1. Facilitator’s Name Phone Number Email Address
WRITE A WINNING RESUME
Facilitator’s Name
Phone Number
Address
creating a resume with impact!

2. Job Search Success Pyramid
The ICC offers several workshops to help you through the job search process.
Don’t forget to take Self-Assessments or try Informational Interviews before starting the Job Search Success Pyramid. Ask an ICC advisor for more info.

3. Purpose Your resume is your Marketing Brochure
Identifies what you have to offer
Explains what contributions you can make
Targeted directly to the specific needs of the employer
Can be given to references
Used in the interview as a guide by employer
Main purpose: to get you an interview!

4. Resume Formats CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT
Easy to read, employer preferred
Presents education and work experience in reverse chronological order
TIP! Very effective if majority of education and work experience is related to objective

5. Resume Formats FUNCTIONAL FORMAT
Focuses on skills and abilities you have used that relate to the objective
Often used by career changers, graduate students and postdocs
Groups experience (including volunteer work and extracurricular activities) under functional skill headings (e.g. research, writing, marketing)

6. Resume Formats COMBINATION FORMAT
Uses elements of both Chronological and Functional Format
Stresses skills and abilities
Provides job/experience descriptions
TIP! See Career Resource Manual for an example!

7. Resume Formats-Government
Federal resumes have unique requirements
Check for information
See an ICC Coordinator for assistance

8. Resume Formats CURRICULUM VITAE (C.V.)
Used by individuals seeking teaching and/or research positions in a post-secondary institution or high-level research industry
Often two or three pages for master or doctoral candidates
Workshops for C.V. writing are available by the Internship & Career Center.

9. Necessary Categories TITLE BLOCK/HEADING Your name
Address (include local and permanent if applicable)
Daytime telephone number - don’t forget area codes – more than one number is o.k.- make it easy for the employer to reach you
Make sure your voice message is professional sounding – no music, jokes, etc.
address – moniker should be professional, create a separate account exclusively for job search if needed through one of free ISPs

10. Necessary Categories OBJECTIVE
Need only be the job title you are applying for
Many career hubs will allow you to upload more than one version of your resume and designate which one to be “active”
Statements such as, “A challenging position that will utilize my ___ skills” is not necessary – recruiters just want to know what position you are applying for

11. Necessary Categories SUMMARY OR SKILLS Can be bulleted or in columns
For examples, see the Career Resource Manual
List skills you can perform with little or no direction
General skills, including communication (written and verbal), problem-solving, managerial, etc.
Visit for Summary ideas

12. Necessary Categories SUMMARY/SKILLS continued
Research - list research skills with which you are familiar
Laboratory - list techniques, procedures and/or equipment
Language - indicate fluency level, specify if you can read/write/speak the language
Computer – list software applications
can use “Proficient in” and “Familiar with” to qualify skill level
IT resumes will list hardware, software, operating systems, etc.

13. Necessary Categories EDUCATION
List highest degree first, followed by other degrees received; date to be conferred
AA is optional unless it has relevance to the job objective
High school diploma not necessary
GPA if 3.0+ (check specific major for guidelines)

14. Necessary Categories EDUCATION List Relevant Coursework
See Career Resource Manual for examples
Put in columns or can list in bullet format with a brief description, for example:
Research Methods in Psychology: Designed and conducted experimental and non-experimental studies, doing descriptive statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, data collection and analysis, results interpretation and report writing.

15. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE
List job title, employer, city, state, dates of employment
List jobs in reverse chronological order
Use accomplishment statements whenever possible to describe experience and add impact
Start with an action verb to add interest

16. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued
Accomplishment statements examples:
Reorganized pharmaceutical sample cabinet and developed inventory tracking system to ensure sample medications were consistently stocked and easy to locate by physicians and staff.
Promoted to team lead as a result of consistently demonstrating excellent organizational skills and completing projects on or before deadlines.

17. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued
When not using an accomplishment statement, describe how well you performed job tasks
Start bullet point with an adverb, for example:
Accurately filed documents to ensure staff had easy and quick access to all critical information.
Strictly adhered to all safety and infection prevention standards.
Tactfully and courteously handled difficult customers at busy, high-volume retail outlet.

18. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued
Use the SAR approach to brainstorm accomplishments
Situation, Action, Result
Quantify results when possible
Ran culture studies on 85 amoebas, daily, over a two-month time period contributing to three successful research projects

19. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued
Add impact to your resume by giving a sense of scope:
Fast-paced office (store, restaurant)
Seven person team
Ten person office
$80 million dollar company
Upscale restaurant
Popular eatery
High volume store
Highest volume store in the tri-county region
Supervised 10 member team
Promoted to team lead within 3 months

20. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued
Create special sections (e.g. Related Experience, Research Experience, Marketing Experience
For examples, see Career Resource Manual
May include significant academic assignments and relevant extra-curricular activities

21. Optional Categories Honors/Awards/Hobbies/Interests
Avoid listing those which may be controversial
Extra-Curricular Activities/Professional Affiliations
List memberships and offices held
Licenses, Certifications, Credentials, Training
Related items only (CPR, First Aid, Hazardous Materials Training, Prof. Engr., MCSE, etc.)
Place in Summary/Skills section if important to job requirements

22. Optional Categories Publications Computer Skills Military Service
List articles published and those accepted for publication
May include in experience section
Computer Skills
Unless critical for job then put in Summary/Skills section at top of resume
Military Service

23. General Guidelines Length Layout – DO NOT use a template
Generally 1 page (especially recent grads)
Two pages with extensive related experience
Layout – DO NOT use a template
Must be easy to read – most resumes get a 20 second glance, initially
Use white space, bullet points (non-bulleted o.k. as long as text is limited to one or two short sentences; avoid large paragraphs or big blocks of type).
Choose standard font in point size
Name should be in larger font but 18pt max

24. General Guidelines Layout continued
Paper color – white, beige, grey, ivory
24 lb. quality resume paper, one-sided only
Proofread!! Have at least three other people read your resume. Don’t rely on Spell-check!
Watch present/past tense
No personal pronouns
Tailor contents to each job
No need to use line, “References furnished upon request” – recruiters know this already

25. The Cover Letter Should always accompany each resume you send out
Establishes personal contact
Introduces resume, highlights experience and promotes your eligibility
Address it to a specific person
Print on good quality paper (match resume)
Use standard business format Stress how your skills, education, experience can benefit the employer
Close by indicating your interest in the position and follow-up plans

26. Reference Page
Take with you to an interview or include with resume only when requested
Three to six names; your contact information at the top, with the title, “REFERENCES”
Ask before listing – include name and all contact information with address
No relatives, friends, other students
Send references a copy of your resume
Notify references if you think they may be contacted; provide information about the job you are applying for
Thank people who serve as a reference by sending thank you /note

27. THANK YOU!
Attend the Online Resumes Workshop for specifics about electronic resumes
Any questions?
Visit icc.ucdavis.edu
Call
Visit the 2nd & 3rd floors of South Hall or the Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center