Résumés
Sell Yourself in Writing
Joliet Junior College Career Services
What is a Résumé ?
A personal summary of your professional
history and qualifications.
It describes your abilities, your experience
(paid and/or unpaid), and your education.
An effective resume should get you an interview.
First Steps:
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Know what you want
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Research positions
Know qualifications, required skills and education requirements
Key words and industry jargon
Know what you have to offer
What are your key accomplishments?
What are you most proud of?
What makes you unique as an employee?
Did you receive any awards?
Did you undertake new initiatives?
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Volunteer experience
Academic Achievements
Clubs/Organizations
Computer Skills
Languages
Keyword Example
CareerBuilder.com
Cash Applications Specialist
The Cash Applications Specialist will handle day-to-day responsibilities related to applying cash.
Responsibilities:
• Apply cash to individual accounts using the invoice and policy number to properly apply cash
• Apply deductibles with the required claim number
• Print copies of checks
• Assist with billing and month end
Requirements:
• Some college coursework required
• 2-3 years of cash application experience
• Insurance and accounting experience preferred
• Must understand debits and credits
• Intermediate Excel knowledge is a must
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
Relevant Keywords: Accountant, Analyst, Bookkeeper, Controller, Collections, Financial, Accounting, expenditures,
accounts payable, accounts receivable, ledger, CPA, C.P.A., AP, AR, A/P, A/R, certified public accountant,
reconciliations, journal entries, AP/AR Manager, AP/AR Supervisor, Staff Accountant Financial, accounting, debits,
credits, Excel, certified public accountant, Audit, GAAS, GAAP, CIA, CPA, finance, liabilities, compliance, non
compliance, Manager, policy, invoice, bank, claim, business systems analyst, financial analyst, analyze, analysis,
analyst, process analyst, business process analyst, chief financial officer, finance, Credit Analyst, credit, profit, loss,
P&L, loan, treasury, analyst, investment, billing,
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A Résumé Includes…
Heading
• Your full name (Bold)
• Complete address
• Contact number (professional voicemail message)
• E-mail address (professional e-mail address)
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Objective
Clearly lets the employer know you are looking for
AVOID VAGUE STATEMENTS
To obtain a challenging position that utilizes my education
and skills
AVOID STATEMENTS THAT FOCUS ON YOU
A position where I can advance professionally
Objective
(cont.)
BE SPECIFIC, CLEAR AND CONCISE
To obtain an entry-level accounting position at ABC Financial
Seeking a customer service position that will utilize previous
retail and sales experience
CPR and First Aid certified lifeguard seeking a summer
position at the Joliet Park District
To obtain a part-time position in retail or fast food
Professional Summary
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Can replace or be used in addition to the objective
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One short paragraph or a bulleted list of
qualifications
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Emphasizes skills you possess that aren’t obvious
from past experience
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A Résumé Includes…
Education
• Names and locations of schools or programs
• Graduation date / expected graduation date
• Degrees, certificates or licenses awarded
• Major
• G.P.A. (if 3.0 or above)*
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A Résumé Includes…
Relevant Courses
• Only include this section for 3 or more relevant courses
• Do not list every course taken
• List recent courses relevant to your objective
• Do not include course numbers
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Summary of Qualifications
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Gain attention of the reader
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State your skills, values and interests
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Excellent place for keywords and requirements from a
job description
Tailor your skills
Sample Job Description:
Retail sales experience preferred
Must have excellent computer and keyboarding skills
Equally effective working independently and on a team
Must enjoy working with people
Bilingual (English / Spanish) skills a plus
Summary of Qualifications:
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Two years of retail and customer service experience
2008 Customer Service Excellence Award recipient
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Ability to type 55 WPM
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Speak, read, and write English and Spanish fluently
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Experience
Internships, full or part-time, seasonal,
leadership experience, volunteer work…
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Name of employer, City, State
Dates of employment (month and year)
Job titles
Duties and major accomplishments
List most recent experience first
About Bullets
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Describe more than just your duties
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Include what IMPACT or CONTRBUTION your
actions had
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Quantify whenever possible
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Add numbers (money, number of times you did something,
how much of something you accomplished)
Bullet Examples
TURN THIS:
INTO THIS:
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Cooked burgers
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Prepared menu items according to customer specifications
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Cleaned floors
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Cleaned food preparation areas and cooking surfaces
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Stocked food
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Stocked food and beverage stations
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Maintained health, sanitation and safety standards
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Assembled and delivered newspapers to a community of
430 people. Never missed a delivery day
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Increased subscriptions by 30 as a result of a direct mailing
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Proactively checked accounts payable and performed
collections
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Delivery
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Sales
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Took payments
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Honors and Activities
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Highlight relevant activities you have been
involved with and honors you have received
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Generally placed after the education and
experience sections of the resume
Don’t forget to…
Sell Yourself
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Emphasize the positive and sell your strengths
Highlight your accomplishments
Use action verbs
Use key words
Limit first person pronouns (I, me, my)
Avoid wordiness
– Use phrases not complete sentences
– Be Direct
Be Direct
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I staged an extensive campaign to cut costs and
increase overall profits from fund-raisers by 10%
in the course of one year’s time
- OR -
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Increased fund-raiser profits by 10% in one year
Design an Attractive Layout
• Microsoft Word / Resume
Builder on CCN
• 1”
margins on all sides
• Choose font and font size (Times 12)
• Avoid
• Use
fancy type or difficult to read styles
capital letters, boldface, bullets and indent
• Try to limit to one page
• Resume paper is best
Proofread Carefully
• Make
sure verb tense is consistent
• Check
spelling, punctuation, grammar and
word usage (ask a friend)
Spell Chequer
Eye halve a spelling chequer, It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue, Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word, And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write, It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid, It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite, Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it, I am shore your pleased two
no.
Its letter perfect awl the weigh, My chequer tolled me sew.
Jane Doe
1215 Houbolt Rd.
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 280-2762
jdoe@jjc.edu
OBJECTIVE:
To obtain a part-time position in customer service that will utilize previous sales experience and
exceptional interpersonal communication skills
EDUCATION:
Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
Associates in Applied Science
Major: Marketing
Expected graduation date: May 2012
GPA 3.5/4.0
SKILLS & ABILITIES:
 Four years of retail and customer service experience
 2008 Customer Service Award recipient
 Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
 Excellent oral and written communication skills
 Speak, read, and write English and Spanish fluently
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Wendy’s, Joliet, IL
September 2010 to Present
Cook
 Prepare menu items according to customer specifications
 Clean food preparation areas, cooking surfaces and utensils
 Stock food and beverage stations
 Maintain health, sanitation and safety standards
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American Eagle, Bolingbrook, IL
June 2009 to August 2010
Sales Associate
 Greeted customers and answered questions about merchandise
 Assisted with sizes, recommended styles and monitored dressing room
 Operated cash register
ACTIVITIES:
JJC Sister’s Circle, Treasurer
August 2008 – present
REFERENCES: Available upon request
John Doe
1215 Houbolt Rd.
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 280-2762
jdoe@jjc.edu
OBJECTIVE:
Seeking an accounts payable position in a successful accounting firm
EDUCATION:
Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL
Associates of Applied Science in Accounting
Expected graduation date: May 2011
Cumulative GPA 3.60/4.00
RELEVANT COURSES:
Introduction to Accounting: Financial
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Accounting II
Federal Taxation
Corporation Accounting
Familiar with Excel and Access
INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE:
Summer 2010
Macon Corporation, Lombard, IL
Accounting Intern
• Prepared daily reports for managers and supervisors using Lotus.
• Reconciled summary statements for more than 250 customers.
• Coordinated weekly meetings for 40 accountants and executives.
• Awarded Educational Scholarship for successful completion of internship.
• Evaluated for excellent performance as an intern.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
October 2009 - Present
Woodridge Currency Exchange, Downers Grove, IL
Currency Exchange Clerk
• Complete morning balancing and auditing when necessary.
• Assist in end of month summary recaps.
• Responsible for license work, such as: title, transfers, license stickers and plates.
• Perform check cashing and other cash transactions, including: buying and selling foreign
currency, transmitting Western Union via data entry, and money orders.
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES:
Phi Theta Kappa (International Honors Society)
2010 – Present
JJC Volunteer Club
Vice-President 2009-2010
REFERENCES: Available upon request
John Doe
1215 Houbolt Rd.
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 280-2762
jdoe@jjc.edu
References:
Dr. Terry Johnson, Associate Professor of Literature and Communications
Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 729-9020
tjohnson@jjc.edu
Sarah Milsap, Controller
Macon Corporation
929 S Main Street
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 678-0943
smilsap@macon.com
Philip Marcum, Manager
Currency Exchange
2930 Finley Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 629-0636
marcump@currencyex.com
For more information and
sample resumes, please visit:
www.jjc.edu/info/careers
or contact Career Services at:
Campus Center
Phone: (815) 280-2756
Email: careers@jjc.edu