Freshers Resume Writing Tips

What is a Resume?

A brief summary of the education, experience, accomplishments, and other professional qualifications of a person, such as that prepared by one applying for a job.

A reflection of:

             

• Work Experience

• Education

• Accomplishments

• Professional Qualifications

• Professionalism

• Writing Skills

• Formatting Skills

Importance of Proper Resume Writing

Gives the reader a better understanding of:

• Prior work experience

• Strengths

• Job qualifications

• Educational background

• Personal background

• Level of professionalism

• Potential as an employee

Understand the needs of the Resume and your Career Objective

• Understand the responsibilities and requirements of the position

• Research resume examples

– Career-planning workshops

– Career counselors

– Online websites

– Educational institutions

– Professional acquaintances

Heading

– Full name

– Permanent address

– Telephone number(s)

– E-mail address(es)

• Objective (optional)

– Personal mission statement

– Focus on position applying for

–        Limit to 2 to 3 sentences

Education

– Institution(s) attended and address(es)

– Graduation date (month, year)

– Degree and concentration

– GPA

– Awards/scholarships

Experience

– Use reverse chronological order

– Use functional headings to list types of experiences (i.e. leadership,

research, business, etc.)

– Identify organization, location, job title, and dates employed

– Brief description of tasks performed (especially if it can relate to job

applying for)

Skills

– List skills alphabetically or chronologically by which is most related to

position applying for

– Brief synopsis of skills (i.e. Computer Skills – Lotus, Excel, Powerpoint,

etc.)

- Interests

– Brief synopsis of personal interests (i.e. Exercising, Reading, etc.)

Proofread at least twice

• Check for spelling errors and correct grammar

• Check for consistency and formatting errors

• Have a professional proofread for suggestions

• Proofread every time once again after alterations are made

Use a resume weight paper

• Use a neutral color such as white or ivory

• Laser print if possible

• Have matching envelopes and paper for cover letters.

Résumé Do's...

• Use professional, easy-to-read fonts (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, etc.)
• Choose categories that emphasize your individual strengths
• Use underlining, bolding, and italics to emphasize categories and important topics
• Keep your format consistent (e.g., font size/type, order of information, layout, etc.)
• Tailor for each position
• Place the most important information first and group related experiences together
• Use power verbs to strengthen your statements
• Quantify and qualify your accomplishments
• Include relevant non-work experiences
• Emphasize transferable skills
• Keep information up-to-date
• Edit and proofread multiple times

Résumé Don'ts...

• Use a résumé template
• Use fancy and unusual fonts
• Set margins to be less than .5 on any side of the document
• Use a font size below 10 point
• Use personal pronouns, abbreviations, or acronyms
• Exaggerate your experiences or accomplishments
• Include confidential information
• Include everything and anything you have ever done
• Repeat information offered in another category
• List references on your resume (instead create a separate document)
• List inaccurate information

Create a Résumé in 5 Steps

1. Analyze yourself - Effective resume writing begins with knowing what you have to offer.  Start the resume writing process by brainstorming the classes you enjoyed, activities you have been involved with, leadership roles you have obtained, the jobs you have held, community service roles you have volunteered for, hobbies you enjoy, and accomplishments you have achieved.  Review this information and identify groupings and/or skill categories.  In the initial resume writing phase, all of your experience should be considered as potential insight and content.
2. Analyze the job description- Review job descriptions for the skills and qualifications employers have prioritized.  Identify the skills most relevant for the position to which you are applying.  As you identify what the employers in your industry of interest are looking for, review your list of experiences and consider whether you employed these skills.
3. Create descriptive phrases- Create short phrases to describe your job duties. These phrases consist of an action verb, project description, and results/outcomes.  Avoid using phrases such as "responsible for" or "in charge of."  Focus on the skills necessary to do the job you are seeking. 
4. Construct a clean and precise document- Visceral appeal is important as your resume makes a first impression.  Use formatting to help organize the document and draw attention to particular pieces of information.  Ensure that you are using formatting in a consistent way throughout the whole document.  Additionally, formatting expectations may differ depending on the industry, so make sure you understand the specific standards of your field.  If you are an undergraduate student, condense your content to one page.  If you are graduate student or a more experienced applicant, a two-page résumé is often an acceptable option.
5. Have your resume critiqued by at least three other persons- Never underestimate the power of one misspelled word or a typo.  University Career Services staff is available to critique your resume in walk-in hours or by appointment.  In addition, seek the support of faculty, alumni or other business professionals.