[b]Your Guide to Resume Writing[/b] [b]What is a resume? [/b][b][b]Resumes are what people use to get jobs, right? [b][b]Wrong! [b][b]A resume is a one or two page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your resume's purpose is to get your foot iin the door. A resume does its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration. [b][b]To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, [b]and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have [b]considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your [b]achievements briefly and concisely. [b][b]Your resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself! [b][b][b][b]How to Prepare an Effective Resume[/b][b][b]1. Resume Essentials[b]Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your [b]skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular [b]activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume. [b][b]2. The Content of Your Resume [b]Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address[b][b]All your contact information should go at the top of your resume. [b][b]Avoid nicknames. [b]Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation. [b][b]Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.[b][b]Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose [b]an e-mail address that sounds professional.) [b][b]Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.[b][b]Objective or Summary [b][b]An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do. [b][b]Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level [b]position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and [b]organizational skills. [b][b]Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek. [b]Education [b][b]New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their [b]educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience [b]section. [b][b]Your most recent educational information is listed first.[b]Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, [b]minor/concentration.[b]Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.[b]Mention academic honors. [b][b][b]Work Experience [b][b]Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. [b]Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience [b]in reverse chronological order—that is, put your last job first and work [b]backward to your first, relevant job. Include: [b][b]Title of position, [b]Name of organization [b]Location of work (town, state) [b]Dates of employment [b]Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and [b]achievements. [b]Other information[b][b]A staff member at your career services office can advise you on other [b]information to add to your resume. You may want to add:[b][b]Key or special skills or competencies, [b]Leadership experience in volunteer organizations, [b]Participation in sports. [b]References[b][b]Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their [b]names to a potential employer.[b][b]Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at [b]the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request."[b][b][b][b]3. Resume Checkup[/b] [b]You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by [b]a career counselor. You can also take the following steps to ensure quality: [b][b]Content: [b][b]Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume. [b]Get a friend (an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar review. [b]Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the [b]more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and [b]corrected).[b][b]Design:[b][b]These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an [b]employer's data base.[b][b]Use white or off-white paper.[b]Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper. [b]Print on one side of the paper. [b]Use a font size of 10 to 14 points. [b]Use nondecorative typefaces. [b]Choose one typeface and stick to it. [b]Avoid italics, script, and underlined words. [b]Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading. [b]Do not fold or staple your resume. [b]If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope. [b][b]Action Words [b]Use action words to describe your experience and accomplishments. Here are [b]some actions words to use: [b][b]achieved [b]acquired [b]adapted [b]addressed [b]administered [b]analyzed [b]anticipated [b]assembled [b]assisted [b]audited [b]budgeted [b]calculated [b]centralized [b]changed [b]collaborated [b]composed [b]condensed [b]conducted [b]constructed [b]contracted [b]converted [b]coordinated [b]created [b]cultivated [b]demonstrated [b]designed [b]developed [b]devised [b]discovered [b]doubled [b]drafted [b]edited [b]eliminated [b]enforced [b]established [b]evaluated [b]expanded [b]explained [b]forecasted [b]formed [b]founded [b]generated [b]guided [b]hired [b]implemented [b]improved [b]informed [b]insured [b]interpreted [b]interviewed [b]launched [b]maintained [b]managed [b]marketed [b]minimized [b]motivated [b]negotiated [b]obtained [b]operated [b]organized [b]originated [b]oversaw [b]performed [b]planned [b]prevented [b]produced [b]programmed [b]promoted [b]provided [b]publicized [b]published [b]recruited [b]reorganized [b]reported [b]researched [b]resolved [b]reviewed [b]selected [b]separated [b]set up [b]simplified [b]solved [b]surveyed [b]staffed [b]supervise [b]taught [b]tested [b]trained [b]used