Resumes – Tutorial
A resume is a document that summarizes and highlights your education, experience, and activities relevant to your career goals. A well-constructed resume will document your skills and help convince an employer that your skills are applicable to the job for which you are applying. The resume usually does not get you the job but will help you get the interview. An employer spends an average of 15 to 20 seconds reviewing a resume. Make your first impression a good one!
Resume Tips
You must include your name and contact information (including email), objective, education, honors, experience, skills, and activities.
| Contact Information |
Name, address, phone number, and email address should be at the top of the page. |
|---|---|
| Job Objective |
Include an objective to demonstrate to an employer that you are directed in your job search. An objective that is too general will almost certainly not help you and could in fact work against you. |
| Education |
Begin with your most recent educational experience. Include the degree you expect to earn or have earned, your major/minor, university, or expected date of graduation. |
| Experience |
Include any employment, internships, significant campus leadership offices, volunteer work, and relevant class/research projects. Include title, name of organization, location, and dates for each position. Emphasize duties, responsibilities, skills, abilities, and accomplishments appropriate to the position for which you are applying. |
| Skills |
Foreign languages, computer skills, and other relevant skills should be included. |
| Activities & Interest |
Your hobbies, sport activities, etc. |
| References |
This should be the last entry on your resume. You may state references “Available upon request” or may list references on a separate page. |
Your resume format is as important as your content. The resume should be constructed so that the reader easily sees all information and does not have to guess at your skills.
Resume Do's & Don'ts
Do
- use good quality paper in white
- be specific in your objective, if possible
- quantify duties when possible
- use short phrases that give a positive, concise description of your accomplishments
- limit your resume to one page if you have limited work experience
Don't
- include personal information such as weight, height, marital status, social security number, age, race, religion, or political affiliation
- list detailed descriptions of unrelated job duties
- use words such as I, me, or my on your resume
- start phrases in experience section with "Responsible for"
- state salary
Before you send your resume remember to check the following:
- Is your resume easy to read?
- Did you use bullets and bold to highlight key strengths?
- Is information listed in order of importance to the position you are applying for?
- Is your name, address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, and email address at the top of the resume?
- Does your objective show that you have career direction?
Study the following sample of a resume
Steve Jonson
sjonson@email.unc.edu
| College address (until may 2007) 18 Estes Drive Carrboro, NC 27510 (919) 555-2700 |
Permanent Address S. Stonybrook Road Fayetteville, AR 72701 (501) 555-1212 |
| Objective | Human Services Internship; special interest in health |
|---|---|
| Education |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Related Coursework: Study Abroad, Seville, Spain, Summer 2005 |
| Experience |
Peer Counselor, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Aug.
Other positions include receptionist, lifeguard, and tour guide |
| Computer Skills |
Proficient: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FileMaker Pro Knowledgeable: Macintosh and IBM Systems |
| References | Available upon request |