Resume Writing Tips
Carefully read the following RESUME CONTENTS. Then refer to the
sample resume handouts & notebooks in our library.
Basic Information - This is the place to include your name, address,
phone number, e-mail address and homepage address.
Objective - YOUR objective should be short. It should include
employment interests and career goals. This may also be stated on
your cover letter more specifically related to the position for
which you are applying.
Education - Most employers want to know the name and location of
your college, degree you earned (or will earn), your major, your
date of graduation, and your Independent Study. Other Options:
minor, GPA, courses, honors, and off-campus study.
Experience - The basics include the name of the organization,
location, time frame, title, and three or four phrases describing
specific responsibilities and accomplishments. Don't limit this
section to only paid experiences. Consider summer jobs, internships
and volunteer experiences, college organizations, class projects and
Independent Study.
Campus/Community Leadership- Keep this section simple. State name of
organization, position held, time frame and possibly a short
statement of responsibilities.
Special Categories- Almost anything can be treated as a special
category on a resume. Presenting information under its own heading
is a good way of highlighting it. Here are some ideas: Computer,
Languages, Research, Teaching, and Coaching skills.
Interests - Show employer your own personal interests.
References - It is sufficient to indicate "Available upon request".
DO NOT LIST REFERENCES ON YOUR RESUME. Use a separate sheet.
How to Write a Resume Bullet
Action-oriented statements of your work accomplishments should use
concrete language and could include:
- What - what task
(transferable job skill) did you perform
- Why - why did you perform
this taskHow did it make your office or company better
- How - specifically how did
you perform this taskWhat equipment, tool, software program,
or method did you use to accomplish this task
- Result - what was the
positive result of you performing this task
- Adjectives - spice it up with
descriptors; sell yourself…go for it!
Example #1:
What: Created a brochure.
What and How: Created a marketing
brochure, using Pagemaker software.
What and Why: Created a marketing
brochure to generate customer interest in the company's new line of
fall clothing.
What, Why, and Result: Created a
marketing brochure to generate customer interest in the company's
new line of fall clothing. Highly praised by Director of Marketing.
Adding Adjectives: Created a colorful
and eye-catching marketing brochure to generate customer interest in
the company's new line of fall clothing.
FINAL RESULT:
Marketing Assistant, Jan 2004 -
present
Acme Marketing Company, Hayward, CA
- Created a colorful and eye-catching marketing brochure,
using Pagemaker software, to generate customer interest in the
company's new line of fall clothing. Highly praised by Director
of Marketing
Example #2:
What: Answered 50-60 telephone calls
per day.
What and How: Answered 50-60
telephone calls per day using multi-line phone system.
What and Why: Answered 50-60 calls
per day to assist patients with the scheduling of future/routine
medical appointments, verify patient insurance information, and
obtain insurance authorization.
What, Why, and Result: Answered 50-60
calls per day to assist patients with the scheduling of
future/routine medical appointments, verify patient insurance
information, and obtain insurance authorization. Decreased
appointment backlog by over 70% in a 2-month period.
Adding Adjectives/Adverbs: Answered
50-60 calls per day in a fast-paced medical office. Courteously
assisted patients with the scheduling of future/routine medical
appointments, quickly verified patient insurance information, and
obtained insurance authorization in a timely manner.
FINAL RESULT:
Medical Receptionist, Jun 2004 -
present
Office of Robert Feelgoode, MD, San Leandro, CA
- Answered 50-60 calls per day in a fast-paced medical office
using multi-line phone system
- Courteously assisted patients with the scheduling of
appointments
- Quickly verified patient insurance information, obtained
insurance authorization in a timely manner
- Decreased appointment backlog by over 70% in a 2-month
period.
Example #3:
What: Coordinated bake sales.
What and How: Coordinated bake sales
by arranging for organization members to solicit donations of baked
goods.
What and Why: Coordinated bake sales
to raise funds for our organization to buy books for underprivileged
school children.
What, Why, and Result: Coordinated
bake sales to raise funds for our organization to buy books for
underprivileged school children. Raised over $350 during the 2003 -
2004 academic year.
Adding Adjectives/Adverbs:
Coordinated bake sales to raise desperately needed funds for our
community-minded organization to buy books for underprivileged
school children.
FINAL RESULT:
Chair, Fundraising Committee, Oct
2003 - Jun 2004
Golden Key International Honor Society, California State University,
East Bay
- Coordinated bake sales to raise funds to buy books for
underprivileged school children.
- Persuaded members to solicit donations of baked goods.
Raised over $350 during the academic year.
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