HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION POWER RESUMES HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION

GENERAL FORMAT ONE PAGE ONLY!!!!!! FIRMS SPECIFICALLY LOOK FOR 3 TYPES OF ITEMS: Academics (Major, GPA, expected graduation) Work Experience Activities

BASIC SKILLS TO EMPHASIZE LEADERSHIP ‘PEOPLE SKILLS’ COMMUNICATION TIME MANAGEMENT ABILITY TO WORK UNSUPERVISED

EDUCATION Degree : GPA EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE CPA EXAM ELIGIBILITY Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a major in Accounting GPA EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE CPA EXAM ELIGIBILITY OPTIONAL Foreign language fluency Computer skills (other than basic Office) Self financing of education

WORK EXPERIENCE Reverse Chronological Order Current jobs – present tense Prior jobs – past tense Use ‘power’ words in your descriptions. Include FACTS rather than SUBJECTIVE EVALUATIONS of your abilities

POWER WORDS Instead of ‘did’ Try: Performed Monitored Reviewed Processed Assessed Facilitated Instead of ‘made’ Try: Developed Prepared Maintained Coordinated

OPINIONS vs. FACTS OPINION: I am dependable, FACTS Only employee on duty during graveyard shift. Responsible for opening & closing restaurant.

OPINION I possess excellent leadership and people skills FACT Assist in employee recruitment, training & scheduling. Assisted clients with product questions and concerns. Foreman of fire-fighting crew for two seasons.

OPINION I am hardworking FACT One of top ten servers in terms of weekly sales. Developed monthly training programs to maintain a positive guest satisfaction index. Started as yard help, promoted to material handling and laying electrical infrastructure.

OPINION I am responsible, FACT Managed budgets of $25,000 and $250,000. Review, analyze and reconcile financial data for research grants totaling over $65 million

ACTIVITIES Student Clubs Student Govt. Greek System Circle K Mortarboard Multicultural Center Athletics Bookie Board Firms are generally more impressed with ACTIVE involvement with a couple of organizations, rather than ‘membership’ in everything.

AWARDS (or….AWARDS & HONORS) This can be a separate category or can be combined with ACTIVITIES

XYZ Scholarship (2003-2004) Selected representative to the XYZ student ABC conference (date) Golden Key member Beta Gamma Sigma member Dean’s List (6 semesters)

OPTIONAL OR UNNECESSARY ITEMS Objective Statement List of classes taken Class projects (unless it actually has ‘real world’ impact) Hobbies or interests “References available upon request”