Writing Resumes
for International Students
Anne V. Scammon, Managing Director
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Learning Outcomes
• Students will be able to :
– Identify the purpose of a resume
– Describe differences in US resumes
– Write a standard resume with correct
structure, format, and language
– Practice writing about work and relevant
experiences in a resume format
– Identify services of the Center for Career
Services
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Agenda
• Resume purpose
• Resume formats
• Tips for a great U.S.style resume!
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What do you think?
Evaluate Today’s Program
• Check iPhone for link to program evaluation
• Have you learned from the program today?
– I have learned more about myself.
– I have learned more about connecting with employers.
– I have learned more about how to be a professional.
• Comments & Ideas
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Tell me about yourself
• Who wants to work in the
U.S.? During/after GW? Or
both?
• What do you know about
U.S. resumes?
• What is the purpose of a
resume??
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
International Student Career Ambassadors
Days/Times:
*Monday – Thursday, 10am –
7pm
Friday, 10am – 4pm
(*Except Tuesday, 1pm –
2pm)
Location:
Science & Engineering Hall
(SEH), Resource Room #1230
& #1240
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Purpose of the Resume
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Marketing/branding tool
Highlight skills and accomplishments
Present academic and other achievements
Demonstrate value to employers
THE INTERVIEW, not a job
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U.S. Resumes: Dos and Don’ts
• DOs
• Personal information: full
name, telephone, address, city,
state
• Links: Website, Blog, LinkedIn
• Education/GPA: Most recent
first
• Relevant coursework
(optional)
• All employment and
internships
• Relevant experiences
(optional)
•Research experiences
•Course/independent projects
•Student leadership
•Volunteer/community service
•Skills (language, computer, etc.)
DON’Ts
• Personal information: age,
gender, marital status,
race/ethnicity, home country
• Immigration status
• Photographs
• Religion
• Language Skills section:
“English”
• International permanent
address
• TOEFL or SAT scores
• Language:
•Misspelled words
•Typos or grammar errors
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Types of Resumes
• Chronological Resume
– Best for college students and people with limited
experience. Education and Experience
sections is listed in reverse chronological order,
most recent first.
• Functional Resume
– Best for career changers, executives or who have
gaps in employment. Highlights skills, rather
than jobs
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Resume Standards
ONE PAGE!
Margins: 0.5 – 1.0 inches
Font size: 10-12 point (headers may be larger)
Font type: Times Roman, Calibri, other traditional
NO: Tables, charts, graphs, templates
NO: photos, social security #s, personal
information
• Standard English grammar
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– International Student Career Ambassadors 1st Floor of School of
Engineering Hall for 1st Review!
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Structure of the Resume
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CONTACT INFORMATION
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
Optional Sections
Objective
Skills and/or Technical Skills
Research
Relevant Coursework/Projects
Activities
Leadership
Volunteer
Awards
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Example: Contact Information
Martha Washington
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-334-1000
mwashington@gwu.edu
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Example: Education
EDUCATION
M.S., Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science,
Expected May 2017
George Washington University, Washington, DC
--Relevant Coursework: Computer Architecture and High-Performance Computing, M
Microcomputer Systems Architecture, Introduction to High-Performance Computing
Honors: Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society
Oxford University, Oxford, UK, September - December 2011
•
Completed courses in World History and British Culture; researched public policy
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Example: Experience
EXPERIENCE (may include internship/work experience)
U.S. Department of State, Policy and Development Intern, Washington, DC, January 2014 - Present
Middle East Democracies Project
•
Research the impact of social media on grassroots organizations and authoritarian governments in the
Middle East and presented 35-page research report and two page abstract to chief of division
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Coordinate four meetings attended by more than 350 mid- and senior-level subject-matter experts
during day-long seminars
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Organize online database of information, including scholarly articles and foreign news distributed
worldwide via DoS ConnectInfo
Global Public Policy Institute, Research Intern, Oxford, England, September 2014 - December 2011
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Developed online questionnaire in English and German for a program on democracy
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Analyzed questionnaire results and summarized findings with SAS statistical software
Institute for Security and Conflict Studies, The George Washington University, Student Assistant, May 2012 - May
2014
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Organized research materials for 7 projects from 10 different researchers
Created new office manual for 8 incoming student assistants
Greeted visitors and fielded incoming phone and email correspondence daily
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Example: Optional Sections
SKILLS
Computer: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAS Statistical Software
Languages: German (Intermediate Written Proficiency) and French
(Professional Working Proficiency)
LEADERSHIP
Secretary, Circle K International, January 2012 - Present
Member, GW Independents, September 2009 - Present
Member, GW Diplomats Club, September 2009 - 2010
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Exercise: Now it’s your turn!
Draft Your Resume
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Contact Information
Education
Experience
Skills
Others
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Best Resumes . . .
• Write your own resume. Do not use templates.
• State objective facts
– Degrees, coursework, skills , experiences
– State experiences clearly. Note results of work
quantitatively.
– What did you accomplish? What improved as a result of
you?
• Tailor resume to each employer or position
– Research employer and identify position/position
description
– Analyze description for required
skills/education/experience
– Describe how your skills/education/experience match
the requirements of the position/employer
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Describe Your Experiences
• Be Concise: Don’t say too much at once
Instead of: “Led groups of prospective students on tours of
campus while answering questions and encouraging them to
apply, resulting more informed, excited applicants.”
Say: “Led three campus tours weekly for more then 50
prospective students and parents.
• Be Specific: Add descriptive words and
numbers
Instead of: “Showed leadership skills with group project”
Say: “Led group of five students in team project by creating
schedules and delegating tasks to supported team
productivity and the completion of 25-page research paper.
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More Descriptions
• Use Action Verbs and Vary Them
Instead of: “Was responsible for answering the phones and
did scheduling for students’ appointments”
Say: “Answered phones and scheduled student appointments
• In Resumes: Fragments are Okay
Instead of: “My work included managing two other student
workers”
Say: “Managed two other student workers”
• Don’t Use First-Person
Instead of: “Created complex spreadsheets based on my
research”
Say: “Created complex spreadsheets based on personal
research”
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Center for Career Services offers…
Discuss resumes, cover letters, interviewing,
job/internship search, career options, resources
Career
Coaching
Skill-building programs,
industry panels, employer
information sessions
Career
Workshops
Site Visits,
Employer-in-Residence
Career Fairs
SelfAssessment
Special
Programming
One-on-one, tools to
identify your strengths
International student
workshops and events
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Top 10 Skills Sought by U.S. Employers*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Verbally communicate with others in/out of organization
Work in a team structure
Make decisions and solve problems
Plan, organize, and prioritize work
Obtain and process information
Analyze quantitative data
Technical knowledge related to the job
Proficiency with computer software programs
Create and/or edit written reports
Sell or influence others
** National Association of College and Employers, Annual Survey of Employers, December 2013
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
What do you think?
Evaluate Today’s Program
• Check iPhone for link to program evaluation
• Have you learned from the program today?
– I have learned more about myself.
– I have learned more about connecting with employers.
– I have learned more about how to be a professional.
• Comments & Ideas
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
International Student Career Ambassadors
GW's International Student Career Ambassador (ISCA) Program provides peerto-peer career advising for all international students, including
graduate/professional students across all degree programs.
go.gwu.edu/careerservices
Questions?
•
•
•
•
Colonial Crossroads, Marvin Center 505
Careerservices.gwu.edu
gwcareercenter@gwu.edu
202.994.6495
Connect & engage with the GW Center for Career
Services
go.gwu.edu/careerservices