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Career Center

 Résumés

Format Visual Appeal Don'ts
Layout Content  

 

You Will Always Need...

  • Résumé

  • Cover Letter

  • References

  • Thank You Notes 

You May Need...

  • Letters of Recommendation

  • Portfolio

  • Work Samples

  • Curriculum Vitae

Spike Bulldog

100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501
Spike@truman.edu, (660) 785-0000

 

Education

Truman State University                                                        2010

Bachelor of Science, Athletic Training                                 GPA 3.5/4.0

 

Professional Experience

Truman Mascot                                                                        August 2008-Present

     -Engaged crowd as University mascot displaying school spirit

     -Collaborated with cheer squad and band for athletics half-time shows

Campus Involvement

Habitat for Humanity                                                                     January 2008-Present

     -Volunteered over 500 hours constructing dog houses for pups in need

     -Organized annual BBQ fundraiser raising approximately $1800

 

 

Résumé Format
 

 

Your résumé should...

  • Present a positive image of you

  • Tell what you have done

  • Tell how well you have done

  • Provide an interview outline

Use your résumé for...

  • Assessment

  • Part-time jobs

  • Internships

  • Volunteering

  • Scholarships

  • Asking for References

  • Networking

  • Full-time Employment

  • Graduate School

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Résumé Layout

Choose a chronological, a functional or a combination layout.

Chronological
 Job Title # 1
Something I did in position

Job Title # 2
Something I did in position

Job Title # 3
Something I did in position

Functional
 Relevant Skill #1
Something I did using skill

Relevant Skill #2
Something I did using skill

Job title #1
Job title #2

Truman Student Health Center
 Receptionist

  • Scheduled appointments and organized patient charts using professional discretion in accordance with privacy standards

  • Processed payments for services and tracked a four figure daily income

  • Created informational displays and handouts about cold and flu prevention

  • Collaborated with 10 member staff including students, nurses, and a nurse practitioner

Leadership

  • Selected and served as organizations president, initiating recruitment and supervising meetings

  • Acquainted new students with Truman as summer orientation leader which included campus tours, activities and overnight stays

  • Assisted 220 student advisors with their programming, continuing education and peer mediation
     

  Omicron Delta Kappa
  Eta Sigma Gamma
  Truman Summer Orientation Team

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Visual Appeal

Font

  • No more than 2 fonts

  • Use typefaces tastefully

  • Use 10-12 pt seraphs

  • Avoid Underlining

  • Use Bold, Italics, and CAPITALIZATION for organization

  • Use fonts and formats tailored to your specific career goals

 

Aesthetics

  • No graphics, colors or cutesy fonts

  • Parallel structure

  • Balance and visual appeal

  • Space between sections and job types

  • Create visual pattern

  • Think in threes

  • Consistency in bullets, bolding, italics & spacing

  • 1-2 pages

  • Clearly defined header

  • .5-1" margins

  • Use white space well

  • Distribute text evenly on page

  • Limit number of tab stops

 

Visual Center


Utilize the visual center of your page on your résumé for your most marketable material such as qualifications summary, internships, or competencies.

 

 

________

Center
________

  

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Résumé Content

Header

  • Name

  • Address

  • Phone Number

  • Appropriate Email

  • Visually appealing & accessible

  • Find more headers in the résumé templates

Summary of Qualifications
 Optional element to help distinguish your qualifications, field of interest and job type.  Often, you can communicate this information in your cover letter.

 

Shelly Silverstein
789 Any Drive  Apt. 23    City, MO 63501
Shelly_Silverstein@email.com     660.555.6789

Completing a degree in journalism with a minor in marketing.  Interned as assistant account executive with copywriting responsibilities at local advertising agency.  Sold advertising space for college newspaper.

 

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Sections


 Select sections that best highlight your skills.  Consider 3-4 of the following:

  • Education: University, location, degree, GPA (over 3.0), study abroad

  • Professional Experience: Internships, part and full-time jobs, job shadowing

  • Volunteerism: (Large amount of volunteering), Useful for jobs in non-profits

  • Research: Lab work, papers, research collaborations, presentations

  • Activities: Greek life, associations, organizations, clubs, sports, volunteering

  • Honors: Scholarships, awards, recognitions, achievements, merits

  • Relevant Coursework: Course with information and skills specific to a profession

  • Skills: (Unique to you) Languages, competencies, software, instrumentation

Dates


Do not omit dates, but do not place them in the most prominent place on the page.  We suggest putting them to the right of your job titles or places of employment.

  • January-May 2009

  • Fall 2009 to Spring 2012

  • Seasonal 2007-2009

  • Dec 2009-Jun 2010

  • Summer 2010

  • 09/2008-12/2009

 

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Bullet Points

 

Bullet points are one of the most important elements of

your résumé.  Connect your skills and experience with your career goals and the employer's needs.  Follow these suggestions and read lots of examples to help you amp up your bullet points.  See how to tailor your bullet points in the key words section.

  • Begin with action verbs

  • Quantify & qualify job duties, methods and results

  • Use precise and professional language

  • Be honest, enthusiastic

  • Stress accomplishments most relevant to your career goal

  • Highlight transferable skills

 

Lucy Tom
 123 Nowhere Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129

(636) 555-4454   lucytom@gmail.com
 

Truman State University, Kirksville, MO

Bachelor of Science in Sociology; Minor in Spanish                              May 2010

G.P.A. 3.18/4.0

Spanish language proficiency, written and spoken
 

Professional Experience
 

Office Worker, Multicultural Affairs Center                                         August 2008-Present

Truman State University, Kirksville, MO                                                                         

• Worked to enhance appreciation of diversity within the community

• Networked throughout campus to ensure support system for underrepresented students

• Collaborated with two campus groups to plan and host fundraising 5K run/walk
 

Spanish Tutor, Kirksville Families                                                         September 2007-April 2008

Kirksville, MO

• Coordinated weekly tutoring sessions for three students logging over 200 tutoring hours
 

Research
 

Primate Behavior and Conservation

El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica

• Measured and charted environmental variables, including resource availability

• Mapped field site, and estimated population size
 

Poster Presentation on Costa Rican Class Hierarchy In Religious Ceremonies

 

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Integrate Key Words into Your Résumé Bullet Points

 

Technology is affecting how your materials are being processed. It's very likely that employers are using scanning software to select résumés that most mirror their needs.  The job description is your best tool for showing fit with a company.  Use the language in the job description to improve your application.

Sample Job Description

The YMCA Youth Sports Director will assist with daily YMCA business and special events. Qualified candidates will have precise information handling, teamwork and written and oral communication skills.  Duties include program and volunteer development financial management, marketing, human resources, fundraising and training. Must be certified in first aid, CPR, AED and must be able to enforce safety standards.  Must have the auditory, visual and physical abilities to referee games.  Will manage the scheduling of all facilities, registration and planning of Youth Sports.  Will act as staff liaison to Parent Advisory Committee.

Corresponding Résumé

Mary Merryweather

 

5544 N. Main St.                                                                                                  660.555.5654

Kirksville, MO 63501                                                                                    mm44433@truman.edu

 

EDUCATION  &  CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, Truman State University

GPA 3.34/4.0

CPR, First Aid/AED Certification
 

EXPERIENCE

Adair County Family YMCA, Kirksville, MO                      Summer 2008
Sports Programming Intern

    • Positively represented YMCA to community; opened, closed and cleaned facilities

    • Tracked youth sports program sign-ups to schedule games and tournaments

    • Acted as liaison to community by soliciting sponsorships from local businesses

    • Marketed volunteer program to local community

    • Refereed assuring adherence to proper safety standards and YMCA values

 

Athletic Department, Truman, Kirksville, MO               May 2006 to May 2007
Student Worker

    • Assisted coaches by  organizing rosters and equipment prior to sporting events              

    • Planned ten football recruitment events with a team of four student workers

    • Participated in annual team fundraisers like barbeque and season ticket sales

 

Bob's Grocery, Kansas City, MO                                   October 2005 to August 2008
 Cashier

    • Enhanced communication skills by greeting customers and offering assistance

    • Cashiered groceries and balanced drawer ensuring accurate finances

 

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Résumé Don'ts

  • Don't lie.

  • Don't list high school.

  • Don't go more than two pages.

  • Don't squeeze all your info on the page or spread it too sparsely.

  • Don't use pronouns "I" and "me" or articles "a" or "the."

  • Don't use paragraphs or complete sentences.

  • Don't use graphics or cute fonts.

  • Don't use a quirky email address.

  • Don't include hobbies or irrelevant information.

  • Don't provide personal data such as age or marital status.

  • Don't use "Responsible for" or "Duties included."

  • Don't repeat the same action verbs.

  • Don't be redundant using phrases like "Past Experience" or "end result."

  • Don't mix noun and verb phrases.

  • Don't emphasize skills you don't want to use in the future.

  • Don't make your résumé a list of job duties.

  • Don't include salary history.

  • Don't put references on résumé.

  • Don't use odd sized or colored paper.

  • Don't use the same résumé for various jobs.

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