certification for age groupDeveloped relationships with parents when discussing children’s behavior and learning SKILLSMicrosoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Page Maker, Access, Outlook ExpressBasic Knowledge of French ACTIVITIESVolunteer Campus Guide, Washington Guides- Admissions Office, UMW (Spring 20XX - Present)Orientation Leader, Office of Student Activities and Community Outreach, UMW (Fall 20XX - Spring 20XX)Representative, Hall Council, UMW (Fall 20XX - Spring 20XX)Angie Federal(Sample federal paper resume.)2920 East DrNewport News, VA 23601Cell: 000-000-0000a.federal@umw.eduCitizenship: United StatesHighest Federal Civilian Grade HeldN/A; Security Clearance: N/AVeteran’s Preference: N/ASUMMARY OF SKILLSCommunication skills: Clear and concise presenting skills and effective writing in reports, research projects and lobbying efforts.Adaptability: Work on multiple projects at a time and move from one environment to another with ease.Research: Completed 10-page research project including analyzing data, conducting interviews, print research analysis, and a 20-minute presentation for a group of 30 people.Operating Systems: Windows (XP, 2000, ME, 98), Solaris, Linux EDUCATIONUniversity of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, May 20XXBachelor of Science in Computer ScienceMajor GPA: 3.40/4.0, Overall GPA: 3.0/4.00Related Coursework: Computer Graphics, Theoretical Foundation of Computing, Computer Ethics, Organization of Programming languagesHONORSCollegiate Educational Service Corps, Volunteer of the year, 20XXSelected based on service hours and significant contributions.Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges, 20XX Chosen base on scholastic abilities.Baker Scholarship – UMW Community Symphony Orchestra, 20XXINTERNSHIPIntern, University of Mary Washington, Library, Fredericksburg, VA, Summer 20XXScheduled appointments for public access to computers. Helped individuals with computer-related issues with printers, windows, .NET, and MS Word programs. I worked with customers via phone to resolve technical issues. Maintained a log of over 500 visitors’ computer activity. Worked with HTML to produce a monthly newsletter. Supervisor: Pat Employer; (000) 000-0000; Yes, you may contact; Salary: unpaid; 10 hours a week.WORK EXPERIENCESales Associate, Dillard’s, Richmond, VA. Spring 20XXDecreased average customer wait time by assisting customers with purchases quickly. I provided informal staff training for five coworkers. Recommended products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests. Maintained records related to sales. Opened and closed cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.Supervisor: Sue Employer; (000) 000-0000; Yes, you may contact; Salary: $15/hour; 30 hours a week.Evening Programs Director, Camp Safeplay, Ashville, NC, Summer 20XXSupervised three evening program staff members. Planned and implemented nightly activities for 150 campers. I coordinated awards banquet budget for entire camp (600 people). Conferred with supervisor to discuss and resolve parents and children’s questions and issues. Initiated, organized, and coordinated individual and group learning activities. Explained and enforced camp policies to ensure campers safety.Supervisor: Doug Employer; (000) 000-0000; Yes, you may contact; Salary: $10/hour; 40 hours a week. (Sample reference sheet)Mary T. Smith115 Mack Dr. ? Norfolk, VA 23501 ? (703) 430-5489 ? m.smith@ ReferencesDr. Alexander JonesProfessor, Department of PsychologyChandler Hall, University of Mary WashingtonCollege AvenueFredericksburg VA 22401540-654-0000ajones@umw.edu*Dr. Jones was my academic advisor at the University of Mary WashingtonMs. Elisabeth HerreraManager, Marketing DepartmentAJJ Associates1288 Dover AvenueFairfax, VA 22032703-250-0000herreraej@*Ms. Herrera was my supervisor at AJJ Associates.Mr. Mark ElkinsManagerRuby Tuesday Restaurant4714 Mine RoadFredericksburg, VA 22401540-710-0000*Mr. Elkins was my manager at Rub Tuesday Restaurant.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reference Sheet TipsPrint references on resume paper with the same font size/type and margins used on your resume.Your header (name/contact information) on the reference sheet should match the header on your resume .Reference sheets should not be submitted with the initial resume and cover letter, unless requested by the employer. Otherwise take a copy of the reference sheet with you to the interview.The typical number of references cited is three to five. It is best to have a mix of professional and academic references, as in this example. Personal references are not usually used. Prior to listing references, ask permission of the individual whose name you wish to use. Provide your references with a copy of your resume so that they have a more thorough idea of your background. Also, keep your references apprised of your progress, and be sure to let them know when you have an interview so they can be prepared for the call. Also, thank them for their help, when you accept a job offer. After all, you may want to call upon them for a reference in the future. Resume Checklist UMW Academic and Career ServicesHEADINGName is at least two font sizes larger than the rest of the words on resume.E-mail address is professional and will not change for the next year.Two mailing addresses listed (if you will be moving within a year). EDUCATIONGPA is listed, if it is a strength (above 3.0). Consider calculating major GPA if this meets the 3.0+ criteria.List additional coursework because it is NOT a major requirement, but is relevant to the position.List only the month and year of graduation. List the following if related: research projects, honors, study abroad, specific class projects.EXPERIENCEList the name of the company, title of position, dates of employment, city and state for each experience.Consistently use the same format to describe dates; all months, seasons, or only years.Illustrate duties in a results-oriented manner.Only include duties relevant to the position in question that focus on skills or abilities.Lead each duty description with a strong action verb (managed, supervised, designed, etc.) in the correct tense.Use concrete terms when explaining duties (i.e. numbers, avoid words like: variety, many, etc.).APPEARANCESpace on the resume is used appropriately and there are no large white spaces.The most important information is listed at the top of the resume and along the left side of the page.Print resume on white, ivory or gray resume paper with a laser printer.E-RESUMESUse a standard sans serif font style (Arial or Tahoma); avoid decorative fonts and use only one font style.Name document professionally (i.e. M.Smith Resume). Save formatted resume as Plain Text in order to copy and paste into an online application.Avoid bolding, italicizing, bulleting or underlining; instead use all caps to highlight headings.Left justify everything and avoid tabbing or skipping lines, except between sections on the page.Use industry keywords found within job descriptions and/or create a “Keyword” section at the bottom of resume.OTHERAvoid the use of “I, and other personal pronouns.Include other headings as needed to highlight strengths (Leadership, Activities, Volunteer, etc.).Show involvement: sports, clubs, organizations, community volunteer, interest groups, etc.List all relevant skills like language, technology, and other measurable skills.Avoid lines, colors, shaded columns, and animations. Consider creating an electronic career portfolio using Employ-An-Eagle that can be used when networking and applying for job positions. ................
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