Developing Your Resume

A professional resume is one of your most important job search tools. The purpose of your resume is to generate enough interest from employers that they want to bring you in for an interview. Employers are inundated with hundreds of resumes everyday -- your resume needs to be easily scannable, and must stand out from the crowd.

Make your resume stand out from the crowd with action words from the ACTION WORD LIST!

Basically, your resume is your marketing document. Think of it as your sales brochure. You need to convince employers that you have the exact skills and qualities they are looking for in an employee by spelling out your experiences in black and white. There is no formula for writing the perfect resume! However, there are many strategies you can employ to catch an employer's attention within the 30-60 seconds they spend first reviewing your resume.

The questions below are designed to help you think about and compile all of the information you will need to write an effective resume. You might not use all of the experiences you list, but it is helpful to write everything down in the beginning.

1. How do you wish to be known professionally?
2. What are your major and minor?
3. What is your GPA?
4. What universities have you attended besides Heidelberg College, when and what degree did you obtain?
5. What academic honors have you received?
6. What activities are you currently involved in? Do you have any leadership roles in those organizations?
7. What is your previous work experience? (List every job you have ever had, including work study and unpaid positions. Include your job title, name of employer, city, dates of employment and description of your duties/accomplishments).
8. Have you participated in community service projects? What did you do?
9. What are your hobbies/interests?
10. Do you have any computer or special skills (foreign language proficiency, etc)?

Resume Building Worksheet

Never created a resume before? A great starting place is to complete the RESUME BUILDING WORKSHEET. Write down everything you can possibly think of that encompasses all the on-the-job, classroom, and extra-curricular experiences you have accomplished here at Heidelberg. It is best to start out with everything, then condense the information down to the most important components. A CAREER ADVISOR can help you sort through all of your accomplishments to construct a terrific resume that highlights your unique abilities and skills.

Most resumes contain the following sections, as outlined in the RESUME BUILDING WORKSHEET. Click on the section title below to find out what to include in each area of your resume!

• Contact Information
• Objective Statement / Skills Summary
• Education
• Experience
• Organizational Involvement
• Honors/Skills

Of course, your resume may contain different sections like "Relevant Experience," "Athletic Involvement," or "Technical Skills," based upon your chosen degree field, the field you want to pursue after graduation, and the different clubs and activities you are involved with at Heidelberg. Your resume needs to represent you - use the basic framework provided here to help you construct your individualized resume document.

Types of Resumes

Your unique collection of experiences determines the best type of resume to accentuate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Choose a format that highlights your accomplishments and focuses on your strengths. Three basic resume formats exist: chronological, functional and combination/targeted.

• Most commonly used format
• Presents all information in reverse chronological order
• Provides for a brief explanation of each experience
• The easiest format to construct, and the easiest to read and understand

• Focuses on skills, not specific experiences
• Presents information in categories (i.e. relevant skills, transferable skills, classroom experience, personal work skills)
• Dates and details may or may not be presented
• Can be effectively utilized to reduce the negative effect of an inconsistent work record, or assist in detailing skills for career changers

• Combines both the chronological and functional formats
• Presents skills, abilities, and accomplishments in a related to specific job
• The objective statement may be replaced with a "Highlights" section that lists 5-10 targeted skills that relate directly to the desired job or industry
• Some resume sections will follow the strict reverse chronological format, whereas other sections will be skills based

Format and Appearance

First impressions are very important. Use a reliable word processing program to type your resume. Never turn in a resume with misspelled words - it's the fastest route to the wastebasket! And print your resume on high quality, light colored paper, like white or ivory. Finally, do not be afraid to use the following items to help your resume look more visually appealing.

• White space - balance white space with the text. Margins should be as close to 1 inch as possible, leaving a white frame around the entire document.
• CAPITALIZATION - can draw attention, making it appropriate to capitalize the first letter of each statement and the beginning of important words.
• Underline and Boldface - can focus the reader's attention on important items. Use these elements to emphasize position titles, outstanding accomplishments, or specific skills and knowledge you offer to a potential employer.

• Incomplete sentences - are easier to scan than complete sentences. With resume writing, it is appropriate to avoid using "I" and other personal pronouns, and focus on
• Length - for most college students, your resume should not be longer than 1 page. If you had extensive work experience before attending college, are majoring in Education, or have completed many extra-curricular experiences that are related to your chosen field, two pages are appropriate. Consult a Career Advisor concerning specific questions about resume length.
• Graphics - in some cases, graphics can be used sparingly for emphasis, especially if you are applying for a highly creative position. Generally speaking, graphics, and especially personal pictures, are inappropriate for the resume document.
• Paper - use a good quality resume paper in a light color, like buff, white, or ivory. Light colored paper is easier to read and easier to copy.
• Font - Use an easy to read font, 11 point or larger for the body text of your resume. Your name can be larger. You may also wish to use a larger font to emphasize your resume headings.