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Preparing a Resume

1. Determine Resume Focus
   • What types of jobs are you applying for or interested in securing?
   • Assess your skills, accomplishments and capabilities that relate to your focus.
   • Brainstorm your career objectives and what you are expecting in complying your resume.
2. List Out Experience
   • Teaching placements, full and part time employment, volunteer, student teaching, internships, skills, honors, awards.
   • List all your accomplishments and experiences on a piece of paper and determine their importance to the opportunity you are interested in.
3. Decide On Format
   • Chronological: Most applicable for recent graduates. Lists positions in reverse chronological order. Job responsibilities and skills are listed under each position held. Calls attention to growth and progression into positions of increased responsibility. Lists dates of employment at the top of each job description. Presents job duties and experience under headings by job title and company. Easy for employer to determine what work was performed at each company.
   • Functional: Most applicable for candidates who are out of work, history of being unemployed, job hoppers, career changers, or had a reduction in responsibility. Headings consist of functions or skills, then responsibilities and accomplishments are described under each applicable heading. Employment dates are given at the end of the resume, after employers had a chance to read about skills and successes. Shortcomings in job history have less of an emphasis.
   • Combination: This type of resume combines aspects of both the chronological and functional resume formats. This format will highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments while, at the same time, providing your background information, including employment history, in a chronological framework.
4. Plan Your Layout
   • Look at a variety of other resumes to determine a layout you like. Make it easy to read. Use margins, white space, lines, bold or italics for emphasis without overusing. Remember: appearance counts!
5. Use Action Verbs and Statements
   • See Proactive Resume Words & Phrases
6. Select Key Words and Phrase
   • Communicate your knowledge of the field - use terminology and language that fits you discipline.
7. Prepare Your First Draft
   • Develop a template and fill in the blanks.
   • Check out the templates in your word processor, online or from print resources.
8. Edit and Proofread
   • Ask professionals in your field and/or career counselors to help you fine-tune your resume.
9. Production