Designing a Résumé

1. Designing a Résumé A Cisco College Writing Resources Presentation by Kimberly James

2. The Header • This is the only area in the résumé where you are allowed a small amount of creativity – use it wisely. •  • There are key elements that should always be included in the header: • Your name • Your address • Your phone number (where you would like to be contacted) • Email address* (this is optional, but highly encouraged) *E-mail addresses should be professional looking – think about how an employer will view you as an employee based on your email address.

3. The Header…Examples Jane Smith 1234 Unknown Way Somewhere, NC 29876 Phone: (704) 555-1212 Email: janesmith@aol.com JLS Jane L. Smith 1234 Unknown Way Somewhere, NC 29876 Phone: (704) 555-1212 Email: janesmith@aol.com

4. The Objective It is important to have an objective on your résumé so that the prospective employer knows that you have a goal in mind and that your goal matches their needs. A Generic Objective To obtain a position in _____________ where I can use my skills and education. Simply fill in the blank with your major/field of choice. For example: To obtain a position in Human Resources where I can use my skills and education.

5. Additional Elements It is up to you, the designer of the résumé, how you want to order the following elements of the résumé – they should be ordered from most important (the one you want most to feature) to the least important. • Education (may or may not include courses taken) • Employment/Experience • Skills • References

6. Education The main focus of this section should be on the degree received. The second focus should be on the year of completion. The third focus should be on the institution. These are the key elements an employer is going to be interested in as far as education. Education 2004 B.S. in Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington 2002 A.A. in Arts and Sciences, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (Salisbury, NC) 1999 Diploma, Parker Posie High School (Kannapolis, NC)

7. Employment/Experience If you have a lot of experience in a field, but no employment, focus on the experience. Likewise, if the employment history fits the field for which you are applying, focus on that. It is important to present yourself as positively as possible. Think about your wording and job performance representation. Experience 2004-Present Collection Assessment Technician, Marine Focus (Wilmington, NC) Duties Include: Collecting underwater specimens; cataloging specimen location, size, weight, species, appearance variations; releasing specimen in safe manner; recording and compiling daily data log; producing reports verifying the daily trends of collection. 2002-2004 Intern, UNCW Marine Research Facility

8. Skills Think about all of the employment skills you have acquired. What programs can you use on a computer? With what office equipment are you familiar? What certifications have you obtained? • Skills and Certifications • 45 wpm • Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint • Trained to work with CSX 45600 copier • Bi-lingual (English and Spanish) • CPT Certification

9. References This is typically the final section of the résumé. If you have the space to add references, list no more than three. If there is no space, acknowledge that you have references by noting “Available Upon Request.” References Sara Johnson, Founder – Marine Focus (665) 555-2323, johnsons@marinefocus.com Miller Hamil, Program Head of Marine Biology (UNCW) (665) 555-4455, millerhamil@uncw.edu Sam Witherspoon, Dean of Biology (UNCW) (665) 555-7898, samwitherspoon@uncw.edu References Available Upon Request

10. Tips for Success • Remove all hyperlinks • Keep the entire résumé to a one page maximum • Use persuasive wording • Send an accompanying cover letter that features in prose your most promising qualities and that introduces you to the potential employer (see example) • Proofread! • Double check the contact information for your references • Keep the formatting consistent (use of bold, underlining, italics, etc.) • Use a 12-point font for the body (no smaller than 10-point)

11. $.50 Words (Persuasive Wording) • Acquired • Achieved • Administered • Advised • Appointed • Budgeted • Built • Conceived • Completed • Communicated • Coached • Coordinated • Decreased • Encouraged • Facilitated • Generated • Launched • Monitored • Observed • Created • Established • Overcame • Exceeded • Implemented • Initiated • Introduced • Organized • Developed • Led • Gathered • Formed • Originated • Improved • Cultivated • Handled • Inspected • Interpreted • Modified • Prepared • Problem Solved • Solved • Spearheaded • Reorganized • Simplified • Upgraded • Streamlined • United • Surveyed • Updated • Redesigned • Presented • Tested • Supported • Strengthened • Trained • Taught