Resumé Writing 101. Types of Resumés. Getting Started. Get Organized with 3 easy steps:

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1 The resumé is your key marketing tool to get your foot in the door for the interview. Each is designed to emphasize your strengths, and highlight your skills, talents, and accomplishments which are most relevant to the opportunities you seek. A resumé says 1- Where you have been 2- Where you would like to go 3- What you have to offer Types of Resumés There is no right or wrong way to format for a resumé; however, there are best practices that should be followed to make it a more effective marketing tool. Remember, an effective resumé is the key to being extended an interview; therefore, you must first demonstrate your background, skills, and experience on paper in order to move forward to the next step. Chronological This style is used for an individual who is staying in the same field, has training and/or experience consistent with the career objective, has relevant job titles, or is applying for a job in a highly traditional field. This style is most effective for the majority of new college graduates. Information listed in this format should be listed in reverse chronological order (the most recent accomplishments first). CMS RECOMMENDED FORMAT. Functional/Skills This style emphasizes skill areas. It is most helpful for people who are changing careers, re-entering the job market, applying for positions where their training and/or experience does not directly qualify them, or whose background does not emphasize their abilities for the job. The skill categories should be rank ordered to support the career objective. MOST RECRUITERS WILL NOT READ THIS TYPE OF RESUME. Getting Started Get Organized with 3 easy steps: 1. Organize Information experience/education, skills; company names; dates of employment (month/year); city/state/country; relevant experience; projects; languages; computer skills etc 2. Accomplishments make a list of what value/outcomes you have brought to the companies you have worked for. Quantify your accomplishments employers are looking for results. Say something relevant to reaching your goal and the position of which you are applying. Employers will not guess what you want or have to offer. 3. Bullet points should answer the following: What did you really do? What did you use to do what you did? Can you quantify the information? What were the results of what you did?

2 Important Do s and Don ts Do s: Include as much information towards the beginning or your resumé that is relevant to the position, industry or job function you are seeking Keep the length limited to 1-2 pages maximum (depending on your level of experience and industry) Label the 2nd page with last name and page 2 in case the pages get separated Write results oriented bullet points when possible and quantify when possible Be as specific as possible using short, concise phrases, starting each phrase with an action verb Include numbers and data as they are easier to read than paragraphs of text GRADUATE = List GPA only if above 3.5 and GMAT if over 600 this information is optional UNDERGRADUATE = List GPA only if above a 3.0 this information is optional Use present tense for current employers and past tense for previous Include the month AND year for employment and graduation dates Spell out all names rather than using abbreviations or acronyms Check for spelling and grammatical errors Always proofread your resumé, review your abbreviations for consistency and accuracy as well as have someone else review your resumé Don ts: NO personal information should ever be included on your resumé (marital status, height, weight, national origin, number of children, race etc) NO hobbies should be included on your resume unless they re relevant to the job or career path NO small margins or font size (size 10 or below) just for the sake of keeping the resumé on one page NO vague information, the employer should not have to guess at any of your resumé content DO NOT use passive phrases for example, Duties included or Responsible for DO NOT put too much information or make it wordy DO NOT use personal pronouns (e.g. I and me ) If you are in the process of earning your degree state the expected month/year. DO NOT put the words expected this could say maybe DO NOT include high school information once your in the process of pursuing a degree DO NOT use acronyms without prior explanation DO NOT exaggerate or falsify information. You either have qualifications or you don't. You want to clearly present your overall skills and credentials in a highly effective, convincing manner that will grab the employer's attention DO NOT include the words References available upon request.

3 Format Typically, resumes have headings to separate the pertinent information an employer is looking for, as well as, to offer a logical guide for the reader to follow. The following information (not necessarily in this order) should be included in a resumé: Heading Objective, Summary, or Profile (optional) Education Experience, Work Experience, or Relevant Experience etc Other (Qualifying Skills) Honors Computer Skills Languages Affiliations The layout and physical presentation of your resumé are just as important as the content itself. Style and format should be consistent. A resumé should be limited to one page if you are a current student or recent graduate; however, if you have several years of relevant experience two pages are acceptable. Depending on the industry, i.e. Investment Banking, you will want to limit the length to one page. Below are some general guidelines that should be followed when formatting and presenting a resumé to employers: Use white 8 ½ X 11 paper, print on one side only, if you opt to use a color be conservative in your choice and select neutral colors such as beige, cream, eggshell, or light gray (be consistent and print the cover letter, references, and envelopes on matching stationary) A standard 11 or 12 point font size (no smaller than 10) should be used as well as font types such as Times New Roman or Arial because they are easy to read and scan Be cautious using bold and italic font (scannable resumés should NOT include bold, italic or underline) Margins should be no less than 0.5" all around Use line spacing when appropriate to separate sections of the resume; however, be careful not to over use spacing (too much blank space looks unprofessional) Required Content Checklist A. Heading Be sure to use your full name in bold, recommended font size = 16 Include your address with zip code, your telephone number with area code and a professional address, recommended font size = 11 TIP Be cautious about using your university account as some employers keep resumés on file for up to one year and you want them to have the ability to contact you long after you graduate. An alternative to using your university account is to sign up for a free account that you can take with you upon graduation, such as a Yahoo or Hotmail account. Good Example = johndoe@hotmail.com Bad Example =getincraze@yahoo.com

4 Example: John Doe 2222 SW 55 th St. (305) Miami, FL B. Objective, Summary, or Profile (optional) Objectives should be extremely specific and not used if a cover letter is being submitted Summaries and profiles are normally reserved for very experienced hires C. Education Include your graduate/undergraduate degree(s) or those in process Expected date of graduation or graduation date (month/year) List the university name, city, state (country, if other than the US) List items in reverse chronological order Florida International University (FIU) Miami, FL Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Major: Marketing May 2004 or Bachelor of Accounting GPA: 3.0 THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO DEGREES THAT CBA OFFERS!!!!! EITHER A BBA or a B. Acc! Optional Listing your GPA * Graduates list ONLY if it is a 3.5 or greater and GMAT if over 600 * Undergraduates list ONLY if it is a 3.0 or greater Place this information directly below the university/degree information Listing your Minor Florida International University (FIU) Miami, FL Bachelor of Accounting May 2004 Minor: Economics GPA: 3.0 Listing Coursework * Only list courses directly relevant to the position applying for and ONLY if you have little or no professional experience D. Experience Be concise, use bullet points QUANTIFY, QUANTIFY, QUANTIFY Focus on the results of your actions, not just the responsibilities. Include not only paid positions but also part-time, summer, and internship positions Outline your most impressive accomplishments-do not list all. Include industry buzzwords and numbers to support your experience/results. Focus on leadership roles and provide examples of changes you made to the organization which improved the business. State the savings and benefits. Beneath each position, the bullets and summary should decrease as you list the older assignments. Earlier jobs require less information. You can use phrases a resumé does not have to be in complete sentences.

5 Do not use personal pronouns (I, me, your etc). Information listed here should be listed in reverse chronological order just as it is in the education section. See the sample resume at the end for examples of bullet points. E. Other (Qualifying Skills) This section is optional use it to highlight specific qualifications that are either required for the job or unique about you. Computer Skills: List only those you are proficient with Languages: List languages you are fluent with. DO NOT use the words fluent Affiliations: Only list organizations and memberships which are professionally related to your career. This is especially valuable for recent grads and career changers to demonstrate that you re making an effort to establish yourself in a new field. Honors: List academic achievements, such as Dean s List, scholarships received, and election to any honor societies, this is pertains mostly to undergraduate students and should be limited to honors received at the college level. Those students who have fewer honors may wish to incorporate this into the education section of the resumé. Willing to relocate Make Your Resumé Stand Out - Using Key Words How Employers Use Key Words Whether they re searching personal web pages, a job board resumé database, or in their own databases of job applicants, employers retrieve online resumés via keyword searches. When a recruiter does an electronic search for a candidate, the results are ranked by the number of times the keywords searched for are found in the resumés listed. You can make sure your name is at the top of a recruiter s search results by anticipating the keywords they will use. What Makes a Good Key Word Resumé? 1. Keywords In a traditional resumé, your focus is on action verbs, and on explaining the positions you ve held. Keywords resumés need to be searchable. To make sure yours is, use keywords-nouns and phrases that succinctly detail your skills and competencies. Recruiters also search on buzzwords or jargon that pertain to the position or industry, so be sure to include these. Examples of keywords/phrases include: Microsoft, product management, SQL Server, HR, human resources, communication skills, BBA, MBA, technical writer, data delivery, administrative assistant, developing, creating. 2. Appropriated Terminology Most recruiters search for resumés using the terms listed in their ads. Rebecca Smith, creator of eresumés.com and author of Electronic Resumés & Online Networking, recommends looking at major job boards and corporate websites to research the kinds of keywords associated with jobs that interest you. Ask yourself, what kinds of keywords are included in the job ad? How are they used in describing the qualifications [a company is] looking for? Smith suggests comparing one ad to another to find similarities in the ways keywords are used. You ll want to make sure your resume includes the most-used keywords.

6 3. Using Different Keyword Forms If you used coordination in your skills summary, use coordinate in the body of your resumé. In using different keywords forms, you ll maximize the exposure your resumé will receive. 4. Full Keywords and Acronyms Utilize both complete-word keywords and acronyms. For example, your resumé should include both MBA and Masters in Business Administration, or both HR and Human Resources. Try to cover your entire basis. From WetFeet.com (7/02) Author Michelle Provomy Cash/Managing Editor at WetFeet.com. References Professional references are generally not provided unless otherwise requested. Do not volunteer this information, without being asked. Sample Professional References These are to be listed on a separate piece of paper and should not be attached to a resumé. Professional References for: Your Name Address Miami, FL Phone PDavis@hotmail.com Bernice Robinson VP Marketing XYZ Mainstream Corporation 4657 Main Street, Suite 706 Weston, Florida Phone bsmith@mainstream.com Daisy Favor Manager The Favor Consulting Company 254 Tonawanda Avenue, Suite 123 Atlanta, Georgia Phone def@favorco.com Dafney Hawkins Director of Finance Creative Finance Services 26 Avenue North, Suite N3 Miami, Florida Phone dah23@cfc.com DO NOT include the statement References Available Upon Request on your resumé, employers presume that you have references.

7 Always be certain to ask people in advance to serve as a reference. Also, be sure to select references that are familiar with your knowledge, skills, and abilities so they may accurately portray you to a potential employer. When you are finished preparing your resumé, ask yourself the following questions. Would the employer know your interest? Is your resumé easy to read, clear and free of errors? Is it results oriented? Is it an accurate reflection of your skills and experience? Would YOU call this person in for an interview? **Resumé writing is very subjective. The best resumé is one that can best demonstrate your background, skills, and experience relevant to the job you are seeking.

8 Action Verbs Management/ Communication/ Research Skills Technical Skills Leadership Skills People Skills Accomplishments Administered Analyzed Appointed Approved Assign Attained Authorized Chaired Considered Consolidated Contracted Controlled Converted Coordinated Decided Delegated Directed Eliminated Emphasized Enforced Enhanced Established Executed Generated Handled Headed Hired Hoisted Improved Incorporated Increased Initiated Inspected Instituted Led Managed Merged Motivated Organized Originated Overhauled Oversaw Planned Presided Prioritized Produced Recommended Reorganized Replaced Restored Reviewed Scheduled Secured Selected Streamlined Strengthened Supervised Terminated Addressed Advertised Arbitrated Arranged Authored Clarified Collaborated Communicated Composed Condensed Conferred Consulted Contacted Conveyed Convinced Corresponded Debated Defined Described Directed Discussed Drafted Edited Elicited Enlisted Explained Expressed Formulated Furnished Incorporated Influenced Interacted Interpreted Interviewed Involved Joined Judged Lectured Listened Marketed Mediated Moderated Negotiated Observed Outlined Participated Persuaded Presented Promoted Proposed Recruited Referred Reinforced Solicited Suggested Translated Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Critiqued Detected Determined Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Extracted Formulated Gathered Identified Inspected Interpreted Invented Investigated Located Measured Organized Researched Reviewed Searched Solved Summarized Surveyed Systematized Tested Adapted Applied Assembled Built Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed Converted Debugged Designed Determined Engineered Fabricated Fortified Installed Maintained Operated Overhauled Printed Programmed Rectified Regulated Remodeled Repaired Replaced Restored Solved Specialized Standardized Studied Upgraded Utilized Achieved Completed Expanded Exceeded Improved Pioneered Reduced Resolved Restored Spearheaded Succeeded Surpassed Transformed Won

9 Action Verbs Continued Teaching Skills Creative Skills Helping Skills Organization/ Detail Skills Adapted Advised Coached Communicated Conducted Coordinated Critiqued Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Focused Guided Individualized Informed Instilled Instructed Motivated Persuaded Set Goals Simulated Stimulated Taught Tested Trained Tutored Financial/Data Skills Administered Adjusted Allocated Analyzed Appraised Assessed Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Corrected Determined Estimated Forecasted Managed Marketed Measured Planned Prepared Projected Reconciled Reduced Researched Acted Adapted Began Combined Composed Conceptualized Condensed Created Customized Designed Directed Displayed Drew Entertained Established Fashioned Formulated Founded Illustrated Initiated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Modeled Modified Originated Performed Photographed Planned Revised Revitalized Shaped Solved Adapted Advocated Aided Answered Arranged Assessed Assisted Cared for Clarified Coached Collaborated Contributed Cooperated Counseled Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated Encouraged Ensured Expedited Facilitated Familiarized Furthered Guided Helped Insured Interviewed Motivated Prevented Provided Referred Rehabilitated Represented Resolved Simplified Supplied Supported Volunteered Approved Arranged Catalogued Categorized Charted Classified Coded Collected Compiled Corrected Corresponded Distributed Executed Filed Generated Implemented Incorporated Inspected Logged Maintained Monitored Obtained Operated Ordered Organized Prepared Processed Provided Purchased Recorded Registered Reserved Responded Reviewed Routed Scheduled Screened Set up Submitted Supplied Standardized Systematized Updated Validate Verified Reproduced form the Resume Pro: The Professional s Guide by Yana Parker Hinda s List of Action Verbs from career counselor Hinda Bodinger.

10 Resume Format Example BBA/B. Acc Candidates John Doe 2222 SW 55 th St. (305) Miami, FL EDUCATION Florida International University (FIU) Miami, FL Bachelor of Business Administration, Major: Finance April 2005 Minor: Economics GPA: LIST ONLY IF over 3.0 Relevant Coursework: (only of no relevant experience in the field) Financial Management International Banking Financial Markets and Institutions Financial Risk Management Commercial Bank Management Intermediate Financial Management Securities Analysis EXPERIENCE ABC Consulting, Inc. Miami, FL IDB-CGAP Microfinance Rating and Assessment Fund Jan 2005 Present Administrator for Latin American & Caribbean MFI s (Option: Sentence of overall responsibilities) Key Accomplishments Bullets under employment should show results of the statement Commit and disburse Inter-American Development Bank funds to qualifying MFI s Actively manage the Fund s financial status and 75+ MFI database Professional Training Center Miami, FL Anatomy & Physiology / Ultrasound Physics Instructor April 2003 Dec 2004 Stimulated and directed discussions to develop student critical thinking skills Assessed and redesigned course materials to maximize learning FIU, Office of Admission Miami, FL Student Assistant.September 2001-March 2003 Provided counsel, advice, and information to applicants throughout the undergraduate admissions process Promoted institutional offerings and overall concept of pursing a college education OTHER ABC College Alumni Fund Pasadena, CA Manager / Fundraiser Summer 2001 Utilized incentive programs to increase caller productivity Increased the percentage of first-time pledges and individually raised over $100,000 Computer Skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Photoshop Languages: Spanish and English (including technical financial terms) Affiliations: Financial Management Association, Delta Sigma Pi Willing to relocate