1. Resume Style Guide
Use Spell Check
Print your resume and read it. Ask someone else to read it too! Spell check will not catch all the errors, especially capitalization.
Capitalization
Lowercase job titles except when used as a subtitle.
Worked closely with the controller
Controller, 2005-2007
Lowercase departments except when the department is part of the official and formal name.
Planned and organized the functions of the accounting department
Performed data entry for the University of Illinois Department of Medicine
Capitalize all proper nouns: a specific person, place or thing.
Ordered money shipments from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Proficient in Microsoft Office and QuickBooks
Academic Degrees
Do not include any high school information.
Use an apostrophe in associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, but there is no possessive in Associate of Arts, Bachelor
of Arts or Master of Science.
Capitalize academic degrees unless they use a possessive.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
He has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology
A person has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, not a Bachelor of Arts of Psychology.
Lowercase the type of degree unless used in title of degree.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
A bachelor’s degree in sociology
Numbers
Spell out whole numbers below 10, use figures for 10 and above.
Supervised the performance and review of three staff auditors
Handled billing for more than 30 employees
Bullet points should not begin with a number.
Managed 15 staff accountants; not 15 staff accountants underneath me
Correct Spelling of Commonly Misspelled Words
PowerPoint Internet experience Sarbanes-Oxley online
WordPerfect voice mail inbound pro forma board of directors
PeopleSoft e-mail outbound QuickBooks Web site
Punctuation
Bullet points should not have periods as they are not complete sentences.
Always place a comma after words in series, but not before “and” or “or.”
Handled the planning, forecasting and budgeting
Always place a comma before nonessential items (“which” is always nonessential, “that” is always essential).
Developed activity-based costing systems that provided better cost control
Created budgets and forecasts, which included determining ways to reach these goals

2. Resume Style Guide
Verb Usage
All past positions must use verbs in the past tense.
Faxed and mailed invoices
Present tense may only be used to describe positions presently being held.
Order supplies, answer phones and complete general office tasks
All bullet points should begin with an action verb.
Managed all employee timesheets; NOT Responsible for managing timesheets
Action Words
Arranged Customized Computed Incorporated
Collaborated Designed Prepared Planned
Developed Established Contributed Supervised
Interacted Initiated Demonstrated Obtained
Marketed Integrated Facilitated Conducted
Reconciled Originated Provided
Resolved Solved Coordinated
Adapted Administered Generated
Created Analyzed Improved
Format
Most resumes consist of three sections: education, experience, skills/awards/certifications.
Do not include an objective, career summary, career profile or personal hobbies section.
For recent graduates (bachelor’s, master’s, MBA, etc.) and CPA recipients within one year, list education at the top, before experience.
Also acceptable to list major(s), minor(s), GPA and honors for recent graduates and CPA recipients.
List month and date of graduation, but do not list the years attended.
Use an apostrophe in associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree.
Also acceptable is Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts.
Do not list remove high school.
NEVER use personal pronouns on a resume (i.e.: you, me or I).
Only use one job title for each time period.
Do not use abbreviations; spell out “accounts payable,” “human resources” and “data entry.”
Do not include generalizations.
For example, proficiency in Internet, e-mail, word processing or 10-key.
NEVER use any personal pronoun on a resume.
For example, no “I” or “me.”
Do not list “and/or;” choose one.
Do not say “50+” but “over 50” or “more than 50.”
Layout
All job responsibilities need to be presented in bullet form; do not use paragraph form.
Company name and job title should be bold and aligned to the far left. Dates should be aligned to the far right of the page.
Dates should include months, and spacing and format should be consistent. Do not abbreviate months.
January 1998 - December 1999 or 01/1998 - 12/1999

3. Spicing up Your Resume: Action Words!
Communication/People Skills
Addressed Advertised Arbitrated Arranged
Articulated Authored Clarified Collaborated
Communicated Composed Condensed Conferred
Consulted Contacted Conveyed Convinced
Corresponded Debated Defined Developed
Directed Discussed Drafted Edited
Elicited Enlisted Explained Expressed
Formulated Furnished Incorporated Influenced
Interacted Interpreted Interviewed Involved
Joined Judged Lectured Listened
Marketed Mediated Moderated Negotiated
Observed Outlined Participated Persuaded
Presented Promoted Proposed Publicized
Reconciled Recruited Referred Reinforced
Reported Resolved Responded Solicited
Specified Spoke Suggested Summarized
Synthesized Translated Wrote
Creative Skills
Acted Adapted Began Combined
Composed Conceptualized Condensed Created
Customized Designed Developed Directed
Displayed Drew Entertained Established
Fashioned Formulated Founded Illustrated
Initiated Instituted Integrated Introduced
Invented Modeled Modified Originated
Performed Photographed Planned Revised
Revitalized Shaped Solved
Data/Financial Skills
Administered Adjusted Allocated Analyzed
Appraised Assessed Audited Balanced
Budgeted Calculated Computed Conserved
Corrected Determined Developed Estimated
Forecasted Managed Marketed Measured
Netted Planned Prepared Programmed
Projected Qualified Reconciled Reduced
Researched Retrieved
Helping Skills
Adapted Advocated Aided Answered
Arranged Assessed Assisted Clarified
Coached Collaborated Contributed Cooperated
Counseled Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated
Encouraged Ensured Expedited Facilitated
Familiarized Furthered Guided Helped
Insured Intervened Motivated Prevented
Provided Referred Rehabilitated Represented
Resolved Supplied Supported
Volunteered Coordinated Converted
Delegated Supported Decided

4. Developed Directed Eliminated Emphasized
Enforced Enhanced Established Executed
Generated Handled Headed Hired
Hosted Improved Incorporated Increased
Initiated Inspected Instituted Led
Managed Merged Motivated Navigated
Organized Originated Overhauled Oversaw
Planned Presided Prioritized Produced
Recommended Reorganized Replaced Restored
Reviewed Scheduled Secured Selected
Streamlined Strengthened Supervised Terminated
Organizational Skills
Approved Arranged Catalogued Categorized
Charted Classified Coded Collected
Compiled Corrected Corresponded Distributed
Executed Filed Generated Incorporated
Inspected Logged Maintained Monitored
Obtained Operated Ordered Organized
Prepared Processed Provided Purchased
Recorded Registered Reserved Responded
Reviewed Routed Scheduled Screened
Submitted Supplied Standardized Systematized
Updated Validated Verified
Research Skills
Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared
Conducted Critiqued Detected Determined
Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Experimented
Explored Extracted Formulated Gathered
Inspected Interviewed Invented Investigated
Located Measured Organized Researched
Reviewed Searched Solved Summarized
Surveyed Systematized Tested
Teaching Skills
Adapted Advised Clarified Coached
Communicated Conducted Coordinated Coordinated
Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated
Explained Facilitated Focused Guided
Individualized Informed Instilled Instructed
Motivated Persuaded Simulated Stimulated
Taught Tested Trained Transmitted
Tutored
Technical Skills
Adapted Applied Assembled Built
Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed
Converted Debugged Designed Determined
Developed Engineered Fabricated Fortified
Installed Maintained Operated Overhauled
Printed Simplified Rectified Programmed
Regulated Replaced Repaired Remodeled
Specialized Utilized Upgraded Restored

5. Sample Resume
Name Helpful Tips:
Current Street Address Font: Times New Roman or Arial
Size: 10-12. No larger, no smaller.
City, State, Zip Code Margins: Do not change.
Telephone
Professional Email Address
Education Include all higher level degrees, starting with the highest. No high school. Note: If
degree is several years old, Education should follow Professional Experience.
Degree
School
Graduation Date
Professional Experience Start with most current experience and work backward.
Company Name Illustrate promotions or intra-company movement: Bold total time of Total Dates of Employment
Position Title employment at a company and non-bold sub-dates within each position. Sub-Dates of Employment
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Position Title Sub-Dates of Employment
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Company Name Dates of Employment
Position Title
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
• Action verb ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Skills and Certifications Do not list soft skills (communication, task-oriented, etc.) here.
List any software skills or certifications here.
Activities The Activities section is optional and should only be used to list
List business or leadership group/club involvement here. related activities in which you’re actively involved.
For example: Accounting Club, Vice President; National
Society for Collegiate Scholars, Chapter Secretary; Jobs For
Youth, Volunteer.

6. Elevator Pitch Samples
Student
Hi, my name is ______________, and I am a (Year in school) at (College/University). I am a __________ major with a focus in
________ and I am looking to get into __________ after graduation. During my ________ year, I interned at (Company Name) in
their _________ department. In addition to my studies and internship, I am an active participant in (Club/Association/Group). From
my coursework at (College/University) and time spent at (Company Name), I am excited to get my foot in the door at a company like
(Company name(s)) and learn more about how I can contribute from day one.
Recent Graduate
Hi, my name is ______________, and I am a (Year in school) graduate of (College/University). I was a __________ major with a
focus in ________ and I am looking to get into __________ with a growing Chicago company. During my ________ year, I interned
at (Company Name) in their _________ department. In addition to my studies and internship, I was an active participant in (Club/
Association/Group). From my coursework at (College/University) and time spent at (Company Name), I am excited to get my foot in
the door at a company like (Company name(s)) and learn more about how I can contribute from day one.
1-5 Years of Experience
Hi, my name is __________, and I was most recently employed as a (Position Title) at (Company Name) where I (verb: managed,
handled, directed, created, etc. + brief description of primary responsibilities.) Prior to that I was (Position Title) at (Company Name).
In this role I (verb: managed, handled, directed, created, etc. & brief description of primary responsibilities.)
Ideally, I am looking for a (Position Title) opportunity with a company in the (Industry Name), specifically (Company Name).
However, I am open to other opportunities that relate to my background, and look forward to getting my foot in the door at a company
like (Company Name) to learn more about how I can add value from day one.
5-10 Years of Experience
Hi, my name is __________, and I was most recently employed as a (Position Title) at (Company Name). I started my career at
(Company Names) as a (Position Title) where I (verb: managed, handled, directed, created, etc. & brief description of primary
responsibilities.) From there I transitioned to (Company Name) as a (Position Title). In this role I (verb: managed, handled, directed,
created, etc. & brief description of primary responsibilities.). That brings us to my most recent position at (Company Name).
Ideally, I am looking for a (Position Title) opportunity with a company in the (Industry Name), specifically (Company Name).
However, I am open to other opportunities that relate to my background, and look forward to getting my foot in the door at a company
like (Company Name) to learn more about how I can add value from day one.
10+ Years of Experience
Hi, my name is __________, and I was most recently employed as a (Position Title) at (Company Name). I started my career at
(Company Names) as a (Position Title) where I (verb: managed, handled, directed, created, etc. & brief description of primary
responsibilities.) From there I transitioned to (Company Name) as a (Position Title). In this role I (verb: managed, handled, directed,
created, etc. & brief description of primary responsibilities). That brings us to my most recent position at (Company Name).
I am looking for a (Position Title) opportunity with a company in the (Industry Name), specifically (Company Name(s)). With my
extensive experience in ___________, __________, and __________, I believe I would be a valuable addition to any __________
department.

7. LaSalle Academy is an interactive career search training program provided by Chicago’s
leading staffing and recruiting firm, LaSalle Network. Through our experience providing
staffing solutions to over 1,000 businesses in Chicagoland, LaSalle Network knows what
employers are looking for in their next hire.
Utilizing this knowledge and expertise, the mission of LaSalle Academy is to provide
experienced professionals with the tools to achieve career advancement. Through
targeted workshops, exploring different aspects of the career search, candidates will
learn the skills necessary to stand out from the competition in today’s flooded
marketplace.
How is LaSalle Academy different?
LaSalle Academy’s advice is based on over 11 years of experience on the front-lines of
today’s marketplace. The program is free, practical and realistic, and job seekers will
leave with tangible advice they can implement immediately into their career search.
Workshops and Services
Formatting Your Resume to Land the Interview
Explores questions like: What should I include on my resume? Should I use a
resume template? What format is best? What do employers look for when
reading a resume?
Interview Preparation and Execution
Explores questions like how do I best prepare for an interview? How do I stand
out from my competition during the interview? What questions should I ask?
What questions will they ask me?
One-on-One Resume Consultation
Receive a personal consultation with a job search expert regarding ways to
improve your resume and help you land the interview.
Mock Interview
Practice makes perfect! Engage in a mock interview to practice your presentation
skills and build your confidence for your next real interview.
Contact Information:
Megan Gentille, Public Relations and Marketing
312.419.1700 ext. 1798
megan@thelasallenetwork.com