CAREER SERVICES CENTER Resume Guide General Guidelines: • Review the job description you are applying for. Notice the skills the job posting is looking for. Highlight on your resume the skills that you have that correspond to the ones the posting is requesting. • You do not need to include every job you have ever had, only include the jobs/job duties that are relevant to the position you are seeking. • Limit your resume to one page. • Review your resume for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Do not rely solely on spell check. Reach out to Career Services to have your resume reviewed. • Use the jargon of your profession only if you are applying for a job within your field. • List your relevant experience chronologically, starting with the most recent experience. • When you submit your resume to employers send it in both Microsoft Word and PDF format. • Do not: include pictures, weight, height, health or other personal irrelevancies. It is illegal for an employer to request these details outside of acting and modeling jobs. Recommended Section Titles & Content: 1) Contact Information • Your first and last name. • A phone number you can be reached (preferably a phone with voicemail set up). • List a professional sounding email address that you check regularly. • The city and state you live in (including a street address is optional). 2) Summary • Including a “summary” is optional and is generally only included if the background is not a clear match with the position being applied for. The summary is used to state a couple of key skills you have that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. You should state your major, if relevant, and your desire to further develop your existing skills in the industry you are looking to transition to. This section should be extremely brief, two to three sentences max. The summary is NOT an opportunity write what the position can do for you, but what you can do for the position. 3) Skills • List the skills you have that are relevant to the job. • Your resume should highlight the required and desired skills that you have that are listed in the job description you are applying for. • When you list your skills, include your proficiency level such as: “proven” sales skills, “proficient” with Microsoft Office Suite, etc. • Include skills such as language, computer, and social media. Include any honors or awards you have received as well as specific skills such as CPR. 4) Education • Include the education section of your resume before the experience section if your education is your strongest selling point, otherwise it goes towards the bottom. • If your GPA is 3.25 or higher, you may consider including it. • Include the name of schools attended after high school. After 1 year of college you do not need to list your high school. List any degrees or certificates you have. Include the year they were obtained. 5) Experience • Include your experiences in class as a student, as a club member, as a volunteer, and as an employee. Include any experience that allowed you to develop the interest and skills you have relevant to the position you are applying for. List your most recent experience first and then work backward. • You don’t have to list all of your experience. Detail only the experience within the past ten years where you used skills relevant to the job you are applying for. Start all bullet points with an action word i.e., resolved, managed etc. Within each position listed, stress your accomplishments most related to the skills and responsibilities you will be asked to do in the position you are applying for. Santa Monica College | Career Services Center | 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Tel: 310.434.4337 | smc.edu/careerservices
Transcript
CAREER SERVICES CENTER Resume Guide
General Guidelines:
• Review the job description you are applying for. Notice the skills the job posting is looking for. Highlight on your resume the skills that you have that correspond to the ones the posting is requesting.
• You do not need to include every job you have ever had, only include the jobs/job duties that are relevant to the position you are seeking.
• Limit your resume to one page. • Review your resume for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Do not rely solely on spell
check. Reach out to Career Services to have your resume reviewed. • Use the jargon of your profession only if you are applying for a job within your field. • List your relevant experience chronologically, starting with the most recent experience. • When you submit your resume to employers send it in both Microsoft Word and PDF format. • Do not: include pictures, weight, height, health or other personal irrelevancies. It is illegal for an
employer to request these details outside of acting and modeling jobs.
Recommended Section Titles & Content: 1) Contact Information
• Your first and last name. • A phone number you can be reached (preferably a phone with voicemail set up). • List a professional sounding email address that you check regularly. • The city and state you live in (including a street address is optional).
2) Summary • Including a “summary” is optional and is generally only included if the background is not a clear match
with the position being applied for. The summary is used to state a couple of key skills you have that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. You should state your major, if relevant, and your desire to further develop your existing skills in the industry you are looking to transition to. This section should be extremely brief, two to three sentences max. The summary is NOT an opportunity write what the position can do for you, but what you can do for the position.
3) Skills • List the skills you have that are relevant to the job. • Your resume should highlight the required and desired skills that you have that are listed in the job
description you are applying for. • When you list your skills, include your proficiency level such as: “proven” sales skills, “proficient” with
Microsoft Office Suite, etc. • Include skills such as language, computer, and social media. Include any honors or awards you have
received as well as specific skills such as CPR. 4) Education
• Include the education section of your resume before the experience section if your education is your strongest selling point, otherwise it goes towards the bottom.
• If your GPA is 3.25 or higher, you may consider including it. • Include the name of schools attended after high school. After 1 year of college you do not need to list
your high school. List any degrees or certificates you have. Include the year they were obtained. 5) Experience
• Include your experiences in class as a student, as a club member, as a volunteer, and as an employee. Include any experience that allowed you to develop the interest and skills you have relevant to the position you are applying for. List your most recent experience first and then work backward.
• You don’t have to list all of your experience. Detail only the experience within the past ten years where you used skills relevant to the job you are applying for. Start all bullet points with an action word i.e., resolved, managed etc. Within each position listed, stress your accomplishments most related to the skills and responsibilities you will be asked to do in the position you are applying for.
Santa Monica College | Career Services Center | 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Tel: 310.434.4337 | smc.edu/careerservices
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
1) Bet Tzedek Legal Services 3250 Wilshire Blvd. 13th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010 Julia Gureck, Pro Bono & Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] http://www.bettzedek.org (323) 648-4722 Bet Tzedek provides free, comprehensive legal services to low-income individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. Bet Tzedek services uses direct legal service, impact litigation, community outreach, education, and advocacy in the areas of consumer rights, employment rights, elder/caregiver law, Holocaust reparations, housing, trafficking, public benefits, and real estate to serve more than 20,000 clients each year.
Office Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Volunteers must commit 8 to 10 hours a week for 10 weeks.
Intake Services – Conduct pre-screening assessments for individuals who seek legal assistance Self-Help Conservatorship Clinics – Help conduct intake interviews; prepare court forms, help prepare and
host workshops clinics, etc. Employment Rights Clinic (Wednesday evenings) – client intake, research, prepare and host programs Additional Requirements: Interview, computer literacy, resume, confidentiality agreement, reference check;
2) Neighborhood Legal Services of LA Various locations in LA County Diana Avendaño, Self-Help/Volunteer Coordinator http://www.nlsla.org/ [email protected] (818) 834-7585 The mission is to combat poverty through the judicial system to improve and protect human rights throughout the LA county. They offer legal clinics that focus on family law, housing and other civil matters (self-help), domestic abuse, re-entry, workers rights, bankruptcy, and housing. Legal specialties include housing, immigration, family law, health care, employment, government benefits, veteran benefits, etc.
Volunteer Opportunities Brochure https://www.nlsla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/NLSLA-Clinics-.pdf Frequently Asked Questions https://www.nlsla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FAQs.pdf Volunteer Application (select File and click download to open) https://www.nlsla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Volunteer-Application-1.pdf
NLSLA Clinics and Centers a) Self-Help Legal Access Centers
assist people with family law matters(divorce, custody disputes, and paternity actions), housing matters (evictions), and other legal matters such as name change and guardianships. Self-Help Legal Access Centers are located in the Van Nuys, Pomona, Chatsworth, and Antelope Valley Courthouses. Self-Help Legal Access Centers are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm and MondaysThursdays 1:30pm-4:30pm.
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a student, for at least 2 shifts/week.
b) Domestic Abuse Self-Help (DASH)
Clinic assists litigants with domestic violence restraining orders. Litigants are provided information to shelters, counseling, and other social services available to victims of domestic violence. DASH clinics are located in the
Van Nuys, Pomona, Chatsworth, and Antelope Valley Courthouses. Clinics are open Mondays-Fridays 8:30am-12:30pm.
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a student, for at least 1 shift/week
c) Debt Relief Clinic assists low-income litigants with what it means to be sued for a debt, consequences of losing debt collection lawsuits, and ways creditors can attempt to collect a judgement. The Debt Relief clinic is open every Fridays from 8:00am-12:00pm in the Chatsworth Courthouse.
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a student.
d) Shriver Housing Self-Help Center
assists people with evictions. The Center is located in the Los Angeles (MOSK) Courthouse. The Center is open Mondays-Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a student, for at least 2 shifts/week.
e) Clean Slate Clinics
assist people who have been negatively impacted by the criminal justice system. The clinic assists with clearing criminal records and restoration of civil rights, including aid with expungements, Props 47 and 64 petitions, employments rights counseling, and reduction of felonies to misdemeanors. The Clean State Clinic is located in Lancaster and Glendale.
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a college or law student. Volunteers must commit to coming to the monthly clinics for at least 6 months. There may also be work to be done remotely.
f) S.A.V.E.S Clinic assists people who are unable to secure safe and affordable housing due to their criminal record. The S.A.V.E.S clinic assists with evictions, section 8 issues, unlawful rent increases, and unsafe living conditions. It also helps people with clearing criminal records and restoration of civil rights, including aid with expungements, Props 47 and 64 petitions, employments rights counseling, and reduction of felonies to misdemeanors.
Volunteers are expected to commit for a minimum of six months, or one semester if they are a student
SAMPLE RESUMES
First and Last Name 310.555.1212 l Los Angeles, CA l [email protected]
SKILLS Great customer service skills.
Ability to memorize and share information with ease.
Competent research skills.
Adept problem solver.
Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.
EDUCATION Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA 2016 – Present Major: History GPA: 3.75 Shalhevet High School, Los Angeles, CA 2013 with a year abroad in Ulpana Segula High School in Kriyak Motzkin, Israel
EXPERIENCE Intro to Business Law, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA 2/2017 – 6/2017 Student
Research, outline and present precedent to support reasoning behind the conclusion reached in legal brief about consumer and employer rights.
Reviewed contract law cases to evaluate the legitimacy of the claims.
Calculated restitutions for various real life scenarios based on evaluation and application of tort law.
Mock Trial Shalhevet High School, Los Angeles, CA 9/2011 – 6/2013 Club Member
Served as trial prosecution attorney in a Downtown Los Angeles Courthouse mock murder trial assigned by “Mock Trial’s nationwide panel of attorneys and Judges.
Studied case affidavits to prepare opening and closing remarks, formulate a coherent line of questioning, and identify weak points in the defenses arguments.
Memorized and delivered opening and closing remarks in front of panel of active Los Angeles lawyers and judges.
Led club team mates in preparation of mock witness testimony.
Six Flags, Valencia, CA 9/2011 – 6/2013 Ride Operator
Learned, explained and enforced the safety rules for each ride.
Ensured guest satisfaction while simultaneously, tactfully assigning seating to ride patrons based on weight distribution, regardless of their seating preferences.
Calmed patrons that were denied ride access based on physical limitations imposed by safety regulations.
First and Last Name 310.555.1212 l Los Angeles, CA l [email protected]
SKILLS
Basic knowledge of the legal system.
Experienced with client in-take and education.
Background with client outreach and advocacy.
Knowledge of Conservatorship procedures.
Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.
EDUCATION Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA 2016 – Present Major: Political Science Memberships: Law Pathways Society, Black Collegians Club EXPERIENCE Being Alive, West Hollywood, CA 2016 – Present Homeless / HIV Volunteer Advocate
Conduct street outreach and needs assessment of the homeless population.
Educate individuals about available resources and the necessary steps to access the services.
Assist clients with obtaining documentation and various applications for services.
Hold writing workshops for homeless to encourage writing and self-expression. Perry & Associates Real Estate Sales, New York, New York 12/2011 - 12/2015
Met with prospective clients to assess their needs, and explain available services.
Educated clients on the marketing and real-estate sales process.
Assisted clients in the understanding and completion of offer and closing forms. L&L Enterprises, Los Angeles 4/2002 - 4/2009 Business Liaison to Conservator
Met weekly with the attorneys of the temporary Conservator to provide documentation requested by the court.
Attended court hearings to provide testimonials as to the daily activities of the Conservatee.
Once Conservatorship was granted, managed daily needs of the Conservator and Conservatee.
FIRST NAME LAST NAME
OBJECTIVE
A self-motivated indivdual interested in advocacy and giving back to the community, pursuing a path towards a law degree. Looking to further develop existing skills and expand knowledge of legal field.
EDUCATION
2016 – Present Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA Psychology GPA 4.0
EXPERIENCE 1/2017-5/2017 WeThrive Mentorship Los Angeles, CA Mentor
Mentored 8th grade students at a low income middle school in East LA, on how to run a business.
Identified the needs and wishes of the students for their business.
Taught the students how to create and deliver a PowerPoint presentation to pitch their ideas to their investors (the mentors).
Taught students how to research suppliers for their business, and how to raise money within a budget.
Taught students how to sell their product to the public.
1/2016-5/2016 Loyola Law School Young Lawyers Program Los Angeles, CA Mentee
Learned intricacies of court trials under law school student mentor.
Participated in mock trial.
Prepared opening and closing statements for mock trial.
Prepared question list of defendant on behalf of prosecution.
11/2016 – 1/2017 Old Navy Seasonal Sales Associate Los Angeles, CA Sales Associate
Identified and met customers’ needs.
Educated customers about promotions and specials.
Observed customer behavior to identify and prevent potential issues, called in team members and alerted security if necessary.
Phi Theta Kappa 2016- Present Honors Society (PTK) Psi Beta Psychology 2017 Honors Society SKILLS
Personal
Identifying needs of diverse low income individuals
Teaching skills to diverse low income individuals
Reading behavioral social clues, to ensure smooth interactions.
Ability to memorize and share information with ease.
Computer
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Google Forms, Docs, Slides and Blogger.
YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat
Slack Messaging app. Languages
English
Farsi CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
SMC Psychology Club
SMC Pre-law Society
SMC Scholars Program
SMC Inter Club Council Chair – incoming.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Tutoring High School Students
Metropolitan State Hospital Volunteer
Cover Letter Guide CAREER SERVICES CENTER
General Guidelines:
• Clearly state the position you are applying for and highlight the key skills you have that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.
• Show a bit of your passion and personality as it relates to the company or position you are applying for.
• Explain your connection to the position you are applying for, especially if your background is not a clear match with the position being applied for.
Recommended Content:
6) Contact Information: Your contact information should match the contact information on your resume. • Your first and last name • A phone number you can be reached (preferably a phone with voice mail set up). • List a professional sounding email address that you check regularly. • The city and state you live in. (including a street address is optional)
7) Salutation: • Dear Mr./Ms.(if you can get the name of the Hiring Manger include it here or simply state “Hiring
Manager” or “Internship Coordinator“ as appropriate),
8) Opening Paragraph – State the position you are applying for: • State the exact title of the job you are seeking. • Include how you became aware of the position. • Explain why you chose this department, job or company.
9) Middle Paragraph – Ties together the employers needs and your skills: • Must include:
o Write a two or three sentences that summarizes the skills that you have that the employer is looking for. Give specific but brief examples of the tasks that you have used those skills to accomplish. The skills the employer is looking for are listed in the job description.
o Be professional but not overly formal. o This is an opportunity to showcase a bit of your personality with your writing.
• May include:
o Any ideas you have about how you can help the company in this position. o A story about how you developed your passion for the company in one or two sentences. o Information about any gaps in employment if necessary.
• Do not:
o Write what the position can do for you (i.e. Build skills and experience). o Highlight skills or ideas that are not relevant to the position that you are applying for, or that
you cannot substantiate with an example. o Make apologies for anything you are missing.
10) Closing Paragraph – State the next steps: • Thank the employer for his/his her time and consideration. Mention that your resume is attached
and that you would like the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications.
Santa Monica College | Career Services Center | 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Tel: 310.434.4337 | smc.edu/careerservices
First Last Name 310.555.1212 l Los Angeles, CA l First&[email protected] Dear Hiring Manager, I am interested in the Bank Teller position that you are currently seeking to fill. For two years I have worked with a diverse clientele, providing excellent customer service, and exceeding sales goals. At McDonald’s, I was given the responsibility of opening and closing the cash register and tracking daily sales. At the Gap, I always exceeded my daily sales goals. At Saint Ann’s I helped promote and organize the annual fund raising event to help support the schools music program. I am currently studying business at Santa Monica College. I believe my ability to handle a high volume of fast paced transactions, and my accomplishments with sales and promotions, in addition to my educational background, make me an excellent candidate for this position. I have attached my resume for your review and look forward to further discussing my qualifications in person. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, First & Last Name
Sample Cover Letter:
Santa Monica College | Career Services Center | 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Tel: 310.434.4337 | smc.edu/careerservices
Dr. Susan Brown Professor Department of Communications Santa Monica College (310) 434-8002 [email protected] Dr. Margaret Jones Associate Professor Department of Computer Science Santa Monica College (310) 434-8062 [email protected] Victoria Mason Store Manager Macy’s Department Store (424) 608-1923 Mason_victoria@macy’s.com
General Guidelines:
Companies ask for references to verify the information included on your resume and get insight into your character. Below please find tips of how to prepare your references.
• Keep your reference list consistent with your resume. That is, use the same paper, typeface and heading format.
• Ask for permission before you list someone as a reference. • Ask if they have any reservations about providing a reference for you. If so, you may want to ask
someone else. • List three references in the order in which you want them to be contacted. Begin with including the
professional and/or academic references that correspond to the experiences listed on your resume. Use personal references as a last resort.
• Prepare your reference before they are contacted. Give them a copy of your resume and keep them appraised of your progress. Let them know when to expect a reference call and who may be calling. Describe the position that you are applying for and ask your reference to highlight the
experiences that are most relevant to the position you are seeking. Remember that they are probably providing references for many students, so help them
help you. • Let your references know the outcome of your job search. Be sure to send a thank you note
acknowledging them for their assistance. • Bring extra copies of your reference list to an interview (along with extra copies of your resume.) • Only provide the references when the employer requests them.
Sample Reference List:
Santa Monica College | Career Services Center | 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Tel: 310.434.4337 | smc.edu/careerservices
CAREER SERVICES CENTER RESUME RESOURCE FOR PRE-LAW/LAW PATHWAY PROGRAM
(Information is to be used as a guidance and not repeated verbatim)
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CREATING YOUR RESUME
Your job search is in full-swing. You’ve done your research. You know which companies/organizations you want to work at, now it is time to create an award winning resume that is always up-to-date. The goal of a resume is to market your skills, experiences and accomplishments, supplement a standardized job application, and most importantly, a way for you to obtain a phone and/or in-person interview. You should always use your resume as a guideline, as you prepare for an interview. During an interview, an employer may also use your resume to guide the interview.
Aesthetics: Craft a resume that is neat, easy to read, and professional. Be consistent in font choice, text size, type of heading, etc. For example don’t use caps for one job title and lowercase for the next job title. Try to avoid a busy resume. Leave generous margins. Avoid anything too flashy. You want an employer to be dazzled by your skills, knowledge and experiences and not distracted by images.
Content: On average, employers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume, so it essential to tailor your resume to the position you want. Make sure your resume is well-organized and avoids abbreviations. Appearance matters! To stand out from other candidates, create a document that is clearly written, error-free, and of high quality content. Include experiences and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job description. Never misrepresent yourself. It can come back to you.
If needed, include transferable skills. Do not include clip art, photographs or other personal data information such as age, weight, height, social security number, driver’s license, birthdate, or marital status.
Layout: Start off with a blank Word document. Templates are usually not recommended because they may not allow you to easily move information or change bullets, fonts or text sizes.
Accuracy: Review your resume. Check for proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Don’t rely on spell check. Have several individuals review your resume and provide feedback. Schedule an appointment to have your resume reviewed by the Career Services Center. Make sure your resume is 100% error free.
Font: Use a font that is easy to read. Avoid script fonts or fonts with too much design. Keep your font type size between 10 point and 12 point. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri and Cambria are good choices.
Hard Copy (Paper) Use a high quality paper stock. Typically white, ivory, off-white or a very light grey are generally used. Avoid paper that has patterns and can give an unclean appearance when photocopied. You should use the same paper for your cover letter and list of reference. Don’t fold, photocopy, double sided, or staple your resume.
Digital Versions: For online job applications or when sending resumes via email, always convert your resume to PDF (Portable Document Format). Do not provide digital versions of your resume in Word or Google Doc. This will preserve your formatting. When saving your document, always include your first and last name in the title of your file.
Length: It is also recommended that new professionals, keep their resume to 1, no more than 2 pages. To narrow down your resume, remove content that is not closely related to the job description. Note that some law school applications have a strict 1-page limit, while others are flexible.
Margins: Use an appropriate amount of whitespace throughout your resume. Your resume should not look crowded. Standard practice is .8 inch to 1.5 inch margins.
Order: Each section of your resume, should always follow a reverse chronological order (most recent listed first, followed by older dates). Place your most important information toward the top.
CAREER SERVICES CENTER RESUME RESOURCE FOR PRE-LAW/LAW PATHWAY PROGRAM
(Information is to be used as a guidance and not repeated verbatim)
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CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF YOUR RESUME
Know there is no correct way to frame your resume, but there are some best practices and standards. The following elements, unless noted as optional, appear on every resume used to apply for jobs.
Heading: The heading needs to include your first and last name and the following contact information. Use the same header for your resume, cover letter, references, etc. When posting your resume on the Internet, consider whether you want your resume to be public. This may determine what information you list.
Name: It should be a larger font type size that makes your name stand out, easy to read, but not look out of place. The font type size can range from 16 to 22 point and bolding is optional. Make sure your name matches your resume, cover letter, online application materials, calls to references and background checks. If you are referred to by a nickname, for example, some international students go by an alternative name and not their given name, one of the ways to list your name is
o First or Given Name “Preferred Name” Last Name, Surname or Family Name
Address: Typically, listing your address is standard on resumes. However, as the landscape of communication changes, your address is sensitive information that you should list on your resume if and when you feel comfortable. Check to see if the job application requires a physical address on the resume. Some alternatives to listing a physical address include
o City, State
o City, State, Zip Code
Email Address: List a professional email that you check regularly. If an employer needs to contact you, this is one of the methods they may choose to use. A combination of your first and last name is common.
Phone Number: List a phone number with a voicemail set up to receive message. If you use your cell phone as your contact phone number, be prepared to handle a professional conversation whenever you answer your phone. When listing your number, do not use a hyphen directly after the area code. Make sure to use a professional outgoing message on your phone. For example, “You have reached the voicemail of Julie Conners, I am sorry I missed your call. Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.
Personal website/LinkedIn public profiles: Only include personal websites/LinkedIn accounts if they are current and up-to-date, relevant and will enhance your chance of obtaining an interview.
Certifications/Trainings: List certificates and training and when you received or expect to receive them. Only list certificates/training related to the job description.
Education: List the institution, city, state and (expected) graduation month/year. Include the full name of your (expected) degree. You can also include Minors. Degrees are written in singular form and with the most recent degree first. To ensure the name of your degree is accurate, check with the department at the school issuing degrees. At SMC, check with Admissions and Records. GPA should only be listed if it is 3.25 or higher. If space permits, other areas include study abroad, relevant coursework, academic awards, Dean’s list, honor societies and merit-based scholarships. Do not include your high school unless it is nationally recognized or you are applying for a position at that school. If you are planning to include coursework, only list course that are pertinent, especially if your major/degree do not relate to your employment goal.
CAREER SERVICES CENTER RESUME RESOURCE FOR PRE-LAW/LAW PATHWAY PROGRAM
(Information is to be used as a guidance and not repeated verbatim)
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Experience: The area that employers and law schools focus the most time reviewing is your experience. Experiences can include paid or unpaid opportunities, part-time or full-time work, internships, volunteer work, significant leadership experience, class projects, service-learning experiences, etc. List the position title, organization name, location (city, state) and start to end date. Examples include January 2018 – Present or January 2018 – March 2019. Experiences need to be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent listed first, followed by older dates). Aside from your education and academic performance, employers and law schools are most interested in your work experience and community/campus involvement. They will be looking for evidence of American Bar Association’s recommended skills such as the ability to analyze/problem solve, manage your time, research, written and oral communication, and community involvement.
Your experience can be listed/grouped together in a variety of ways. Group experiences together based on similarities. If you are limited in space, be sure to focus more on your direct experiences that are related to your ability to analyze/problem solve, manage your time, conduct research, write and speaking skills, and your community involvement. Again, it is important to choose experiences that are relevant and tailored to the position you want. It is not required to list all of your experiences on your resume. These are some examples of how to group your experiences.
Legal Experience: This area is where you highlight any paid, unpaid, internships, volunteer work in any law-related work. You can also include any work performed as part of your educational experience that is law-related. For example, you should include your experiential learning experience in POL SCI 94. Note any product you have completed and the areas in which you were working.
Academic Experience: In this area, you should include any relevant class/research projects, field work, service-learning experiences completed in other courses. You can also list any academic presentations/publications.
Professional Work Experience: Although employers and law schools might focus more on experiences directly related to law, you could also include experiences obtained in other industries where you have accomplished and gained skills that are transferable to the legal profession such as your ability to analyze/problem solve, manage your time, research, your strong written and oral communication skills, etc.
Volunteer/Leadership Experience: You can provide experiences where you volunteered for a day to extended opportunities in which you helped communities or populations with a particular interest. You can also highlight the unparalleled leadership skills you learned as a student leader in a student club, sports program or other organization. For law schools especially, admissions committees are very interested in filling their incoming classes with active and engaged students who will contribute to their student life.
Accomplishments: After each experience, highlight your accomplishments, skills and knowledge, using bullet points. Use simple, but professional bullets such as circles and squares. Checkmarks, hands or pencils bullet points are distracting and deters employers away from your accomplishments. Eliminate the words such as “I,” “my,” and “we” and quantify experiences, whenever possible. Always use present tense if the experience is current and past tense if the experience is no longer being done. List no fewer than 2 bulleted points.
Construct statements that explain what you did in the position, how you did it and the results of your actions (action verb + example + result). Examples include:
Prepared and drafted 10 restraining orders based on interviews with witnesses, victims and law enforcement.
Assisted with fact development for litigation by interviewing potential name plaintiffs
CAREER SERVICES CENTER RESUME RESOURCE FOR PRE-LAW/LAW PATHWAY PROGRAM
(Information is to be used as a guidance and not repeated verbatim)
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Researched insurance law to develop strategy for settlement negotiations for client’s ADA and medical claim
Prepared 6 to 10-page self-help guides for consumers in plain language that explained immigration rights.
Action Verbs for Pre-Law/Law Pathway Program Resumes
Skills/Language: Always list skills or knowledge of language near the top of your resume, if it is related to the job description. This area is optional and can be placed near the bottom of your resume, after any experience, if the language/skill is a bonus. If listing language, always note level of proficiency.
Objective: A well-crafted objectives signals to an employer that you are clear about the position you are seeking and the positions available with an employer. This area is optional. Objectives can hinder your chances of obtaining an interview if you list an objective that does not match the position for which you are applying or if it doesn’t support the content of your resume. Objectives are often used when posting a resume to an electronic job board or when handing out your resume at a job fair. You do not need to include an objective for resume for law school. The objective for a law school is self-explanatory. You want to gain admissions to law school.
Summary of Qualifications: Typically, this area is optional and reserved for those with more professional experience. This area helps employers understand how your experiences fit together. It is a brief opportunity for you to communicate your experience, training and abilities as it pertains to the specific job.
CAREER SERVICES CENTER RESUME RESOURCE FOR PRE-LAW/LAW PATHWAY PROGRAM
(Information is to be used as a guidance and not repeated verbatim)
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REFERENCES
List your references on a separate document from your resume. Use the same paper and header as your resume (be consistent). On this page, list 3-5 professional references and their current title, agency or organizations with which they are currently affiliated, address, preferred phone numbers and email address. In certain cases, you can also list your reference’s relationship to you (former supervisor, advisor, etc.).
Professional references might include professors/instructors, past and/or current supervisors, volunteer/internship coordinators, co-workers, people you have supervised, counselors, advisors, etc. However, select your references carefully. Make sure they know you well enough to speak on your behalf in a positive way. Generally, roommates, friends, and/or family members do not make good professional references.
Be sure to ask for permission before listing them. Let them know you are applying for a job in t and there is a possibility, an employer may ask them for a reference. If it has been a while since receiving permission, ask for permission again. It is also important to let your references know whether your name has changed before an employer calls them for a reference check. It is also good practice, to send a copy of your resume to all of your references. It will provide references with a better idea of your skills, knowledge and experiences. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
www.smc.edu/hiresmc is a free searchable employer database, like Indeed.com or LinkedIn, but only available to SMC students. Companies list off-campus jobs (Part-time and Full-time), internships, on-campus jobs as well as volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit the following page: http://www.smc.edu/StudentServices/CareerServicesCenter/Documents/OCR/hireSMC%20student%20full%20sheet.pdf ADDITIONAL CAREER RELATED ASSISTANCE
The following are the services offered by the SMC Career Services Center to SMC students who are currently enrolled in 3 units or more or are currently enrollment in Counseling 12 or Counseling 16 at SMC. To receive assistance in these areas, please contact the SMC Career Services Center at (310) 434-4337 to schedule an appointment. The Career Services Center is located on main campus (1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405).
Assistance with Major/Career Selection Mock Interviews
Career Exploration and Planning Recruitment and Networking Events
Class/Group Presentations (Request from the instructor)
Resume and Cover Letter Development, Writing and Critiquing
Part-Time and Full-Time Employment Resources/Listings
Applied and Service-Learning Opportunities
Internship Program and Resources Volunteer Opportunities
LinkedIn Profile Development Workshop on Career Relevant Topics
On-campus Employment Student Help and/or Federal Work Study (FWS) Listings
