Completed by:
The Unsilenced Advocacy Team
Resume Writing
- A resume is a one-page marketing document that tailors the resume writer’s experiences to align with a desired job—should be targeted to each individual position.
- Fun fact: The average employer spends only 30 seconds scanning each resume. Sell yourself effectively and efficiently!
Resume: Anatomy
- General
- 10-12pt font
- Clear, simple font
- No “I” or “we”
- Dates aligned on right margin
- Reverse chronological order
- No abbreviations
- No objective statement
- Headings (i.e., Experience) should be a larger font size and bold (can be all caps)
- Next line: organization/school in bold, city, state (except for education), date on right margin—all on the same line
- Next line: your position or the role you had, not bold
- Bullet points should include active verbs (actions, not “did,” “had,” etc.) and quantifying (including numbers) experience (if applicable)
- Make sure all font styles are consistent throughout
- 1 page max for entry-level positions
- PDF final version
- Letterhead
- Name should be largest font on page
- Recommended: Include LinkedIn address in contact info
- Try to limit contact info to 3-4 lines maximum
- Education/Coursework
- Include GPA if 3.3 or above (but not required)
- Optional: related coursework (if relevant to position)
- Include scholarships only if competitive or relevant
- Show the competition! (include admit rate in parenthesis)
- List multiple schools (including study abroad) in reverse chronological order
- Include high school until end of 2nd year of college
- Experience
- Both professional and undergraduate (include volunteer, extracurricular, etc.)
- At least two bullet points for each role/position
- List in reverse chronological order
- Choose action verbs that “sell” yourself (ex: “collaborated,” “managed,” “established,” “instructed,” etc.)
- Skills
- At the end, if relevant to position
- May include additional languages spoken, competency in certain computer programs, trainings, etc.
- Should be career skills, not transferable or self-management—those belong incorporated into bullet points
Resume: Content (Bullet Points)
- Resumes are about showing the impact you can make within an organization or school.
- Best practices:
- Use action verbs to “show” (not tell) your past successes and best character traits.
- Keep them in the correct tense (present or past)
- Do not have nested bullet points
- Highlight accomplishments rather than just listing tasks. Address:
- Situation: issue that was addressed
- Task: explain your actions in the context of this issue. What about YOU being in that position made it effective?
- Action: explain your actions, framed in the context of the situation
- Result: explain the overall results and the benefit to the organization
- Statement(s): write action-oriented
- Quantify your results. Each bullet point should ideally…
- Include at least 1 number to provide context for what you did.
- Answer the questions: Who? What? Where? When? How?
- Include at least 1 number to provide context for what you did.
- Use action verbs to “show” (not tell) your past successes and best character traits.
- Best practices:
- WORST Resume Terms (tell):
- Go-getter
- Go-to person
- Results-driven
- Team player
- Hard worker
- Strategic thinker
- Dynamic
- Self-motivated
- Detail-oriented
- Proactively
- Action verbs (show):
- Achieved
- Improved
- Trained/Mentored
- Managed
- Created
- Resolved
- Volunteered
- Influenced
- Increased/Decreased
- Negotiated