Writing an Effective Resume

What is an Effective Resume? A one page detailed summary of your qualifications. These include skills, experience, and education related to a specific position or career field (sample attached). Critical details to be included: contact information, clear objective, education, work experience, skills, activities and interests. Optional information.

Sample Resume, Chronological Format Robert J. Martinez 333 Julliard Avenue, Apt. 44G Bronx, New York (718) address.com OBJECTIVE:To obtain a position as a Teacher’s Aide with an opportunity for professional growth and development. EDUCATION:Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, New York Associate in Arts Degree, Expected June 2008 Major: Bilingual Childhood Education CERTIFICATES:Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, New York Assistant of Children with Special Needs Certificate, December 2004 HONORS:Dean’s List, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Spring 2006-present INTERNSHIP:Park Elementary School, New York, New York Teacher’s AideJanuary 2006-Present  Work with students with varied abilities and learning needs.  Assist a fourth grade teacher with creating and implementing lesson plans in reading, writing, and culture.  Help with coordinating “Kids Day” at the school.  Collaborate with other fourth grade teachers in organizing a day camp to complement a geography unit. EXPERIENCE: Public School 98, New York, New York TutorSeptember 2004-January 2006  Tutored second and third grade students in English and Science.  Assisted children with home work assignments and projects.  Provided individualized, intensive tutoring to children with special needs.  Answered teachers and parents questions concerning children as needed.  SKILLS:Fluent in English and Spanish. Microsoft Windows, Office, Word, Power point, Excel, and Internet applications. Operate business machines and office equipment. Good communication and interpersonal skills. Experience with diverse populations and able to work well with others and independently. REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Other Types of Resumes Functional- Usually lists work experience and skills sorted by skills area or job function. Combination-Usually leads with a functional list of job skills, followed by a chronological list of employers.

Essential Information First Impression: Make sure the resume looks original and not based on a template. The resume should be inviting to read, with clear sections, and free of any careless typos or spelling, grammar and syntax errors. The resume should preferably be written on Microsoft Word

Appearance: The resume should be visually pleasing, with a polished presentation. Include design elements such as bullets, bolding lines to guide readers’ eyes through the resume. Margins should be even on all sides and design elements should be consistent throughout. Preferably, the resume should be one page in length.

Appearance: Finalized resume needs to be printed on bond paper. Sections: Should be clearly organized. Preferably structured in reverse chronological order, with most recent position listed first and dates.

Objective (description of your skills) Be described toward the top of the resume. These skills should be targeted towards a specific career goal (position or industry) and not be a one-size-fits-all document.

Accomplishments: Resume should include a solid listing detailing career accomplishments. Accomplishment statements should begin with strong, varied actions verbs. Writing Style: Personal pronouns such as I, me and my should be avoided. Information should flow logically and be easy to understand.

Last Minute Tips! Use your resume to obtain an interview first. Use action words Lead with your strengths. Use buzzwords. Accent the positive, not the negative. Never leave incomplete information on your resume (i.e. apartment number). Use a professional tone and wording on your resume as well as text size and font. Save your resume in a secure place such as on a disk or USB drive. Have a Career Advisor at the Center for Career Development review your resume before the Career Fair date (must). Print appropriate copies of finalized resume on bond paper. Good Luck!