RESUME WRITING MANUAL
WHAT’S IN THIS MANUAL (Click Links to Jump to Section)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Professional Resume Overview
Formatting, Punctuation, Spelling and Grammar
Sample Resume Format and Content
Common Resume Content Mistakes to Avoid
5. How to Create Great Resume Content
6. Action Verbs Categorized By Skill Area
7. Industry Specific Resume Considerations
Typical evolution of a student-to-professional resume
HISTORICAL & FORGETTABLE
(i.e. Grade 10 Careers Resume)
Resume states what tasks were completed and where. Used for jobs during high school.
RELEVANT, BUT ORDINARY
Resume connects skills used with tasks completed. Strength areas and direction start to emerge, but
still untargeted and light on impact.
TAILORED AND ATTENTION-GETTING
Resume highlights skills in action with specific context they were used and how they contributed to
achieving quantifiable results. Your resume stands out because unique strengths and personality
permeate the pages and positively represent you to any reader.
No matter where you are with your resume, your immediate goal should be to improve it.
Employers are expecting you to provide a professional resume.
Work through this manual and start early!
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
PROFESSIONAL RESUMES ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS
Your resume needs to represent your best work
Resumes are integral to the job search phases you’ll experience during your degree, as well as your professional life.
Set goals and dedicate time toward updating your resume on a regular basis. Great resumes share the following traits:
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Error free, visually appealing, and 100% true information
Highlight specific actions and skills used to achieve positive quantifiable results
Speak the language of the writer’s target industry, but is engaging for any reader
Genuinely address the requirements and expectations of the employer, not the writer
FORMATTING
General Format
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Length – 1 full page or 2 full pages maximum (see industry-specific tips at end of document); partial pages only if
necessary
Font Size – Minimum 10pt
Font Style – Easily readable (i.e. Arial, Calibri, Times NR); use bold and italics selectively, avoid underlining
Page Margins – Minimum 0.5” inch page margins
Justification – Left
Section Headers – Bold capital letters
Bullets Points – Consistent indentation; two lines long or shorter
Line spacing – 4pt between section items, 8-10pt between sections
Dates – Be consistent, usually justified to the right side of the page, in reverse chronological order
For all experiences include the Position Title, Organization/Institution, Town, & Province (see sample on next
page)
Punctuation, Spelling, and Grammar
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No periods and avoid point/sentence combinations
Use numbers (i.e. 7, not seven)
Use spell check, and double/triple check for incorrect words (i.e. Manger vs. Manager)
Write bullet points in the active voice (Active voice clearly identifies the action and who is performing that action)
o To know whether you are writing in the active or passive voice, identify the subject of the sentence and
decide whether the subject is doing the action or being acted upon
o Passive Voice: the subject is the receiver of the action
 The tax return (subject) was completed (action) before the April 30 deadline by Mr. Doe.
o Active Voice: the subject does an action to an object
 Mr. Doe (subject) completed (action) the tax return (object) before the April 30 deadline.
Present tense for current role (i.e. facilitate) and past tense for previous experience (i.e. facilitated)
Avoid using “I”, “me”, “we”, or other filler words like “the” and “a”
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
FIRST NAME LAST NAME (sample content formatting)
youremail@queensu.ca Ι 613-533-6000 Ι https://ca.linkedin.com/in/yourURL
Name is larger font and at the top. Contact information up-to-date, complete and professional. Use the same matching letterhead
and document font style on all of your application documents. LinkedIn optional – If you insert, make sure your profile is strong and updated
with current information
EDUCATION
Highlight technical knowledge and skill developed in courses/projects. If you have performed well academically, list your GPA and
awards (with descriptive qualifier) as evidence. In year 1 & 2 of Commerce, it is ok to include your high school education and
significant awards.
Bachelor of Commerce, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
 Academic accomplishments/awards: i.e. Dean’s List, Entrance Scholarship, GPA (if it adds value), etc.
 Area of specialization or highlight courses, if relevant
 Certificate in XXX [Candidate]
 Exchange to X School, City, Country (Fall or Spring 20XX)
Name of Diploma (i.e. Ontario Secondary School Diploma), High School Name, City/Town, Province or Region
 Academic accomplishments/awards: i.e. Ontario Academic Scholar, Academic Honour Roll, etc.
20XX – Present
20XX – 20XX
What it looks like (Dual Degree example):
Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Computing, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
20XX- present
 D&R Sobey Atlantic Scholarship for Leadership (Major Admissions Award); D.I. McLeod Dean’s list Scholarship
 Relevant courses include Managerial Statistics (A), Marketing Strategy (A) & Managing Data for Business Intelligence (A+)
 International Exchange to University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Winter 20XX)
Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma, Horton High School, Wolfville, NS
 Lieutenant Governors Education Medal (20XX), Academic Honour Roll (20XX-XX)
20XX – 20XX
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Provide “Action(s) + Context + Results/Goals” Accomplishment Statements targeted to your audience. Focus on demonstrating your
skills in action, describing the specific context they were used and how they contributed to achieving quantifiable results. Your
audience should be able to imagine you doing the work and understand exactly which skills you used to achieve the result.
* If you need help developing Accomplishment Statements, refer to the exercise and examples starting on page 5.
Position, Company, Town, Region, Country (if outside of Canada)
 Begin each bullet with an action verb; provide context relating to type of company within first bullet
 Describe impact/result (specific, concrete and measured) and show how closely you met (or exceeded) expectations
 Emphasize transferable skills which relate to the role for which you are applying
20XX
What it looks like:
Marketing Intern, Revolve Branding & Marketing, Halifax, NS
20XX
 Coordinated weekly, monthly, and quarterly market penetration reports, developed strategy documents, and reviewed
consumer spending for 5 client accounts
 Independently conducted market gap analysis to identify new business opportunities that yielded 18 new contracts and
increased sales by 20% within 12 months across the client group
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE
Provide “Action(s) + Context + Results/Goals” Accomplishment Statements targeted to your audience. Focus on demonstrating
contributions to organizational goals, community building and areas of interest and growth.
Leadership Position, Company, Town, Region, Country (if outside of Canada)
 Begin each bullet with an action verb; provide context relating to type of company within first bullet
 Describe impact/result (specific, concrete and measured) and show how closely you met (or exceeded) expectations
 Emphasize transferable skills which relate to the role for which you are applying
20XX
What it looks like:
Co-Chair, Queen’s Entrepreneurs Competition, Kingston, ON
20XX – 20XX
 Led a team of 18 to plan and execute the largest international undergraduate business plan competition in the world; created
the vision, established priorities, determined deliverables, and delegated / clarified expectations
 Oversaw allocation and financial management of QEC’s $35k+ annual budget
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In addition to providing a glimpse of your personality (and hopefully a conversation starter at an interview!), your activities outside of
work or extracurriculars can add value to the resume. Show your ability to balance work and life with your additional
accomplishments or affiliations.
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Member – Professional Organization
Delegate – Conference (20XX)
Language (degree of proficiency)
Current, concrete or interesting activities, listing either the time you commit, your role or your specific achievement
What it looks like:
 Member – Queen’s Accounting Association, Queen’s Poetry Slam
 Delegate – Queen’s Conference on International Business (20XX)
 Fashion photographer with over 3,000 Instagram followers
WATCH OUT!
Avoid these big and common resume content mistakes…
1. Not tailored to your audience. If you are applying to a job ad, a general untailored resume does not grab a
reader’s attention. Recruiters decide in just 6 seconds if they want to read more, or bring you in for an
interview. To get attention, you must know and understand what will appeal to your audience.
2. Too many/too few words and not enough specific context. Use strategically chosen, descriptive words to
help your audience envision you displaying your unique strengths. Clearly and directly convey what you want
your audience to know since they will not accurately infer the value, purpose, skills required, environmental
factors, and degree of success you demonstrated if not told.
3. Lots of context, but no results or purpose. Break the habit of telling the story of how you gained or
developed skills in your day-to-day tasks and instead, showcase how you contributed your skills toward
achieving a bigger (i.e. organizational) goal, evidenced by quantifiable, positive results using numbers for scale
and comparison.
The majority of CAC resume appointments are spent discussing some or all of the above content issues – so
complete steps 1 – 4 below and then book a follow-up resume appointment with a Career Coach.
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
CONTENT TIPS: CREATING “ACTION(S) + CONTEXT + RESULTS” ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
Here are some key steps to ensure your resume points are top notch
1. ESTABLISH YOUR TARGET
Make a list of transferable skills, work-specific skills and values that your target audience is looking for in a
candidate. Knowing your audience is crucial. Do diligent research using industry guides, LinkedIn, websites
(mission statements, descriptions of people, etc.), job ads, discussions with friends, family members, classmates,
profs, etc. Write it all down and look for any perspectives that might help you fill in any holes.
2. BRAINSTORM TO EXPAND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Rather than condensing your experiences in to bullet points right away, expand your experiences first to find the
language, context, purpose, and results that we often assume our audience can infer. Your resume is like painting
a picture – the more colours and angles you have to convey your story, the easier it is to select what will appeal to
your audience.
For each experience on your resume, brainstorm and record your thoughts on the following:
ACTION(S)
Brainstorm a list of actions, focusing
on relevant job related skills. These
could be from the job ad, from the
pages at the back of this manual, etc.
to answer:
What actions (skill based verbs) did I
take while on the job? What actions
made me good at this position?
What actions did I receive praise for?
+
CONTEXT
+
Brainstorm descriptive context using
numbers and time when possible to
answer:
What did this task look like?
Who did I do this with/for?
How would I describe the people and
environment?
What was the volume of work I
completed? What were the
timelines? Etc.
RESULTS/GOAL
Brainstorm the impact of your
actions to answer:
Why was this important? (Define
personal or organizational goal or
purpose)
What were the quantifiable positive
results? (Provide numbers to
evidence scale and/or contrast)
To find additional examples of accomplishments, reflect on what happened when you…
 Managed a work group, a department?
 Increased sales or productivity?
 Supervised, managed or trained employees?
 Solved difficult problems?
 Managed a budget?
 Accomplished something for the first time?
 Co-ordinated special projects?
 Developed, created, designed or invented
something?
 Saved or made the company/organization
money?
 Accomplished more with the same or fewer
resources?
 Identified problems others did not see?
 Received awards, honours, special
 Developed a new system or procedure?
recognition, etc.?
 Increased effectiveness?
 Were promoted or upgraded?
 Increased efficiency?
 Prepared original papers, reports, and articles?
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
3. CONSTRUCT YOUR CLEAR AND ENGAGING “ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS”. For each resume point, use the
list from Step 1 to decide which skills to highlight from your respective experiences expanded in Step 2. Ensure
that your accomplishment statements satisfy the content formula below:
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*ACTION(S)
Action Verb
+
CONTEXT
Describe Specific Details
+
RESULTS/GOAL
Quantitative, qualitative / purpose
Examples:
 Independently conducted market gap analysis to identify new business opportunities that yielded 100 new
accounts and increased sales by 20% within 12 months
 Lead committee of 25 students to plan and execute international business conference, growing 10% from
the previous year to host 12 corporate partners and 220 delegates
 Praised by customers for attention to detail and personable service by effectively organizing, cataloging
and maintaining the golf equipment for 200 valued members
 Researched and developed business case and marketing strategy for a local technology start-up that
increased market share by 20% over 4 months
Focus on being clear, concise, and providing context to legitimize and leverage your point. Two or three points per
experience are usually enough, but don’t limit yourself if you have more great results. Working in reverse
chronological order will make it easier to evaluate which of your experiences are most pertinent to the role for
which you are applying.
*See Pg. 7: Action Verbs
4. FINAL REVIEW CHECKLIST & PROOFING
 Uses job posting as guide for selecting action words
 Is presented as a tailored, results-oriented document, not a historical recount of your life
 Uses CLAIM (skill/ability) and EVIDENCE (context, results/impact) strategy for each position to show your
achievements added value to the organization
 Written in active voice, using ACTION(S) + CONTEXT + RESULTS!
 Avoids overuse of buzzwords or industry jargon
 Contains clear, concise bullet points (no longer than two lines each)
 Proofing – Get Help!
Provide your proof reader with the job posting or background about the position/firm you are applying to so
that they can try to put themselves in to your future employer’s shoes. Provide your proof-reader with a
pencil and ask them to comment on:
 “Is the punctuation, spelling, or formatting error-free and is it visually appealing?” (Y or N)
 "Can you picture me doing this?" (Y or N)
 "Can you identify the skills/abilities highlighted in each section? What are they?"
NOT SURE OF YOUR TARGET JOB OR INDUSTRY?
If you’re not 100% sure what your employment target is, no problem. Focus on showcasing your best specific
transferable skills (i.e. communication, analytical, commitment, work ethic, leadership, adaptability etc.) and
connect them to your great results. Employers need employees who solve problems and make an impact, so
build your statements to show how your presence made the organization better.
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
ACTION VERBS - CATEGORIZED BY SKILL AREAS
The underlined words are especially good for describing accomplishments
Management Skills
 Administered
 Developed
 Instituted
 Reorganized
 Consolidated
 Executed
 Planned
 Delegated
 Initiated
 Recommended
 Chaired
 Evaluated
 Oversaw
 Supervised
 Improved
 Produced
 Attained
 Established
 Organized
 Strengthened
 Achieved
 Prioritized
 Assigned
 Enhanced
 Motivated
 Scheduled
 Coordinated
 Expanded
 Analyzed
 Directed
 Managed
 Reviewed
 Contracted
 Increased
 Pioneered
Communication Skills
 Addressed
 Directed
 Mediated
 Related
 Coached
 Emphasized
 Presented
 Translated
 Contacted
 Instructed
 Corresponded
 Lectured
 Referred
 Circulated
 Elicited
• Persuaded
 Spoke
 Conferred
 Informed
 Reconciled
 Interpreted
 Redirected
 Called
 Edited
 Oriented
 Showed
 Composed
 Influenced
 Recommended
 Wrote
 Recruited
 Authored
 Drafted
 Negotiated
 Resolved
 Communicated
 Formulated
 Publicized
 Tutored
 Arbitrated
 Advertised
 Discussed
 Moderated
 Represented
 Collaborated
 Explained
 Promoted
 Transmitted
 Convinced
 Enlisted
Research Skills
 Analyzed
 Identified
 Systematized
 Engineered
 Critiqued
 Organized
 Built
 Overhauled
 Remodeled
 Solved
 Extracted
 Surveyed
 Devised
 Conducted
 Located
 Assembled
 Operated
 Gathered
 Replaced
 Studied
 Summarized
 Developed
 Compared
 Investigated
 Applied
 Maintained
 Examined
 Solved
 Standardized
 Utilized
 Designed
 Collected
 Interviewed
 Adapted
 Installed
 Evaluated
 Reviewed
 Computed
 Upgraded
 Clarified
 Clarified
 Interpreted
 Tested
 Fabricated
 Diagnosed
 Researched
 Calculated
 Programmed
 Repaired
Teaching Skills
 Adapted
 Enabled
 Guided
 Trained
 Developed
 Focused
 Stimulated
 Coordinated
 Facilitated
 Persuaded
 Communicated
 Explained
 Instructed
 Coached
 Evaluated
 Informed
 Advised
 Encouraged
 Individualized
 Tutored
Financial Skills
• Administered
• Budgeted
• Managed
 Researched
• Balanced
• Forecasted
• Reduced
 Audited
• Estimated
• Reconciled
 Appraised
 Developed
• Projected
• Analyzed
 Computed
 Planned
• Allocated
• Calculated
• Marketed
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
Creative Skills
• Acted
 Directed
 Integrated
 Introduced
• Created
• Formulated
• Originated
• Studied
 Developed
 Instituted
 Researched
 Revised
• Forecasted
• Modified
• Solved
• Transformed
 Initiated
 Proposed
• Composed
• Fashioned
• Investigated
• Shaped
• Designed
• Planned
 Authored
 Conceptualized
• Invented
• Set Up
• Customized
• Illustrated
 Adapted
 Established
• Estimated
• Revitalized
• Conceived
• Founded
• Performed
Helping Skills
• Advocated
• Demonstrated
• Guided
• Supported
• Coached
• Counseled
• Familiarized
• Resolved
• Clarified
• Expedited
• Facilitated
• Represented
• Assisted
• Encouraged
• Referred
• Rehabilitated
• Assessed
• Educated
• Motivated
• Demystified
• Aided
• Diagnosed
• Intervened
• Volunteered
• Mentored
Clerical or Detail Skills
• Approved
• Executed
• Purchased
• Tabulated
• Coded
• Monitored
• Scheduled
• Distributed
• Processed
• Systematized
• Classified
• Maintained
• Routed
• Dispatched
• Prepared
• Standardized
• Charted
• Inspected
• Reviewed
• Verified
• Organized
• Set up
• Catalogued
• Implemented
• Retrieved
• Validated
• Compiled
• Screened
• Arranged
• Generated
• Recorded
• Updated
• Collected
• Operated
• Edited
Leadership Skills
• Administered
• Designated
• Led
• Specified
• Authorized
• Enforced
• Regulated
• Delegated
• Hired
• Signed
• Assigned
• Encouraged
• Recommended
• Controlled
• Governed
• Settled
• Approved
• Discharged
• Presided
• Supervised
• Executed
• Selected
• Appointed
• Disapproved
• Oversaw
• Spearheaded
• Conducted
• Required
• Allocated
• Directed
• Managed
• Sponsored
• Awarded
• Evaluated
• Influenced
Organizational Skills
• Arranged
• Coordinated
• Recorded
• Calculated
• Purchased
• Budgeted
• Prepared
• Scheduled
• Planned
• Reported
• Assembled
• Reorganized
• Analyzed
• Organized
• Restored
Interpersonal Skills
• Accommodated
• Cooperated
• Motivated
• Respected
• Assisted
• Mediated
• Contributed
• Modified
• Requested
• Arrange
• Influenced
• Provided
• Moderates
• Related
• Agreed
• Guided
• Persuaded
• Taught
• Reconciled
• Advised
• Facilitated
• Personalized
• Sold
• Adjusted
• Counseled
• Negotiated
• Served
• Consulted
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC RESUME CONSIDERATIONS
ACCOUNTING
Key Characteristics of Successful Accountants
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Solid understanding and application of accounting
and taxation concepts and models
Exceptional quantitative, analytical & research skills
Affinity for viewing business problems and
solutions in terms of numerical data
Sample Industry Keywords
Balance Sheets
Budgeting
Taxation
Dividends
Mergers & Acquisitions
Proficiency with spreadsheets
Attention to detail
Quickly comprehend Financial statements
Strong communication skills and multilanguage abilities for multinational firms
Income Statements
Cash Flow/Liquidity
Risk Management
Enterprise Resource Planning
Capital Investments
Equity
Liabilities & Assets
Auditing
Securities
Business Development
General Tips
 Document is a maximum ONE page in length
 Immaculate attention to detail, from consistent formatting to impeccable grammar and perfect spelling
 Customize your resume for accounting firm/culture to which you are applying
CONSULTING
Key Characteristics of Successful Consultants
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Relevant industry or functional experience
Analytical and problem solving skills
Intellect and solid business acumen
Leadership ability or potential
Sample Industry Keywords
Analysis
Balanced Score Card
Benchmarking
Branding
B2B or B2C
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Proven record of results
Ability to work well in a team
Strong communication skills
Case Team
Customer Relationship Management
Engagement
Enterprise Resource Planning
Gross Margin
Just-in-time (JIT)
Knowledge Management
Market Segmentation
Six Sigma
Total Quality Management
General Tips
 Document is a maximum ONE page in length
 Employers may spend as little as 6 seconds reviewing a resume – it must clearly and concisely convey who you
are, what you are capable of, and how you have used your talents to accomplish results
 Organize your resume into three main sections – Education, Experience and a third section “Other” that may
include useful information that does not fit nicely into one of the other sections
 Customize your resume for the type of consulting you wish to pursue. If you are applying to several firms you
may want to customize your resume to the type of consulting they specialize in (Strategy vs. Ops vs. Tech)
 Note – Having experience in the industry in which the consulting firm specializes is key
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
CORPORATE FINANCE
Key Characteristics of Successful Corporate Finance Professionals
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Solid understanding and application of Financial
concepts and models
Exceptional quantitative, analytical & research skills
Intellect and solid business acumen
Commitment and vigor for a specific area of
finance
Sample Industry Keywords
Financial Analysis
Budgeting
Benchmarking
Credit & Collections
Mergers & Acquisitions
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Strategic Development
Investment Analyst
Risk Management
Enterprise Resource Planning
Capital Investments
Proficiency with spreadsheets
Ability to work well in a team
Strong communication skills and multilanguage abilities for multinational firms
Corporate Financial Planning
Program Management
Auditing
Taxation
Business Development
General Tips
 Document is a maximum ONE page in length
 Employers may spend as little as 6 seconds reviewing a resume – it must clearly and concisely convey who you
are, what you are capable of, and how you have used your talents to accomplish results
 Customize your resume for the area of finance you wish to pursue
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Key Characteristics of Successful Financial Service Professionals
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Solid understanding and application of Financial
concepts and models
Exceptional quantitative, analytical & problemsolving skills
Sales and Negotiation Skills
Customer relationship and marketing abilities
Sample Industry Keywords
Financial Markets
Budgeting
Certified Financial Planner
Insurance
CRM
Chartered Financial Analyst
Investment Products
Risk Management
Actuarial
Capital Investments
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Industry Experience and/or Certifications
Proficiency with Excel and Access
Ability to work well in a team
Strong ability to articulate/present Financial
information to a broad audience
Project Management & Leadership
Canadian Securities Course
Program Management
Managerial Accounting
Negotiations
Estate Planning
General Tips
 Document is a maximum ONE page in length
 Customize your resume for the area of Financial services you wish to pursue (i.e. insurance vs. actuary)
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
HUMAN RESOURCES
Key Characteristics of Successful HR Professionals
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Analytical and problem solving skills
Communication skills (conflict mediation, group facilitation, active listening skills)
Business knowledge (understanding how HR fits within corporate strategy)
Strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential
Computer savvy (databases, spreadsheets, HRMIS)
Flexibility and ability to address various individual/departmental/company needs
Sample Industry Keywords
Affirmative Action
Balanced Score Card
Collective Bargaining
Discrimination
Employee Assistance Program
Employment Standards
External Labour Market
Fringe Benefits
FTE – full time equivalent
Human Capital
Human Performance
Internal Labour Market
Job Design
Line Function
Outsourcing
Organizational Development
Organizational Effectiveness
Performance Evaluation
Strategic HR Management
Succession Planning
Talent Management
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Customize to the type of role and/or industry you are targeting (i.e. recruiting, organizational development,
training and development, health and safety, consulting)
INVESTMENT BANKING
Key Characteristics Sought By Banks
Investment Banking
 Leadership potential
 Quantitative/Analytical skills
 Drive to achieve results
 Communication skills
 Team player mentality
Sample Industry Keywords
Bloomberg
Comps.
Hedge Fund
High Yield
Sales & Trading
 Negotiation skills and power of persuasion
 Intellect (strong business acumen)
 Communication skills
 Relationship building
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Nasdaq
OTC
Pitch Book
Secondary Offering
Tombstone
Underwriting
General Tips
 Document is a maximum ONE page in length
 “Passion for finance” must be legitimized using specific examples
 Employers may spend as little as 6 seconds reviewing a resume – it must clearly and concisely convey who you
are, what you are capable of, and how you have used your talents to accomplish RESULTS
MARKETING & BRAND MANAGEMENT
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
Key Characteristics of Successful Marketing Professionals
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Enthusiasm, passion, creativity, and adaptability
Team player mentality (can lead, manage and persuade cross-functional teams without formal authority)
Leadership potential (real-world awareness, innovative ideas and strategic thinking)
Good communication skills (verbal, persuasive writing and presentation skills)
Analytical and problem solving skills
Sample Industry Keywords
Branding
Consumer Behaviour
Consumer Engagement
Communications Platform
Cross Functional Team
Customer Relationship Management
Focus Groups
Market Research
Market Share
Niche Marketing
Organic Marketing
Opportunity Identification
P&L (Profit and Loss)
Pipeline
Positioning
Product Life Cycle
Relationship Building
Strategic Direction
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Client-Side: Focus on project management, relationship and business-building strategies, analytics, sales
 Agency-Side: Given the creativity and “out of the box” thinking dominant in agency marketing, align your
resume language, look and feel with the personality of the firm you are targeting; more flexibility
NOT-FOR-PROFIT & PUBLIC SERVICE
Key Characteristics of Successful Not-For-Profit and Public Service Professionals
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Relevant industry or functional experience
Negotiation skills and power of persuasion
Analytical and problem solving skills
Intellect and solid business acumen
Leadership ability or potential
Sample Industry Keywords
Advocacy
Annual Giving
Board of Directors
Campaign Management
Case Management
Community Engagement
Community Outreach
Cost Control
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Flexibility and ability to address various
individual/departmental/company needs
Ability to work well in a team
Strong communication skills
Development
Donor Recognition
Endowment
Executive Leadership
Foundation Management
Fundraising Policies
Grant Writing
Planned Giving
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Focus on transferable skills and highlight non-profit or community experience(s)
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Program Management
Proposal Writing
Regulatory Affairs
Resource Management
Social Media Fundraising
Stakeholder Management
Strategic Fundraising
RESUME WRITING MANUAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Key Characteristics of Successful Public Relations Professionals
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Solid understanding and application of media trends and local market landscape
Attention to detail
Strong oral and written communication skills for internal and external communications (persuasive writing,
presentation skills, ability to build relationships)
Ability to work well in a team
Relevant industry or functional experience, depending on PR focus (luxury brands, government)
Enthusiasm, passion, creativity
Adaptability in fast-paced environment
Strategic thinking
Sample Industry Keywords
Writing copy
Market strategy
Outreach events
Media trends
Media landscape
Brand representation
Press coverage
Relationship building
Business/ corporate communications
Social and digital media
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Customize your profile to the type of role/ company/ or industry you are targeting
 Treat your resume as a PR document, and showcase your ability to communicate a message in a clear and
engaging way
REAL ESTATE
Key Characteristics of Successful Real Estate Professionals
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Solid understanding of real estate practices and principles (development, appraisal, marketing, selling, leasing,
management)
Understanding and application of local market trends
Organized, analytical, methodical
Customer service orientated and ability to build relationships and work in teams
Entrepreneurial (takes initiative and can self-manage)
Can negotiate with and advise clients
Sample Industry Keywords (Depends on functional role within real estate)
Property
Negotiation
Relationship building
Commission
Local market trends
Sales targets
Contracts
General Tips
 Document is preferably ONE page in length
 Customize your profile to the type of real estate you’re interested in (residential, commercial)
 Highlight industry experience and accreditations
 Focus on results, as real estate is largely about sales
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
SALES
Key Characteristics of Successful Sales Professionals
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Outgoing and warm personality
Confident speaker
Strong presentation skills
High degree of self-motivation
Ability to build trust with customers
Sample Industry Keywords
Relationship Building
Lead Generation
Meeting/Exceeding Quotas
Inside/Outside Sales
Needs Identification
Account Management
CRM
Presentations
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Focus on numbers and results achieved in every role, putting your most impressive results at top of document
 Include any relevant sales awards and/or training and certifications
 Showcase your drive and willingness to consistently go above and beyond expectations
SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA
Key Characteristics of Successful Sports, Entertainment & Media Professionals
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Relevant industry or functional experience
Enthusiasm, passion, strong work ethic
Leadership ability and/or potential
Strong networking, relationship building and communication skills (listening, verbal, persuasive writing and
presentation skills)
Analytical and problem solving skills (innovative and strategic thinking)
Strong teamwork ability
Project Coordination, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
General Tips
 Document is a maximum TWO pages in length
 Showcase your drive and willingness to consistently go above and beyond expectations
 Focus on relationship and business-building strategies, use of analytics for driving decision-making
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RESUME WRITING MANUAL
TECHNOLOGY
Key Characteristics of Successful Technology Professionals
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Technical proficiency & aptitude
Mathematical, logical & analytical skills
Creative problem-solving
Project Management
Strong communication & collaboration skills
Organization, Planning & Detail-Oriented
Sample Industry Keywords
Analytics
Application Development
Change Management
Data Mining
Information Security
IT Architecture
Network Solutions
Programming
General Tips
 Document can be ONE or TWO pages
 Showcase any technical skills in proper context, and on specific projects (if possible) and their results
 Focus on being crisp, concise, and include only the most relevant information
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