A resume itself is not likely to result in a job offer. It is a tool to help you obtain a job interview. You do not need to include everything you have experienced, just enough to interest an employer in meeting you in person. The test of a good resume is whether or not you are getting interviews. The process of writing a resume is good preparation for a job search. It encourages you to review your accomplishments and identify those experiences that are relevant to your job target and are likely to interest a potential employer.

Different Occupations Expect Different Resume Styles

There is no one right way to write a resume. Within each profession there are expectations of what a "good" resume will look like. Some employers look for evidence of a well-rounded individual. Others look for a concrete focus supported with relevant experience, while others are impressed with accomplishments that show stability and long term commitment. Some attitudes tend to be occupation-specific. Have your resume critiqued by someone in your target profession. If you are looking for jobs in more than one field, you may need more than one resume. Bring your draft(s) to Career Services to be critiqued by a staff member.

Some basic principles:

• Do not try to be everything to everyone. Have your job search narrowed down to a couple of occupational areas based on your career goals, education, and experience. The contents of your resume should be targeted toward your goals.
• Keep it brief! One to two pages is acceptable - your resume should not be an autobiography.
• Describe your accomplishments positively and accurately. This is not the place for modesty or exaggeration. Use quantities, amounts, dollar values where they enhance the description.
• There are no absolute rules regarding resume format, only guidelines. Pick a format that best highlights your relevant skills and accomplishments that match your career objective.
• Lead with your strengths! Put your most relevant experiences toward the top of your resume.
• Don't limit the resume content to just your work experience. There are many transferable skills that you develop through volunteer positions, involvement in student and professional organizations, and through class projects. In many cases, we do our best work on volunteer positions as they involve activities we really enjoy doing.
• Omit personal pronouns, such as "I," "me," "my," etc.
• Omit all personal data, such as height, weight, marital status, age, health, etc.
• Don't mention salary or wages on your resume.
• Do not include personal references as a part of your resume. Rather, have available at least three references on a separate sheet to be provided when asked for by an employer.
• Always send a neatly typed cover letter with your resume to explain why you are submitting your resume.
• Visual presentation counts. Maintain an eye-pleasing balance. Be creative without being bizarre. Once you have drafted your resume, complete the process by adding professionalism to the final format. Use a good laser printer and quality paper. Do not use a dot matrix printed resume. Career Services has a laser printer which may be used for free by UWRF students and alumni. 
• Make sure that your resume and cover letter have no typing or grammatical errors. Employers consistently cite this as the first reason why they eliminate an applicant. The care with which you present yourself suggests the care with which you would approach your work.
• Always carry extra copies of your resume with you during your job search.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Before you sit down to write a resume, you must have your homework done. The first and foremost thing for you to do in advance is to identify your skills and accomplishments.

1. Use the blank worksheet included on Page 3 of this tutorial to generate information on your education, work history, activities, and additional data. Don't worry about the final format at this point - your main objective is to identify relevant information and accomplishments. You may not end up using all of this in your resume, but it is important to get it all on paper to consider it. Once you have determined what to include on your resume, it will be easier to choose a format that best highlights your relevant skills and experiences.  

• Education: List schools attended, dates, courses taken, degrees, special projects, subjects, extra-curricular activities, other special courses taken and dates, special skills developed, and academic accomplishments.
• Work History: Start with your most recent job and work backwards. List such information as the name, city and state of your employer, job title, dates of employment, duties, skills developed and accomplishments. The phrases (accomplishment statements) you use to describe your experiences are the most important part of your resume. This is where you have the opportunity to market yourself and show the results of your work-related efforts.
• Additional Data: List relevant hobbies, volunteer activities and special talents or aptitudes (such as leadership skills, travel, foreign languages, computer skills, musical abilities, etc.).  

2. Develop a rough draft. Examples of different formats are included in the following pages of this tutorial, but feel free to develop your own. If you want to see additional examples of resumes, visit the career resource center at Career and Counseling Services. Concentrate on accomplishments and skills. Avoid using "I" statements - begin phrases with action verbs. Edit and type the rough draft.

3. Have someone critique your resume draft. Look for the following:

• Overall appearance: At a glance, can you identify significant data, such as your degree, work experience and leadership qualities. Are the spacing, layout, margins, and typestyle neat and consistent? How could the appearance be improved?
• Length: Could anything be deleted, shortened, or combined? One-page resumes are still preferred by employers.
• Action orientation: Do the phrases begin with action words? Do descriptions give an active impression?
• Specificity: Does the resume highlight specific skills, accomplishments, areas of knowledge? Are accomplishments quantified wherever possible?
• Completeness: Is all important information included? Could anything be added without distracting the reader?
• Effectiveness: How well does the resume accomplish its purpose? Does the resume suggest a "fit" with the job tasks and requirements of your targeted area?  

4. Have your resume critiqued by someone working in your target profession, preferably someone who reviews resumes of job applicants.

RESUME LAYOUT TIPS

Name Block: It is preferred for you to use your full first name. Avoid using nicknames which are "cutesy" or "pet names." Your address should not contain abbreviations, and make sure your phone number includes the area code. Also, provide a phone number where you can be reached at all times, either by an answering machine, or an alternate number. Make sure your name stands out ---use a slightly larger, bolded font.

ELIZABETH "BETTY" APPLICANT
1443 Hire Me Lane
Employability, WI 55555 715/222-5555

Employment/Career Objective: An employment objective should be stated only if you have a specific career goal in mind or if you know the exact title of the position for which you are applying. It should be concise, not flowery and philosophical. By using an objective, you may limit the number of jobs that will fit the objective. Therefore, the objective may be considered an optional part of your resume. If you do not use an objective, be sure to state your career objective in your cover letter.

Summary/Profile of Qualifications/Accomplishments: This is an overview of the qualifications and accomplishments highlighting skills which support your job objective. It is an optional part of the resume, but can be very effective in focusing the attention of the employer. Include key skills, related accomplishments, and positive personal attributes.

Employment History: Usually the guideline here is to list your most recent job first, and include jobs you have had in the last ten years. Since the employer will read your resume from the top to the bottom, it may be better for you to highlight your most relevant experience first, followed by your other experiences. If you have large gaps in employment, frequent job changes, or are making a major career transition, you may consider using a functional format.

Organizations/Affiliations: List organizational memberships which are related to your job goals and show professional standings. Avoid non-employment related or controversial organizations. Generally, it is best not to mention any involvement with a specific religious or political affiliation, or other potentially controversial groups unless they directly relate to the job you want.

Awards or Recognition: Let the employer know of any awards or recognition you may have received (such as "employee of the month," etc.), if it is timely and appropriate.

Education: If the emphasis is on employment, list your education last and include only the basic details. If the emphasis is on education, (i.e. a recent graduate), then your education section should go first. If you have graduated from college, state the name of the institution, location (city and state), degree earned, and field of study. You may also include relevant coursework. If you are worried about age discrimination, don't list your date of graduation. Omit your high school diploma if you have taken any higher education classes. Even if you haven't graduated, include any job related courses you have completed. Include specialized training you may have received from previous employment or independent studies.

Military: If you have military experience that fills in employment gaps or supports your employment objectives, include it as part of your work history. Remember to "civilianize" your military language.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: Include only if employment related, and not controversial.

ELECTRONIC RESUMES

Many Fortune 500 companies have now begun to use computers to sort out the thousands of resumes they receive. This process has forced job applicants to observe some changes in the way they write their resumes.

The companies who use technology to sort through resumes use online application forms or scanners to input resume information into a database, then use sophisticated programs to "read" what has been inputted. When open positions appear, employers query the database for resumes using keyword-specific words which relate to the open position.

See "Electronic Resumes" at the top of this page for more on the different types of electronic resumes.

SUGGESTED RESUME HEADINGS

Most individuals are surprised to learn that there are many different ways to organize the information you include on a resume. Ideally, your resume should be organized to highlight areas of relevancy to the type of job or career to which you are applying, emphasizing the skills, experience and personal attributes sought by the employer.

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