An overview of structure and content

• Try to stay on one page; if not, put last name on all pages

• Stay consistent (grammar, punctuation, style) and on the conservative side

• Do not use first person (I, we, my, our, etc.)

• DO NOT use templates in Word– Your resume will look like many

other applicants’– Sometimes difficult to upload on

web or to email

• Use good quality paper

• Name & Contact Information

• Objective• Education• Work Experience• Honors

• Skills• Activities• References

• Include name, complete address, phone number and email address

• Appropriate email address include hotmail, yahoo, or gmail

• Keep it large—make an impression!• Include both the local and permanent address if

you will be moving elsewhere after graduation

• Form: One or two sentences about the type of job you want and what you can contribute to the company in return

• Purpose: to catch the reader’s attention quickly• Be specific! State position title and couple it with

skills you possess that will be impressive to the employer.

• You can also state what industry or department you would like to work in.

• Be specific! State position title and couple it with skills you possess that will be impressive to the employer.

• You can also state what industry or department you would like to work in.

• BAD OBJECTIVES:– Desire retail position– A position as an editor that will allow me to use my

creativity and will challenge me with room for growth.How could this objective be improved?

GOOD OBJECTIVES:– An entry-level position in a management training program

with a corporation that will benefit from my strong organizational skills and previous retail experience.

– Education candidate with proven experience in the classroom and creating lesson plans seeks position teaching Biology and/or other life science at the secondary level.

– Opportunity to fully utilize industrial engineering and process engineering while working for a midsize manufacturing firm.

• Place near the top• Omit all high school if you have your degree• Know your degree, major, and concentration, and write

it out. For example, B.S. = Bachelor of Science• Just your month and year of graduation• Include G.P.A. if it is over 3.0• Add relevant courses, if desired• Honors

• Put all your experience, even if you think it is trivial• Reverse chronological order

– Position title, organization, city and state, dates of employment– Duties for each entry – use bullets– Bullets should highlight accomplishments and your impact

rather than just list duties– Focus on skills and duties transferable to the position you are

applying. – Use action words and numbers where appropriate

• Which sounds better?– Secretary or Administrative Assistant– Put together a report or

Compiled and summarized data using MS Excel– Maintained records for accounts receivable and accounts

payable accounts orManaged over 1,000 accounts receivable and payable accounts working directly with the Chief Financial Officer.

• Skills– Communication, Laboratory, Computer,

Languages, Leadership, etc…• Honors or activities you are involved in or have

received– Be specific with what accomplishments you made

• If you don’t have anything to include in these sections, just leave it out

• Include three to five references on a separate page with your name at the top

• Make sure you let your references know that they are listed on your resume

• Be sure to include the person’s name, title or relationship to you, company, address and phone number

• Email?

College of Basic & Applied ScienceNicole Green – JH 309

494-8797kngreen@mtsu.edu

College of BusinessKaty Riddle – BAS S123

494-8911kfriddle@mtsu.edu

College of Education & Behavioral SciencesLewis Gray – KUC 328

494-7709lgray@mtsu.edu

College of Liberal ArtsLucy Billings-Jones

Todd 226898-5364

ljones@mtsu.edu

College of Mass CommNancy Stubblefield

Bragg 130904-8154

nstubble@mtsu.edu

Need further assistance? See the Career Center website, or contact your career coordinator:

An overview of structure and content