Jump to
|
|
|
Resume Preparation
The Parts of a Resume
CONTACT INFORMATION | OBJECTIVE | EDUCATION | EXPERIENCE | FUNCTIONAL RESUMES |
ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES AND SPECIAL SECTIONS
This should be listed first on your resume and must include your full name, address and telephone number. You do not need to use labels such as "resume of" or "telephone." Samples:
John L. Student
| 1002 Floyd Avenue |
| Richmond, VA 23220 |
| 804-555-5555 |
| Email jlstudent@______.___
|
Jane W. Student
Email jwstudent@______.___
| Current (until 5/1/98): |
|
Permanent: |
| 901 Floyd Ave., Room 108 |
|
5813 West Lakes Blvd. |
| Richmond, VA 23220 |
|
Arlington, VA 22209 |
| 804-256-1212 |
|
(703) 728-5825 |
Jack C. Alumnus
Email jcalumnus@_____.___
| 8926 Longview Court |
|
Home 804-715-2112 |
| Richmond, VA 23225 |
|
Work 804-326-1576 |
The objective is not required, but many employers prefer that you have one. Basically the objective is a concise statement regarding the type of position you are seeking. If you are not sure what kind of career you want, see your coordinator at University Career Center. There are several different types of objective statements.
Samples:
Job/Internship Objective - Good to use if the position you want has a clear title that is used by most employers.
Objective: Graphic Designer
Objective: Accounting Internship
Job Objective: Staff Accountant
Career Objective - This type describes short- and long-term goals.
Objective: Entry-level social services position, with eventual interest in substance abuse counseling.
Short-term Goal: Police academy training class
Long-term Goal: Homicide investigator
Functional Objective - This objective describes the skills you want to use rather than giving a specific title.
Objective: A marketing position using skills in sales promotion, product development, and customer service.
If you are a recent college graduate, most likely you will want to put education before experience on your resume. After you have worked for several years, you may want to reverse this order. Begin with your most recent degree and work backwards; it is not necessary to include high school graduation (unless you want to make a point that you are returning to your hometown).
The following information must be included with each entry:
- Name of college/university
- City/state location
- Degree earned/anticipated
- Major/minor/concentration
- Month/year graduation date
You also may want to include the following:
- GPA, if competitive (3.0 and above)
- Related course work
- Non-degree training, such as seminars and short courses
Samples:
Education
Master of Education coordinator Education, May 1998
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia
Bachelor of Science Business Education, May 1995
University of Rhode Island, South Kingston, Rhode Island
Relevant Courses: Adolescent Growth and Development Sociology
OR
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts English (December 1998)
Achieved GPA of 3.1 while working 20-25 hours per week.
Format is up to you, according to what you think looks best and is easy to read; just remember to be consistent with each entry.
Experience includes both paid and non-paid experiences. This section should include the following information for each entry, whether chronological or functional:
- Organization name (and department name, if applicable)
- Position title
- City/state location
- Dates (month/year is style employers like)
- Description/narrative
Descriptions should begin with action verbs, eliminating personal pronouns and unnecessary phrases such as "duties included...." Use the appropriate verb tense — present tense if you are still working at the position, past tense if not. (A sample list of action verbs is provided.) Chronological resumes may be in strict reverse chronology or may be broken down into related and other experience.
Samples:
Experience:
Student Teacher, September 1997-present
Lee-Davis High School, Mechanicsville, VA
Teach 9th and 12th grade English. Developed and implemented a special unit on Romeo and Juliet for the 9th grade sections and a unit comparing the works of Shakespeare studied in grades 9, 10, and 11 for the 12th grade sections.
Student Assistant, January-May 1996
English Department
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Typed, filed, and answered the phone.
Day Care Worker, May-December 1995
Tabernacle Child Care Center, Richmond, VA
Supervised children, ages 2-4, in crafts and recreation.
OR
Related Experience:
Student Teacher, 9/97-present
Lee-Davis High School, Mechanicsville, VA
- Teach 9th and 12th grade English.
- Developed and implemented a special unit on Romeo and Juliet for the 9th grade sections and a unit comparing the works of Shakespeare studied in grades 9, 10, and 11 for the 12th grade sections.
Day Care Worker, 5/95-12/95
Tabernacle Child Care Center, Richmond, VA
Supervised children, ages 2-4, in crafts and recreation.
Additional Experience:
Student Assistant, 1/96-5/96
English Department
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Typed, filed, and answered the phone.
Have held other part-time positions as a waitress and sales clerk, financing 100 percent of college education and living expenses.
Functional resumes divide experience into three or four categories that best represent skills relevant to the objective. A section for employment history also should be included; this section gives employers a way to verify entries.
Sample:
Editing and Writing:
Served as summer editor for a small-town paper, after acquiring skills on high school and college publications. Gained working knowledge of all aspects, from advertising to reporting to circulation. Demonstrated ability to work with tight deadlines and minimal staff while maintaining profitability.
Wrote procedures manual for major retailer during four-month internship. Manual was approved by headquarters for distribution nationwide.
Hired as Writing Center Aide because of high grades in English and because of leadership in departmental club. Among other duties, performed final editing work for manuscripts being submitted for publication by faculty in life sciences.
Employment History:
Writing Center Aide, 1/97-present
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Summer Editor, 5/96-8/96
Louisa Gazette and Daily News, Louisa, VA
|
|
|
|
