Writing a Resume

Types of Resumes

Chronological Format presents work experience and education in reverse time sequence and lists achievements and responsibilities under each category. A chronological résumé highlights career progression and growth through job titles or the names of employers. It is easy to follow and widely used among job seekers.

Functional Format organizes your experiences under major skill headings, with degrees, job title, employers and dates listed separately. This format highlights your major areas of accomplishment in ways that best support your objective and is not bound by dates.

Combination Format includes aspects of both the chronological and functional formats and incorporates sections on work experience and your main functional skills. Emphasis is equally distributed among work history, skills and accomplishments.

Creating a Resume

Develop a complete list of your:

Work Experiences – paid or unpaid, summer, part-time, full-time, etc.
Career Related Experiences – Internships, leadership skills, etc.
Skills - Extracurricular Experiences or Community Memberships
Education

Parts of a resume
Contact Information
Objective
Education
Experience
Skills

Contact Information
Full Name - Large, Bold font
Address - A local and permanent address is appropriate
Telephone
Professional email address
Website, if applicable

Objective
An objective is a statement describing the reason you are sending your résumé to the recipient. Make it simple and concise, and list the position and employer whenever possible. This will show that you pay attention to detail and are interested in the organization.
Examples:

• Seeking a position in international business
• An opportunity to apply my proven skills in accounting, budgeting and financial management
• A sales representative position servicing hospitals and health organizations

Education
Example
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Expected Graduation date, May 2012
Charleston Southern University, Charleston, South Carolina
GPA 3.7

Experience

Career-related experiences, extracurricular experiences or community involvement.
Example
Student Recruiter August 2007 - May 2009
Lipscomb University, Office of Admissions, Nashville, TN

• Contacted interested prospects either by phone, email or social network to answer enrollment questions
• Guided students through the admissions process and provided individualized support
• Organized office supplies and submitted order requests as needed

Skills

Skills obtained through your education and experiences, i.e., computer skills, leadership skills, communication skills, internships, etc.

Layout & Format

• No more than one page for new entry-level graduates
• Margins can be as small as .5 on all sides
• Font sizes from 10.5 to 12 are acceptable
• Be consistent with date format

A great strategy is having a resume that is targeted to the job and the employer and is easy to read.

• Font selection – sans serif is preferred such as arial or verdana
• White space – allows for ease of reading
• Organization – categorizing information effectively

A good format allows the reviewer of the resume to quickly see how the person’s knowledge, skills and experiences are relevant to the position.

 Resume Guide