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Resumes 101
Resume videos -- Great resume advice from CareerTV.com
Your resume needs to answer one important question for the employer: Why should I hire you?
To prepare a resume that answers this question, keep the following points in mind:
- An effective resume is personalized to show you are a good match for the job by highlighting the skills/qualifications you possess that they require.
- An effective resume is not just a chronological list of your work experience, but a selective outline of your relevant experience that is carefully written.
- Your resume must include the necessary information in an appealing, easy to read format.
When developing a resume, ask yourself: What message do I want to communicate to the employer?
To answer this question, you must:
- Know yourself
- Know the organization!
- Know the needs of the organization
- Know the requirements and responsibilities of the position
How to Start a Resume:
Step 1: Review a variety of resume samples - Learn how resumes are put together from the examples of others. Don't try and reinvent the resume. Certainly, you want to stand out from other candidates. However, make sure you are in line with the resume trends of today (i.e. what's acceptable, what's not).
When developing a resume, there are many places to go for samples:
- The OC Career Resources Library
- Online Samples according to your area or field of study
When looking at samples, consider the following questions::
- What do the headings and format quickly tell the reader? Keep the format uniform throughout.
- What does the order of the section headers and descriptive phrases tell the reader? Always list the most important title first, then the organization name, and then the duties in bullets.
- How are experiences described? Describe in detail using a bullet format.
- How is white space used? Make sure white space is used to visually break up sections.
Step 2: Inventory your skills, accomplishments, and experiences (make lists)
Consider including the following information:
- Educational institutions
- Relevant courses
- Projects and presentations (if relevant)
- Study abroad
- Paid work/on-campus jobs
- Volunteer work/community service
- On-campus activities / leadership
- Internships
- Awards/honors
- Skills
Step 3: Prepare a draft – and have it critiqued by Career Services. Email careerservices@oc.edu to set up an appointment.
Articles on Resumes:
How to Play up Sports on Your Resume by WetFeet
15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes by Quest Career Services
Faculty Facts
Dr. Wayne Whaley, Professor of Engineering, works at OC "to change the world one engineering student at a time." He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and is a sponsor for the ASME Student Section. Dr. Whaley's professional interests include structural fatigue and fracture, mechatronics, vibration, and dynamic system and controls.
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