Good Resume Writing! March 12, 2013

Writing a Resume! A resume summarizes your skills and experiences by highlighting your accomplishments to future employers. As high school students, a resume will showcase your accomplishments during the past 4 years. It is NOT a biography of everything that you’ve ever done!

Pitfalls of a bad resume Leave off personal information! – Employers do not care how many animals you have, what you spend your afternoons doing, or what your favorite show is! Order of information – In high school (where your education is the most recent) you should start with that information Using an illegible font – Specifically when the font is small it is hard to read (even though you might think that it looks fancy!)

More pitfalls Provide data (if possible) that will help you to stand out – If you have a note worthy GPA then include that. If not, leave it off! Don’t just list responsibilities – If you list responsibilities include what you did that pertains to you specifically. Ex. How is your job as an assistant manager different from the other assistant manager’s at Harris Teeter?

Don’t create a mad-lib type of resume! – Avoid finding a resume template online, and inserting your own information in the blanks! Employers and schools receive so many resumes that a boring one will not stand out above the others! Make yours clean, orderly, and unique Avoid “Cover Letters” – Avoid a lengthy summary at the beginning of your resume. The point of a resume is to highlight your accomplishments, work ethics, and other notable activities. It should be quick, to the point, and easy to read!

Contact Information: – YES, it is important to have contact information on the resume! – You should include your phone number, address, and your address. – However, if you are using the same address that you’ve had since middle school, it may be time to upgrade and get a more adult account – Bad example: – Good example:

Objective- yes or no? An objective is helpful when you are new to the work force and have yet to establish yourself. In comparison, a “Summary of Qualifications” is better when you have years of experience established. If you chose to have an objective it should be the opening to your resume. This is your first chance to communicate who you are and why you should be considered before the other applicants. Describe your desired job, field, AND show how you would help the position

What to include? Education Contact Information Academic Honors & Awards Work Experiences Athletics Academic Activities Technology Skills

FAQ’s What if I don’t have something from every one of those groups? – That’s ok! Include what you can. Is it bad if I don’t have any work experience because I’ve played a sport all throughout high school? – No! Showing that you have been dedicated to a sports team for multiple years reveals a lot about you as an individual. I’ve been to a lot of different schools since middle school. Which ones do I include? – Only include the high schools that you have attended. These are schools where your academic transcripts will be coming from.

Good and Bad Examples Bad: Good: – It is also recommended to include references for your employer or school to contact. If your resume is 1 page then you easily print your references on the back. Be sure to notify your references when you are applying for a position and make sure that they will give you a good review! – agans_mcom_resume1-3.pdf agans_mcom_resume1-3.pdf –

More About References If possible, you want to have 3 references for your resume. These should be 3 adults who are not relatives and can say something positive about you. The best references are teachers, coaches, or job supervisors. When listing your references be sure to include their phone number, , and even an address if possible. Just listing their name isn’t enough!!