Resume Writing
September 19, 2012
Jeanette Hickl
VCU University Career Center
Division of Student Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
Agenda
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Resumes
– Purpose
– Formats
– Content
– Organization and Appearance
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Cover Letters
– Purpose
– Format
– Content
Purpose of a Resume
Goal: ?
an interview
 A resume is a strategic personal marketing
tool to sell your relevant experience,
education, skills, accomplishments and
qualifications to potential employers
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Resume Formats
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Resume
– Chronological Resumes
– Functional Resumes
– Combination Resumes
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Curriculum Vitae
Resume Content
*Use the categories that fit you
CORE CONTENT AREAS:
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Name and Contact Information
Objective or Professional
Interest Statement
Education
Experience
Scholarships/Honors/Awards
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ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES:
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Certification/Licensure
Selected Coursework/
Projects/Presentations
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Research Experience
Publications & Presentations
Professional Organizations
Computer/Technical Skills
Skills Summary
Additional Experience
Professional Development –
training, professional
organizations, workshops,
conferences
Student Organizations
Community Service/Volunteer
Foreign Languages
Name and Contact Information
Do not write “Resume” or “Curriculum Vitae” on
your resume
 On top of page:
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Name – slightly larger font size (14 or 16)
Contact information – legible font size (11 or 12)
Address
Phone number(s) (cell – screen calls, professional
voicemail)
– Email address (remove hyperlink, professional)
Name & Contact Information
~Examples~
Jamie T. Student
907 Floyd Avenue ▪ Richmond, VA 23284 ▪ 804.123.4567 ▪ studentj@vcu.edu
_______________________________________________________________
Jamie T. Student
Current Address: 907 Floyd Avenue ▪ Richmond, VA 23284
Permanent Address: 123 Lovely Lane ▪ Fairfax, VA 32145
804.123.4567 ▪ studentjt@vcu.edu
_______________________________________________________________
Current Address:
907 Floyd Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284
Jamie T. Student
studentjt@vcu.edu
804.123.4567
Permanent Address:
123 Lovely Lane
Fairfax, VA 32145
Objective
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Optional
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If you have one, be specific
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Avoid clichés or general statements
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Focus on how the employer would benefit, not on how
they can help you
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Consider targeting your objective for each resume you
send out
Objective
~Examples~
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position as a Victim Advocate.
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a Co-chair position with International Women’s
Alliance through the 2012 conference.
OBJECTIVE (PROFILE)
Recent gender studies graduate with interest in victim’s
advocacy and experience as a certified grant writer
seeking victim advocacy.
Education
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List all degrees in reverse chronological order
Abbreviating degrees is appropriate; writing
them is preferred
GPA is recommended (3.0 or above)
Indicate graduation with honors
Do not include high school graduation
Education
~Examples~
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, May 2013
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA
EDUCATION
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies May 2013
GPA: 4.0
Experience
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Focus on relevant experience
Include other relevant experience
Can include unpaid experience, internships or volunteer work
Begin descriptions with strong action verbs
Include complete but succinct descriptions
Avoid the use of personal pronouns
Avoid the use of articles (a, an, the)
Focus on skills and accomplishments rather than including a
comprehensive list of job duties
Quantify accomplishments whenever possible (for how many?
how often? etc)
Action Verbs
 Use strong, descriptive action verbs to describe your
experience
 If it is a current experience, use the present tense
 If it is a previous experience, use the past tense
 Avoid gerunds (-ing)
 Vary your action verbs (refer to action verb list in
resume guide)
 Avoid “duties include” or “responsible for”
 Refrain from using “handled” or “dealt with” when
referring to people
Examples of Advocate
Descriptions
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Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits
with clients.
Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social,
educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or
community services for assistance.
Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management,
sanitation, or housekeeping.
Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information
on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
Monitor free, supplementary meal program to ensure cleanliness of facility
and that eligibility guidelines are met for persons receiving meals.
Meet with youth groups to acquaint them with consequences of delinquent
acts.
Experience
~Example~
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Feminist Student Network
Richmond, VA
Advocate
May-July 2012
 Provided information or refer individuals to public or
private agencies or community services for assistance.
 Interviewed individuals or family members to compile
information on social, educational, criminal, institutional,
or drug history.
 Consulted with supervisor concerning programs for
individual families.
Honors
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Honor Societies
Scholarships awarded
Other awards
Alphabetical or reverse chronological order
Include graduation with honors in Education
section (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa
cum laude)
Honors
~Example~
HONORS
 VCU Scholarship, awarded 2011
 Golden Key International Honour Society, inducted 2009
 Virginia Commonwealth University Dean’s List, all semesters
Organizations
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Focus on relevant organizations
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Highlight leadership positions
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Include memberships in professional organizations and
student organizations related to field
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Include years of membership
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Can be combined with Honors or another section
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List in reverse chronological order or alphabetically
Outreach
Include relevant volunteer experience or
community service
 Consider elaborating on this experience;
organize just like experience section
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Organizations/Outreach
~Example~
ORGANIZATIONS/OUTREACH
 Co-founded Feminist Student Network at CU-Boulder
 Planned three International Women’s Week (IWW)
conferences
 Co-chair, International Women’s Alliance, coordinated 25th
Annual IWW XXXX
 Team Captain for XXXX Race for the Cure
 Coordinated campus effort for the National Breast Cancer
Coalition’s “Campaign 2.6”
Resume
Organization and Appearance
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Consistent organization is critical to an effective
resume
The appearance and organization of the
resume is just as important as the content
Skim …
in less than 5 seconds - ATS
Resume Organization
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Avoid templates
Consistent organization
Use horizontal space
Balanced page
Fill the page
White space in between
sections and entries
Use tabs, not space-bar to
indent
Use “print preview”
Resumes should be one page in
most cases
A second page is justified if it
includes relevant, significant
information
If you use more than one page,
make sure you include “Name,
Page #” & avoid stragglers on
all subsequent pages
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Use bold, CAPS, italics and
underlining strategically and
sparingly
Be consistent with heading style
and margins
Use one font style and size (except
for your name and/or headings)
Font: Times New Roman or Arial
Font Size: no smaller than 10 in
Arial or 11 in Times
Margins: at least 0.5 inches
Avoid paragraphs
Use bullets, not dashes
Avoid numbering your secitons
Resume Appearance - Proofread
Use all periods or no periods at the end of
sentences
 Dashes used in dates – consistent size,
consistent spacing
 Check for spelling and grammatical errors
 Spellcheck does not check words in all
caps
 Avoid personal pronouns and personal
information
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Resume Appearance - Final Copy
Avoid graphics, pictures, color ink
 Print on laser printer
 Use high quality, 100% cotton paper in
white or off-white
 Don’t staple or fold
 Don’t print on both sides of paper
 If mailing, use large envelope
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References
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List 3-5 professional references on a separate document following
the resume
Copy and paste your contact information at the top of the page
When listing references include name, title, organization/institution
and department, business address, phone number, and email
Don’t write “References available upon request” on your resume
ALWAYS ask permission from person giving you the reference
Offer your references a copy of your resume
Inform your references of the positions you’re applying for so they
are prepared
References
~Example~
REFERENCES
Janet R. Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Professor of Public Policy
Chair, Department of Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies
Virginia Commonwealth University
Crenshaw House, 919 W. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23284-3060
Phone 804/828-8041
jhutch@vcu.edu
Cover Letters
Why write one?
Purpose:
 Introduce yourself/your resume
 Indicate the position you are seeking
 May take the place of the objective
 Highlight your qualifications
 Tailor letter to the job
Cover Letter Format
Business letter format:
(Left justify everything)
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Your address
Today’s date
Employer’s name, title, organization, address
Greeting
Body
Closing (Sincerely, Yours truly)
Your signature
Your typed name
Enclosure(s): resume, application, references...
Cover Letter Format
Simplified format:
Leave off greeting and closing
 Use this option when you are not writing to a
specific person
 Allows you to avoid generic greetings (To whom it
may concern; Dear Sir or Madam)
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E-mailing a Cover Letter
Two options:
1. Your e-mail is the cover
letter, attach your
resume
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Leave off return address,
date and employer’s
address
Follow basic cover letter
writing guidelines for the
body of your e-mail
E-mail cover letters
should be briefer than
traditional cover letters
Spell check and proof
read your e-mail prior to
sending
2. Write a brief e-mail,
attach your cover letter
and resume
– Follow traditional cover
letter writing guidelines
– Spell check e-mail and
cover letter prior to
sending
Content: First Paragraph
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Introduce yourself and state why you are contacting the
organization
Indicate the specific position of interest and how you
learned of the position
Include degree you are seeking and when it will be
awarded
You may wish to quickly summarize your
experience/qualifications in one sentence
Content: Body Paragraphs
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Explain why you are interested in this position and this
organization – demonstrate that you have done your
research
Address each skill or qualification in the position
description and explain how you meet the organization’s
needs – be specific
Provide examples that demonstrate your skills
Do not just repeat your resume
Content: Concluding Paragraph
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Reiterate your interest
Invite the employer to contact you and repeat your
contact information (it should already be listed at the
top)
Indicate how and when you will follow up (if you have
the contact information to do so)
Thank the employer for their time and/or consideration
of your application
Cover Letters
Other information to include:
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Request information or interview
Explain gaps in employment, why you are reentering the
job market, or why you are changing the focus of your
career
If you were informed of the position by an employee of
the company, include their name
Tips For A
Stellar Cover Letter
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Address letter to a specific individual, when possible
Be specific when discussing your career goal and
qualifications
Give supporting evidence of your skills
Try not to start many sentences with “I”
Write no more than 3 or 4 paragraphs
Write simply and clearly
Cover letter should complement, not repeat your resume
Let your personality come through
Resources
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Go to www.students.vcu.edu/careers
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Scroll down and click on “Resume Guide” and
“Job Search Correspondence Guide ” on the
bottom/center of the page
VCU University Career Center
Jeanette Hickl
jwhickl@vcu.edu
804-828-4846
University Student Commons
Monroe Park Campus
www.students.vcu.edu/careers
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.