Creating a Resume

You’re about to start your job search and you have put together the best resume you can. If you use the same resume for every position to which you’re applying, you risk not distinguishing yourself among your job-seeking peers. A resume serves two main purposes:

To demonstrate how your education, accomplishments, experiences and skills meet the employer’s needs.
To be granted an interview (where you show the employer you are the right candidate).

Resources

Resume Tips

Do not use computerized templates (such as Microsoft Resume Wizard). They are restrictive and are more frustrating than helpful.
Do not have someone write your resume for you. Developing your own resume helps you identify and communicate your skills, which will pay off in the interview.
Expect an average of 4-5 drafts before you have a finished product. Make the effort and investment to produce a quality tailored resume.
Get multiple critiques from people who know about grammar, writing resumes, and the career field. Be sure to have your resume reviewed by a staff member at the UWM Center for Student Experience and Talent in Vogel Hall.
Determine if a one page or two-page resume is acceptable in your field. Traditionally business fields prefer a one-page resume whereas two pages is acceptable in social service and health care fields.
Don’t overlook unpaid experiences. There are many skills you can demonstrate from volunteering or being active in student organizations, community groups/activities, or athletics.

Use “resume preferred” fonts such as Calibri, Georgia, Garamond, Century, Times, and Palatino with a size of 10-12 pt.
Set margins at .75 to 1 inch on all four sides of the page.
Use bold type, underlining, and CAPITALIZATIONS to highlight information.
Print the resume in black ink on white quality paper (at least 50% cotton). Other off-white colors are acceptable.
Place most important material at the beginning of each position description and within each resume section.

Use the following questions to help you describe your experiences:

What skills did you use and/or develop? (Oral/written communication, organizational, problem solving, creativity, etc.)
Can you quantify the results of your work? (number of customers served, percentage increase in sales, number of employees supervised, etc.)
Did your responsibilities change and/or increase over time? Were you promoted?
Did you work with co-workers? Demonstrate teamwork/teambuilding? Train, supervise or assume leadership roles?
Did you solve problems? Make decisions or recommendations? Gather and/or analyze information?
How well were you able to meet deadlines and handle pressure?
Did you utilize and/or develop technical/computer skills?
Did you produce documents and/or reports?

Include a cover letter with your resume, even if the job posting doesn’t mention it. However, if the job posting says to not include a cover letter, then do not do so.
Do not state salary requirements on your resume. If requested in the job announcement, address them in your cover letter.
Hobbies should not be included unless they have a specific purpose such as tying you to the geographic region or demonstrating a relevant skill.
Do not list references on a resume. References are on a separate page. Provide them only when they are requested.
Most employers scan a resume for 15 to 20 seconds. Target/market your resume to each position you apply for and show the employer how you are qualified for the job! Look closely at the job posting and the organization’s website.
Consider if you want to include or avoid listing jobs/activities that refer to religion, politics, race, sexual orientation, etc. if they are not related to the position/organization you’re applying to. Despite the law, there are still prejudices. You may use general terms instead of specific organizations’ or if you feel you would only want to work for an employer that accepts you, then you may want to include them.

Resume Content

Should include your name, mailing address, phone number(s), and email. May include your LinkedIn URL.

Example:
JAMES SMITH 000 North Oakland Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 00000 (414) 555-1111 • smith@xxx.edu linkedin.com/in/jimsmith

Demonstrate how your skills/background add value to an organization by using language from the field/industry and from the job posting or position description for which you are applying. Do not include what you hope to gain from the position/organization.

Example:
Ambitious college graduate with the ability to contribute to departmental goals through proven leadership experiences, well-developed speaking and writing skills, and knowledge of marketing techniques and consumer behavior.

Include colleges/universities you currently attend or have received degree(s) from. List degree(s), majors, minors, areas of concentration, and certifications. Never include your GPA if it is under 3.0. Whether you include it at all depends on your field and if your GPA makes you more marketable for the job.

May also include descriptions of course work and class projects that demonstrate knowledge and skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Example:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bachelor of Arts, December 20xx
Major: Psychology, Minor: Business

Public Speaking Course: Acquired knowledge in aspects of preparing and delivering informative, persuasive, argumentative, and demonstrative speeches. Developed and presented over 10 speeches. Strengthened active and critical listening skills, poise, and self-confidence.

Include program/institution, city, country, and dates.

Depending on the relevance of study abroad to the position you’re applying for, you may include skills/knowledge gained, coursework, projects, or work, intern, or volunteer experience you had during your time abroad.

You can list these study-abroad-related experiences in the Education section, Study Abroad section, Experience section, or perhaps in an International Experience section, if you are looking for a job with an international focus.

Example:
University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain – Summer 20xx • Immersed in language, culture and customs while living with a host family
• Traveled extensively throughout Spain

Include awards, honors, or recognitions from academics, athletics, arts, music, etc. Academic honors may be included in this section or in the education section.

Consider explaining why you received the award/scholarship if it’s not obvious by its name.

You can include awards/honors from high school if you recently graduated.

Example:
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 20xx-present
– Applications by invite only. Need to be ranked in the top 10% of the class.

UWM Dean’s List, 6 semesters
– GPA of 3.75 or above

UWM New Directions Scholarship, 20xx
– Applications by invite only. Need a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher, class rank in the top 5%, and ACT of 29 or more.

Include paid and unpaid experiences, co-ops, internships, volunteer activities, fieldwork, etc.
• List experiences in reverse chronological order.
• Include position title, employer or setting, city, state, and Dates – arrange these identically for all experiences.
• Don’t include street address, phone numbers, names of supervisors, or reasons for leaving prior positions.
• Write about skills, accomplishments, and responsibilities of your experiences that are relevant to the position(s) you are applying for. Think – How? Why? Results?
• Quantify your work and show results.
• Use short statements starting with action verbs. Don’t say “Duties included” or “Responsible for”.
• State present position in present tense and past positions in past tense.
• Don’t write in complete sentences or include personal pronouns (I, my, their, etc.).

Example:
Henry’s Bar and Grill – Milwaukee, WI
Server – August 20xx – present
• Strive to provide exemplary customer service and build a returning customer base.
• Apply problem solving skills, professionalism, and patience to resolve customer concerns and complaints.
• Train and provide ongoing support to new staff.
• Demonstrate flexibility with hours, shifts, and the ability to support coworkers immediately as needed.
• Receive employer and customers compliments.
• Consistently meet management’s marketing and sales quotas.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with team members to ensure success with daily business operations.

Include sports, drama, music, clubs, student organizations, etc. List dates or number of years you participated and any leadership positions or committees you served on.

You can include activities from high school if you recently graduated and/or they are relevant to the position.

Example:
UWM Spanish Club – 20xx-present, Secretary – 1 year
• UWM intramural basketball – 3 years
• Professional and community theatre performances – 10 years • Habitat for Humanity, 20xx – present

Include long-term and short-term volunteering. This can include activities through UWM, service learning assignments, church, student organizations, clubs, etc.

If a volunteer position is related to a position you are applying for, then it may be listed in the Experience Section with a description of your responsibilities.

There are varying degrees of how much information you can include. You may just list the organization / event or you might include location, dates or number of years you participated, and a description of your responsibilities/skills

You can include volunteer activities from high school if you recently graduated and/or they are relevant to the position.

Example:
Girls On the Run 5k Volunteer, June 20xx
• Growing Power, Fall 20xx
• Outreach to Teach, April 20xx
• Milwaukee Empty Bowls feed the hungry event, March 20xx

Include professional associations, trainings, licensures, computer skills, languages, international travel, etc.

Put content in one section or separated into multiple sections. Title sections according to type of information included – language skills, professional development, etc.

Example:
Computer Skills:
Highly skilled in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Experience with Photoshop and InDesign