Resume guidelines for college students

1. DEVELOPING ADEVELOPING A
PROFESSIONAL RESUMEPROFESSIONAL RESUME
St. Edward’s University
Career and Professional Development
Moody Hall 134
512-448-8530

2. Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives
Understanding a resume and its purpose
Proper resume styles and formats that
employers prefer
Resume content and categories - what
you should be including
Tailoring the resume to match the
employers' needs
Developing and tailoring effective cover
letters

3. WHAT IS A RESUME?WHAT IS A RESUME?
The resume is an ever changing
document that communicates your
contact information, transferrable skills,
education and experience
Your resume represents and markets you
as you apply for internships, jobs,
scholarships, and graduate school
Students and alumni should update their
resumes with each new activity,
experience, job responsibility and career
change

4. Be careful when using Resume Templates
or "Resume Wizards"
Use Standard Font Styles and Sizes
◦ 10-12 (Garamond, Calibri, Candara, Cambria)
Emphasize Specific Information
◦ Bold, italics, underlining
Use bulleted statements
One Page or Two?
DEVELOPINGYOUR RESUMEDEVELOPINGYOUR RESUME
Style and Formatting TipsStyle and Formatting Tips

5. DEVELOPINGYOUR RESUMEDEVELOPINGYOUR RESUME
Style and Formatting TipsStyle and Formatting Tips
• Visually appealing: clear/concise
• Easy to navigate and error free
• Print on nice paper
• Save as “First Last resume”
• No photos
• Limit use of color

6. DEVELOPINGYOUR RESUMEDEVELOPINGYOUR RESUME
Where to Begin:Where to Begin:
Think about :
 Experience/Jobs (even babysitting!)
 Education (course descriptions, projects, etc.)
 Skills (languages, leadership, etc.)
 Activities (clubs, organizations, etc.)
 Volunteer Work
 Honors

7. DevelopingYour ResumeDevelopingYour Resume
RESUME SECTIONS

8. Heading:Heading:
Contact information:
Name
Address
City, State ZIP
Phone number
Professional email address
LinkedIn link

9. Objective Statement (optional)Objective Statement (optional)
Purpose: introduce yourself
Short, sweet and to the point
◦ 50% ⇒employers like statements
◦ 50% ⇒use the space for something else
Example Objective:
Dean’s List Marketing major seeks internship
with Dell, Inc.

10. Summary Of QualificationsSummary Of Qualifications
Or ProfileOr Profile
• Purpose: grab reader’s attention in 5-10
seconds, give an overview of how you qualify
for the position
• 4-8 statements summarizing your
accomplishments, experience and skills
• Tailored for every job/internship (use key
words and phrases from the
description/qualifications)
• 1st
resume – study job descriptions and list
general qualities (communication, organization,
technical, transferrable skills)

11. Sample Profile/Qualifications StatementsSample Profile/Qualifications Statements
• Motivated self-starter known for thriving under pressure
while meeting time sensitive deadlines
• Quick learner committed to high quality work and
results
• Strong oral and written communication skills; able to
present information in a clear, concise manner
• Known for building and maintaining positive working
relationships with individuals at all organizational levels
• Dedicated team player with exceptional leadership
abilities
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Social Media
• Google “sample profile statements”

12. Example:Example:
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Team player with exceptional time management and multi-tasking
abilities
Dependable and reliable professional known for thriving in fast-paced
environments while meeting time sensitive deadlines
Committed to providing high quality service; quick learner with
superb decision making abilities
Excellent communication skills; able to build and maintain positive
working relationships
Bilingual in English and Spanish
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Social Media

13. This section can also be formatted in paragraph style andThis section can also be formatted in paragraph style and
may be called a “Profile”. Statements can be separated by amay be called a “Profile”. Statements can be separated by a
bullet, diamond or symbolbullet, diamond or symbol
Example:
PROFILE
Rich portfolio of leadership experience Communication style characterized♦
as respectful and friendly Patient listener who focuses on those who are♦
speaking Caring, sensitive, and empathetic Matches communication style♦ ♦
and teaching with the needs of the clients Heightened sensitivity to♦
confidentiality Highly involved in giving back to the larger community♦
through service to others Experienced with a wide variety of therapeutic♦
techniques and assessment tools Intent on helping others empower♦
themselves

14. EducationEducation
Degree (spell out in bold)
Expected graduation date
Name of University
GPA (3.5 or above)
Do not include:
• Other colleges you attended (unless it is relevant)
• High school (after sophomore year)
Bachelor of Business Administration Expected: May 20__
St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX

15. ExperienceExperience
 Include jobs, internships, class projects, volunteer work
 Experience ⇒ not something you got paid for
 Think accomplishments (created, streamlined, improved. etc.)
 Quantify: goals, quotas, $, %...
 Start statements with ACTION verbs
 ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
NOTE:
 Job title first, in bold, name of company, city and state and
dates of employment
 List in REVERSE chronological order
 Separate experience into 2 sections (functional)
◦ Related Experience (or Leadership Experience, etc.)
◦ Additional Experience

16. Example:Example:
EXPERIENCE
Marketing Assistant Fall 2014-Present
VSA Arts ofTexas, Austin,TX
Assisted in the development of a marketing strategy to increase
community awareness
Created a distribution system for monthly releases
Developed press kit for statewide distributors
Compiled statistics for annual report

17. MORE POSSIBLE SECTIONSMORE POSSIBLE SECTIONS
• Honors
• Affiliations
• Leadership
• Community Service
• Shadowing Experience
• Research Experience
• Activities
• Any category you feel is appropriate

18. TAILORING THE RESUME TO
MATCH THE EMPLOYERS' NEEDS

19. First do research:First do research:
 Job/internship for which you are applying
 Qualifications for the position
 Company you are applying to
 LinkedIn (alumni, connections who may work
there)

20. Example Job DescriptionExample Job Description
Job Description: Marketing Intern
• Planning and coordination of marketing events
• Management of direct and bulk mail programs
• Market data research (magazine, articles, press clips,
competitive info, etc.)
• Other related duties as assigned by Supervisor
Qualifications:
• Punctual, reliable and eager
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Must be detail-oriented with good follow through
• Willingness to take on some administrative tasks
• Positive attitude and work ethic

21. InformationInformation Included In ResumeIncluded In Resume
Job Description: Marketing Intern
• Planning and coordination of marketing events
• Management of direct and bulk mail programs
• Market data research (magazine, articles, press clips, competitive
info, etc.)
• Other related duties as assigned by Supervisor
Summary of Qualifications:
• Punctual, reliable and eager
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Must be detail-oriented with good follow through
• Willingness to take on some administrative tasks
• Positive attitude and work ethic

22. EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERSEFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS

23. What is a Cover Letter?What is a Cover Letter?
Purpose:
Introduces you, sets you apart from other
applicants
Explains your purpose for writing, highlights a
few of your experiences or skills, and requests an
opportunity to meet personally with the potential
employer

24. Cover Letter ContentCover Letter Content
One page, business style, clear and
concise, tailored to the job description
Assess the employer's needs and your
skills
Try to match them in the letter in a way
that will appeal to the employer's self-
interest
Expand on one or two accomplishments
in your resume that are relevant to the
position

25. Cover Letter LayoutCover Letter Layout
Match resume heading and font (copy and
paste from the resume)
Add name of contact (if known), business
address, etc. (see example)
“Dear Hiring Manager:” (if you don’t have
name of contact)
Use business style of writing, double
space between paragraphs
Leave space for signature

26. Cover Letter SectionsCover Letter Sections
 Opening Paragraph: State why you are writing, grab
their attention, make reference to
company/organization (knowledge of company, mission
statement, etc.)
 Paragraph(s) (2-3): Highlight a few of the most
significant points from your enclosed resume
◦ Show how your education and experience suit the
requirements of the position, and, by elaborating on a
few points from your resume, explain what you could
contribute to the organization (Your letter should
compliment, not restate, your resume)

27. Cover Letter Sections (cont.)Cover Letter Sections (cont.)
Closing paragraph:
Stress action, politely request an interview at
the employer's convenience
Indicate what supplementary material is being
sent under separate cover and offer to provide
additional information (a portfolio, a writing
sample)
Thank the reader for his/her consideration and
indicate that you are looking forward to hearing
from him/her

28. Examples:Examples:
• CAPD Sample Resume.docx
• CAPD Cover Letter.docx
• Google search: sample resumes, sample
marketing resumes…

29. Questions?????Questions?????