Confused how to build a good resume? Are you looking for some quick tips? We’re featuring a few selections from our Resume & Cover Letter Guide to help get you started.?
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind while building a resume...?
- Your resume should typically be 1 page without appearing too dense (or 2 pages depending on experience and industry; check with a Career Advisor if not sure whether this applies to you); margins are no smaller than .5 inches.?
- Font size is 10-12 point and is uniform throughout the resume. Recommended font styles include Garamond, Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Times, and Helvetica.?
- Each education and experience entry is consistently formatted and includes: school and name of degree for education, employer and job title for experience, locations (city, state/country) as well as date ranges (typical month and year) for all entries.?
- List degrees and experiences in reverse chronology (current to oldest) in each section.?
- Each entry must include 4 items: employer/organization name, job title/role, location (i.e., city, state or country), and date range.?
- Select and integrate a consistent bullet point style to lead your description of role accomplishments and skills; aim for 3-5 bullet points depending on the relevance of the job.?
- Start descriptions with a variety of active verbs: present tense for current work; past tense for completed work.?
- Emphasize quantifiable achievements as much as possible.?
- Skills are identified by category such as technical, software programs, language, laboratory, and/or industry specific such as research or clinical,etc.?
- Proficiency level is included for languages (e.g. native, fluent, advanced, intermediate, proficient, beginner). Be sure you accurately express your proficiency level for interview follow up.?
- Remember to refer to your resume skills as you develop reflections in your cover letter and/or during the interview process with specific situations and experiences. These will serve as your road map for later highlights of your experiences and qualifications.?
?Please refer to this page for a detailed resume building and cover letter guide. You can also schedule an appointment with a career advisor to have your resume and cover letter reviewed.?
