You must have an effective resume in order to conduct a successful job search. The resume is usually the first item employers look at during their employment screening and hiring process. Often times, employers spend no more than seven to fifteen seconds looking at a resume to pre-screen a candidate. You must then create a resume that allows you to demonstrate your qualifications and achievements quickly and clearly.

Essentially, your resume is a concisely written commercial in which you summarize and promote your greatest qualifications and accomplishments drawing on your most relevant personal, educational and work experiences. You must use your resume to introduce yourself to prospective employers, focus their attention on your qualifications and achievements and demonstrate how these make you an attractive candidate for the position you are seeking.

There is no single model of a resume that is right for all people in all circumstances. Because the resume is your creation and is your personal poster designed to emphasize the positive reasons for selecting you for an interview, there are a number of styles, formats, etc., that should be considered before selecting those elements that will best fit the circumstances relating to you an individual.

The Career Services Center has sample resumes illustrating a variety of possible formats and layouts. If you see a model that appeals to you, we will Xerox a copy for $.05/copy.

To develop an effective resume, follow these steps:

• Establish Your Objective! What job do you want to get with the resume you are writing? Resumes are not like socks "one size does not fit all!" If an employer is looking for a human resource specialist, he/she will probably screen out resumes from people who look like counselors (or teachers or sales reps or ...). In other words, if you want a human resources job, your resume should reflect human resources related skills.

• Identify and Assess Your Audience! Who hires for the position you want? What are the skills, knowledge and qualities for which these employers will be looking?

• Gather Your Selling Points and Prioritize! Now that you know what the employers are looking for, you need to identify where you have demonstrated or obtained these qualifications. What key qualifications, buzz words or action verbs do you need to highlight on your resume?

• Focus On Achievements & Accomplishments! Everyone wants to hire a winner. Your resume should demonstrate your history of successes (i.e. college degrees, honors, grades, relevant experience, job promotions, outstanding recommendations, leadership, community involvement, creativity, etc.).

• Choose Your Format - Design Your Layout! Which format (chronological, functional, combination) will best highlight your qualifications for the job. How can you layout your resume so that your best selling points will be quickly noticed by the employer who is
  reading your resume?

• Describe Position Specific Verbs & Qualities! You know the employer is looking for specific key items, make sure they stand out on your resume.

• Prepare, Critique & Revise Your Drafts! Counselors in the Career Services Center are available to review your resume.

• Make It Look Professional! Use a word processor, laser print it and make quality copies.

Key Action Words

As a rule, students are often too brief in their description of their skills, qualities and traits. Consult the following list of action verbs when writing your resume and describing your experience.

A helpful strategy for using these verbs:

• Go through the entire list and check off all of the action verbs
  (skills) employers in your intended career field look for.

• Go through the list a second time and check off all of the verbs you
  have used in the experiences you are describing on your resume.

• Note all of the words that you have checked twice and incorporate into
  your resume (and cover letters) the ones that best sell your skills and
  abilities.