Resumes

Resumes often go hand-in-hand with cover letters. Go to cover letter information.

The purpose of the resume is to summarize for employers the key elements of your background. Keep in mind that a good resume alone won't get you a job; however, it can help you get an interview and influence an employer's perception of your skills and potential for a particular kind of work.

Printable Resources for Recent Graduates:

• Arts & Sciences Job Search Sample Resumes
• Engineering Job Search Sample Resumes
• The Parts of a Resume
• How to Describe Basic Jobs

Printable Resources for Alumni:

• Sample Resumes: Monster Resume Expert Library; Vault Resume Examples, Templates, Formats and Advice; DBMCareerServices ResumeEdge; Susan Ireland 50+ Resume Samples by Occupation, Problem Solved, and Format; Quintessential Careers Resume Samples. Note: Some of these sites offer resume writing services for a fee. We are not endorsing or recommending these fee-based services. We do recommend that you review their sample resumes.
• Resume 101
• Top 10 Pitfalls in Resume Writing
• Action Verbs List
• Sample Resume Headers
• Sample Reference Sheet

Some Basic Tips for Creating Your Resume:

• Survive the scan. Since resumes often get less than one minute of an employer's time, use bulleted items or short sentences rather than long paragraphs.

• Do not include personal data such as height, weight, age, marital status, or your photograph.

• Typically, the length should be one page for those with less than 10 years experience. However, a resume may become more than one page for younger alums when, for example, a "Technical Skills" section is added.

• Use good quality paper. A white, off-white or buff-colored paper is desirable.

• Check for typos, spelling errors, and grammar usage. (Of surveyed college recruiters, 95%  thought that poor grammar or more than one spelling error would definitely lessen interest in a candidate.)

• Include a well-written cover letter. Remember, the cover letter will act as an example of your communication skills.

Additional Resume Tips for...

• Engineers
• Athletes
• Resident Assistants (RA)
• Student Leaders