Creating Your Resume
Following are some tips and general information on creating your resume. These are excerpts from the EDUC M202 Job Search Strategies course textbook written by Dr. Kinman.Click here to see a sample resume in a Microsoft Word document.
What is a Resume?
- Summary of personal, educational, and professional qualifications
- Focus on accomplishments
- Informs an employer about who you are, what you know, and what you can do
- May exceed one page
Two Types of Resumes
- Chronological
- Focus on accomplishments
- Emphasis on continuity and growth
- Most commonly accepted style
- Easier to organize and write
- Easier to read and understand
- Functional
- Focus on transferable skills
- Emphasis on creativity
- Headings may be organized in the order you wish an employer to read
- More difficult to develop
- More difficult to read
Suggested Headings
- Name and Address
- Objective
- Education
- License
- Professional Experience
- Relevant Experience
- Other Experience
- Activities and Honors
- References
Adjectives Describing Who You Are
- Adaptable
- Committed
- Cooperative
- Creative
- Energetic
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible
- Helpful
- Honest
- Loyal
- Optimistic
- Personable
- Productive
- Realistic
- Responsible
- Sincere
- Tactful
- Trustworthy
Action Words Describing What You Can Do
- Achieved
- Analyzed
- Coached
- Conceived
- Delegated
- Developed
- Established
- Facilitated
- Instituted
- Motivated
- Organized
- Persuaded
- Proposed
- Recommended
- Selected
- Structured
- Supervised
- Trained
Resume Checklist
- Format: Does it say "Read Me"?
- Appearance: Is it visually appealing?
- Length: Are the key points concise and descriptive?
- Significance: Did you select relevant experiences?
- Communication: Do your words give the "visual" impression you want? Is the job objective stated clearly?
- Conciseness: Does your information focus on the experiences that qualify you for a teaching position?
- Reality: Does the resume represent you well enough to get an interview?
Resume Errors to Avoid
- Errors in spelling
- Generic format
- Inappropriate format
- Bright colored paper
- Emotional/sensitive words or phrases
- Clutter and trivia
- Paragraph structure
- "Creative misrepresentations"