- Especially For:
- FUTURE STUDENTS
- ALUMNI
- PARENTS
- FRIENDS
- EMPLOYERS
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Preparing your resume
Your resume is the most important document in your job search. It makes the first impression - and you may get only 10-30 seconds to impress someone.
- For the job or internship seeker, the resume is a marketing tool to obtain an interview - it must get the employer's attention.
- For the employer, the resume is a document used to weed out applicants who do not have the qualifications required.
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
STEP 1: Review a variety of resume samples - don't reinvent and try to stand out so much that you are not on the same page with the others. You want to set yourself apart from other candidates, but not so much that you risking it.
When developing a resume, there are many places to go for help.
- The OC Career Resources Library
- Online Samples according to your area or field of study
- Career Services Center Workshops offered in various classrooms
- Critiques of your personal resume by appointment with Career Services
When looking at samples, consider the following questions::
- What do the headings and format quickly tell the reader? Keep the same format throughout the entire resume.
- 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 in bullet format.
- How is white space used? It is okay to have white space on your resume.
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 a couple of different people
Contact Career Services to set up an appointment if you are unfamiliar with resume styles and formats.
To see sample resumes for new graduates, please visit:
