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?
  • 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

Resume Templates

Tools to Help Write Your Resume