Resume Writing

A resume is an important communication tool in the job search process. It is a concisely written summary of your personal, educational, and work experience intended to:

  1. Introduce yourself to a prospective employer.
  2. Organize the relevant facts about you in a written presentation.
  3. Focus attention on your qualifications and accomplishments and demonstrate why you are an attractive candidate for the position being sought.
  4. Obtain an interview.

There are a number of ways in which you might write your resume, all depending upon who you are, what you have to offer, and what kind of position you are seeking. The three types of resume formats most frequently used are:

  1. Chronological resume - lists your qualifications (education and experience) and other relevant information in reverse chronological order.
  2. Functional resume - focuses on a summary of the functions you have performed (merchandising, counseling, etc.) and plays down dates of work history. The functional resume often is used by people without experience directly related to their current objectives, people with several career changes and people re-entering the job market.
  3. Combination resume - uses elements of both the chronological and functional resumes.

Resumes may vary in content as well as form, appearance, style, and layout. It is important to remember that a resume is a personally written document that allows for individual creativity. It should present a positive image to the potential employer. By positioning the most important information about your experiences and qualifications first and devoting the most space to them, you highlight your strengths. The following suggestions are provided to assist you in drafting your resume. There are several acceptable styles for organizing material in your resume. Although the names of the categories may vary, the following information should be included:

  1. Basic Identification: Name, present and permanent addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and home page address if you have one and want an employer to view it.
  2. Objective: A brief statement indicating what you want to do. It is a critical part of your resume; everything that follows should support the objective. If you have more than one objective, you may want to tailor separate resumes to fit each one. Some employers don't place importance on having an objective, but many do. An objective indicates that you've thought about what you want to do, that you have some idea of what you're getting into, and that you have some direction or goal.
  3. Education: List institutions where you have completed, or soon will complete, some level of education, in reverse chronological order. High school is usually not listed. Indicate degree(s), date(s) of graduation, major and minor fields, honors, and related course work. List your grade point average if it is 3.0, or higher, on a 4.0 scale. If you list your grade point average, list the scale, too. If your overall grade point average is not 3.0, or higher, but your major, or last two years, grade point average is, then list it, and specify what it is.
  4. Experience: List and briefly describe, in reverse chronological order, your relevant experience. Experience may include paid and volunteer positions, full- and part-time work, and internships and should emphasize skills, accomplishments, and knowledge, using action verbs. Indicate your job title, name of organization with city and state, and dates of the experience. You may include more than one "Experience" section by being more specific such as "Related" or "Professional Experience," "Teaching Experience," "Counseling Experience," "Management Experience," "Field Experience," "Research Experience" and/or "Additional Experience."
  5. References: Indicate that references are "available upon request" as a means of bringing closure, even if you are including your references with your resume and letter. Referring to your references indicates that your resume has come to an end and lets the reader know there is not a missing page. The people you ask to be your references should be familiar with your academic and/or work capabilities. Be sure to obtain permission from the people whose names you intend to offer as references.

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UMD Career Services
"Pointing you toward tomorrow"
Career Handbook: The Job Search: Section 2
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