Resume Building Basics

O4U | 2014

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The resume is not just a listing of your experiences. It is an opportunity to tell your story and explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Make sure that your resume is impactful and concise. o Length: One page. No exceptions o Font: Use a professional and basic font; avoid using a font smaller than 10

pt. o Chronological format: Reverse (listing most recent experiences on top) o Margins: No smaller than 0.5 o Additional formatting: Use sparingly Proof Reading Tips: o Mistakes may indicate lack of effort or attention to detail. Be sure to

review spelling, grammar and formatting consistency several times. Check after PDF conversion

o Leverage parents, trusted friends with strong resumes, career center, mentors , alumni, and industry professionals

Resume Basics

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Name and Contact Info

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Use first name & last name. Add middle initial, if desired

Name should stand out

Orient contact info the same as your name (centered or left)

Do not abbreviate unless space restrictions require

Notes: - Ensure voicemail greeting and email address are professional and appropriate - Including permanent and school addresses are acceptable

Remove hyperlink

Education

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No abbreviations

Reverse chronological order

Include SAT scores

Include GPA

Include double major & minor information and academic awards

Notes: - Including high school information is not recommended unless first-year student - Relevant coursework and supplementary education can also be included

Experience

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Include firm name, group, title, location, & employment dates

Notes: - Begin accomplishments with action verb (see appendix). Avoid repeating verbs - Include all relevant work, including part-time, extracurricular, or unpaid positions - Leave high school positions off unless you are a first-year student - Including an objective on your resume is not recommended

Use month range Use bullets instead of paragraphs

Experience continued

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Prioritize accomplishments by most impressive or relevant within each position description

Tell employer the quality/skill to expect and show how you accomplished

Quantify impact as much as possible

Experience continued

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Dont spill over onto the next line with one or two words

Highlight increases in responsibility. Emphasize teamwork and leadership.

Notes: - Tailor your resume to each job; list tasks and skills most relevant to desired job first - Include skills specifically valued in your industry; look at job description to gain clues

for specific skills required and be sure to address them - Maintain consistent tense for each bullet (present for current position, past for

previous positions) - Employers may verify claims: Always TELL THE TRUTH

Leadership/Awards

Note: If opting to have separate section for leadership, include: awards, clubs/professional organizations, patents, publishing, community service/volunteering, sports, travel abroad, and any unique leadership initiatives

Include club/group, position held, dates of membership/service, and brief content entries

Additional Info

Include accreditation, licenses, professional training, computer/program literacy, foreign language ability

Activities and interests outside of college or interesting/relevant hobbies

Note: International students should note US residency status here

How can you come out on your resume? o Highlight leadership in LGBT organizations: you should spend time describing in detail any

leadership positions or accomplishments of which you are proud. Describing these experiences can aid your candidacy.

How else can I be out if I dont have LGBT leadership experience? o Discuss in your interview or mention in your cover letter: A cover letter is a medium to

describe your experiences, both professionally and personally. Mentioning how you overcame adversity as an LGBT person can spark a conversation about your resilience. If you feel it appropriate, ask about the rms LGBT network in your interview.

There are many reasons why one would choose to be out on his/her resume:

1. To ensure you are working in an LGBT-friendly environment during the interview process o If you are interviewing at a rm that sponsors O4U, they are interested in recruiting and

retaining LGBT talent. If the rm does not sponsor an LGBT organizations activities, being out on your resume can help you get a sense of the rms culture and values.

2. Because you have held leadership positions or volunteered with LGBT organizations o If you have leadership positions in or relevant work that is LGBT focused, highlighting these

experiences strengthens your resume and brands yourself as a strong diversity candidate - which most rms are interested in recruiting.

o Be wary of including participation in LGBT organizations to play the gay card. Recruiters are smart and will weed out candidates who are trying to gain an unfair advantage.

Being Out On Your Resume

Appendix: Helpful Dos and Donts

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DO

Keep job titles generic; list divisional employer for large corporations

Keep jargon to an absolute minimum Use action verbs and active voice Highlight transferrable skills Be concise

DONT

Use excessive bold, italic or underline formatting

Use excess words (e.g. pronouns or helping verbs)

Use the word very unless absolutely necessary

Use passive voice or write in first person

Write lengthy paragraphs or statements

Include testimonials Reference previous salary information Rely solely upon spell check Use graphics, logos, or artistic fonts Use vague language

Appendix: Action Verbs

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CLERICAL OR DETAILED SKILLS

HELPING SKILLS DATA AND

FINANCIAL SKILLS CREATIVE SKILLS

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

Approved Adapted Implemented Adjusted Acted Expedited Handled Arranged Advocated Planned Administered Analyzed Facilitated Headed

Catalogued Aided Resolved Allocated Appraised Furnished Updated Conveyed Answered Responded Assisted Audited Incorporated Convinced Assessed Revised Clarified Balanced Influenced

Corresponded Classified Revitalized Coached Began Interacted Debated Collected Shaped Collaborated Budgeted Interpreted Modeled Compiled Solicited Enlisted Calculated Interviewed Modified Defined Solved Explained Combined Involved

Organized Developed Specified Expressed Composed Joined Performed Directed Spoke Formulated Computed Judged Recruited Discussed Suggested Inspected Conceptualized Lectured Referred Dispatched Summarized Monitored Condensed Prepared

Reinforced Drafted Operated Conserved Processed Reported Edited Synthesized Contributed Purchased Retrieved Elicited Translated Cooperated Recorded Set goals Executed Wrote Corrected Screened

Stimulated Generated Counseled Systematized Created Tabulated

Customized Validated Demonstrated

Designed Determined

Devised Diagnosed Educated

Encouraged Ensured

Appendix: Action Verbs continued

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COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE TECHNICAL SKILLS LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Addressed Intervened Represented Constructed Advised Informed Advertised Introduced Researched Converted Appointed Instilled Arbitrated Invented Simplified Debugged Assigned Instructed Articulated Listened Supplied Emphasized Attained Investigated Authored Managed Supported Enabled Authorized Led

Categorized Marketed Verified Enforced Chaired Located Charted Measured Volunteered Engineered Coded Logged

Communicated Mediated Enhanced Compared Maintained Conferred Moderated Evaluated Conducted Merged Consulted Motivated Fabricated Considered Navigated Contacted Negotiated Fortified Consolidated Obtained Displayed Netted Registered Contracted Ordered

Drew Observed Replaced Controlled Originated Established Outlined Reserved Coordinated Overhauled Estimated Participated Restored Critiqued Oversaw

Familiarized Persuaded Reviewed Decided Presided Fashioned Presented Routed Delegated Prioritized Forecasted Prevented Scheduled Detected Produced

Founded Programmed Searched Distributed Recommended Furthered Projected Secured Eliminated Remodeled

Guided Promoted Selected Examined Reorganized Helped Proposed Streamlined Experimented Repaired Hired Provided Strengthened Explored Simulated

Hosted Publicized Submitted Extracted Specialized Illustrated Qualified Supervised Filed Standardized Initiated Reconciled Surveyed Focused Studied

Instituted Rectified Tested Gathered Taught Insured Reduced Trained Identified Transmitted

Integrated Rehabilitated Improved Tutored Increased Upgraded

Individualized Utilized

Resume Building BasicsResume BasicsName and Contact InfoEducationExperienceExperience continuedExperience continuedLeadership/AwardsAdditional InfoBeing Out On Your ResumeAppendix: Helpful Dos and DontsAppendix: Action VerbsAppendix: Action Verbs continued