PREPARING YOUR RESUME
Effective resume writing is no longer limited to the traditional chronological listing of job titles and
responsibilities. This handout illustrates several alternatives including the chronological. Read
carefully to evaluate which approach(es) best serve your current career goals. Using the appropriate
example as a guideline, the Basics section will get you rolling. Your goal: To write a resume that
guarantees that all important interview!
Resume Times Four
In his book, The Perfect Resume, Tom Jackson describes four styles of resumes; chronological,
functional, targeted and the resume alternative (see examples in this handout). Each style has its own
set of advantages.
Chronological: The most common approach describing work history and responsibilities beginning
with your most recent experience and working back in time. Job titles, duties and accomplishments are
emphasized. This style is particularly appropriate for someone with a consistent work history that
shows continuity in career goals. Additionally, if you’ve been with a particularly prestigious
employer, here’s the opportunity to highlight this experience with a little name dropping!
Functional: This approach allows you to highlight particular abilities and potentials while
deemphasizing any inconsistencies or gaps in your work history. By organizing your resume to
emphasize skills and accomplishments all your varied paid and/or volunteer experience work together
and present you to your best advantage. Ideal for career changes, re-entry into work force, and first
time job hunters.
Targeted: When you have a very specific job target, this approach allows you to focus on the abilities
and achievements related to that particular job. Its strength is in demonstrating to the employer your
knowledge and understanding and abilities in a specific job area.
Resume Alternative or Letter: Occasionally you’ll hear of an ideal job and through personal
contacts are able to thoroughly research the nature of the position and the expectations of the
employer. Having the name of the employer allows you to address your application directly to
her/him. And, even though your work history doesn’t fit exactly, you are able to draft a letter making a
strong case for yourself. Creating employer interest without revealing your entire work background is
the intent of this approach.
The Basics
For any resume there are certain basics to keep in mind:
Name, Address, Phone: While this may be self evident, you would be surprised how many job
applicants forget to include this most important information.
Career Objectives: Experts continue to debate the pros and cons of including a job objective in the
resume. (This would be included in all resume letters.) Arguments favoring its inclusion suggest the
objective adds clarity to your application, letting the employer know you have definite and well1
planned career goals. Also, the objective insures your resume stands along, not relying on the
information included in your cover letter which may inadvertently be lost or misplaced.
Opponents to the objective suggest it limits the scope of the resume, often requiring persons to prepare
and print several resumes. For some this is costly and time consuming. If you prefer to have a more
general resume, be certain to clarify your career goals in your cover letter.
Education: Unless you are a recent graduate (within the last 2-3 years), education information should
appear near the end of the resume. This is especially true when changing careers. By the time the
reader discovers your education may not be a perfect fit, s/he is already impressed with your skills and
accomplishments and may overlook this requirements.
References: Typically resumes close with References Available Upon Request. This lets the reader
know they have reached the end. It is unnecessary to list the names of references. It consumes
valuable space that should be reserved for information about you.
Getting It All In Writing
Identifying Skills: The greatest challenge facing resume writers is the identifying and labeling of
their skills. Below is a list to help you get started. Be sure to add your own. After identifying those
which apply to your experience, narrow the list to those that best pertain to your current career goals.
These will help guide you in your descriptions for each of the resume formats. Also, consider these as
possible headings if you choose to write a functional resume.
writing and editing
administration
research
assembling
planning
organizing
supervision
teaching
fund raising
legal
time management
medical
data processing
community affairs
social service
counseling
retail
sales
marketing
public relations
advertising
purchasing
negotiation
public speaking
customer relations
program development
promotion
instruction
training
interviewing
scheduling
evaluating
clerical
finance
real estate
insurance
production
budgeting
mediating
trouble shooting
communication
publicity
testing
inspecting
inventory management
artistic/creative
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materials handling
presentations
graphic design
coordinate
investment
Additional skills:
Elaborate and Consolidate: Congratulations, you’re on your way! Now down to the basics or
writing about the skills you have chosen. Before you try being polished in your writing style, take
each skill and do the following: Giving each a separate sheet of paper write down all achievements,
accomplishments or results of any kind you have produced in paid work, community, school and/or
other non-work related activities that reflect that skill. This is your chance to be wordy and ramble!
Now go over what you have written and underline what is most relevant and condense into a concise,
effective summary. Whether you chose to use paragraphs or individual statements will depend upon
the resume format you’ve chosen. The key to success is to utilize active verbs that catch the attention
of the reader. Look at the difference in the following examples:
I was one of a group who put together a program for children with reading disabilities. I wrote the
grant that provided the money for this program.
VS.
Developed and implemented a community wide reading disability program. This included the writing
and editing of a grant proposal that successfully netted program funding.
Use the following list of action verbs to insure you get that employer’s attention!
advised
adapted
administered
analyzed
approved
completed
collected
calculated
conceived
conducted
created
coordinated
constructed
directed
demonstrated
developed
designed
delivered
consulted
established
expanded
evaluated
expedited
improved
implemented
instructed
interviewed
increased
invented
formulated
founded
edited
managed
maintained
exceeded quote
negotiated
organized
obtained
processed
planned
performed
prepared
proficient at
reduced costs
researched
responsible for
routed
recovered
simplified
sold
supervised
selected
solved
served
trained
wrote
Add any other action words you think apply to your but don’t appear on this list:
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Trimming the Fat: Writing Tips
*Keep sentences and/or paragraphs short. “Appointed director of volunteer services” reads better than
“I was chosen to be in charge of all volunteers.”
*Avoid repetitions. If you have had similar responsibilities in several jobs or experiences, don’t
describe each separately unless using the chronological format.
*Condense. Don’t give three examples when one will do.
*When appropriate, substitute short, concise statements for complete sentences.
*Avoid the use of “I” (exception: the resume letter).
*Use simple terms instead of complex jargon. Your wording should be understandable to all
audiences.
*Put your strongest statements first.
*Use quantities, amounts and dollar values when they enhance the description of your accomplishment
(“consistently exceeded sales quotas by 35%”).
*Do not include hobbies or other vocational or social interests unless they have direct relevance to the
job.
*Carefully check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Some Don’ts
*Don’t include pictures.
*Don’t list references or relatives
*Don’t forget phone number, area code and zip code.
*Don’t list sex, weight, health or other personal information.
*Don’t include complete address of former employers. City and state are fine.
HOW DO YOU USE A RESUME?
1. Answer newspaper ads by sending your resume with an appropriate cover letter.
2. Mail to employer along with a letter of inquiry on possible job vacancies or future vacancies.
3. Mail to employer when applying for existing position (with cover letter).
4. Present to an employer when making a direct person-to-person contact.
5. Leave copy of resume with employer after direct contact.
6. Present to business and personal contacts for direct referral to their employer associates.
7. Include a copy or copies in your placement file.
8. Serve as an outline for discussion during interviews.
9. ABOVE ALL, A RESUME IS USED TO GET YOU A JOB INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!
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ACTION WORDS
actively
accelerated
adapted
administers
approved
conceived
conducted
completed
conferred
created
delegated
developed
directed
demonstrated
effected
eliminated
established
expanded
expedited
generated
guided
increased
influenced
implemented
interpreted
improved
launched
lead
maintained
participated
performed
planned
pinpointed
programmed
proposed
provided
proficient at
recommended
reduced
reinforced
reorganized
revamped
responsible
responsibilities
revised
reviewed
scheduled
significantly
simplified
set up
solved
strategy
structured
streamlined
strengthened
successfully
tied together
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SOME KEY WORDS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE RESUMES
active
adaptable
aggressive
alert
ambitious
analytical
conscientious
constructive
creative
dependable
disciplined
discrete
efficient
energetic
enthusiastic
forceful
hard worker
imaginative
logical
loyal
methodical
objective
practical
realistic
reliable
resourceful
respected
self-reliant
sincere
sophisticated
systematic
tactful
talented
will travel
will relocate
THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF WRITING A RESUME
DO remember that the appearance of the resume reflects the quality of the applicant in the employer’s
subconscious.
DO use positive words and omit anything negative.
DO make your wording concise and active in tone.
DO emphasize skills, especially transferable skills such as “coordinated, initiated, supervised,” etc.
DO use perfect spelling and grammar.
DO use ample spacing to emphasize separate categories.
DO have resume printed on 8 ½” x 11” paper.
DO limit the resume to one page or no more than two pages if necessary.
DO underline or offset key points.
DO have it printed on one side of the paper only.
DO use clear, sharp duplication.
DO use good quality bond paper (possibly colored or textured).
DO avoid flamboyant colors and styles.
DO tailor resume to different jobs applied for if they are significantly different vocational areas.
DON’T send carbon copies of your resume to an employer.
DON’T use abbreviations, especially the term “etc.”
DON’T go into much detail about work below your top level of employment.
DON’T state the salary you desire.
DON’T limit yourself to area, salary, or position desired without considering which of these is most
important to you.
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DO include name and address in a conspicuous place.
DO include all college degrees and dates received.
DO list all dates of employment with no unexplained gaps.
DO give titles of jobs held and succinct accounts of duties.
DO list major achievements such as publications and awards.
DO list special skills and fluent foreign languages.
DON’T detail high school career (except special honors if you are a recent graduate).
DON’T give academic standing unless in upper 25%, or grade average unless 3 points out of a
possible 4.
DON’T list summer jobs unless you are a recent graduate or unless job is relevant to career choice.
DON’T include present salary.
FINISHING TOUCHES
*Use your printer to the fullest. Upper and lower case, underlining, italicizing, tabular keys for
consistent indention, asterisk key for separating sections, etc.
*Use at least half-inch margins on all four sides.
*Place dates so that they will stand our and can be compared easily.
*Check and double check your spelling; if in doubt, refer to a dictionary.
*Skip a line or double space when changing to new subject in order to emphasize data.
*Use a new cartridge in your printer. It makes for easier reading and better reproduction.
*Use good bond or other quality paper (20-24 lb. bond).
*Use standard 8 ½” x 11” paper.
*Use a tinted paper, if you like, but stay with pale or pastel colors.
*Have copying done by a professional service and don’t scrimp on cost.
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