Resume Guide 2

Purpose of Your Resume

The purpose of a resume is to help you quickly explain your skills, qualifications, and fit for a position. It serves as your introduction to prospective employers and can be used both as a marketing tool for landing interviews and to help you reflect on your experience and plan for future skill development.

Resume Guide 2 (Printable PDF)

Resume Example

Resume Writing Basics

Employers have told us that the following core career competencies are the top skills they look for when hiring UMN Crookston graduates:

1. Analytical & Critical Thinking
2. Applied Problem Solving
3. Ethical Reasoning & Decision Making
4. Innovation & Creativity
5. Oral & Written Communication
6. Teamwork & Leadership
7. Engaging Diversity
8. Active Citizenship & Community Engagement
9. Digital Literacy
10. Career Management

Things to think about before writing your resume:

1. Research the organization and the position to find out what skills/competencies and experiences are needed.
2. Brainstorm a list of experiences you’ve had that demonstrate you have the skills for the position for which you are applying. Include any unpaid/volunteer positions. Also list the skills you developed at each of these positions.
3. Make a list of three or four of your strongest skills that make you a good candidate for the job.
4. Think of several accomplishments from your previous experience to illustrate each key skill.
5. Make a list of your training and education that qualifies you for the job you want.
6. DO NOT USE A TEMPLATE. You can use it as a guide, but DO NOT put your information into a pre-formatted template.

Resume Formatting Tips

Formatting

• Balance text and whitespace on the page, consider one-inch margins
• Ensure headings stand out from the rest of the text
• Keep the resume to one page, and fill the entire page (adjust margins as needed)
• Proofread! Ensure there are absolutely NO spelling or punctuation errors
• Use 10-12 point font in an easily-read font (Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri)

Additional tips

• Do not use personal pronouns such as “I” or “my”
• Use past tense to describe past jobs and present tense for current jobs
• Consider leaving off “average” information, such as a not-so-great job experience or GPA < 3.0
• Revise your resume often, preferably for every position to which you apply
• Be sure your outgoing voice mail and cell phone messages sound professional
• Get a second opinion. Have your résumé reviewed by professional staff

Resume Content Checklist 

Heading

• Use a larger font for your name than the rest of the text
• Include all contact information: full name, mailing address, phone and email
• Spell out all abbreviated words (e.g., Ave. = Avenue), with the exception of states
• Include both a local and permanent address if moving during the application process
• Use a professional email address (e.g. [email protected])
• Optional: Add your LinkedIn profile address or online portfolio address 

Summary (optional section)

• Provide concise, unique descriptions of your experiences. This is typically included at the top of the document, before the Education section. 

Education

• Consider including all colleges attended for more than one year
• Include the university name, degree, major, graduation date and GPA (if above a 3.0)
• Spell out abbreviations, such as Bachelor of Arts
• Include study abroad and any other educational experiences in this section
• Consider ‘Relevant Coursework’ as a sub-heading, if appropriate
• List honors and awards (Dean’s List) and scholarships in this section

Experience

• Document all experiences from most recent to least recent that relate directly to the job, including paid and unpaid work experience, internships, research, volunteer experience, and leadership experience (student organizations). These could be separate headings (Work Experience, Internships, Research Experience, etc.) or listed under the Experience heading
• Include organization name, city and state, position title, and dates of employment
• Quantify experiences wherever possible
• State your skills strongly with: Action Verb + Details + Outcome/Result
• Right-align dates - use the same format throughout your résumé (months/year or season/year) 

Skills

• List any language, computer, or technical skills that you have. It is best to describe your skills in the context of your work experience.

Activities/involvement

• List activities in which you have been involved, but where you might not have had a leadership role. This includes student orga
• nizations and intramural sports. Leadership roles are listed in the Experience section.

Develop a One-in-a-Million Resume

Write strong skills statements to:

• Effectively communicate your experience
• Demonstrate that you have what it takes to succeed
• Make yourself stand out from other applicants

Examples

• Before: Responsible for supervising employees
• After: Organized the training and supervision of 10 employees by conducting annual reviews to  guarantee quality service
   
• Before: Answered phones
• After: Responded to an average of 200 calls per day to solicit donations for a new charter school
   
• Before: Customer Relations
• After: Provided technical support for customers by using problem solving skills to alleviate their concerns
   
• Before: Waited on tables
• After: Managed 10 tables, using interpersonal skills to ensure customer satisfaction through prompt,  cordial service

Action Verbs for Resumes

On your resume, it’s helpful to describe your experiences as actions. This will make your resume more impactful. Check off any words that might describe the experiences or activities you did in a job, internship, or volunteer position. Words with an (*) asterisk are especially good for pointing out accomplishments.