Resume Builder

A good resume is an essential part of your job search

The purpose of a resume is to present you as a potential candidate with the necessary qualifications to meet the job specifications. It is your advertising or marketing tool designed to sell the employer on your strongest qualifications for a particular position or type of employment. It should be well written, error free and present your accomplishments favorably.

It is always to your benefit to have a job description for each position that you are seeking, so that you may tailor your resume to the job requirements.

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Guidelines

Your resume is a summary of your personal data, your educational background and training, your professional experience and qualifications. It is not a detailed work history or an autobiography.

YOUR RESUME SHOULD BE:

Brief: Limit your resume to one page and list only those experiences and achievements relevant to the type of position.
Well organized: Make sure your resume is easy to follow. Choose headings that best describe the content of the section. Rank information from most relevant to least relevant.
Easy to skim: Write using fragments instead of sentences, and use bullets to highlight key points. Employers will review your resume in 15-20 seconds so it is vital that they are able to locate the most pertinent information quickly and easily.
Visually attractive: Create a positive impression. Use consistent margins, generous spacing, and a crisp typeface that is easy to read (avoid script or decorative fonts). Use bold and italic fonts to help guide the readers’ eye throughout the resume. If you are printing your resume, use a laser printer or high quality copier and white or light color high quality paper.
Correct: Be 100 percent honest and positive. Never falsify or exaggerate information. Pay close attention to your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Use the spell checker on your computer, proofread your final draft, and have a fresh set of eyes proofread.

Formats

There are multiple format types when it comes to resumes. Click on each one below to learn more about it or click on our comparison chart at the bottom for a quick guide.

Format Types

Chronological

Characteristic:

Presents information in reverse order, most recent experience listed first
Offers concise picture of you as a potential employee

Advantages:

Easy to write
Emphasizes steady employment record
Format is familiar

Disadvantages:

Calls attention to employment gaps
Skills are difficult to spot unless they’re listed in the most recent job

Use:

To emphasize past career growth and development
When continuing in the same career
When the name of former employer may be significant to prospective employer

Don't Use If:

There are gaps in your work history
Calling attention to your age could be a problem
You’ve changed jobs often
You’re entering the job market for first time or after a long absence

Functional

Characteristic:

Focuses on specific strengths and skills important to employers

Advantages:

Focus on skills, not history
De-emphasizes a spotty work history

Disadvantages:

No detailed work history
Content may appear to lack depth
May create suspicion you are hiding something

Use:

When entering the job market or when reentering after a long absence
When work experience has been varied or unrelated
When changing careers
When primarily consulting or doing freelance work

Don't Use If:

You want to emphasize growth or development
Responsibilities and functions in recent jobs were limited

Combination

Characteristic:

All the flexibility and strength of the functional and chronological combined

Advantages:

Shows off a strong employment record with upward mobility
Showcases relevant skills and abilities and supportive employment record
Emphasizes transferable skills

Disadvantages:

Work history is often on the second page and employer may not read that far

Use:

When shorter functional format would be too sketchy to offer a complete picture of abilities and work history

Don't Use If:

Experience is limited
There are wide gaps in work history

Keyword

Characteristic:

Allows for focused resumes that target skills

Advantages:

Skills are listed briefly and at the beginning of the resume
Easy for employer to scan and find skills

Disadvantages:

May be redundant information to include keywords at the top of your resume
Still an unfamiliar format to many employers

Use:

For all scannable systems of job screening
For new graduates or those reentering the work place or changing careers

Don't Use If:

There is rarely a time you cannot use this variation. It can be used in combination with any or all of the other formats

Targeted

Characteristic:

Highly focused document aimed at a particular job
A “capsule” of work experience

Advantages:

Brief and direct
Easy to read

Disadvantages:

May focus too tightly on one particular job
Content may appear sparse

Use:

When job target is specific
When you need separate resumes for different career paths

Don't Use If:

You aren’t prepared to put the effort into writing an excellent resume

Tips

A resume is a marketing tool, that is likely to be evaluated in less than 20 seconds, therefore, you want to make sure your resume is concise, easy to read, and attractive. Follow these quick resume tips to create a competitive and effective resume that is sure to get you noticed.

Select the right type of paper (Use 8 ½ by 11 inch, light in color, 24-28 pound bond paper).
Limit the length of your resume to one page.
Balance your resume on the page with all margins being at least ½ inch. One-inch margins are preferred.
Tailor your resume to each job – one resume does not fit all jobs!
Select the format that best highlights your skills and experience.
Organize your information in order of importance from the employers’ perspective.
Include relevant information only.
Resume language is short, concise, to-the point, action-oriented, and results-oriented.
Use present tense for your current position and past tense for past experiences.
Use ACTION words — for a list of words visit our web page.
Phrases are recommended over complete sentences.
Avoid the use of the pronoun “I.”
Limit bold, underlined and italic type.
No more than two font styles.
Font size should not go below 10 point or above 14 point.
Emphasize by CAPITALIZING and using bullets.
Emphasize accomplishments.
Create white space and visually pleasing formats.
Design for easy skimming.
Use specifications and numbers.
Give examples to illustrate skills/traits.
Proofread, proofread, and proofread!

Sections

Not all students will have the same content areas on their resumes. You will include, combine, or leave out sections, and choose heading names for them, based on your particular background.