RESUME BASICSRESUMES AT A GLANCE:

The purpose of a resume is to grab the employers’ interest so they will invite you for an interview. Most resumes will only get a 15 second scan by a potential employer before they are sorted into yes, no, or maybe stacks for consideration. During that first quick scan, employers will look for reasons to quickly screen out candidates.

Applicants who best communicate how their experience, education, and skills are related to the targeted position are more likely to get an interview.

Any statement made should be proven with experience and examples. Resumes with errors, typos, and unclear or ineffective descriptions will more than likely be put into the “no thanks” pile.

If you are submitting your resume electronically, save it as a PDF to ensure the format is locked. Use your full name and position title as the name of the document. For example, Sam Smith Assistant Director Resume.

If you are submitting in person or through the mail, use the same paper and heading for cover letters and matching envelopes.

Resume Headings Information:

Motivated professional with more than three years of experience in retail management. Specializes in employee recruitment & retention. Designed and implemented two year strategic marketing plan for sales department. Managed five employees in accounting department in a highly efficient environment.

Profile Statement/Summary of Qualifications: 3-4 short sentences or bullet points presentingyour strengths and what you have to offer.Examples:

Contact Info: Your name should be the largest text on the page. Be sure to include accurate contact information including city, state, zip code, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn link. You may include both a current college address and permanent address, one phone number is adequate. Example:

Objective: This statement should be as specific as possible and customized to each employer you contact. If you are looking for summer employment or an internship, include that information in your statement. Examples:

To obtain an accounting internship with XYZ Company for Summer 20XX. Software Engineer position with Company XYZ. Elementary Education Teaching Position at XYZ.

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/career career@nwmissouri.edu

John Smith JohnSmith@gmail.com | 660-867-5309 | Maryville, MO

64468

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1. Double majors

Cumulative GPA 3.8/4.0 Education self-funded through scholarships and part time employment

December 20XXBachelor of Science Double Major: Marketing and Business ManagementNorthwest Missouri State University (Northwest), Maryville, MO

Master of Science in Education Teaching: Middle School Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Missouri Southern College, Joplin, MO

May 20XX GPA 3.5/4.0

May 20XX

Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MissouriMaster in Business Administration GPA: 4.0/4.0Bachelor of Science in Industrial Psychology Major GPA: 3.18/4.0Minor in Business Management

December 20XX

May 20XX

3. Master and bachelor degrees from the same institution

Bachelor of Science in Interactive Digital Media: Visual Imaging Concentration Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO

May 20XX

Interactive Digital Media is an interdisciplinary program with an integrated curriculum from the departments of Computer Science, Mass Communication, and Art

(Note: the program description is helpful to employers that may not be familiar with the program.)

Bachelor of Science in Political Science Northwest Missouri State University Associate of Arts in General Studies North Central Missouri College, Trenton, MO

May 20XX

June 20XX

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/career career@nwmissouri.edu

Education: Begin with the most recent degree, and major, followed by the name of the institution and its city and state. The month and year of graduation should also be listed. If your major or overall GPA is 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale), you may wish to include this information.

You can include relevant coursework, senior research projects, independent studies, study abroad, publications or honors in the education section.

List your most recent degree is listed, followed by previously earned degrees. List the full name of the degree before the institution name. The location of the school (city and state) should follow the name. Examples:

2. Master and bachelor degrees from different institutions

4. Two bachelor degrees from the same institution

5. Transfer student with associates degree

Lambda Pi EtaAugust 2017 - Present

Record detailed, accurate minutes at each meetingCommunicate weekly with all of the members aboutupcoming dates and events

SECRETARY

Related Experience: List your experience that pertains most to the job you're applying for first; you may include both paid and un-paid significant experiences. Include the job title, employer, location and dates of employment followed by a powerful description of your accomplishments and responsibilities. Keep your format consistent with each individual experience throughout the section. Use strong effective action verbs to describe your skills and accomplishments and numbers or percentages when possible for things such as size of budget, number of people supervised, etc.

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/career career@nwmissouri.edu

Activities: A listing of your activities during your college years show an employer you are a well- rounded person who is active in the community. If you held an elected or appointed position you should include the title, description of responsibilities, accomplishments and dates. If the activity or experience is significant and relevant to your career goals, you may wish to list it under related experience.

Northwest Student Media, Maryville, MOAugust 2016 - May 2018

Sold advertisements on a weekly basis throughout Maryville and surrounding areas in newspaper, yearbook, magazine, radio and television Communicated weekly with 40 clients and created advertising campaigns specific to each client

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Internships: Internship experience can be a powerful addition to your resume. It may appear in the experience section, the education section, or in a separate internship experience section. Just as with other work experience, descriptions should use effective action verbs and focus on your skills and accomplishments. Internship experience related to one’s current career objective should be shown near the top of the page.

Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), Des Moines, IAMay - August 2016

Assisted in maintaining IFA’s social media initiatives on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Wrote news releases in cooperation with the communications staff Consulted with the communications staff in coordinating the 2017 Housing Iowa Conference, including using the mobile app system, Agenda Pop

COMMUNICATION INTERN

Design Tips:Graphics, shadowed boxes, color, and linescan add uniqueness and individuality to yourresume, but they should never look morepredominant than the text. Give consideration tohow well these items will photocopy within thepotential employers company and how well theywill communicate electronically to the reader’scomputer and software. Boldface type, underlining, and capitals canbring attention to important headings andinformation on your resume. However, be surethese features enhance your resume informationwithout overwhelming the reader’s eyes. Mixingtoo many typestyles, lines, and bullets can resultin a cluttered appearance.

Layout Tips:Vertically aligned bullets give equal weight/value to all items. In the example below, the degree name and institution name are more important than the other items. Bachelor of Science in ….. Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO Right alignment will give a nice finished look to the right margin of the resume as opposed to the often seen ragged edge. Dates can be placed so they end at the right margin. Choose and use one format consistently for representation of states, dates and other repeated information. When there are changes in these items throughout a resume, it may appear as an error. • MO, Mo., Missouri • MM/YY – MM/YY • August YYYY – September YYYY

Major GPA Relevant Coursework

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/career career@nwmissouri.edu

COUNSELING/INSTRUCTED/LEARNED: Mentored Resolved Supported Trained Tutored

Encouraged Established Explained Fostered Guided

Coached Communicated Consulted Coordinated Demonstrated Enabled

Advised Advocated Aided Applied Assessed Charged

ASSISTED/COMMUNICATED: Advised Collaborated Consulted

Participated Translated

Contributed Cooperated Corresponded

Facilitated Interpreted

CREATED/DEVELOPED: Acted Adapted Authored Built Clarified Composed Conceived Constructed Corrected

Designed Devised Drafted Established Executed Expanded Fabricated Formulated

Performed Planned Presented Prioritized Produced Promoted Proposed Reduced

Generated Illustrated Improved Initiated Integrated Introduced Modified Originated

IMPROVED/INCREASED: Renovated Revised Strengthened Upgraded

Expanded Motivated Overcame Provided

Augmented Bolstered Encouraged Enhanced

Achieved Acquired Advanced Assured

ORGANIZED: Prioritized Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Updated

Located Maintained Obtained Planned Prepared

Compiled Coordinated Developed Engineered Instituted

Arranged Assembled Budgeted Built Clarified

SUPERVISED/MANAGED: Moderated Monitored Motivated Officiated Oversaw

Expedited Facilitated Implemented Led Managed

Delegated Directed Distributed Enforced Evaluated

Authorized Coached Consulted Controlled Coordinated

ANALYZED/RESEARCHED: Assessed Calculated Clarified Compared Computed Concluded

Critiqued Deduced Detected Determined Discovered Evaluated

Examined Identified Inferred Interviewed Investigated

Maintained Monitored Observed Reviewed Tabulated

Content Tips:Present Tense and Past Tense Verbs – This isprobably one of the most common errors inresume writing. When describing jobs, internships,or other activities you are involved in at thepresent time, use present tense verbs (coordinate,install, assist). As you describe experiences fromyour past, use past tense verbs (coordinated,installed, assisted). Powerful descriptions of experience arecrucial. The heart of any written correspondenceis the text that describes background, abilities,skills, and experiences.