RESUME WRITING

Guyton Lobo
Pop Quiz!
 Whatis the initial amount of time an
employer takes to review an applicant’s
resume?

 Answer:
 15 – 20 seconds minimum
 45 seconds maximum
Why do you need a resume?
 A marketing tool
 To obtain an interview, not a job
 Requirement of many organizations
Sections of a Resume
The Header
 What should be included?
 Name

 Permanent and present address

 E-mail address

 Telephone number

 Where should contact information go?

 Top of the page
 Objective Statement
 Purpose
 Communicate the type of position you are interested in

 Do not be needy:
Objective: To obtain a position that will allow me to advance my potential while
seeking new challenges.
 Show what you will contribute:

 Objective 1: An entry-level position in civil engineering where strong

leadership ability and good communication skills are needed.

 Objective 2: Vice-president of aerospace engineering in an agency where

extensive knowledge of thermodynamics and heat transfer are needed.
Education
 Name of Institution
 Include city and state if not part of the title
 Name of your degree and major
 Bachelor of _________ in ___________
 Bachelor of Science in civil engineering
 List degrees in reverse chronological
order
 Most recent degree is listed first
Education
 Date or expected date of graduation
 GraduationDate: May 2014
 Expected Graduation Date: May 2015

 GPA
 Majoror overall at least 3.0
 Round down to the nearest tenth
 3.0not 3.062
 GPA: 4.0, Summa Cum Laude

 High School Information

 Do not include after Sophomore year
Experience
 Use the term "experience"
 What is considered experience?
Full and part-time jobs
Self-employment
Volunteer work
Practicum, field, and cooperative education
 Information to include
Job Title
Dates of employment
Company name
City & State
 Stand Out From the Crowd
Include interesting and
unique information
Attempt best effort to make a
first impression
No chance to explain if you
do not get an interview
 Achievements and Awards
Dean’s list
Scholarships
Grants
Prizes
Nominations
Professional societies
Significant accomplishments
Committees and leadership roles
 Use the Skills Section
Software programs and proficiency (Word,
PowerPoiint, Excel, FrontPage, AutoCAD…)

Programming languages (include Visual

Basic, HTML, PHP,…)

Abilities (based on experience)

Languages and language ability

 Create an Effective Layout
Try to interest your reader visually
A clean, professional format with a
little style
Extra white space makes it easy to
read –set margins
 Limit Font to Two Choices
For text: a serif font like Times

For headings: Arial or Helvetica are good

choices to add visual interest

Don’t choose non-standard fonts like Comic

Sans or Lucida Handwriting

Font size should be 11 or 12 point

Write Concisely and Vigorously
A focused, targeted resume is best:
Avoid the temptation to go more than one
page
Delete obvious information in order to
highlight your unique qualities
Use Brief Style, Like Presentations
Use more lists than sentences
Arrange information in columns
 Final Thoughts…
Choose the correct tense and use it
consistently
Do not ask for a particular salary
Be accurate and honest
Print it out! Do not attempt to
proofread on screen
References

• If your resume is strong, it is enough to state that

references are available upon request or to
include as an addendum
• Choose references that are knowledgeable
about your skills, abilities, and work ethics.
Former employers, teachers, and counselors
would be good references, your friends and
relatives would not.
• Always obtain permission from references in
advance and provide them with current resume
Sample References

REFERENCES
Kristin Wilkin, English Teacher, Winter Park High School, 407-
623-2476

Bob Jones, Supervisor, Valley State Bank, 407-889-2345

REFERENCES
Kristin Wilkin Bob Jones
English Teacher Supervisor
Winter Park High School Valley State Bank
407-623-1476 407-889-2345
 CHRIS SMITH
83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837
(407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com
___________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE
Part time position as a clerk in a dental office

PERSONAL SKILLS AND ASSETS

I am a hard working young man who is willing to learn more. I am responsible, motivated, educated and
punctual. I am friendly person who enjoys helping others.

EDUCATION
Winter Park High School Winter Park, FL
Aug 2005–present
•Graduating May 2009
•GPA 3.0
•Relevant Courses: Business Systems Technology,
Marketing, Biology
•Received an award for being a best student

WORK EXPERIENCE
Valley State Bank, Huntington, IN
Bank Teller, Summers 2005 & 2006
• Provided friendly, professional customer service
• Issued money orders, travelers checks, loan payments and deposits/withdrawals
COMPUTER SKILLS
Experienced with Macintosh, IBM PC, Windows XP, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint,
Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Publisher

LANGUAGES
Bilingual Spanish and English
REFERENCES
Kristin Wilkin, English Teacher, Winter Park High School, 407-623-2476

Bob Jones, Supervisor, Valley State Bank, 407-889-2345

24
Remember

Always submit a cover letter with your resume

A resume does not get you a job…

A resume does get you an interview.

And, putting time and consideration

into your resume is one of the
best ways to prepare for your interviews!

Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

Writing an Effective Resume

QUESTIONS?