Resume Guide

Effective Resume Writing

  • Is 100% honest
  • Presents your most important qualifications
  • Highlights strengths and avoids shortcomings
  • Is brief, concise, and easy to read
  • Avoids the use of personal pronouns (no “I” or “my”)
  • Free of grammatical and spelling errors
  • One or two full pages in length, depending on your experience and the
    employer’s requirements
  • Government resumes and CVs are different and can be longer in length and more comprehensive in detail

Format & Layout

  • 10 to 12 point font, with a “textbook” style font, such as Times New Roman or Garamond
  • Single-spaced and a good balance between characters and white space
  • There are two basic resume formats: chronological and functional
  • The resume format you choose should highlight your strengths and be tailored to the culture of the organization or industry to which you are applying
  • Avoid templates, unusual fonts, or distracting colors

Chronological

  • The most common/traditional format
  • List education and experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
  • Especially good for candidates with a strong history of directly relevant work experiences

Functional

  • Organizes your most relevant experiences into skill areas
  • Provides employment history in a brief format
  • Works very well for career transitions, gaps in employment, or little or no work experience

Personal Information (U.S. Standards)

  • The only required information is your name, telephone number, and email address
  • Include other information (street address, social security number, citizenship status) only if specifically requested
  • No personal information (hobbies, marital status, birth date, etc.) should be included

Qualifications/Skills Section

  • Stated at the top of the resume and replaces the ‘career objective’
  • Should be brief, concise, and match your skills with the employer’s desired qualifications

Education

  • Spell out name of your degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts), include major, minor, concentration, college, institution, city, state, and date of graduation
  • List scholarships, honors, awards, special projects, relevant course work, study abroad experience, involvement in student organizations, and extra-curricular activities
  • Include grade point average if above a 3.5 (optional)

Relevant Experience

  • Both paid and non-paid experience should be included
  • Include your job title, the company name, city, state, and dates of employment
  • Provide detailed information about your experiences related to the opportunity you are seeking
  • Use strong action verbs and achievement statements to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments
  • Provide quantitative information when applicable, such as number of customers served, or percentage increase in sales
  • Achievement statements typically follow the format action verb + example + result. For example, change “tutored eighth grade student” to “tutored an eighth grade student in pre-algebra to raise student’s grade from C to B in six months”

Additional Information

  • Include certifications, licenses, language speaking skills (include level of proficiency), computer skills, publications, awards, and other achievements relevant to your career goals

References

  • List three to five professional references, such as employers or faculty members, on a separate sheet of paper, utilizing the same heading you created for your resume
  • For each reference, list name, credentials, title, institution/ company, telephone number, and email address, for example:

Taylor Baca, PhD
Professor of Biology
The University of New Mexico
505-277-0000 tbaca@unm.edu

Chronological Resume Example

LOUIE LOBO
lobolouie@unm.edu ▪ 505-277-1234

Summary of Qualifications

  • Two years of fundraising experience for both student and nonprofit organizations
  • Proven success building relationships with current and potential donors
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with keen attention to detail
  • Outstanding follow up skills and experience data-tracking with multiple databases

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Communication May 2019
The University of New Mexico (UNM), Albuquerque, NM 3.8 GPA

 

Relevant Coursework: Public Speaking, Nonverbal Communications, Social Psychology, Sales 101, Interpersonal Communications, Psychology of Money, Organizational Learning, Development. Learning & Memory, Psychology of Motivation

Professional Experience

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
Volunteer Mentor aka “Big” August 2018-Present
  • Developed and maintained strong, positive relationships with youth and their caregivers
  • Designed and produced digital marketing campaign for outreach to UNM for Mentor 2.0 campaign
  • Supported volunteer recruitment and outreach via social media marketing, increasing followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by 750%
  • Maintained consistency, offered encouragement, and role modeled for each “little” while practicing good judgement and enforcing mature boundaries
LoboTHON Albuquerque, NM
Marketing Chair 2017-2019
  • Spearheaded print and social media marketing campaigns for 2018 and 2019 LoboTHON fundraising benefits for UNM Children’s Hospital
  • Designed promotional materials to increase awareness of LoboTHON and attendance at events
  • Supervised a team of 7 in execution of tasks and determination of goals as well as ways to meet or beat individual and team goals
  • Co-raised over $150,000 in 2018 and over $250,000 in 2019, with an attendance increase of 25% from 2018 to 2019
  • Complied with state and federal regulations regarding donors’ private information
Vinaigrette Albuquerque, NM
Server 2017-Present
  • Diffuse potentially volatile situations while providing excellent customer service
  • Consistently outsold fellow servers by 25% each night earning 20% more gratuities on average
  • Earned Server of the Month in August and December 2019

 

Functional Resume Example

Lucy Lobo
505-777-7777
lucylobo@unm.edu


RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS

  • Proven success building relationships with multiple stakeholders ranging from city councilors and the mayor to civil engineering technicians and construction workers.
  • Outstanding decision-making and leadership skills with strong listening presence.
  • Creative problem-solver, excellent organizational skills, and consistent adherence to deadlines.
  • Expertise in math and physics with a unique ability to communicate ideas clearly.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Expected May 2021
The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM

 

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Project Management and Leadership

  • Co-led a team of six on simulation to analyze and present a revitalization plan for the ABQ Railyards Project; assessed environmental impact and risks.
  • Spearheaded site analysis, planning, design, in preparation for construction phase one. Assisted squadron in medical evacuations; ability to be calm under great pressure.
  • Liaised with multiple players, found solutions through sound research and extensive collaboration.
  • Served as Team Leader of Medical Flight Staff for hundreds of special operations.

Communication and Organization

  • Compiled and submitted list of necessary permit applications for ABQ Railyards Project, verifying compliance with city, state, and federal regulations.
  • Performed survey of existing conditions of the structure to assess locations, reference points, grades, and elevations to assist in construction phase.
  • Outstanding team player in medical military and academic settings.

Technical

  • Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software: Civil 3D, Microstation, and AutoCad.
  • Familiarity with WaterCAD, Microsoft Project, zoning entitlements and the permit procurement process.
  • Ability to work with maps, models, drawings, blueprints, reinforced concrete, and steel signs.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ABQ Railyards Project Co-Lead August 2019—Present
American Society for Civil Engineers, UNM Student Chapter 2017-2019
   
Aerospace Medical Service Specialist 2010—2018
United States Air Force