Resources & Tools  |  Effective Résumés

Your résumé is the most important document in a job search.

It will provide you the opportunity to showcase your strengths, experience, achievements, and a brief synopsis of accomplishments. 

Information on your résumé should be presented in a professional and organized format that clearly and easily identifies your most desirable skills, traits and talents to a prospective employer.  An effective résumé would include the following information:

 

Contact Information

Your name, phone number(s) and email address should be prominently positioned at the top of the page. Aim for the right-hand corner or center of the page, so it's easily found when going through a stack of papers and not hidden if paper clipped or stapled to other sheets.

 

Objective

This is your job search mission statement. It identifies, in concise terms, the exact position you seek, including a broad definition of the job title and a mention of the skills that would be utilized in this position. You should customize this to each employer you contact.

 

Experience/Employment History

Traditionally done in reverse chronological order, your history should be more than a list of job titles and descriptions. It should also include quantifiable results like numbers and percentages to demonstrate the impact you had on an organization when contributing to a project goal or objective.

 

Skills

This is where you can list any special job-related skills you may have. You can tailor this list to fit the needs of the position you are applying for, or simply order the list to present your most valuable skills first.

 

Education/Training/Certifications/Licenses

Listed in this section would be the schools attended, degrees earned and memberships in related honor societies. Other related certifications and professional licenses would also be included here.

 

Awards

When others recognize your efforts, it says a lot about you and your work. Awards can be both personal and professional, and should be listed in reverse chronological order.

An affiliation — Being a member of a professional association speaks volumes about your interest in your field and can be an instant conversation starter. The same goes for any affiliations with non-profit organizations.

 

Technical Specifications Summary Checklist

The Look

Has a professional format that is easy to read.

Is on 8.5" x 11" paper, or is in electronic form. 

Has one-inch top, bottom, left and right margins.

Limit to no more than 2 pages.

 

The Content

Has your name at the top of each page after the first, with a page number.

Has a summary that highlights your experiences and qualifications.

Contains your telephone number and email address, if available.

Is PERFECT—meaning no grammatical or typographical errors.

Is concise and targeted.

Indicates the kind of work you seek in the Objective, if used.

Showcases critical factors tied directly to your work objectives.

Documents your work history in reverse chronological order, with places of employment, locations, dates and duties.

Demonstrates a logical career progression with positions of increasing responsibility. 

Documents pertinent career accomplishments—problems or challenges faced, actions taken and business results achieved.