Your resume is your first impression for a potential employer, be sure it's a positive one. To see examples, navigate to Handshake. On your profile, under "Career Center" click, "Resources". 

Necessary Content:

• Name and contact information—local address, cell phone number, e-mail address, and personalized LinkedIn url 
• Education—include the university name, degree, major, minor, GPA, and expected graduation date
• Experience or leadership/extra-curricular involvement—include employer name, position title, location, dates of employment, and major responsibilities or list your community service and club membership here (be sure to include dates)
• Other skills and qualifications—list computer skills/applications and other skills the position description outlines (e.g. experience with Adobe InDesign)

Optional Content:

• Coursework—courses that are relevant or required for your field
• Objective—include only if you’re sharing at a career expo; omit if applying for a specific job
• Publications or presentations—if you have published work or presented at a conference

Resume Tips:

• Include your contact information (only one phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address is necessary)
• Make your document visually appealing (is the important information easy to find?)
• Use action verbs (managed, oversaw, organized, developed, analyzed)
• Use bullets to organize information
• Write in full sentences 
• Have someone proofread your resume (someone in the career services office is always willing)
• Include dates on everything (except your objective and skills) in reverse chronological order
• Organize with subheadings (education, work experience, honors/awards/leadership, other skills/qualifications, relevant coursework)
• Use numbers when possible (increased sales by 20%, an avg. attendance of 30 members, etc.)
• Keep your resume to one page
• Don't include high school information (sports, awards, etc.). It is OK during your freshman year, but after that omit it
• Include all experience (especially on a family farm or as a restaurant server)
• Try using Times New Roman, Ariel, or Calibri font

Writing a Cover Letter

• Address a person (e.g. Dear John Doe:)
• Include person's name, title, address
• Highlight your qualifications (refer to job description)
• Thank person for his/her consideration.
• Include salutation (Respectfully or Sincerely).

Want more help writing or polishing your resume? Contact Allie Hutchison in the Career Services Office or schedule an appointment.