How to Write
a Resume
Everything you
need to get
started!
Career Services, BA 156
What is a Resume?
 Resumes introduce you to the prospective
employer and provide a summary of your skills,
experiences, accomplishments and education
 Resumes motivate the employer to call you
 Resumes get you the interview…the interview
will get you the job
Employers spend 15-30 seconds on a resume
Make your time count!
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Resumes are not an Application
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Resumes are typically one page
Showcase skills
Should not tell the whole story
Focus on the career and company
Help you get a foot in the door
Use action verbs—not full sentences
(No “I” “Me” “They” Statements)
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Format Do’s and Don’ts
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Do
Use the Chronological
Format
Use 12-14 font for
heading info; 10-12
font for all other info
Use Times New
Roman or Arial Script
Use resume paper
Use action verbs &
quantitative examples
Don’ts
• Focus on what you
want
• Provide personal
information or
reference information
• Use fancy fonts,
multiple fonts, fonts
smaller than 10 point
• Use template resumes
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
How to get started?
• Open a word document
• Change from “Normal” to “No Spacing” Single
space with double space between sections
• Change/set the margins
• Select font
Arial 10 pt or Times 12 pt are the most common
Use Black type (you can change later)
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Sections in a Resume
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Heading
Objective
Profile/Qualifications
Skills/Strengths
Education
Internship
Volunteer
Work
Honors/Awards
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Contact Information
Name
Street, City, State, Zip
Telephone/Cell
Email address (Professional)
Tip: You can abbreviate the State not Street, Avenue, Lane
Social Media: Consider if your social media sites are
professional before including in your contact info.
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Examples
Contact Heading
Jane Dow
1501 State Street - Marshall, MN 56258 - 507-537-6221 - jdow@hotmail.com
Jane Dow
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56253
jdow@hotmail.com
507-537-6221
Jane E. Dow
1501 State Street - Marshall, MN 56258
Cell 507-5376221 - Email: jdoe@hotmail.com
Jane E. Doe
1501 State Street – Marshall MN 56258 – 507-537-6221 – jdoe@hotmail.com
Jane Doe
507-537-6221 – jdoe@hotmail.com
Permanent Address:
111 Robin Street
Pipestone, MN 56164
Current Address:
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56258
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Objective
• Purpose is to help the employer
understand what career you want
• Be careful not to be too general
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Objective Examples
Example 1.
Objective: Seeking a Management Trainee Position with the Schwan Food Company
Example 2.
CAREER FOCUS: SALES AND MARKETING POSITION
Example 3.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain a Finance Internship with US Bancorp
Example 4.
Seeking a position as a
Systems Analyst
Example 5.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT POSITION
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Profile/Qualification Section
• 4 -8 sentence overview of professional experience, education,
skills, and projects
• Start each statement with an action verb
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Action Verb Examples
Assist
Able
Action
Analysis
Achievement
Accomplished
Advanced
Conduct
Consult
Committed
Conducted
Contributed
Coordinated
Delegated
Develop
Deliver
Design
Defined
Diversified
Devoted
Distinguished
Encourage
Earned
Enhance
Evaluate
Examined
Facilitate
Formulate
Fulfilled
Forecasted
Generated
Gained
Gathered
Gave
Headed
Hosted
Identified
Implemented
Improved
Improvised
Influenced
Launched
Lobbied
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Maximized
Mediated
Modernized
Motivated
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Operated
Organized
Originated
Overhauled
Oversaw
Participated
Performed
Pioneered
Planned
Prepared
Presented
Promoted
Provided
Published
Pursued
Quantified
Ranked
Received
Recommended
Redesigned
Reengineered
Reorganized
Represented
Restructured
Revised
Safeguarded
Secured
Selected
Specified
Spearheaded
Standardized
Strengthened
Structured
Suggested
Superseded
Supervised
Targeted
Taught
Tested
Trained
Transcended
Unified
Upgraded
Utilized
Validated
Valued
Wrote
Search for other examples online
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Profile and Qualifications Section
Example One
Seeking and internship for
Social Work in child protection services
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic populations. Energetic professional with strong interpersonal skills who works well with children
and teens. Experience working with confidential material; completed training in mandatory reporting.
Excellent team player with a commitment to human services.
“Jane has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She handles confidential materials professionally and would be a
great asset to any human services agency.” John Black, Executive Director ABC Organization
Example Two
Summary:
• Provide technical assistance and training to computer users; including Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft
FrontPage, Bortland C++, and Internet browsers
• Assisted users in upgrading from Windows 2003 to Windows 2007
• Directed students and staff members in the operation of peripheral equipment
• Helped PC users to improve ease of use and increase productivity, access Internet resources and
enhance productivity
• Utilized communication and interpersonal skills to assist students from diverse backgrounds
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Profile and Qualifications Section
Example Three
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Offers diverse marketing experience and a solid understanding of business strategies illustrated through
academic projects and an internet business that continues to develop and test theoretical marketing
strategies ad business management skills in the area of:
- Conceptual Planning
- Strategy Development
- Project Management
- Web-Based Marketing
- Market Research
- Competitive Analysis
- Advertising Campaigns
- Media/Client Relations
- Ad Copy Creation
Example Four
Highlights of Qualifications
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Experienced in banking, credit and collections operations
Strong analytical skills gain through SWOT analysis, Forces Five and analyzing financial statements
Detailed oriented demonstrated through coordinating designed and implementing projects
Communicates effectively with individuals form diverse backgrounds and populations
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Education and Training
College/University
Major/Minor
Specialization
Concentration
Graduation Date
GPA
Specialized Courses
Specialized Projects
Licenses
Certifications
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Education
Examples
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Education
Examples
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Work Experiences
• Include present and past jobs in reverse
chronological order
• List only relevant work experience
• Don’t go back more than 10 years— Focus on
your college experiences instead of high school
What to include….
• Responsibilities & Accomplishments
• Action Verbs
• Key words that describe the position
• Quantitative Examples (as appropriate)
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Experience
Section
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Sample Resume
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Sample Resume
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Sample Resume
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Sample Resume
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Other Sections
Internships
Activities
Volunteer Experience
Leadership
Sports
Study Abroad
Honors/Awards
Computer Skills
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
Importance of Brevity
*Try to keep your resume to one page*
When is it ok to go to two pages?
- Experiences directly related to the position
- If the first page matches the needs of the
employer, they will read the second page
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu
We Are Here to Assist You!
• Schedule an Appointment
Located in BA156
Call 507-537-6221
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am –Noon; 1pm – 4:30 pm
• Numerous online resources are available at
http://www.Mustangjobs.com or
http://www.smsu.edu/campuslife/careerservices/
Career Services BA156
507-537-6221
Careers@smsu.edu