Experience

• This section includes full-time and part-time employment, co-op jobs, internships, practicum, volunteer, and field experiences.  The position(s), the name and location of organization, dates worked should be listed.  The descriptions of your experiences are the most important aspect of your resume.  You should highlight your skills, accomplishments, functions performed, and responsibilities assumed.  You need to create effective summaries using both descriptive and result-oriented statements.  Descriptive statements start with strong action words (verbs) (e.g., “developed a tracking system of student contacts” or “improved a procedure of ordering and maintaining office supplies”), not passive phrases (e.g., “was responsible for…” or “duties included”).  Result-oriented statements qualify and quantify your accomplishments (e.g., “supervised 35 members from five different committees” or “prepared accounts payable for more than 300 employees”).
  • Sample action verbs.

Skills (optional)

• Any specific skills, such as computer skills or foreign language skills might be included in this section.  Indicate your level of expertise by using words, such as proficiency, familiarity, fluency, and so on.  Since many employers keep resumes on a database and search for candidates using a “key word”, naming specific skills is increasingly important.
  • Example 1:  Fluency in French and Spanish.  Working knowledge of German.
  • Example 2:  Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet research.

Activities (optional)

• The size of this section should be determined by the amount of space still available and the relevance of the information to your objective.  This includes student’s activities, community service, and leadership positions.

Do                                

• Use “bullet” formats where appropriate.
• Use conventional English.  Stay away from multi-syllable words when a one or two syllable words is clearer.
• Use short paragraphs, preferably no longer than 5 lines.
• Make sure the resume and the cover letter are error free. Proofread, and have others proofread, too.
• Keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they appear to be.  This is the basis for a good resume.
• Give each of your references a copy of your resume.
• Re-read your resume before every interview.  Chances are the interviewer will have just read it too.

Don’t

• Don’t give reasons for termination or leaving a job on a resume.  In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reason.
• Don’t include personal information such as weight, height, health, age, martial status, race, religions and political affiliations unless they directly relate to the qualifications of the job.
• Don’t list references on the resume and it is not necessary to list “References Available Upon Request” because it only takes up space without contributing anything. 
• Don’t lie.
• Don’t use exact dates.  Months and years are sufficient.
• Don’t include your company phone number unless your immediate boss is aware of your departure.
• Don’t use professional jargon unless you’re sure someone who understands the buzzwords will read the resume.
• Don’t provide salary information on the resume.  Save it for the interview.  If you are required to give that information, reveal it in the cover letter.

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