University of Central Florida Resume University of Central Florida The purpose of your resume is to secure an interview with an employer. As your primary marketing tool, it must make a lasting first impression. Think of it as a snapshot of yourself and your abilities. This workshop will help you begin the process of creating your own resume.

Formatting & Appearance Length should generally be one page unless you have extensive experience or graduate school work Margins – 1 inch on all sides Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial Type Size: 10 - 12 Point White, beige, or light gray quality bond paper Use a laser printer for best finish Employers look at your resume for an average of 15 to 30 seconds. To this end, your resume should be clear, concise and easy to read. Generally, your resume should not exceed 1 page unless you have extensive experience or graduate work. Further elaboration of your experience would be more appropriate for the accompanying cover letter or during the interview. Leave margins from ½ to 1 inch and equal on all sides. Ensure that you have a nice balance between type and white space on the page. Standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial are recommended. Font size should be between 10 and 12 points. Consistency is key. When using bullets, underlines, bold typeface, and indentation make sure they are consistent throughout the document. Laser print your resume on white or beige high quality resume paper.

Heading Top of the page Your name: large and bold Address: street, town, state & zip code Telephone number(s): with professional message Email address: professional, check on a daily basis Website (optional) The first component of the resume is the heading. The heading contains your contact information. It should appear prominently at the top of the page. Your name should stand out the most; use a large bold font. When listing your mailing address, make sure to include a permanent address in addition to your school address if you anticipate being away during breaks. Consider the impression you wish to covey by having an appropriate, professional email address. In addition, your voicemail may be the first contact a potential employer has with you. Ensure that it reflects the impression you wish to communicate in your job search.

83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837  (407) 555-8975  CSmith@msn.com Sample Headings Mike Jones 1 Meadow Way Altamonte Springs, FL 32116 (407) 555-1234 MikeJones@aol.com Susan Williams SusanWilliams@yahoo.com Current Address Permanent Address 325 Maple St 55 Sycamore Drive Orlando, FL 32837 Miami, FL 36829 (407) 555-3357 (305) 555-4429 Here are some examples of ways to set up a heading on your resume. CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837  (407) 555-8975  CSmith@msn.com

CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com This illustrates proper placement of a resume heading.

Objective Short Specific Type of position Specialized skills Preferred work environment Tailor to each position The objective usually is found at the top of the resume underneath the contact information. Your objective should be short, concise and specific. Try to keep it to 10 words or less and indicate the type of position you are seeking, specialized skills related to the position, as well as your preferred work environment. The objective sets the tone for your resume. Everything following the objective should serve to support it.

Sample Objectives Management training internship in a community service agency leading to a career in service to the public Program development position working with geriatric clients Paralegal position with opportunity to conduct title searches and other research Tax professional with a national accounting firm Special Education position with Orange County Public Schools Part-time legal assistant position with a law firm focusing on environmental issues The following are some examples of possible objectives.

CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com OBJECTIVE Laboratory position in diagnostic microbiology or related field. This slide illustrates where the objective should be on your resume.

Education Educational institutions or specialized training programs you have attended Name and location of the institution Major, minor and area of concentration Graduation or anticipated graduation date GPA – if 3.0 or higher Certifications and/or licensure related to employment goal Relevant coursework and/or thesis may be included As you apply for internships or entry level positions, one of your key credentials is your UCF education. So, this information should appear next on your resume. The Education section will include information about the college or colleges attended, which degree was obtained or will be obtained, anticipated or actual date of graduation, and details about your academic program of study, including relevant coursework and GPA (3.0 or higher.) When lacking significant experience, one way to convey knowledge and skills obtained is through listing relevant coursework. When listing courses, be certain not to provide a laundry list of courses; instead choose the courses that are most relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Samples of Education Section EDUCATION University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Bachelor of Science May 2003 Major: Biology GPA: 3.5 Atlanta Community College Atlanta, GA Associates of Science in Biology May 2001 GPA: 3.8 EDUCATION University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Master of Social Work May 2003   Bachelor of Science May 2001 Major: Social Work Minor: Psychology The following are examples of the Education section.

CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com OBJECTIVE Laboratory position in diagnostic microbiology or related field. EDUCATION University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Bachelor of Science May 2003 Major: Biology GPA: 3.5 Relevant Courses: Medical Microbiology Molecular Genetics Microbiology Physiology Immunology Food Microbiology Virology This slide illustrates where the Education section should be placed on your resume.

Professional Experience Related employment (full-time or part-time) Internships (paid or unpaid) Co-op Summer jobs Volunteer/Service learning Senior projects or academic research Ideally, the largest section of your resume will be the Experience section. There are a number of ways to present information about your experience. Include all relevant experience such as employment through full time or part time jobs, internships, co-op, summer jobs, volunteer and service learning experiences. Remember that senior projects and academic research can also showcase your skills and may be included in this section.

Samples of Experience Washington Mutual Orlando, FL Accounting Intern May – Aug 2003 Reviewed and corrected accounting entries Assisted with financial planning input and analysis, and generated reports. Identified nearly $50,000 in unpaid bills and mislaid funds through accounting audits University of Central Florida, College of Business Orlando, FL Graduate Assistant Aug 2002 – present Assist in class preparation, update computer files, internet research, and other organizational functions Present workshops on resume writing and interviewing preparation Provide individual career guidance and academic advising When listing your experience utilize the following guidelines: list your experiences in chronological order beginning with the most recent first. For each experience, provide the title of your position, the name of the organization, the location, and dates. When describing your job responsibilities, make sure to use bullets and start each bullet with an action verb. You may have had numerous responsibilities or multiple successes, so be certain to prioritize your bullets. The following are a couple of examples of Experience sections.

CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com OBJECTIVE Laboratory position in diagnostic microbiology or related field. EDUCATION University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Bachelor of Science May 2003 Major: Biology GPA: 3.5 Relevant Courses: Medical Microbiology Molecular Genetics Microbiology Physiology Immunology Food Microbiology Virology EXPERIENCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA Microbiology Intern May – Aug 2002 • Characterized LaCrosse virus from mosquito field isolates to determine if genetic differences vary geographically • Extracted RNA from mosquito field isolates infected with LaCrosse virus • Performed RT/PCR on the isolated RNA • Purified complementary DNA products • Quantified DNA product using agarose gel electrophoresis  This slide illustrates where to place the Experience section.

Additional Components Skills Computer Foreign Language Industry specific Professional Memberships Leadership Activities Honors Another area you may wish to highlight is relevant or technical skills. These are transferable skills you may have acquired through experiences including coursework, student leadership, computer usage, and foreign language fluency. As you acquire more skills in a particular area that may become a section itself – such as Computer Skills. There is some flexibility in terms of how you present your technical skills. For example when listing Microsoft Office software products you can list each application: Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, or cluster these under the heading “Microsoft Office.” If you list a language(s), you must specify your skill level in the language. Keep in mind that if you list a language, it is fair game –an employer can dialogue with you in that language.

Samples of Additional Components – add a skills sample PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Counseling Association National Career Development Association National Academic Advising Association HONORS, AWARDS and ACTIVITIES Florida Bright Futures Scholar Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society Big Brothers Volunteer Additional components/sections that can be included are: professional memberships in organizations, honors, awards, and activities. You may also want to highlight your leadership roles, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer experiences. If relevant, you may wish to include information about your involvement in college athletics. LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES President of Student Government Association Pledge Coordinator for Sigma Chi Fraternity Treasurer for UCF Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology

CHRIS SMITH 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com OBJECTIVE Laboratory position in diagnostic microbiology or related field. EDUCATION University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Bachelor of Science May 2003 Major: Biology GPA: 3.5 Relevant Courses: Medical Microbiology Molecular Genetics Microbiology Physiology Immunology Food Microbiology Virology EXPERIENCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA Microbiology Intern May – Aug 2002 • Characterized LaCrosse virus from mosquito field isolates to determine if genetic differences vary geographically • Extracted RNA from mosquito field isolates infected with LaCrosse virus • Performed RT/PCR on the isolated RNA • Purified complementary DNA products • Quantified DNA product using agarose gel electrophoresis  Let’s take a look at our finished product – the resume with all the components. LEADERSHIP President of Student Government Association ACTIVITIES Treasurer for American Society for Microbiology Pledge Coordinator for Sigma Chi Fraternity

References Separate page that complements resume Lists professional contacts who have direct knowledge of your skills and qualifications References may include faculty, former employers, and internship supervisors Obtain permission from references in advance Provide them with a current resume and a description of the position for which you are applying The focus of this workshop has been on what to include in your resume. Additionally you will need to provide a list of references on a separate sheet of paper. For consistency, the heading on the top of your reference page should be the same heading you used on your resume. Since the employer will request this information from you, the phrase “References Available Upon Request” does not need to be included on your resume. List professional contacts who have direct knowledge of your skills and qualifications. References may include faculty, former employers, and internship supervisors. Make sure to obtain permission from references in advance and provide them with a current resume and the job description. Be sure to select those who will speak highly of you and your skills and accomplishments.

CHRIS SMITH Dr. Jonathan Hopkins 83 Prospect Road  Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 555-8975  ChrisSmith@msn.com REFERENCES Dr. Robert Jones Chair, Biology Department University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL 32816 (407) 555-0000 Rsmith@mail.ucf.edu Ms. Louise Parker Research Coordinator Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 101 Peachtree Center Atlanta, GA 30001 (404) 555-1111 louparker@cdcp.gov Dr. Jonathan Hopkins National President American Society for Microbiology 1000 Dupont Circle Washington, DC 58221 (202) 555-2222 DrJohn@asm.org Here is a sample of what a reference page might look like.

Additional Resources Career Services and Experiential Learning is located Ferrell Commons, Rm 185 Walk in resume critique hours are: M-F 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Fall & Spring semesters) M-F 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Summer semester) For additional guidance on resume writing, please visit Career Services and Experiential Learning. Walk in resume critique hours are also available on a daily basis. Online resource: Optimal Resume