Brainstorm. Make a list of everything you have done or been involved in–jobs, clubs, organizations, volunteer work, class projects–no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
Review job ads carefully, paying special attention to the language they use to describe desired knowledge, skills, and abilities required.
Review your own skill sets and identify places where they match the job description.
Approach this task like any other type of writing. Be sure to revise and leave time for planning, drafting, and revision.
Organization
Consider creating a "master resume" that lists all your experience and skills, which you can modify for each individual position you apply for. Doing so is a good way to keep track of your achievements and accomplishments.
Decide what organizational structure works best for your experience and the jobs you are applying for. A chronological resume groups experiences from most to least recent; a functional resume is grouped around specific skills and job experiences; a combination resume is a mixture of the two.
Regardless of whether you use a template or visually complex or not, the goal should be to make sure your resume is readable and consistent in its style and formatting.
Content
Every resume should contain certain elements: this includes contact information, educational background, and work experience.
Consider including a brief professional summary or summary of qualifications at the top of your resume.
Other categories or sections to consider include foreign languages proficiencies; technical (computer and software skills); volunteer experiences or community involvement; awards/honors; certifications; publications or conference presentations.
You may include experience that is non-paid or "non-relevant" to the position–the goal is to highlight transferable knowledge, skills, and abilities from your experiences.
Describe each work experience with bullet points that use strong, consistent action verbs.
When crafting your bullet points, aim for specificity and clarity. Try to include what you did, how you did it, and what the outcome was.
The Writing and Communication Center can help you with describing your work experience effectively and checking for clarity, word choice, formatting, and correct grammar or punctuation. Make an appointment.
