The Resume: A Reflection of You
Resumes are funny things. If you ask 10 different people how your document
should look, they will tell you 10 different ways. The bottom line is that there is no
"right way" to create a resume. Your resume should, however, showcase you
and your skills to an employer. Suggestions that appear in this document are
general guidelines, not a blueprint. Since the resume is a marketing device, it
should SELL YOU.
Accompanied by a cover letter, its purpose is to get you an interview. Examples
have been selected to emphasize basic resume structures.
The Format: Distinguishing Yourself
Although there is no one correct way to write a resume, there are strategies to
promote your abilities and to "grab" a reader's attention. Formatting your resume
can be the most creative aspect of resume writing. Although there are popular
standard formats, your format will depend upon your target audience and the
manner in which you want to present yourself. Effective resumes have these
qualities:





typically one page
easy to scan
wording is clear and forceful
stress achievements
of laser quality printout
The most popular formats are Reverse Chronological and a combination of a
Functional and Chronological.
Reverse Chronological Resume
This format lists work experiences from your most recent experience to the
furthest back in time. Nevertheless, experiences can [and should] be listed by
importance rather by time sequence. Keep information clutter free, allowing the
reader to scan the resume easily. Since the eye flows down the left-hand side of
the resume, put dates and locations of experiences to the right side of the
document because they are NOT the most important for an employer to see. Use
bold or underline print sensibly. Using varied print too often defeats the purpose
of highlighting items, and therefore becomes worthless.
Functional/Chronological Resume
Functional formats concentrate on the "functional" or "transferable" skills you
have acquired through academics, activities and work experiences. These are
often grouped under headings such as Communication Skills, Leadership
Abilities, Research and Writing Skills, etc.
FORMATTING TIPS










Avoid using a template—these do not stand out to an employer
Abbreviate states with capital letter (IL)
Use bold or underline separately, not together
Avoid using more than two fonts in your document
Use simple, everyday language
Keep sentences short; begin with varied action verbs
Be honest, don't exaggerate
Use high quality bond paper
Keep margins and spacing clean and inviting to the eye
Proofread yourself and have other people read it as well: read backwards
to catch mistakes.
TYPICAL SECTIONS IN A RESUME
The Heading
Every resume should highlight your name and address. Typically, a college
student will include both home and college addresses and phone numbers. Be
sure that the phone number you use will be answered. It doesn't help you to list
your college resident phone that seldom gets answered or where messages
won't be taken. Listing one address and phone number can save resume space
and is aesthetically more pleasing. Do what's right for you. Always include an
email address since many employers prefer communication to be electronic.
The Job Objective
THIS IS AN OPTIONAL SECTION. The problem with most job objectives is that
they are broad in nature and say very little; or, they are so specific that they
narrow the effective range of the resume. For most students, the cover letter will
serve as the vehicle to get across "why you are writing and what you want."
Nevertheless, if you include an objective, describe what you want to do and what
you are able to do which adds to your marketability. Examples of job objectives
are:


To serve as assistant curator within an art museum. Prior internship
experience in museum work has equipped me to assist in art exhibit
installation, publicity, cataloging and research.
An internship which allows for use of my strong research and problemsolving skills within a biochemical research lab. Familiar with various
laboratory procedures and possess strong attention to detail.

Past involvement in campus activities and new student advising leads me
to seek a position as an admissions officer in a liberal arts college.
Education
Since you have spent the last 12-16 years or more in formal education, this
usually appears as the first section of an undergraduate resume ( or after the Job
Objective section if you use one) However, if you have had significant
experience (work, volunteer, college activities, etc.), you may want to list
EXPERIENCE as your first section. Keep in mind the following points when
formatting this section:





Start with your most recent educational experience: Butler University. List
your major and graduation date. Bold the name of your major and degree
in order to train the readers’ eye to follow the important information.
Whether to include your GPA or not depends on how you feel about it. If it
is above a 3.0, include it. The GPA can be represented through your
MAJOR GPA or your JR/SR GPA. The point is: if your cumulative GPA is
on the low side, you don't want to give employers a reason to discount
your job candidacy based on this one factor. Employers may never get
beyond the GPA to see the rest of your story.
Foreign Study and Exchange Programs: List these experiences and
mention a fluency, proficiency, or familiarity with a foreign language.
Coursework: Don't laundry-list every course you've had. Rather, be
judicious and highlight those courses that will catch an employer's
attention. You may want to highlight courses that complement your major
or that add somehow to your "marketability." List course names, not
numbers, as course numbers have no meaning to a recruiter.
Honors and Awards: These can be either placed under the Education
section or highlighted by themselves in a separate category. Remember a
resume is not an autobiography. Select only those awards or honors that
represent a composite picture of your strengths.
Experience
Students use different titles - Work Experience, Employment, etc. - to highlight
this section of their resume. As stated throughout this handout, there is no one
way to format a resume. However, we suggest you use the heading Experience
or Career-Related Experience to caption this section. Experience is a better title
than Work Experience or Employment since it can encompass a wider range of
activities.
Journalism-Related Experience or any other specified type of experience can
also be used if targeting specific work. Since most employers "skim" resumes
rather than "read" them, you want to control the eye of the reader. This is done
by good use of space and by highlighting information relevant to your candidacy.
Commonly asked questions regarding this section of the resume include:




Can I include paid and unpaid experiences together? Certainly. The
responsibilities you held and the skills demonstrated through campus
activities, volunteer experiences, etc., are all transferable and worth
highlighting.
Do my experiences need to be in a reverse chronology (most recent
experience first)? No. It's better to list experiences by order of
importance. If an employer is skimming a resume, you want him or her to
see the most relevant experiences first. Once you have left college and
acquire work experience, resumes then tend to take on a pure reverse
chronology.
How far back should I go in listing jobs? It depends on what the jobs
were. You need to be careful what you put in the resume and what you
leave out. Since this is not an autobiography, focus on only those
experiences and jobs which are relevant to your objective. If you are a
freshman or sophomore, high school jobs and activities will dominate this
section. As you progress through college, more recent jobs and
experiences will take their place.
What about all the odd jobs I had (work-study, jobs during breaks,
etc.)? You don't want to discount experiences but neither do you want to
elaborate on wait staff jobs, etc. You can summarize these experiences in
a statement or two to get across the idea that you have an ingrained work
ethic, helped finance your education, etc.
Activities and Interests
Many employers look at three key areas of your resume: academic performance,
work-related experiences, and involvement in activities. Membership in several
college organizations is fine. However, leadership positions or in-depth
involvement within these organizations is even better. The activities you list give
the reader a look into who you are and how you spend your time. Employers
often "latch on" to items in this section as ice-breakers in interviews and to find
common interests. Include information that complements the other parts of your
resume and which adds personal dimension.
Do not include:

A personal section giving birth date, marital status, height, weight, health,
etc. By law, employers cannot discriminate on the basis of sex, race or
marital status.

Tag line "References available upon request": If employers are seriously
interested in hiring you and want references, they will let you know.
However, be sure to have people in mind who can serve as references
should you be asked.
You may want to include:
Tag lines such as Portfolio Available Upon Request or Writing Samples
Available Upon Request if you seek positions that require unique skills or
experiences.
The Lingo of Employers: Skills and Results
Employers assess your resume (and cover letter) to determine if "you have the
right stuff" and to judge whether you can deliver results. Sell yourself to
employers by showing demonstrated skills and by adding details which show
your achievements. Begin sentences with "action verbs," and be specific when
showing the extent to which you added value to an endeavor. Look at the
following samples:
Examples:
Characteristic:
Simple Statement:
Problem Solver/Strategic Ability
Organized rush activities for fraternity
Powerhouse Entry:
Developed new rush strategies; doubled number
of prospective members
Community Service oriented
Worked for Cornerstone Mission
Characteristic:
Simple Statement:
Powerhouse Entry:
Characteristic:
Simple Statement:
Powerhouse Entry:
Devoted over 100 hours to feeding needy in
Indianapolis community
Hard worker/Strong Work Ethic
Served as Hostess and grill worker at Ponderosa
Promoted to Hostess as result of long, productive
hours on grill
Preparing the Scannable Resume
Some employers are now using computer programs to sort through large
numbers of applicants to find desirable employees. These resumes are scanned
into a database; key word searches are then conducted to identify applicants
who have the desired traits.
These electronic tracking systems can extract skills from many styles of
resumes. The most difficult resumes to read are those with poor copy quality,
blue or gray paper, or unusual formats such as a newspaper layout, complex
fonts, graphics or lines.
When possible, you can ask the contact person for the position whether or not a
scannable resume is recommended. When this is not possible, you can either
include a scannable resume along with your regular resume, or make sure that
your resume is scannable.
Tips for Maximizing Scannability








Use white paper and do not fold or staple
Use laser printed original; avoid photocopies
Use standard typefaces such as Helvetica, Futura, Times New Roman or
Arial
Use font sizes of 10 to 14 pt
Do not condense spacing between letters or use a condensed font
Use boldface and/or all caps for section headings as long as letters don't
touch
Avoid fancy styles such as italics, underline, shadows and reverses
Fax only when necessary. When faxing, fax in "fine" mode if possible
Tips for Maximizing "Hits" (Matches with Search Criteria)



Include a Qualifications Summary detailing your most relevant skills and
experience.
Use jargon and acronyms specific to your field.
Increase your use of key words by including specifics such as - Microsoft
Excel, Access, dbase, CAD, OSHA, etc.
Action Verbs
The underlined words are especially good for pointing out accomplishments.
Management
Skills
administered
analyzed
assigned
attained
chaired
consolidated
contracted
coordinated
delegated
developed
directed
evaluated
executed
improved
increased
organized
oversaw
planned
prioritized
produced
recommended
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
Communication
Skills
addressed
arbitrated
arranged
authored
collaborated
convinced
corresponded
developed
directed
drafted
edited
enlisted
formulated
influenced
interpreted
lectured
mediated
moderated
negotiated
persuaded
promoted
publicized
reconciled
recruited
spoke
translated
wrote
Research Skills
clarified
collected
critiqued
diagnosed
evaluated
examined
extracted
identified
inspected
interpreted
interviewed
investigated
organized
reviewed
summarized
surveyed
systematized
Technical Skills
assembled
built
calculated
computed
designed
devised
engineered
fabricated
maintained
operated
overhauled
programmed
remodeled
repaired
solved
upgraded
Teaching Skills
adapted
advised
clarified
coached
communicated
coordinated
demystified
developed
enabled
encouraged
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
informed
instructed
persuaded
set goals
stimulated
trained
Financial Skills
administered
allocated
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
budgeted
calculated
computed
developed
forecasted
managed
marketed
planned
projected
researched
Creative Skills
acted
conceptualized
created
customized
designed
developed
directed
established
fashioned
founded
illustrated
initiated
instituted
integrated
introduced
invented
originated
performed
planned
revitalized
shaped
Helping
Skills
assessed
assisted
clarified
coached
counseled
demonstrated
diagnosed
educated
expedited
facilitated
familiarized
guided
motivated
referred
rehabilitated
represented
Clerical or
Detail Skills
approved
arranged
catalogued
classified
collected
compiled
dispatched
executed
generated
implemented
inspected
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
purchased
recorded
retrieved
screened
specified
systematized
tabulated
validated
More Verbs for
Accomplishments
achieved
expanded
improved
pioneered
reduced (losses)
resolved (problems)
restored
spearheaded
transformed
Melissa D. Holmes
Email:
mholmes246@butler.edu
Campus: 000 Hampton DR  Indianapolis, IN 46240  (317) 555-0000
Home:
2192 N. St. Rd. 267  Avon, IN 46123  (317) 555-5388
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position in the field of Criminal Justice utilizing Spanish Language skills
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Minor in Spanish
Butler University
Cumulative GPA 3.67/4.0
Major GPA 3.86/4.0
December 2003
Indianapolis, IN
Coursework Included: Organization and Administration in Criminal Justice, Criminal Law and
Society, Social Deviance, Juvenile Justice, Criminology Research Methods, and Theories of
Criminal Justice, 24 credit hours in Spanish
Honors: Dean’s List (3 semesters), Graduated with Honors - Cum Laude, Bulldog Blue Ribbon
Award, Selected to join Mortar Board, Golden Key National Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma,
Order of Omega
CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERIENCE
Intern
Summer 2004
Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department
Plainfield, IN
 Completed 96 hours while riding with patrol officers on the 4pm-12am shift
 Patrolled neighborhoods, wrote tickets, filed necessary reports with assistance from staff
 Assisted in the booking of an individual following an arrest
Intern
May 2003 - December 2003
Marion County Adult Probation Department
Indianapolis, IN
 Completed over 200 hours while working in the Sex Offender Unit
 Given own caseload of approximately 65 probationers
 Filed Violations of Probation, Discharge Summaries, and Notice of Administrative Hearings
 Assisted in conducting home visits weekly on high-risk probationers
WORK EXPERIENCE
Front End Supervisor
Summers 2001 - 2002
Kroger Company
Speedway, IN
 Served as supervisor for all cashiers, utility clerks, and office clerks
 Handled customer concerns and organized employees' schedules
 Balanced daily, weekly and yearly sales totals while working in Accounting Office
 Promoted three times throughout work experience
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Chi Omega (Vice-President), Union Board, Greek Peer
Advocates, Volunteer for Indianapolis Council on Domestic Abuse, and served on Butler NCA
Student Evaluation Committee
Jason Hampton
1208 West 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46242
(317) 555-8988
E-mail: Jason.Hampton@anyemail.com
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Butler University, May 2005
Cumulative GPA: 3.14/4.0
Courses include: Marketing Management Strategy, Problem Solving, Accounting,
Management, Business Law, Marketing Research, Organizational Behavior
LEADERSHIP
President, Cross Cultural Team, 2003-2004
 Pioneered group tours to local businesses and industries
 Coordinated team-building activities
 Encouraged activities that involved the leadership of international students
 Formed discussion topics for weekly meetings
Council Member, Baptist Student Union, 2002-2004
 Lead community service volunteers at homeless shelter
 Participated on a decision-making team
Representative, Residence Hall Association, 2002-2003
 Contributed input on decisions for dormitory activities
Member, Africana Studies Club, 2001-2004
 Planned African-American campus activities
Member, American Marketing Society, 2002-present
EXPERIENCE
Retail Sales, November 2000 - January 2003, Lazarus Department Store, Evansville, IN
Worked full-time during three consecutive summer and winter academic breaks after 2000.
Served as an on-call associate after 2000.
 Provided customer service in watches and jewelry
 Helped promote store credit applications within the store and outside
 Performed merchandise markdowns, organized department merchandise
 Revamped storage spaces and assisted in yearly inventory procedures
 Arranged display cases for watches
 Received award for delivering outstanding customer service
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite, BBEdit, Aldus PageMaker, PageMill, FileMaker Pro
Sarah Elaine Price
E-mail: sprice246@anyemail.com
Campus Address
Ross Hall Box 5402
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN 46208
(317) 555-1212
Permanent Address
1123 Main Street
Buffalo, NY
(555) 555-3434
OBJECTIVE
An internship in Business Administration utilizing my strong
organizational and interpersonal skills
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, May 2004
Major: Psychology with an emphasis in Management
Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
GPA: 3.4/4.0
Responsible for approximately 75% of college expenses
BUSINESS
COURSES
Introduction to Business Management and Organizational Behavior,
International Business, Organizational Design and Technology
INTERNSHIP
Salvation Army, Buffalo, NY, Summer 2003
 Conducted client interviews for distribution of food and/or fans
 Assisted in the marketing of a community program for low-income
families (Project Breakthrough)
 Answered telephones, filed reports and wrote correspondence
VOLUNTEER
EXPERIENCE
Mission Trips
 Shared responsibility for fund raising for each mission trip
 Each trip was the result of 6 months of planning and teamwork
Summer 2002 – Helped prepare for mission trip to Ukraine
Summer 2001 – Part of a four-person team on a 14-day mission trip to
Ukraine to perform children's programs (175 children)
Summer 2000 – Assisted with 14-day mission trip to Ukraine to perform
children's programs (100 children) and supervise 12 high
school volunteers
Summer 1999 – Served on a team for a 10-day mission trip to Mexico in
order to perform children's programs and supervise 5 high school
volunteers
Summer 1998 – Attended 10-day mission trip to Mexico to perform
children's programs
 1999– Present: Co-host for international visitors with family of origin
 1998 – 1999: Youth leader for Jr. High Church program
OTHER
EXPERIENCE
Strong work ethic demonstrated through continuous employment
throughout college and academic breaks
 Retail (customer service, cashier)
 Restaurant (hostess, wait staff)
 Office Assistant (general clerical duties)
Jennifer Marie Holiday
488 S. 28th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46242
(317) 555-8188
Email: jenholiday@anyemail.com
OBJECTIVE:
To obtain an internship position in research that allows me to use my love for problem solving
and my skills in analysis
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science; minor in history
Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 2006
Study Abroad at University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
January 2004-May 2004
Coursework included Politics of Australia and Analysis of the Aborigines
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Sales Associate, Marshall Field’s, Oakbrook, IL
December 2001-August 2002
Responsible for delivering outstanding service to all guests, resolved guest
concerns to complete satisfaction, completed daily sales analysis, consistently
exceeded sales goals, balanced cash drawer, stocked and organized shelves
Crew Leader, McDonald’s Corporation, Wheeling, IL
May 2001-December 2001
Trained new employees to exceed franchise expectations, assisted management
with product ordering, responsible for over $500 in cash drawer, calibrated
equipment to meet company standards
SPECIAL PROJECTS:
“Analysis of Hunger in Southeast Asia”-Third World course at Butler, 2003
Worked with a team to research, analyze, and recommend solutions for
hunger problems in Southeast Asia. Project received highest class grade.
“Queen Victoria and Her Effect on Polices of Great Britain”-Government and
Politics course at Butler, 2003
Researched and analyzed the policies of Queen Victoria. Presented
research findings to entire class.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT:
Volunteer food server, Julian Center, 2003-present
Committee Member, March of Dimes Walk America, 2000-2003