C ENTER
FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AND ENGAGEMENT
C AREER S ERVICES
W RITING YOUR WINNING RESUME
What is a resume?
F ORMATTING
A resume is a brief (one to two page) summary of your education, work experiences, and skills that is used to market yourself to employers when applying to
job openings. The purpose of a resume is to get you an interview.
YOUR
RESUME

Error-free

Easy to read
A winning resume contains the following:

11 or 12 point font

Accomplishment statements , not just a list of job duties


Action verbs

Strongest sections and most important facts listed in the top portion
Times New Roman
and Arial are the most
common fonts

Relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences that are tailored to the job posting.

Use Bold, italics, and
underline consistently,
but sparingly, just to
highlight important
headings or titles
What makes it winning?
What are the different sections?
You can include any of these sections (varies by individual)

Contact Information

Objective

Relevant Skills

Highlights of Qualifications, Summary, Professional Summary, or Highlights

Education, Relevant Coursework, Projects

Work Experience, Employment History, Work History, Professional Experience,
Related Experience

Other Experience

Licenses/Certifications

Awards & Achievements

Clubs and Activities

Volunteer Experience

Professional Organizations
CSSE/
CAREER SERVICES
Eldridge Hall, Top Level
375 Church Street,
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 662-5333
Fax: (413) 662-5444
[email protected]
Random Resume Fact:
The word “résumé” is a French
word, which in English translates
to “summary.” Your resume is a
summary of you!
RESUME TYPES: The type you choose depends on
what you want to focus on and sells you best!
Chronological




Most common type
Experience is listed in reverse order
Preferred by employers
Highlights dates and work history
Functional
 Highlights transferable skills and strengths
 Does not contain dates or job titles
 Great for those with gaps in employment
 Experience is detailed under relevant skill categories
Combination (minus the pepperoni)
 Top section is focused on skills
 Bottom section lists employment history,
but is not the focus.
2
PARTS OF A RESUME
Contact Information: Include your name (slightly larger or in bold), address, telephone number(s), and
email address at the top of the resume.
 Only list the telephone number that you would like the employer to use to contact you.
 Make sure your voicemail sounds professional.
 Is your email address professional? If not, create a separate email that you use for job searching purposes.
Instead of [email protected], create this one: [email protected]
Joanne Smith
375 Church Street
Example:
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 662-5333
Email: [email protected]
The following are possible sections. You choose what works best for your individual circumstances:
Objective: State the type of occupation you are seeking and the skills you want to utilize. Objectives are especially helpful if the position you are seeking is different from past experience. This lets employers know
that you are intentionally changing career directions.
For example: Management position utilizing my expertise and organization skills, supporting my commitment
to customer service, employee development and continuous improvement.
Summary: A sentence or two that summarizes who you are and your overall skills/experiences that are related to the position and/or industry to which you are applying.
For example: Highly competent results-oriented project manager experienced at completing large projects on
time and budget. Demonstrated skills in formulated business requirements and supporting project documentation, successfully managing project scope, stakeholders, risks, and issues.
Highlights of Qualifications: Similar to a summary, but pinpoints more exact qualifications from all of
your work experiences that make you a good fit for the position. This section often uses bullet points to make
it easier to skim for key words.
For example:

9 years of teaching experience in various settings, including non-profits and post-secondary institutions.

Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite

Recognized for superior problem-solving, project management, relationship building, and planning.

Excellent attention to detail, dependable, honest

Polished presentation skills utilized in both one-on-one and group settings.
3
PARTS OF A RESUME ( CONTINUED )
Key Skills: Highlight only those skills which relate to the position and can be found within the
advertisement/posting.
For example:
Key skills (for a teacher): Curriculum design, advanced computer skills, knowledge of learning styles, lesson
planning
Key skills (for an accountant): Quickbooks, Excel, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Reconciliation
Experience Section (heading options include—Work History, Work Experience, Professional
Experience, Employment History)
In a chronological resume, the experience section has the following:

A listing of current and past work experiences starting from your most recent and working backwards in
time, usually covering 10-12 years of relevant positions.

If you have an experience that is not relevant, but still is important because it highlights something an employer should know about you, create an additional section called, “Other Experience”.

An “Other Relevant Experience” heading could be used to capture any experiences that happened outside of
the 10-12-year span.

Each bullet point should be more than just a listing of duties, ideally; these points should elaborate, give details, quantity, and qualify your past experiences in accomplishment statements.
How to Write an Accomplishment Statement:
Action Verb + Duty+ How = Results
How did you save the company time? Money? Stress? and what was the result?
Basic Statement
Answered phones
Stronger Statement
Answered multi-line phone and transferred
calls to appropriate department and/or
recorded
detailed messages.
Increased size of sales force
Increased size of sales force by 50% achieving 200% increase in sales revenue within
two quarters.
Developed lesson plans
Developed lesson plans following the
guidelines of the Massachusetts curriculum
frameworks for English Language Arts,
grade 5.
4
PARTS OF A RESUME (CONTINUED)
Education: This section should come Before your work experience, if you are a current student or recently graduated within the last 5 years.

Still in college? Put “ In Progress” or “Expected Date of Graduation”.

Include your GPA if it’s over 3.0 and is something you want to highlight.

Add a subheading, “Relevant Coursework” to show what you have learned in college related to the position.

Add a subheading, “Relevant Projects” to provide examples of the type of work you completed that is relevant
to the job.
For example:
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, MA
Bachelor’s, Major: Business Administration Minor: Marketing
Expected Date of Graduation
2013
Relevant Coursework: Strategic Marketing Marketing Communications Management
Additional Headings you may want to add to show any extracurricular activities or awards:
Honors & Awards, Clubs and Organizations, Professional Associations, Volunteer Experience, Internships,
Professional Memberships, Achievements, Leadership, Sports
ACTION VERBS Use to make you a “doer” and add interest to your resume.
Communication
Authored
Collaborated
Contacted
Expressed
Influenced
Marketed
Negotiated
Outlined
Promoted
Summarized
Creativity
Adapted
Composed
Created
Designed
Invented
Originated
Financial
Adjusted
Analyzed
Audited
Balanced
Calculated
Estimated
Measured
Projected
Reconciled
Helping
Advocated
Aided
Assisted
Coached
Counseled
Guided
Supported
Management
Administered
Appointed
Authorized
Chaired
Delegated
Directed
Established
Led
Organized
Oversaw
Prioritized
Streamlined
Strengthened
Supervised
Organization
Arranged
Catalogued
Categorized
Classified
Compiled
Filed
Generated
Ordered
Organized
Prepared
Recorded
Reviewed
Standardized
Systematized
verified
Research
Collected
Examined
Explored
Gathered
Investigated
Solved
Tested
Teaching
Advised
Coordinated
Developed
Explained
Facilitated
Instilled
Instructed
Taught
Trained
Tutored
Technical
Assembled
Converted
Engineered
Fabricated
Installed
Overhauled
Repaired
Restored
Upgraded
Utilized
How important are
1st impressions?
7-10
seconds!
That’s how long an
employer takes to read
your resume for the first
time.
5
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME EXAMPLE 1
Molly DiMarco
19 Blackington Street, North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 268-9988
[email protected]
____________________________________________________________________________________
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English/Communications
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
May 2008
North Adams, MA, Minor in Public Relations
3.0/4.0 GPA
____________________________________________________________________________________
Highlights of
Excellent Organizational Skills
Quark Publishing
Qualifications
Strong Interpersonal Skills
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Design and Layout Experience
____________________________________________________________________________________
Work Experience
Internship, MCLA Advancement Office, North Adams, MA
January 2008-May 2008
 Compiled profile pieces for Alumni Magazine (Beacon and Seeds) through Raiser’s Edge Database.
 Researched topics for alumni publications.
 Prepared event programs and mailers.
 Created informational documents that were uploaded to the college blog.
 Interviewed alumni along with faculty members.
 Assisted event planners with high profile, VIP events.
Advertising Manager, The Beacon, North Adams, MA
September 2007-May 2008
 Managed and coordinated with a staff of 4 students to publish advertisements in the newspaper for
local businesses.
 Scheduled and organized weekly progress meetings to assess staff and business relationships.
 Designed layouts for advertisements using professional publishing software.
 Negotiated with businesses for advertising contracts and maintained close relationships to ensure
customer satisfaction.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Other Work Experience
Activities Coordinator, YMCA, North Adams, MA
October 2005-November 2007
 Scheduled daily activities for child care center
 Supervised and maintained the safety and welfare of 40 children, ages 6-12.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Leadership
President, Beta Lambda Sorority, North Adams, MA
May 2007-May 2008
 Maintained relations with the MCLA Dean, 4 Greek Chapters, and the North Adams Community.
Organized community service projects with the help of 14 sorority sisters.
6
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME EXAMPLE 2
John Fisk
128 Pleasant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55416, jfisk@umn,edu, (612) 625-4346
___________________________________________________________________________
MINNESOTA TEACHING LICENSES
Early Childhood Education (birth to 3rd grade)
Early Childhood Special Education (birth to age 6)
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development
Minneapolis, MN
Masters of Education: Early Childhood Special Education
Expected: May 2008
Bachelors of Science: Foundations of Education, Early Childhood May 2005
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Student Teacher, grades 1-3
Sunset Terrace Elementary School, Minneapolis, MN
Spring, 2006
 Taught students with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances in 15:1 class.
 Individualized reading lessons based on students’ developmental abilities.
 Conducted large group lessons in sciences, social studies, and math, based on state standards.
 Differentiated instruction to foster success and appropriately challenge students.
 Collaborated with another student teacher to plan and team teach thematically-based lessons with a multicultural focus.
 Created classroom management system to successfully address behavior issues.
 Developed Individual Education Plans and participated in ongoing meetings for each grade level.
Practicum, grades 1-2
Spring 2004
Kellogg Elementary School, Saint Paul, MN
 Sixteen week experience, including two-week orientation to technology, lesson plan development, assessment, and classroom management.
 Planned lessons for individuals, small/large groups, and adapted lessons for diverse student learning styles.
 Used various management strategies and assessed instruction with daily reflections and journaling.
 Integrated multimedia in ePortfolio including lesson plans,assessments, accommodations, and reflections.
Professional Organizations
 National Association for the Education of Young Children
 Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children
7
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME EXAMPLE 3
Melissa Smith
8 Hunter Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
(413)-545-2171 – [email protected]
PROFILE

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Concentration in Pre-Medicine, minor in Chemistry
Experience in: Laboratory conduct, titrations, critical analysis, data input, and constructing reliable reports

Eager to learn, thorough in technique, dependable person committed to job performance excellence
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ALLERGY TECHNICIAN: Southboro Wellness Associates, Southboro, MA
11/11-3/12

Conducted allergy tests using intradermal skin testing technique, devised proper treatment plan from these
results, created the treatment (sublingual or subcutaneous), and delivered subcutaneous injection therapy.

Answered all questions regarding allergy treatment and submitted chart notes to physicians for questions,
approvals, and prescriptions.

Continued contact with patients via phone conversations and weekly treatment visits
HEALTH CARE SUPERVISOR, Inspireworks Enrichment, Agawam, MA

7/10-8/10
Provided required supervision of all medical situations, first aid, medical files, and preventative measures for
six week camp program in the Public School system
TEACHING ASSISTANT, MCLA, North Adams, MA

Prepared teaching materials and laboratory materials for laboratory sessions

Cleaned the laboratory rooms, including washing glassware for laboratory’s use
1/10-5/10
CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT, Country Estates Nursing Home, Athol, MA

6/09-2/10
Cared for residents, following the six principles of care, and provided a happy, friendly environment
EDUCATION
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA,) North Adams, MA
2010
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Awards: Academic Dean’s List: 2008-2010
American Red Cross of Pioneer Valley , Nurse Assistant Training Program
2009
Clinical experience:
Assisted with activities of daily living, i.e. feeding, ambulating, range of motion.
Provided daily resident hygiene care such as brief changes, bed bath, mouth care, and denture care.
Utilized standard precautions, followed nursing care procedures when taking vital signs
Practiced Massachusetts State safety standards and privacy policies.
8
REFERENCES:
The line “References available upon request” is not really necessary. You should, however, expect to be asked to
provide a list of at least 2-3 professional references, at some point in the hiring process.
This list will be separate from your resume document .
Here’s what your list of references should look like:
(Your contact information)
Hope Kingsley
86 Rogers Drive
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 856-1122
[email protected]
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
1. Mr. Steven Brown
President, Bingham Realty
22 Realty Circle
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 856-5096
Ask your references before adding them to your list.

Explain the type of work you’re looking for.

Ask if he/she is comfortable serving as a reference.

Verify contact information and best method of contact.

Provide a copy of your resume and the job posting.

Follow up after the hiring process; sending a thank you
note or email makes the person feel like his/her efforts
were appreciated.




Ideal References
Current or former boss, manager, or supervisor
Current or former coworkers
Professors or Teachers
Fellow Volunteer
Not Ideal:
Parents/family members
Spouse
Friends