resume building

RESUMERESUME BUILDINGBUILDING

Why Resumes are ImportantWhy Resumes are Important

Every employer and many graduate Every employer and many graduate schools will expect oneschools will expect one

It is your chance to make a first It is your chance to make a first impression.impression.

At a glance, a potential employer can At a glance, a potential employer can see how you can contribute to an see how you can contribute to an organization.organization.

Decisions on whether to interview you Decisions on whether to interview you will be made based on this document.will be made based on this document.

Be clear, organized, easy Be clear, organized, easy to read & concise (1 page)to read & concise (1 page)

Start with blank Microsoft Start with blank Microsoft Word DocumentWord Document

Prioritize categories in Prioritize categories in order of relevance and order of relevance and importanceimportance

List items in Reverse List items in Reverse Chronological OrderChronological Order

Have your resume Have your resume critiqued by a Career critiqued by a Career AdvisorAdvisor

Do not use Personal Do not use Personal Pronouns such as “I” or Pronouns such as “I” or “me”“me”

Do not use a generic Do not use a generic Resume TemplateResume Template

Do not include References Do not include References on the resume itselfon the resume itself

Do not include photographs Do not include photographs or salary requirementsor salary requirements

Do not include personal Do not include personal information like race or ageinformation like race or age

Stu DentStu Dent715 North Ave; New Rochelle, NY 10801715 North Ave; New Rochelle, NY 10801

sdent1@iona.edu / 914-555-5555sdent1@iona.edu / 914-555-5555

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE To obtain full-time employment utilizing my academic background and To obtain full-time employment utilizing my academic background and professional experience in...professional experience in...

EDUCATIONEDUCATION Iona CollegeIona College New Rochelle, NY New Rochelle, NYBachelor of Business AdministrationBachelor of Business Administration Expected May 2011 Expected May 2011Major: Major: Finance Finance Minor: Minor: International BusinessInternational Business GPA: 3.8 GPA: 3.8

AWARDSAWARDS Dean’s List, Fall & Spring 2008Dean’s List, Fall & Spring 2008Academic Scholarship, Four YearsAcademic Scholarship, Four Years

WORK WORK SMITH, SMITH & SMITH, LLCSMITH, SMITH & SMITH, LLC Greenwich, CT Greenwich, CTEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE Administrative AssistantAdministrative Assistant 9/09 - Present 9/09 - Present

• • Perform administrative tasks for fast paced firm with over fifteen Perform administrative tasks for fast paced firm with over fifteen attorneys handling Real Estate, Litigation, and Corporate Law attorneys handling Real Estate, Litigation, and Corporate Law

• • Communicate with staff, attorneys, partners, and team of interns on Communicate with staff, attorneys, partners, and team of interns on depositions, researching files, and organizing exhibits depositions, researching files, and organizing exhibits

• • Handle bi-weekly financial transactions for attorneysHandle bi-weekly financial transactions for attorneys

When you work you learn….When you work you learn….what did you learn?what did you learn?DUTYDUTY:: ““I answered phones…I answered phones…””

SKILLSKILL:: “ “I gained communication skills while I gained communication skills while answering phones…answering phones…””

ACTION VERBACTION VERB:: “Developed communication “Developed communication skills while answering phones…”skills while answering phones…”

CLARIFYCLARIFY:: “Developed excellent “Developed excellent communication skills addressing customer communication skills addressing customer

billing concerns…”billing concerns…”

Breaking down the skill…Breaking down the skill…

GAP Inc.GAP Inc.Sales AssociateSales Associate Folded ClothesFolded Clothes

Closed RegisterClosed Register

Helped CustomersHelped Customers

Worked fitting roomWorked fitting room

Sold Gap CardsSold Gap Cards

GAP Inc.GAP Inc.Sales AssociateSales Associate Assisted with store inventory, Assisted with store inventory,

merchandising and display merchandising and display organizationorganization

Performed closing of registers, Performed closing of registers, tallying daily sales of $17,000 +tallying daily sales of $17,000 +

Interacted with customers and Interacted with customers and assisted them with merchandise assisted them with merchandise selection to promote daily salesselection to promote daily sales

Recognized for outstanding customer Recognized for outstanding customer service: service: Holiday Season 2008Holiday Season 2008

7 Second Knockout…7 Second Knockout…

Grammatical / Spelling ErrorsGrammatical / Spelling Errors

Too much white spaceToo much white space

Format InconsistencyFormat Inconsistency

Incomplete bullet pointsIncomplete bullet points

Lack of informationLack of information

Irrelevant experience & qualificationsIrrelevant experience & qualifications

Not demonstrating value to employerNot demonstrating value to employer

Wendy Wrong-Resume715 North Ave / New Rochelle, NY 10801

212-555-5555

OBJECTIVE To gain valuable experience working in computer technology.

EDUCATION Iona College New Rochelle, NY

Major: Computer Technology Expected Completion 2011

WORK Iona College Admissions Office New Rochelle, NY

EXPERIENCE Student Worker 7/08-8/09

• Answered Phone• Campus Tours• General office duties

Christina's Computer Shop Mamaroneck, NY

Computer Salesman 9/08 - Present

• Assisted with store inventory, merchandising and deplay organization.• Interacted and assisted customers with merchandise selection to promote

products.• Handled financial transactions exceeding $1,000 per purchase.

Additional help for Resume Additional help for Resume BuildingBuilding

Career Development Website (“Next Career Development Website (“Next Step Guide”; Resumes & More Step Guide”; Resumes & More

section)section)

Resume Critique by Career AdvisorResume Critique by Career Advisor

Walk-In hours: Walk-In hours: brief critiquebrief critique

We Are Here to Help!We Are Here to Help!

The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development

914-633-2462Spellman Hall 2nd Floor

www.iona.edu/careerdevelopment

Walk-In Hours schedule is available on our website