Résumé
Guide
A résumé is a brief document that articulates a candidate’s
most relevant and recent experiences to a potential
employer or graduate/professional school program.
A strong résumé is targeted for a specific opportunity and
focuses on a candidate’s key credentials, skills,
interests and accomplishments.
Résumés should encourage an employer to read your
cover letter, and ultimately, to invite you to interview.
Colgate University
Center for Career Services
Spear House 315.228.7380
www.colgate.edu/careerservices
WHAT TO INCLUDE?
Any past or present experience in which a goal is accomplished, skills are developed, or
knowledge is gained should be considered. This may include, but is not limited to: paid jobs,
internships, academic work, volunteer work, service-learning, extracurricular involvement
(athletics, clubs/organizations, etc), certifications, language or technology skills, and travel.
Résumés should evolve as candidates do. Focus on experiences that occurred within the past
four years.
TIP: Students often find it helpful to create a master or “exploded” résumé that captures all
past and present experiences. You may then extract relevant sections when writing a
targeted résumé. See page 5 for tips.
MANY RÉSUMÉ FORMATS ARE COMMONLY ACCEPTABLE,
HOWEVER, EMPLOYERS EXPECT THE FOLLOWING CONTENT:
Name/Contact Information
Section Goal: To ensure an employer can easily contact you.
Include: First and last preferred name, street address, phone number, and email where an
employer can contact you. A second address (permanent or temporary) can be included, but is not
required. Make sure information is accurate. Include only one email address to avoid confusion.
This section should always be located at the top of the page.
TIP: If you are applying for positions near your hometown, you may want to include your home
address in addition to your Colgate address. By doing so, you may alleviate concerns
employers may have about relocation costs or your level of interest in working in that
geographic location.
Education
Section Goal: To convey academic qualifications and training.
Include: Degree-granting colleges and universities, and institutions in which courses have been
completed, including off-campus study and summer classes. Note location (City, State or City,
Country), dates of degrees or dates attended (month/semester, year), and the degree earned,
including major(s)/minor(s). Relevant advanced coursework (not introductory classes) may be
included. Most students include their cumulative GPA if it is over 3.0. Students may also choose to
include a concentration GPA, if the number is higher than their cumulative GPA.
Colgate should appear first, as it is your degree-granting institution.
Include your high school if you are a first-year or sophomore,
or if your school has name recognition with influential alumni.
TIP:
All Colgate students earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Résumés for college
students and recent
graduates should be no
more than one page.
2
Honors/Awards
(This section can be integrated into the Education section, or can stand alone)
Section Goal: To emphasize accomplishments that differentiate your candidacy.
Include: Academic and extracurricular honors, scholarships, and fellowships. If the title of the
award does not explain the qualifications to receive it, a brief description should follow. List dates
(month/semester, year).
Note: If there are less than two acknowledgments that would fall into this section, it is advisable to
integrate honors/awards within the context of each honor (e.g. Dean’s award in Education Section;
All Patriot League Team with Athletics). List honors only once to avoid being redundant.
Experience
Section Goal: To contextualize your skills and non-academic qualifications in a concise manner,
showing their relevance to your candidacy. Draw attention to groups of experiences that resound
with your target employer by breaking them into sections (see examples on pages 7-11).
Include: Past and present employment, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism, and travel.
Name the employer or organization, location (city, state or city, country), dates involved
(month/season, year), position title, and a description.
Experiences should be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent to least recent) within each
section, based on the end date of participation. Choose to list the most relevant experience first when
several fall with the same end date.
Skills (optional)
Section Goal: To include skills which do not appear elsewhere on the résumé.
Include: Technological skills, language skills or certifications. Indicate level of proficiency in foreign
languages (e.g.: native speaker, fluent, proficient, conversant).
TIP:
Writing descriptions is often the most challenging part of writing
a résumé. Partner with Career Services’ staff for guidance.
WRITING DESCRIPTIONS
Begin with a strong action verb (pg 6). The verb tense should reflect whether the
experience is ongoing (present tense) or has been completed (past tense).
Include details of major accomplishments and core responsibilities. Show
your impact on the organization. Address the scope of your experience, provide
facts and numerical figures, and indicate results achieved. Do not write
descriptions in complete sentences; eliminate pronouns and other non-essential
words.
Descriptions are often written in bullet points or in short paragraphs. Space is
limited; give preference to the most relevant experiences. Try to include no more
than 3-4 bullets under each experience.
3
FORMATTING, PAGE MANAGEMENT, AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Effective résumés are well organized and easy to read. Consider the following:
•
Use approximately 1” margins (top, bottom and both sides). Your document should look framed.
•
Use standard font sizes between 10-12 point. Choose a commonly used and easily read font.
• Do not use a MS Word template or tables. It is difficult to alter these formats, and they do not
always download correctly when résumés are transmitted electronically.
• Be consistent in the use of punctuation, how experiences are presented, and how information is
highlighted (bold, italics, caps, etc.).
•
The most important and relevant information should be closest to the top and left margins.
• Never overstate qualifications, accomplishments, or abilities. Any exaggeration can damage the
credibility of the entire résumé and is considered misrepresentation.
•
Résumés must be error-free, including spelling, punctuation, grammar, accuracy of dates.
•
Content should only appear once; avoid redundancy.
•
When submitting a hard copy, laser print the document on bond (resume) paper.
When submitting electronically, save the résumé with a title that assists your reader. For example:
Patricia Producer might entitle her resume ‘PProducerresume.doc’. You may consider saving it as a
PDF to maintain your formatting.
NEED HELP?
OPTIMAL RESUME
It is highly advisable to have a draft critiqued by
many sources. Peer advisors and professional
career advisors in the Center for Career Services
are available to offer insight into content, format
and presentation of your résumé.
Optimal Resume is a great resource for résumé
writing! This tool can help identify your skills,
organize your experiences, build descriptive
bullet-points, and format résumés.
Also, seek critique from individuals within your
career field(s) of interest.
Log in at colgate.optimalresume.com!
Regardless of other’s comments, it is your responsibility to
maintain your résumé’s integrity.
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS
Cover Letter
Unless otherwise specified, cover letters should always accompany a resume. See our Career Search
Correspondence Guide for details on writing an effective cover letter.
Reference Page
Contact information for individuals who can speak about your qualifications and personal qualities
may be included with your résumé, but on a separate page. See our Career Search Correspondence
Guide for details on what should be included in a reference page.
4
TIPS FOR TARGETING RÉSUMÉS
Expect the reader to spend no more than 30 seconds considering your résumé. Therefore, it is critical to
write strategically and thoughtfully; enticing the reader to dive more deeply into your
credentials. The most effective resumes highlight a candidate’s most relevant and impressive
experience in relation to the employer’s needs.
Knowing your reader allows you to best speak to what would be most relevant and applicable to the
employer. Conducting employer research is an important component to targeting a resume and to
marketing your candidacy effectively. The following are tips to create a targeted resume:
Group similar material to emphasize your strengths:
Experience does not need to be divided between paid and unpaid. Rather, consider what similarities exist between
experiences. Sections might be created to reflect content-specific material, applicable to the position,
(e.g. Communications Experience, Teaching Experience, Experience with Youth). By doing so, the most relevant
experiences are grouped higher on the page, regardless if they are your most recent experiences.
Prioritize sections in accordance to your reader’s interests:
Sections, and their content, may be ordered on your page in relation to their importance to an employer.
Formatting material within each heading to emphasize content:
A position title or the name of the employer/organization can be emphasized depending on which carries more
importance to the potential employer. This can be done by using bold or italics, or strategically sequencing the item
to be emphasized. Consistency of how information is presented must be maintained within a section.
Utilize language that your target employers recognize:
When appropriate, reflect the language of a job description, organizational mission statement, or industry jargon to
show your understanding of the organization’s needs, and your strength as a candidate. Be sure that you
understand the meaning of a term if you choose to use it.
If appropriate, ensure your position titles are reflective of the work you did:
If your position title was intern, you may consider reflecting the department or content of your internship in your
title (e.g. Marketing intern, Production Department intern).
Include a relevant coursework section:
If your coursework is reflective of content or skills relevant to the employer, you may include the names of classes
within your education section. If you have both advanced and introductory courses in the same discipline, include
only higher level courses.
Be selective of which items are included:
A résumé may not include all past and present experiences. By selecting the most relevant material to your
employer, your résumé will become tailored and not overcrowded.
Creating distinct resumes for distinct purposes:
If you have more than one career interest, you should create separate resumes that target your best experiences for
each interest.
See pages 12-13 for transitioning a chronological résumé into a targeted résumé.
5
CAREER RELATED SKILLS
Use this list to identify strong action verbs and articulate your skills.
INFORMATIONAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS
HUMAN RELATION & INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
•
Sort data and objects
•
Keep a group ‘on track’ toward a common goal
•
Compile and rank information
•
Maintain group cooperation and support
•
Apply information creatively to specific problems or tasks
•
Delegate tasks and responsibilities
•
Understand and organize principles
•
•
Evaluate information against appropriate standards
Interact effectively with peers, superiors and
subordinates
•
Express one’s feelings appropriately
•
Understand the feelings of others
•
Use argumentation techniques to persuade others
•
Make commitments to people
•
Be willing to take risks
•
Teach a skill, concept or principle to others
•
Analyze behavior of self and others in group
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
•
Listen with objectivity and paraphrase the content of
a message
•
Use various forms and styles of written
communication
•
Speak effectively to individuals and groups
•
Use media formats to present ideas imaginatively
•
Express one’s needs, wants, opinions and
preferences without violating the rights of others
•
Demonstrate effective social behavior in a variety of
situations and under different circumstances
•
Identify and communicate value judgments
effectively
•
Work under time and environmental pressures
•
Describe objects or events with a minimum
of factual information
•
Use a variety of sources of information
•
Apply a variety of methods to test the validity of data
MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION SKIILLS
RESEARCH & INVESTIGATION SKILLS
•
Analyze tasks
•
Identify problems and needs
•
Identify people/resources who can contribute
•
Design a plan that systematically defines a problem
•
Delegate responsibility for completion of a task
•
Identify appropriate information sources
•
Motivate and lead people
•
•
Organize people and tasks to achieve specific goals
Formulate questions relevant to clarifying a particular
problem, topic or issue
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
•
•
Identify quickly and accurately the critical issues when
making a decision or solving a problem
Identify a general principle that explains related
experiences or factual data
VALUING SKILLS
•
Assess a long-range course of action
•
Make decisions that will maximize both individual
and collective good
•
Appreciate the contributions or art, literature, science
and technology to contemporary society
•
Define the parameters of a problem
•
Identify reasonable criteria for assessing the value or
appropriateness of an action or behavior
DESIGN AND PLANNING SKILLS
•
Identify alternative courses of action
Adapt one’s concepts and behavior to changing
conventions and norms
•
Set realistic goals
•
Follow through with a plan or decision
•
Apply appropriate criteria to strategies and planning
•
Manage time effectively
•
Take given premises and reason to their conclusion
•
Predict future trends and patterns
•
Create innovative solutions to complex problems
•
Accommodate multiple demands
•
Analyze the interrelationships of events and ideas from
various perspectives
•
Assess needs
•
6
Sample of a First Résumé
FRANKY FIRST-YEAR
[email protected]
13 Oak Drive, Box C123
Hamilton, NY 13346
315.123.4567
123 West 45th Street
Chicago, IL 01234
765.321.4513
EDUCATION
& HONORS
Bachelor of Arts
COLGATE UNIVERSITY, Hamilton, NY
▪ Intended Major: Biology
May 20XX
THE LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO, Chicago IL
▪ Graduated with honors
▪ Daniel Murphy Scholarship for academic merit
▪ Sportsmanship Award
June 20XX
Spring 20XX
Fall 20XX
EXPERIENCE
Keck Center Student Assistant
COLGATE UNIVERSITY, Hamilton, NY
Fall 20XX-Present
▪ Identify and determine solutions for computer, scanner, and printer problems
▪ Write procedures manual for student staff to increase troubleshooting efficiency
Daniel Murphy Program Mentor
LAKE FOREST COLLEGE, Lake Forest, IL
Summer 20XX
▪ Served with five other mentors and senior staff in orchestrating academic and
Internship program for disadvantaged high school students
▪ Mentored, tutored and counseled six students for college preparation
▪ Maintained documentation regarding students’ work hours; coordinated
transportation for extracurricular activities
▪ Developed and maintained positive environment for residents to foster community
ACTIVITIES
Treasurer, Latin American Students Organization
Fall 20XX-Present
COLGATE UNIVERSITY, Hamilton, NY
▪ Manage and maintain annual $2,000 budget; allocate funding for special events and
organize fundraisers
▪ Participate in discussions and activities regarding Latino culture at Colgate
Leadership Options for Tomorrow (LOFT)
Fall 20XX-Spring 20XX
COLGATE UNIVERSITY, Hamilton, NY
▪ Participated in living-learning community engaged in fostering leadership skills
▪ Developed delegation and communication abilities through leading local service projects
Varsity Soccer Captain
LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO, Chicago, IL
Fall 20XX-Fall 20XX
▪ Expanded leadership and teamwork skills by working with players and coaches
to achieve positive team attitude
▪ Received top individual scoring record for 20XX season
7
Sample of Targeted Résumé: Sports Managment
Samuel Sports Star
School: 13 Oak Drive, Box 123 • Hamilton, NY 13346 • 315.111.1234
Home: 123 Opportunity Avenue • Hanover, NH 05302 • 555.123.4567
[email protected]
EDUCATION AND HONORS
Candidate for Bachelor of Arts, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, 5/20XX
• Major: Political Science
• Major GPA: 3.5/4.0 Overall GPA: 3.1/4.0
• Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society for First-Year Students
• Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence (20XX/20XX)
ATHLETICS EXPERIENCE
Men’s Division I Varsity Ice Hockey, Colgate University, 9/20XX-3/20XX
• Devoted over 20 hours/week to practice, competition and travel prior to career-ending injury
• Earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the week award for hat trick in sectional play
• Developed communication and team-building skills creating strategy, executing plays, and facilitating
positive team dynamic
Contributing Sports Writer, Colgate Maroon-News, Colgate University, 1/20XX-Present
• Collaborate with photographers and editorial team to meet deadline for weekly student newspaper
• Attend competitions, interview athletes and publish articles to keep campus informed and excited about
Colgate athletics
USA Hockey Certified Referee, Hanover Youth Hockey Association, Hanover, NH, 11/20XX-8/20XX
• Officiated for players ages 6-19 during winter and summer breaks
• Made quick decisions and communicated effectively with players, parents and coaches
Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Colgate University, 9/20XX-5/20XX
• Selected to solely represent varsity team
• Collaborate with committee to advocate for Colgate Student Athletes and increase campus’ support of
varsity teams
COLGATE ACTIVITIES
Member, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 9/20XX-Present
• Participate in annual philanthropic chapter activities to promote community involvement
• Assist in recruitment efforts for new members every fall semester
Member, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 9/20XX-Present
• Attend meetings with fellow athletes and coaches to promote Christian values in athletic community
Orientation Link Staff, Colgate Office of the Dean of First-Year Students, 8/20XX-5/20XX
• Led group of 17 first-year students, in conjunction with faculty member and First-Year Dean, to ensure
successful transition to college
• Served as peer advisor to assist students with academic and social issues
8
Sample of Targeted Résumé: Video Producer
PATRICIA PRODUCER
Colgate Box 123 ▪ Hamilton, NY 13346
315.456.7894 (cell) ▪ [email protected]
EDUCATION
Candidate for Bachelor of Arts
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Major: Philosophy GPA: 3.00/4.00
Relevant Coursework: Intro to Film & Media Studies, Documentary Film, Visual Rhetoric
May 20xx
VIDEO EXPERIENCE
Producer/Coeditor, Piece By Piece, Westside Filmworks, Berkeley, CA
Summer 20xx
▪ Led three high school students through production of 15-minute documentary over four weeks
▪ Secured 11 subjects and 100+ hours of interviews and B-roll footage
▪ Condensed and edited footage using Final Cut Pro
▪ Collaborated with musician, sound technician, and graphic designer during postproduction
▪ Pitched vision to potential venues to secure premiere viewing location
Co-Producer/Director, My Life at Colgate, Colgate University
▪ Wrote fictitious satire of college life
▪ Planned rehearsals, coordinated props, costumes, and lighting for cast of five
Fall 20xx-Spring 20xx
Director/Coeditor, Accreditation, Miramonte High School, Orinda, CA
Fall 20xx
▪ Won California Student Media & Multimedia Festival 200X: Best School Informational Film
▪ Directed five other students in creation of 20-minute video for high school’s accreditation process
▪ Edited video using Adobe Premiere Pro with fellow student
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Peer Consultant, Writing Center, Colgate University
Fall 20xx-Present
▪ Work one-on-one with students of all writing abilities during 45-minute sessions
▪ Assess students’ needs and abilities, and conduct individual tutoring sessions accordingly
Colgate University Office of Undergraduate Studies, Administrative Assistant Fall 20xx-Spring 20xx
▪ Organized and coordinated two committees and arranged social events for Hispanic Heritage Month
▪ Efficiently performed clerical duties: organized student records, answered phone inquiries, edited materials
French Tutoring Club, Hamilton Central School, Hamilton, NY
▪ Team-tutored 20 elementary school students during weekly French Club
▪ Planned and directed educational and entertaining activities
Spring 20xx
COLGATE ACTIVITIES
Advocates Queer-Straight Alliance
Women’s Club Soccer
Charred Goosebeak Comedy Group
Fall 20xx-Present
Fall 20xx-Present
Fall 20xx-Present
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Proficient written and spoken French and Spanish
9
Sample of Targeted Résumé: Financial Analyst
FIONA FINANCE
Colgate University Box XXX ▪ 13 Oak Drive ▪ Hamilton, NY 13346
[email protected]
123-987-6543
EDUCATION
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Candidate for Bachelor of Arts
▪ Double Major: Economics and Spanish
▪ GPA: 3.4/4.0
Colgate Economics Study Group, London, UK
▪ Gained understanding of European context of economic concerns and policy responses
▪ Conducted finance internship to complement academic learning
May 20XX
Spring 20XX
HONORS
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
Phi Eta Sigma First-Year Honor Society
Fall 20XX – Present
Fall 20XX
FINANCE EXPERIENCE
Barclays Global Investors, Analyst, London, UK
▪ Modeled a leveraged buyout (LBO) and strategized potential targets using Excel
▪ Developed concepts for medical industry and presented to senior management
▪ Empowered by supervisors to complete typical analyst responsibilities
KeyBanc Capital Markets, Income Property Intern, Cleveland, OH
▪ Created extensive Offering Memorandums
▪ Completed Distribution Risk Analyses and executive-level Case Summaries
▪ Prepared presentations for Group Director using database analysis
Spring 20XX
Summer 20XX
ACTIVITIES
Finance Club, Executive Board Member, Colgate University
Fall 20XX-Present
▪ Collaborate with fellow Board members to bring finance-related events on campus
▪ Currently organizing mini-course in equity trading and simulated stock market competition
to implement strategies learned in mini-courses
Budget Allocations Committee, Board Member, Colgate University
Fall 20XX
▪ One of ten students selected by the Student Government Association to determine allocation
of $700,000 for student activities
▪ Reviewed proposals from student organization leaders; assessed fiscal responsibility
and potential value
to campus life
WRCU 90.1 Hamilton, Disc Jockey, Colgate University
▪ Produced and air public service announcements, reported to college radio music journals,
and trained new disc jockeys
▪ Developed new procedures with station managers and disc jockeys to increase station
effectiveness and organization, developed advertising ideas, purchase new equipment
Spring 20XX
Residential Life, Resident Advisor, Colgate University
Fall 20XX-Spring 20XX
▪ Attended Leadership Institute training to collaborate with student leaders from across campus in addressing
issues and needs of student community
▪ Promote safe space and community in residence hall of 50 first-year students
SKILLS
Technology: Capital IQ, Bloomberg, Excel, PowerPoint
Language: Conversant in Spanish
10
Sample of Targeted Résumé: Environmental Research
ROB RESEARCH
13 Oak Drive Box XXX, Hamilton, NY 13346
(123)890-4567 [email protected]
EDUCATION & HONORS
May 20XX
Colgate University, Bachelor of Arts
• Major: Environmental Geography
• GPA: 3.4
• Candidate for Senior Honors Thesis: Impact of Environmental Policy on Women’s
Preservation of Natural Forests in Ghana
• Relevant Coursework: Social Science Research Methods, Geographic Information Systems,
US Environmental Politics, Applied Math: Social Sciences
• Deans Award for Academic Excellence 5-Semester Recipient
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Summer 20XX
Summer Research Assistant, Department of Geography, Colgate University
• Conducted analysis of data on infectious disease transmission in Uganda collected from
extended study to Uganda
• Used Geographic Information System (GIS) software to construct and analyze movement
of gorillas to understand human-gorilla disease transmission patterns
Summer 20XX
Fall 20XX
Colgate Extended Study to Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, Uganda
• Participated in 3-week research projects focused on infectious disease transmission, national
park and wildlife management issues and community health development
• Learned identification, tracking, and technology techniques from local community leaders
Presenter, Ho Symposium on Summer Research, Colgate University
• Represented major findings from summer research to science faculty and students in
academic symposium
Fall 20XX
Presenter, Career Services Summer Expo, Colgate University
• Created poster to communicate experience and benefits of summer research to show
summer options available to Colgate students
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Fall 20XX-Present Instructor, Outdoor Education, Colgate University
• Teach two geocaching classes per semester for up to 12 students
• Earned Wilderness First Responder; completed recurring outdoor and leadership training
emphasizing safety, environmental awareness and technical skills
• Promote personal growth and group development through discovery of natural world
Summer 20XX
Wilderness Adventure Instructor, Outdoor Education, Colgate University
• Led group of 15 first-year students on week-long orientation wilderness trip
• Facilitated teamwork, community and survival skill development through activities
Spring 20XX
Teaching Assistant, Managing Complexity: America’s Public Lands, Colgate University
• Assisted professor in teaching upper-level geography students complex theories, models
and procedures relevant to modern environmental policy
11
Sample Chronological Non-Profit Management Résumé
Natalie Non-Profit
13 Oak Drive Box XXX Hamilton, NY 13346 ▪ [email protected] ▪ 222-333-4444
EDUCATION
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, Bachelor of Arts
May 2010
Major: Peace and Conflict Studies
• Cumulative GPA: 3.41
• Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence Recipient
Fall 2006- Fall 2010
• Gottesman Social Justice Fellow
Fall 2007-Spring 2008
• Year-long fellowship to discuss social justice issues with fellow students culminating in trip to
Holocaust Museum in Washington DC
Council for International Educational Exchange, Hanoi, Vietnam
Spring 2009
• Engaged in academic program and fieldwork focused on international and local impact of development
and globalization in issues such as dams, mining, slums, HIV/AIDS, and agriculture policy
• Expanded political awareness by learning from grassroots movements, living with host families,
meeting with NGOs, corporations and government agencies
Finding Money for Social Change Grant-Writing Skills Course, Upstate Institute
Spring 2008
• Earned certificate in Grant-writing through 11-week, non-credit class
• Gained overview of foundations, non-profits and grant funding and solicited requests for proposals
for grant applications from local organizations
Colgate Extended Study, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto, Unzen, Japan
Summer 2008
• Studied physical and political development of Atomic Bomb during three week trip
EXPERIENCE
Farm Volunteer, Community Supported Agriculture, Hamilton, NY
Fall 2009-Present
• Learn inner workings of community-supported organic farm by volunteering 3 hours/week
• Connect issues of food security, social justice, local economies with farming
Youth Mentor, Sidekicks, Hamilton, NY
Fall 2008- Present
• Build and maintain an ongoing, three-year relationship with local child
• Foster campus-town relationship through community involvement and positive relationships
Member, College Democrats, Colgate University
Fall 2008- Present
• Attend weekly meetings, participate in local calling campaigns, plan brown-bag discussions
Attendee, Educational Network for Global and Grassroots Exchange, Spartanburg, SC Summer 2009
• Participated in vision planning and goal setting sessions regarding sustainability for student
created organization, including planning for regional expansion
• Co-facilitated and attended workshops on strategies to maintain study abroad experiences with
opportunities for domestic grassroots activism
Field Intern, Al Franken for Senate, St. Paul, MN
Summer 2008
• Gained exposure to major political campaign operations at campaign headquarters and remotely
engaged voters in dialogue about campaign issues at community forums
Volunteer Relief Work, Colgate Alternative Break Trip, New Orleans, LA
March 2008
• Participated in discussions prior to trip regarding impact of Hurricane Katrina’s aid response
Member, Kuumba Dance Group, Colgate University
Spring 2008
• Performed at semester Dancefest event for audience of 2,000
Benefit Coordinator, Student Global AIDS Campaign, Colgate University
Fall 2007
• Planned semi-formal benefit event that raised over $1,000 for HIV/AIDS charities
SKILLS
Language: Proficient in Spanish, Conversational in Vietnamese
Travel: Extensive travel throughout China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam
12
Sample Targeted Non-Profit Management Résumé
Natalie Non-Profit
13 Oak Drive Box XXX Hamilton, NY 13346 ▪ [email protected] ▪ 222-333-4444
EDUCATION
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, Bachelor of Arts
May 2010
Major: Peace and Conflict Studies
• Cumulative GPA: 3.41
• Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence Recipient
Fall 2006- Fall 2010
Council for International Educational Exchange, Hanoi, Vietnam
Spring 2009
• Engaged in academic program and fieldwork focused on international and local impact of development
and globalization in issues such as dams, mining, slums, HIV/AIDS, and agriculture policy
Colgate Extended Study, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto, Unzen, Japan
Summer 2008
• Studied physical and political development of Atomic Bomb during three week trip
NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIP
Council for International Educational Exchange, Hanoi, Vietnam
Spring 2009
• Expanded social and political awareness by learning from grassroots movements, living with
host families, meeting with NGOs, corporations and government agencies
• Developed and created two reports on development-based human rights abuses
Finding Money for Social Change: Grant-Writing Skills Course, Upstate Institute
Spring 2008
• Earned certificate in Grant-writing through 11-week, non-credit class
• Gained overview of foundations, non-profits and grant funding and solicited request for proposals
for grant applications from local organizations
Attendee, Educational Network for Global & Grassroots Exchange, Spartanburg, SC
Summer 2009
• Participated in vision planning and goal setting sessions regarding sustainability for student
created organization, including planning for regional expansion
• Co-facilitated and attended workshops on strategies to maintain study abroad experiences with
opportunities for domestic grassroots activism
Gottesman Social Justice Fellowship, Colgate University
Fall 2007-Spring 2008
• Engaged in year-long fellowship to discuss social justice issues with fellow students culminating in
trip to Holocaust Museum in Washington DC
DIRECT SERVICE
Field Intern, Al Franken for Senate, St. Paul, MN
Summer 2008
• Gained exposure to major political campaign in operations at campaign headquarters and remotely
engaged voters in dialogue about campaign issues at community forums
Youth Mentor, Sidekicks, Hamilton, NY
Fall 2008- Present
• Build and maintain an ongoing, three-year relationship with local child
• Foster campus-town relationship through community involvement and positive relationships
Farm Volunteer, Community Supported Agriculture, Hamilton, NY
Fall 2009-Present
• Learn inner workings of community-supported organic farm by volunteering 3 hours/week
• Connect issues of food security, social justice, local economies with farming
Volunteer Relief Work, Colgate Alternative Break Trip, New Orleans, LA
March 2008
• Participated in discussions prior to trip regarding impact of Hurricane Katrina’s aid response
ACTIVITIES
College Democrats, Colgate University
Student Global AIDS Campaign, Colgate University
Kuumba Dance Group, Colgate University
SKILLS
Language: Proficient in Spanish, Conversational in Vietnamese
Travel: Extensive travel throughout China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam
Fall 2008- Present
Fall 2007- Present
Spring 2008
13
Career Services uses the following criteria to critique resumes. Resumes are approved for use on
NaviGATE (Colgate’s online internship and job posting system) when a score of 3 or 2 is awarded in
each section.
Excellent/Approved (3)
Passable/Approved (2)
Not Approved (1)
Overall Style/
Appearance
Goal: To ensure your
document is easily read
and appears polished.
Fills one page without
overcrowding
Order of information
presented is consistent
within each section
Information is only
presented once
Centered on page with
acceptable margins
Font is sized appropriately
(10 or 12pt) and readable
Consistency in formatting
(use of bold, italics)
Page appears crowded, but
not exceeding one page
Order of information
presented is consistent
within each section
Information is only
presented once
Centered on page with
acceptable margins
Font is sized appropriately
(10 or 12pt) and readable
Less than two errors in
formatting consistency
(bold, italics)
Document exceeds one page
or does not fill the majority
of one page
Inconsistency in the order of
information within one or
more sections
The same information is
presented more than once
Document is not centered
Margins are not appropriate
Font size is too small/too big or
not consistent; Font is not
easily read
Inconsistency in formatting
(use of bold, italics)
Spelling, Punctuation
and Mechanics
Goal: To ensure resume
is polished.
Resume has no errors—
spelling is correct,
punctuation is consistent, spacing is consistent
Resume contains three or more
individual errors
Resume has a pattern of two or
more errors
Contact Information
Goal: To ensure an
employer can easily
contact you.
Includes name, street
address, email, phone
Name is largest and most
pronounced information in section
Email address used is
professional
Resume contains 1-2 minor errors
(punctuation, spacing,
formatting)
Resume has a pattern of a
single error (e.g.: some
bullets have periods,
some do not)
Includes name, street
address, email, phone
Name is not most
pronounced information in section
Email address is too casual
Education
Goal: To convey
academic qualifications
and training.
Degree is spelled out
Major/minors (if declared)
and graduation
month/year is indicated
Each institution attended
includes name, location, dates
For undergraduates: Colgate is listed first, then
other institutions in
order of relevance
If listed, GPA is in correct
format
Honors and scholarships
listed and include
dates (may be in separate section)
*Study abroad should be
included, if applicable
*Colgate policy has
changed. Use “major”
instead of concentration” to denote your
area of study.
Degree is abbreviated (BA)
Major/minors (if declared)
and graduation
month/year is indicated
Each institution attended
includes name, location, dates
For undergraduates: Colgate is listed first, then
other institutions in
order of relevance
If listed, GPA is in correct
format
Honors and scholarships
listed
Incorrect degree listed (not
Bachelor of Arts)
Declared major/minor not indicated
Graduation date not listed
(month, year)
Each institution attended does
not include name, location,
dates
Colgate is listed after another
institution
Irrelevant/outdated high
school information listed
If listed, GPA is not in correct
format
Honors/scholarships not dated
Criteria
Information is missing one of
the following: name, email,
street address, phone number
Email address used is
unprofessional/
inappropriate
14
Criteria
RESUME CRITIQUE CRITERIA (Continued)
Passable/Approved (2)
Excellent/Approved (3)
Not Approved (1)
Experience
Goal: To contextualize
your skills and nonacademic qualifications
in a concise manner,
showing their relevance
to your candidacy.
Each entry lists
organization name,
dates, position title (if
needed), and location
Bullets begin with strong
action verbs
All verbs reflect the
correct verb tense
Bullets are concise, direct,
and indicate one’s
impact on the
organization
Bullets are not written in
complete sentences,
and appropriately
omit extra words;
contains no personal
pronouns
Bullets are listed in order
of importance
Results are quantified
when possible
The most relevant entries
include at least one
bullet point
1-2 entries omit organization name, dates, position title (if needed), or
location
Resume has a pattern of a
single error (e.g.: no
position titles)
Action verbs could be
stronger
1-2 individual errors in verb
tense
Bullets could be more
concise, direct, and
indicate one’s impact on
the organization
Bullets are written in
complete sentences
Bullets are listed in order of
importance within an
experience
Results are quantified when
appropriate
The most relevant entries
include at least one
bullet point
Three or more entries do not
include organization
name, dates, position title
(if needed), or location
Bullets begin with weak
action verbs
Multiple verb tenses are
inconsistent with dates
Bullets are wordy, vague or do
not indicate one’s impact
Bullets contains personal
pronouns
Bullets are not listed in order
of importance within an
experience
Results are not quantified
when appropriate
Bullets are not included on
relevant entries
Irrelevant/outdated high
school information listed
Skills/Interests/
Language/
Certifications
sections (optional)
Goal: To include skills or
information that do not
appear elsewhere on the
résumé and are relevant.
Listings are concise
Level of proficiency is
indicated for skillbased entries
(language, technology)
N/A
Listings are wordy
No level of proficiency
indicated for language or
computer skills
Organization of
Sections
Goal: To group relevant
information to draw
attention to experiences
that resonate with your
target employer; to
increase readability.
Section headers accurately
reflect content
More than one entry
exists per section to
substantiate the
heading
Section headers could more
accurately reflect
content
Content of a section is not
best placement of
information
No use of sections or one
“Experience” section lists
all entries
Too many sections—not
enough content to warrant
a section
Section titles do not reflect
content
Audience
Goal: To ensure your
strengths are
strategically highlighted
to your specific audience.
Language is relevant to
the reader (section
titles, descriptions)
The most relevant
information is
grouped and appears
on the first half of the
document
The most relevant
information is
highlighted by
formatting (bold, etc)
Listed coursework
(optional) is tailored
to the targeted field
Audience is addressed, but
more focus is required
Language could be more
relevant to the reader
(section titles,
descriptions)
The most relevant information is grouped but does
not appear on the first
half of the document
The most relevant information could be further
highlighted by
formatting (bold, etc)
Listed coursework
(optional) is tailored to
the targeted field
Resume does not show
evidence of being targeted
to a specific purpose.
(NOTE: This rating is
assigned to all general
resumes)
Section titles and descriptions
do not support targeted
field
The most relevant information is not grouped, does
not appear on the first half
of the page, or highlighted
by formatting (bold, etc)
Coursework (optional) is not
tailored to the targeted
field
15