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EPCS consultants are available to review your résumé and cover letters.  If you cannot get to campus, make arrangements with a consultant to email your documents and set up a phone appointment. 

• Resume Basics
• Categories
• LINKS

IMPORTANT RESUME BASICS:

• Your resume is the first impression you make on a company
• The resume is a screening device and therefore must be visually appealing, clear, concise and comprehensive
• Utilize quality paper and equipment
• The resume's primary purpose is to get you an interview
• Employers are often looking for key words such as experience, success, or responsibility or action verbs such as coordinated, implemented, organized, performed, or achieved

The process of compiling your resume is the first step in your job search. You will need to evaluate your past and put your experiences into writing. While preparing your resume, keep in mind that this document is your primary means of introducing yourself to a potential employer. A resume lists your accomplishments and experiences in a way that tells employers who you are and what you can contribute to their organization. It takes careful thought and preparation to create a resume that represents you in the best possible light.

There are many books dedicated to resume preparation. Check out available reference books at EPCS or campus libraries. The layout and length of the resume varies by profession. Your individual circumstances will dictate which style is best suited for you. Generally, the chronological style is preferred when related work experience is strong. This style lists work experience chronologically by date. College graduates with little related work experience are generally better represented by the functional style. This style emphasizes skills, studies, and internship experiences. Your EPCS consultant can be of assistance in determining which style would be most effective.

Before you begin your resume, review your qualifications for the type of position you are seeking. What is unique about your preparation and background in terms of both your formal and informal experiences and the skills you have acquired? Emphasize those facets of your experience and preparation that qualify you for the type of position you are seeking. Begin your resume by simply writing down everything you can about your background and experience, without thinking of whether an item is relevant or not, or how much space it will take.  Then go back and identify "like" information that will comprise a category. Next, look through the information and edit for relevancy and conciseness. Traditionally, resumes are preferably only one page in length. If you must go to two pages, be certain that the pages are evenly balanced. Often adjusting fonts, margins or eliminating unnecessary items can achieve the one page goal.

Your objective should be to present your background in a clear and concise format so it can be easily read by prospective employers. Do a rough draft first to plan the layout and provide for revisions. You may use either short phrases or complete sentences, but try to be consistent in style throughout. Summarize your experiences but not so briefly that you omit important information that may distinguish your resume format from the others being reviewed. It may help to ask these questions regarding the information: Does it contribute to my expertise in the desired position? And, is it something the employer wants and needs to know? 

Before you type the final copy, consider having others, such as your EPCS consultant or someone who has had experience in hiring, read your resume. They may have helpful suggestions. Be prepared to revise your resume as your experiences and job interests change. Keep it current and relevant to the kinds of positions for which you are applying.

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Categories

Consult resume books to familiarize yourself with category options and layout styles. Listed below are some basic suggestions or go to our sample resume format for a basic layout.

Name and Contact Information

Prominently identify your name, usually with a larger font than the rest of the resume. Be sure to use your complete name, and avoid using nicknames.

Be sure to list your address, phone number and email address if you are sure you will be checking it. If your address will be changing after graduation, in addition list a permanent address.

Objective/Summary

An objective is a brief statement that describes the job or type of organization you are looking for. This is optional, and often not necessary as this may also be stated in the cover letter.

It is often more effective to list distinguishing skills rather than an objective in a summary/skills/abilities category. This is a statement of what you can do for the employer.

Education

Example:    University of Wisconsn-Madison, Madison, WI
                    BFA, anticipated May 2000    Major: Art

List schools, degrees, dates, most recent first. Also list other special courses or programs that enhance your talent/skills, if necessary under another category, such as "Other Courses / Related Courses / Additional Coursework". It is not necessary to list every institution you have ever attended. As a matter of fact it is probably better not to indicate a lot of "hopping" around.

It is appropriate to list high school attendance, if you are searching for employment in that community, otherwise it is not necessary.

Honors/Activities

List relevant awards and honors. You need to determine if awards received during high school are appropriate, most likely not.

Experience

Employers want to know about your previous work experience and the skills and responsibilities those jobs entailed. First prioritize your experiences, with those most relevant to your objective listed first, and determine appropriate category headings (such as Related Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, Other Work Experience, etc.) Include job titles, employers, and dates. Use action verbs to convey what you can do for them, such as: coordinated, implemented, organized, performed, or achieved.

Additional Information

List professional/community memberships, special hobbies and interests, and language proficiencies under appropriate category headings. It is no longer considered necessary to include personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, and race. This informatin cannot legally be required.

References

Available upon request is usually sufficient for the purposes of the resume. A reference listing of at least two to three individuals should be prepared on a separate sheet. Be sure to obtain permission from anyone you are using as a reference and, after receiving an offer, send a thank-you note.

SAMPLE RESUMES:

• M.S. Counseling - Student Personnel Higher Ed.

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LINKS TO MORE RESUME INFORMATION

From UW Alumni Association access to an online career development and enhancement program called CareerTools that is completely FREE for use by students. To use CareerTools, just go to the CareerTools website and create a username and password to begin using the program. There you'll find great information from experts about networking, creating a resume, and even a job listing search for over 11,000 companies worldwide.

The Riley Guide - great source for job search information

Quintessential Careers offers resume advice, samples, etc.

National Association of Colleges and Employers online career magazine.

Monster's Career Advice section offers resume advice and samples.

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Send comments or questions to epcs-online@education.wisc.edu