Resume Tips

Def. Resume- A brief written summary of an individual's education, work experience, and accomplishments, usually for the purposes of finding a job.

The resume is one of the most important part of applying for a job because it is the only piece of information that the employer has of you. For first time resume writers, writing a resume can be difficult. People usually do not know what information to include, what kind of words to use, or how to format their resumes. The reason I thought of this post was because my friend asked me if I could look over her resume and I noticed a few things that I thought was worth mentioning.

I have written my own resume numerous times for different jobs/internships and seminars. Moreover, I am part of a professional business fraternity and I have also consulted the school career center, working individuals, and recruiters about my resume. I have had internships at a private investment bank and a hedge fund. Furthermore, I have continuously written and submitted cover letters for jobs/internships throughout my college career. Although I am not a professional, I think I have the experience to teach you the basics of how to write a resume.


Your resume should be divided into 3-4 sections which include:
1. Education- this should include your school name, current major, current overall/major GPA, and expected graduation date.
2. Work Experience- this section should include previous jobs/ internships that you have held and a brief description of your job duties.
3. Activities/Awards- this should include any clubs, volunteering, or awards that you have received. Remember to include any leadership positions that you may have had in a club.
4. Skills/Interest- this section should include any language or computer skills that you may have. For example, make sure to include computer skills, such as Photoshop, in this section.

The different sections should be clearly divided so that an employer knows where to find certain information. Generally, the sections should be listed in the order above. In addition, the information that you list in each section should be in chronological order from most to least recent. There are a few more things to be aware of when writing your resume:


1. Format- The way you format your resumes is very important because it is the first thing that employers notice when they look at your paper. Make sure that your resume is formatted in a way so that it is easy to read. Do not leave too much white space (blank space) on your resume. For example, try to write your descriptions so that it fills up one line on the page. Try to not have a sentence that only has two words on the second line.

a. Bold- Bold the company/organization name as well as your position.
b. Bullet Points- Use bullet points when writing the description of the position. This makes it easier for employers to read your resume. You should have 2-3 bullet points for each position/organization. Try to keep your bullet points consistent. For example, if you used three bullet points for one position, use three bullet points for all the other positions. Do not use three points for one position and then six points for another position.
c. Font- Use a font that is easy to read and professional at the same time. Times New Roman is a good and safe font to use, however, I personally like to use a different font to make my resume stand out and easier for employers to go back and find my resume if they need to.
d. Length- Keep your resume to ONE page and ONE page ONLY. Do not exceed one page. Either delete information that does not relate to the job you are applying for or fix the margins. Do not change your font size below 11. Employers only spend 1-2 minutes on each resume, therefore, if it is difficult to read or if it is too long they may not take the time to read it.



2. Description/Writing Style- The description is the most important part of your resume.
It is the only way for employers to know what your past experiences were and your capabilities. Therefore, you should use actions words and specific examples in your description.

a. Action words- Try to use action words to start your sentences. For example, instead of saying, “I worked with a team to increase sales”, use an action word at the beginning of the sentence and say, “Collaborated with a team to increase sales.”
b. Specific Examples- Use specific examples in your description so that it gives employers a better idea of your previous experiences and qualities. For example, instead of saying “I worked with a team to increase sales”, make it more specific and say, “Collaborated with a team to create a marketing plan to increase online sales.”
c. Numbers- Quantify your descriptions. You do not have to use numbers on every point, but try to use it in at least one point per position. For example, instead of saying “I worked with a team to increase sales”, add a number to give your employer a better idea and say, “Collaborated with a five member team to create a 15 page marketing plan to increase online sales.
d. Titles- Position titles can be tricky if you’ve had a job that did not have a title for your position. In addition, titles can be tricky because you may want to give yourself a title that sounds a lot better than the job functions that you actually had. For example, instead of saying “Secretary”, you can say, “Executive Assistant”

Below is a sample from my own resume. (The margins on Blogger is different and is the reason why there is white space showing.):

JOHN SMITH & COMPANY LLC, Irvine, CA Feb 2008 - June 2008
RESEARCH ANALYST INTERN
• Explored investment opportunities in collaboration with deal leads and participated in the due diligence
• Collaborated with directors and research analyst to develop different investment strategies for the healthcare industry
• Conducted analysis of industry trends and competition for potential merger and/or acquisition candidates

JOHN SMITH INTEL SOURCE, Irvine, CA Sep 2007 – Jan 2008
PROCESS EXCELLENCE INTERN
• Managed the transfer of incoming inventory from containers to trailers to be sent to different accounts
• Responsible for over $10,000 worth of merchandise to arrive and be delivered within a certain time frame
• Coordinated and supervised a team of five employees to work efficiently to expedite the process of trans-loading

Writing a resume takes time and practice. These are only a few things that I hope will help you begin your resume. Remember that your resume is supposed to tell employers about yourself. Don’t be shy and glorify yourself. Just remember to be professional and concise with your writing. Make sure that when you are writing your resume that you are describing the things that you have done at your previous job and not an overview of your past company. There is a big difference between the two because one describes yourself and one describes the company.

Have people correct and proofread your resume when you are done. There is nothing better than other people’s advice for improving your resume. Perfecting your resume will take time; however, having a strong resume will help you tremendously in the future. I hope this post has helped you and have fun writing your resume!