Resume Sections

• Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, e-mail address, home address and other pertinent websites/accounts (e.g. LinkedIn)
   

• Objective: It is a brief summary of what you want to accomplish. Be specific as to what particular job or career field you want to get into. Located at the top of your resume.
   

• Summary: It is a brief paragraph highlighting your qualifications for the job you are applying. These include your skills, strengths, and experience. Located at the top of your resume.
   

• Education: Only include high school and above. Write your school's name and location and your graduation date (or anticipated graduation date). Indicate whether you had study abroad experience, and if you took coursework or projects that would serve you in the job position. Only include overall grade point average if it is 3.0 or above. 
   

• Work Experience: Describe your job experience (paid, unpaid and volunteer). An example of unpaid job experience is babysitting. Organize your sentences in reverse chronological order and start them with action verbs. List your responsibilities, results, leadership, teamwork and initiative traits. Include the name of the organization you worked for, your title and the dates of employment (month/year(s)).
   

• Extracurricular Activities: Write these sentences using the "work experience" guides. List community service projects you have participated on, volunteer work, sports, student organizations and/or clubs, church groups, etc.
   

• Skills: Focus on the skills specific to the job you are applying for. Include whether you have foreign language skills, computer software knowledge (name specific programs). Other training or certification.
   

• Awards: Add scholarships, academic awards, honor societies, certificates, recognitions (e.g. Employee of the Month).

Resume Professionalism

• Keep your resume to 1 page (one sided)
   

• Proof-read for typos and misspelling
   

• Use an easy-to-read font and 10-14 point size
   

• Organize each section in chronological order
   

• Use bullet-points, underline, and bold to organize your sections
   

• Avoid using "I" (it is implied throughout the document) and use a variety of action verbs to highlight your experience. For instance, instead of saying "I was in charge of arranging bookshelves in alphabetical order" say something like, "Organized bookshelves in alphabetical order".
   

• Take a look at the following sites for action verbs ideas: 

  • Indeed Career Guide

  • Michigan State University's Action Verbs List
     

• If you are submitting your resume online, send it as a .pdf file (this will keep the format you intended).
  Also, title your .pdf file with your name to make it easier to spot!
   

• Research the company and the job description. Look at the key terms they use and include them in your resume.
   

• It is okay to have one resume that you can modify but never turn in the same resume to multiple companies/jobs. Make sure that every resume that you turn in is tailored to the position you are applying to.