Career Services

Resume Guidelines and Samples

  • Keep it brief and to the point (one page is preferred by most employers)
  • Make it well structured and thought out
  • Use short crisp sentences and action verbs for effective communication
  • Use a smooth format so your thoughts flow well from one point to another
  • Organize in chronological order with the most recent information first
  • Write in the past tense
  • Use bond paper
  • Always have someone else proofread your resume

RESUME AND REFERENCES

  1. RESUME STYLE
    1. Length
      1. Page for average undergraduate degree candidates.
      2. Two pages for those with considerable experience.
      3. NEVER over two pages (third page might be separate sheet for references).
    2. Structure
      1. Factual material only ... no editorial comment.
      2. Concise, data oriented, objective style and wording.
      3. Focus on action words which describe skills and accomplishments.
      4. Write in phrases, not sentences, eliminating all extraneous words.
  2. RESUME LAYOUT AND DESIGN
    1. Layout on page to look framed like a picture ... one inch margins are minimum on sides, one-half inch is minimum at top.
    2. Printing should look balanced on page.
    3. Spacing should assist reader in assimilating your information quickly and easily.
    4. Use conservative resume paper in colors such as white, cream, or gray. Do not distribute copies on computer or typing paper. Use a heavier bond.
  3. REFERENCES
    1. Speak to your references before listing them, in person if possible.
    2. Help your references by reminding them of the reasons you feel they can give you good recommendations. When your resume is printed, send each reference a copy so they sound informed when they discuss you with an employer.
    3. You may describe your references in several ways:
      1. List them on the resume using a separate sheet by name, title, address, phone, relationship to you.
      2. State that references are available upon request.

RESUME ACTION VERBS

A - Achieved, Acted, Administered, Advised, Analyzed, Assessed, Assisted, Attained

B - Balanced, Budgeted

C - Calculated, Collected, Communicated, Compiled, Completed, Composed, Conceptualized, Condensed, Conducted, Consolidated, Constructed, Controlled, Converted, Coordinated, Corrected, Created

D - Decreased, Defined, Demonstrated, Designed, Determined, Developed, Directed, Documented ,Drafted

E - Edited, Eliminated, Ensured, Established, Estimated, Evaluated, Examined, Explained

F - Facilitated, Finalized

G - Generated

H - Handled, Headed, Helped

I - Identified, Illustrated, Implemented, Improved, Increased, Influenced, Informed, Initiated, Innovated, Instituted, Instructed, Integrated, Interpreted, Introduced

L - Learned, Lectured, Led

M - Maintained, Managed, Mapped, Marketed, Met, Modified, Monitored

N - Negotiated

O - Observed, Obtained, Operated, Organized

P - Participated, Performed, Planned, Predicted, Prepared, Presented, Processed, Produced, Projected, Proposed, Provided

Q - Qualified, Quantified, Questioned

R - Realized, Received, Recommended, Recorded, Reduced, Reinforced, Reported, Represented, Researched, Resolved, Reviewed

S - Scheduled, Selected, Served, Showed, Simplified, Sketched, Sold, Solved, Staffed, Streamlined, Studied, Submitted, Summarized, Systemized

T - Tabulated, Tested, Transacted

U - Updated

V - Verified

RESUME EXAMPLES

Chronological
Sample 1
Sample 2

Functional
Sample 1
Sample 2

The Baker College System