This document provides guidance on writing resumes, including tips for different resume formats depending on a person's career experience level or goals. It discusses the key components of a resume, such as contact information, objective statements, education, skills, experience, and references. The document emphasizes keeping resumes concise, using action verbs and quantifiable accomplishments, and tailoring resumes to specific job opportunities.

1. getting started with your
Charlotte Quigley
Manager, Career Services

2. Uh oh … a test
4 Questions:

3. Pre-workshop test
1. What is the role of your résumé in the
job search process?
2. Before you start writing your résumé,
what information should you gather?
3. What is the best résumé template to
use?

4. Which is correct?
4. Your résumé is:
a) A marketing document
b)Intended to make you stand out
c) A summary of professional highlights
d)All of the above

5. Your résumé is a . . .
summary of your qualifications
brief history of your relevant
professional experiences
tool to alert prospective employers to
your skills
used to get you an interview
A marketing document

6. Your résumé is NOT . . .
Autobiographical dump of everything you
have ever done
Created once for everything and all time
Supposed to look like everyone else’s
(even tho it should follow guidelines)
Misleading. Ever.

7. Hermione Watson
12 Grimmauld Place ∙ Town, NJ 06000 ∙ (732) 555-5555 ∙ hwatson7@middlesexcc.edu
Objective: Marketing Manager
Education: Middlesex County College, Edison NJ
Major: English Literature; anticipated graduation May 2014
Minor in Marketing
3.5 cumulative GPA
3.6 GPA in major
Honors Dean’s List all semesters
Foundation Scholarship, Academic years 2012 - present
Skills
Technical: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop CS3
Languages: proficient in French
Strong writing and organizational skills
Marketing Experience
Marketing Assistant and Newsletter Editor, Watson Inc., Phoenix, CT
• Created the layout and graphic design of the monthly company newsletter.
• Interviewed, researched and composed articles for publication
• Planned and organized the annual corporate party.
• Assisted in the composition of numerous magazine advertisements for print.
• Collaborated in the design of marketing products for upcoming 2009 tradeshow.
• Designed motivational posters for workplace.
Other Work Experience
Human Resources Student Assistant, Saint Michael's College, Woodbridge NJ
• Opened and distributed incoming mail.
• Filed payroll paperwork.
Summer 2013
July 2012 - present

8. General Resumé Tips
 ALWAYS 100% TRUTHFUL
 Know your audience
 Keep to a reasonable length based on your experience
(1-2 pages – 1 page for entry level)
 Format consistency throughout the document:
◦ Capitalization (summer/Summer)
◦ Abbreviations (NJ/New Jersey, St./Street)
◦ Years (four or two digits: 2009 or ’09) and months
(spelled out, abbreviated or numbers: December,
Dec., 12)

9. Résumé do’s and don'ts
 Do’s
◦ proofread thoroughly
 Don'ts:
◦ no typographical errors
◦ highlight experiences,
both employment and
volunteer
◦ do not include personal
information (height,
weight, marital status,
health, etc..)
◦ use a standard print style
and font size, easy to read
font
◦ consistent format
◦ use action verbs and be
concise
◦ Remember the 5 second
rule
◦ stay away from hard to
read fonts
◦ information should not
be difficult to find
◦ don’t exaggerate
experiences

10. Read this:

11. Let’s Build a Résumé:
new Grad or Current Student
Contact Information
Objective or Profile or Qualifications Summary
Education:
expanded with courses and honors etc.
Relevant Experience (if any)
Skills
Work Experience
Certifications and Licenses
Community Service / Volunteer Activities

12. Let’s Build a Résumé:
Career Changer
Contact Information
Objective or Profile or Qualifications Summary
Skills & Competencies
Relevant Experience
Certifications and Licenses
Work Experience … maybe
Community Service / Volunteer Activities
Education

13. Résumé: New Grad
Contact Information
Objective or Profile
Education:
expanded with courses
and honors etc.
Relevant Experience
Skills
Work Experience
Certifications &
Licenses
Community Service /
Volunteer Activities
Résumé: Career Changer
Build your
“story”
with the
most
directly
relevant
info at the
top
Contact Information
Objective or Profile
Skills & Competencies
Relevant Experience # 1
Relevant Experience # 2
Certifications &
Licenses
Work Experience maybe
Community Service /
Volunteer Activities
Education

14. Let’s Build a Résumé: How do you
decide what goes where?

15. Contact information
• Name
• Address(es)
▫ Current, temporary
▫ permanent
• Phone number(s)
▫ voicemail and answering
machines
▫ Clearly label cell number
• email
▫ check regularly
▫ professional email address

16. Your Objective
# 1 rule: write from the
employer’s perspective!
#2 rule: tell ‘em what you want!
 Be clear - provide a definite objective
 Keep it short - don’t get too wordy, not more
than one line
 Don’t be too restrictive or too vague:
“To obtain the Sales Division Trainee
position with XYZ Company in Boston”

17. Objective Examples
• Entry-level accounting staff
• Marketing position with an advertising or
public relations agency
• An internship with a financial services
organization
• A position in human resources working with
benefits administration
• College student seeking part time position in
an office setting where my experience
provides value to your customers

18. Education
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
College Name and Location
Degree and Major
Date of Graduation
Minor, Concentration
GPA, Awards, Honors
Scholarships
Relevant Courses
Other Colleges, Study Abroad

19. Education
EDUCATION
Middlesex County College, Edison NJ anticipated graduation: May 2012
Associates Degree in Engineering
GPA: 3.6 / 4.0
Relevant Course Work:

20. Skills: things of value to
the employer that won’t
show up anywhere else
 Technical/Computer
◦ Hardware
◦ Software
◦ Operating Systems
 Bilingual/Multilingual
◦ Proficiency Level
 Laboratory
 Communication

21. Skills Examples
• Software Applications
▫ Dreamweaver, SPSS, Microsoft Office Suite,
FrontPage, Exchange, Avid, PhotoShop
• Skills/Certs specific to your career field
▫ e.g. LexisNexis, AutoCAD, SafeServ
• Programming Languages
▫ HTML, C++, COBOL
• Foreign Languages
▫ Highly proficient in Spanish, Portuguese
▫ Bilingual: English/Urdu

22. Experience
• Employment vs. Relevant
Experience
• Consistent format
• Reverse chronological order in each
section
• Bullet points vs. paragraph
format
• Job descriptions: use ACTION
VERBS, not full sentences
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS

23. Experience Example
Sales and Public Relations Intern, Fall 2011
New Jersey State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ
▫ Sold subscriptions and advertising space
▫ Composed press releases and public service
announcements to publicize events
▫ Oversaw production of posters, flyers and programs
for four major events
▫ Helped increase event attendance by 10%

24. Relevant vs. Other Experience
 Relevant
◦ Experiences related
to the position
◦ Can be employment
or volunteer
 Target your skills and
responsibilities to the
job
 Action verbs
 Other
◦ highlight skills that
may be useful to any
employer
(communication,
integrity, loyalty)
◦ Shows consistent
employment
 Action verbs

25. Community Service, Volunteering,
Campus Organizations
 Campus
Organizations
 Athletic Involvement
 Volunteer
Experiences
 Community
Organizations
 Artistic Endeavors
 Leadership Roles

26. Community Service, Volunteering,
Campus Organizations
ACTIVITIES
 Quo Vadis (student newspaper):
o editor-in chief (Spring ’11),
o managing editor (Fall ’10),
o staff reporter (Spring ’09 & ’10)
 Colton English Club/Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor
society):
o co-president (2010-11),
o vice president (Spring ’09),
o historian (2009)
 Volunteer with Junior Achievement (taught business
concepts to middle school students)
 Freshman Student Orientation Leader
 College-wide library committee: student representative

27. Interests
• Career related!
• Demonstrate valuable skills

28. References
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•
•
•
NOT ON YOUR Résumé
How many? Who?
Permission to use
Verbal vs. written

29. Jayne Wyatt
503 Center Street
San Francisco, Ca
(415)555-012
Social Security Number - #555-00-0000 soccermomma@getmail.com
Objective:
To gain experience in the Bay Area business environment that has a potential for growth and further
responsibilities so I can increase my skill set and become more marketable.
Education:
Stanford University, Stanford, CA, May,1981
Bachelor of Science
Chabot College, Hayward, CA, May 1986
AA, Liberal Arts
Hayward High School, Hayward, CA 1984
High School Diploma
Computer Skills:
Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook, Internet
Experience:
Netriton Corporation, Jersey City, NJ 1999 - Present
Executive Assistant
I was responsible for supporting the CFO, CIO and CEO. Managed the front desk staff and created a
procedures manual. Kept the calendars and made travel arrangements. Put together conferences
and metings
Gillian and Associates, Newark, New Jersey 1995 - 1999
EA
Reported to the President directly. Made sure calendars were up to date. Created business
correspondence and special reports. Did all of the faxing, filing, mailings and answering the phones.
Hobbies:
Golf, Skiing, Painting, Running, Knitting and taking care of my two children.
References Available upon Request

30. JAYNE WYATT
503 Center Street San Francisco, CA 91234 " (415)555-0123 " jwyatt@getmail.com
Experienced Executive Assistant with over eight years of demonstrated ability in supporting all levels of
Management
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SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Extremely professional, positive attitude and a strong work ethic
Strong verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills
Excellent project management, meticulous attention to detail and good time management
Ability to work independently with little or no supervision
Superior ability in multi-tasking, adaptive to fast-paced and changing environment
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Netriton Corporation, Jersey City, NJ
6/99 - Present
Senior Executive Assistant
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Provides direct support to CEO, CFO and CIO
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Managed front desk staff, created a procedures manual which saved $5000 annually
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Handles details with a high degree of confidentiality
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Interfaces with senior level executives, customers and vendors
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Prepare and execute presentations for management using Powerpoint
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Coordinated logistics of conferences and meetings
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Performed ad-hoc reporting and analysis on special projects
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Maintained executives schedules, appointments, meetings and travel arrangements
Gillian and Associates, Newark, NJ
10/95 - 6/99
Executive Assistant
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Directly supported the President of Company
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Handled all calendar requests, meeting arrangements, travel and appointments
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Designed and executed Powerpoint presentations for monthly meetings

31. Questions?