1. Resume Writing

2. Major Sections in a Resume
The Contact Information
The Objective Statement
Education
Experience
Honours and Activities
Personal Details
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3. Sample Resume
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4. The Contact Information
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5. The Contact Information
Creates first impression
Provides information to help prospective
employers contact you
Usually placed at the top of the page
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6. Is this a Good Sample?
Your Name Here
1234 Streetname, #1
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Student@univ.edu
765-555-5555
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7. Is this Sample Better?
YOUR NAME HERE
Campus Address Permanent Address
1234 Streetname, #1 4321 Streetname
West Lafayette, IN 47907 Anytown, IN 12345
yourname@university.edu http://univ.edu/~login
765-555-5555 555-555-1234
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8. Appearance
Use and coordinate design strategies
Fonts – style and size
Text highlighting
Layout – alignment, columns and tables
Adding a graphic element
Match with rest of the resume and the cover
letter
Aim for a professional package
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9. The Objective Section
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10. What is an Objective Statement?
A short section (usually 1-3 lines), often in the
form of a sentence fragment, immediately below
your contact information
An “at a glance” picture of you and your career
interests
Other names: Professional Objective, Resume
Capsule, Career Goals etc.
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11. Why Write One?
Emphasize key qualifications, skills and/or goals
Help your readers find what they need to know
quickly
Make a good first impression
Relate company goals to personal goals
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12. Is this a Good Objective Statement?
An internship allowing me to utilize my knowledge
and expertise in different areas
Well-written but raises too many questions
For example: What kind of internship?
What knowledge?
What kinds of expertise?
Which areas?
How will you contribute to this company?
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13. A Good Objective Statement Answers
What position(s) are you applying for?
What are your main qualifications?
What are your career goals?
What is your professional identity?
How can you help the company?
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14. Getting Started. . .
Reflect on your overall qualifications and career
goals: In what ways are they typical? Unique?
Research individual employers in your field: In
what ways are employers alike? Different?
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15. Questions about You
What are your main qualifications, strengths,
skills, and areas of expertise?
What position(s)--or type of position--are you
seeking?
What are some of your professional goals?
What type of organization or work setting are
you most interested in?
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16. Questions about the Employers
What qualifications are most desired by
employers in your field?
What positions are available on the job market?
What are they titled?
What are some goals of the organizations that
interest you?
What kinds of organizations are now hiring?
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17. Instant Objective Statement
For practice, fill in the parts in brackets
To utilize my [qualifications, strengths, or skills] as a
[position title]
A position as a [position title] for [company name]
allowing me to develop my [qualifications, strengths,
or skills]
An opportunity to [professional goal] in a [type of
organization, work environment, or field]
[position title] with emphasis in [areas of expertise]
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18. Which of the Objective Statement is
BEST?
The one that best…
Emphasizes your qualifications and/or goals
Appeals to employer expectations
A trick question: You’ll probably need to write
more than one objective statement.
Tailor for each type of position that interests you
and, for best results, modify for each particular
employer (as necessary)
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19. The Education Section
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20. What is an Education Section?
Focus on your educational background and
formal training, individualizing for an
organization
Usually a major section for college students and
recent graduates
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21. Purpose: To Inform and to Persuade
Give information about your schooling and
training
Persuade employers your educational
background is relevant to the job, providing
evidence of your qualifications
Help your resume stand out from others in the
stack
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22. Where to Place this Section?
Above or below your experience section?
It depends…
Which is stronger, your education or your work
experience section?
How much relevant work experience do you have?
Place strongest, most relevant section closest to top
of the page
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23. Questions to Answer
What are my major and minor What courses have I taken
GPAs? that are related to my career
Any honors related to my goals?
degree? With what computer
How is my education funded? programs am I most familiar?
What are my major(s) and What language proficiencies
minor(s)? What are my do I have?
areas of emphasis, Any certifications or
specialization, or licenses?
concentration? Do I have any on-the-job
What special course or educational training such as
degree-related projects may in-house training programs?
be relevant?
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24. Is it OK?
Education
B.A. in English
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Anticipated Graduation: December 2007
GPA: 3.4/4.0
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25. Is it Better?
Education B.A. in Professional Writing, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana,
May 2007 (Funded 100% of Schooling)
Concentration: Business and Technical
Writing
Select Coursework: Computer-aided
Publishing, Writing for the Computer
Industry, Business Writing, Technical
Writing, Advanced Professional Writing
Overall GPA: 3.4/4.0 Major GPA: 3.7/4.0
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26. The Experience Section
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27. The Experience Section
A section that demonstrates your most relevant
experience in work or activities.
Other common names: Professional Experience,
Work History, Field Work, Volunteer Work, etc.
Special names: Technical Experience,
Supervisory Experience, Aviation Experience,
etc.
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28. The Experience Section:
Informing to Persuade
Construct your professional identity
Help your resume stand out from others in the
stack
Provide information to help persuade
prospective employers that your experiences
make you qualified for the job and that you align
with the organization’s goals
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29. The Experience Section:
Elements
Company or organization and location (city,
state)
Position title
Dates of employment or involvement
Descriptions of responsibilities, duties,
achievements, etc.
Use action verbs to describe duties!
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30. Where should you Put this Section?
Above or below your education section?
It depends…
How much work experience do you have?
Which is stronger, your education or your work
experience section?
Place strongest, most relevant section closest to
top of the page
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31. Getting Started. . .
List your past and present experiences.
Include:
Organization
Position
Duration
Responsibilities
Achievements
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32. Describing Experiences
Relate it to your career goals
Asked for in job ads and descriptions
Choose one experience you circled and
describe briefly
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33. The Honours and Activities Section
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34. What is an Honours and Activities
Section?
A section that emphasizes your participation in
relevant activities and any honors you have
received
Other names
Awards
Memberships
Volunteer Work
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35. What is an Honours and Activities
Section?
Completes your personality
Provide additional evidence of your
qualifications
Give employers a sense of who you are outside
of school and work
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36. Placing this Section
Usually last section on the page
Can be moved up if information is especially
important or relevant
Sometimes omitted if there is a lack of space or
relevant information
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37. Exploring Content Possibilities
Extracurricular activities
Awards, grants, prizes, and special honors
Memberships in professional clubs and
organization
Volunteer activities
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38. Two Approaches
Minimal approach
Photography Club, University of Illinois, January
1999-Present
Elaborated approach
President, Photography Club, University of Illinois,
January 1999-Present
Organized campus contest
Increased membership with promotional efforts
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39. Plan of Attack
Brainstorm
Decide what to include based on relevance,
interest-value, and space considerations
Match organization and design with rest of
resume
Seek critical feedback
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40. Other Important Sections and Details
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41. Personal Details Section
Date of Birth
Sex
Marital Status
Nationality
Languages Known
Hobbies and Interests
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42. References Section
At least two references with complete contact
details
In case you don’t want to give, write
References available on request
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43. Declaration Section (Optional)
At the end of the resume
It shows your declaration of truth and
authenticity
Write:
I hereby declare that the information provided
above is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.
Date Signature
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44. Resume Writing: Format and Style
Formats
Chronological
Functional
Combination
Styles
Targeted
General
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45. Thank You!
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