The art and science of creating a winning resume

Your resume forms the first impression of a potential employer--put your best self forward!

Make Contact Info Easy to Find--at the top of the page! Include full name, telephone, mailing and e-mail addresses. E-mail address and voice mail greetings must be appropriate and professional.

Outline your Experience and work history in the body of your resume. List companies you've worked for in chronological order. Include dates of employment and bulleted lists of accomplishments and responsibilities. If you are a recent college graduate or have limited work experience, include any internships, summer jobs or volunteer opportunities where you gained skills.

Outline your Education, including any degree that you have received beyond high school. Include your planned degree, date it was or will be attained, and any accolades or honors.

End your resume with a statement that references are available upon request. Be certain that you have a list of references available who have agreed to provide a reference for you.

Action Verbs! Begin all phrases with action verbs. Start sentences with action words, such as designed, created, generated, etc. Action verbs give your resume power and pop and make your achievements and skills sound even more impressive.

KISS-- Keep It Short and Sweet--rarely more than one page. Get creative with formatting and leave out information that will not help you in the hiring process.

Put Extra Info Online Employers will often seek additional information about you online. Be sure to check your online resume by searching your name on an Internet search engine. Check social media accounts to ensure that you have not posted any unprofessional content or pictures. Your social media presence must portray you as a well-rounded, career-ready individual.

Adapted from Ellis, Dave. From Master Student to Master Employee, Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning., 2014. pp.327-329.