Writing Resumes

First Steps Record important dates for education, employment, honors, and activities. Consider audience and purpose. What will your reader expect? What kind of job do you want? Vary your resume to fit the position you desire.

How should I format my resume? Use 1-inch margins. Use consistent, readable font type and size (such as 10-point Arial and 11 or 12-point Times New Roman ) with headings in bold and in a contrasting font (such as Arial if the body text is in Times New Roman or Arial Black if the body text is in Arial ). Use white space to separate headings from body text. Fill 1 page if you are a student or recent graduate, 2 pages if you are between entry-level and executive, and 3 or more pages if you are an executive.

What should I include on my resume? contact information education experience references (if requested)

Contact Information name home and/or work mailing address(es) and phone number(s) a professional address (such as instead of and/or web page

Example: Contact Information Ethos P. Tigris 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN

Objective An objective, or career goal you hope to achieve, is optional. If you include an objective, make it specific to the position.

Example: Objective Objective To obtain a job as a Graduate Student Tutor in the Tennessee State University Writing Center.

Education name and location (city and state) of institution level of education/degree along with major/minor dates of attendance at institution optional headings: GPA (3.0 or above), Relevant Coursework, Certification, etc.

Education Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, Aug Present Working towards M.A. in English Thesis: “The Tutor-Teacher Identity in the Writing Center: Styles and Responses” Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, Aug May 2009 B.A. in English Minor in Communications Example: Education

Experience name and location of company dates of employment position and list of responsibilities Use a bulleted list consisting of parallel phrases (If you say “Provided customer service” for one responsibility, you wouldn’t say “Conducting staff meetings” for another responsibility. Instead, you would say “Conducted staff meetings.”) Use active-voice verbs—see the list at the Purdue OWL.list

Experience Writing Center Data Assistant Tennessee State University Writing Center, Nashville, TN, Aug Present Collect Writing Center surveys Compile data from surveys Create PowerPoint presentations using data Peer Tutor Tennessee State University ICAN Center, Nashville, TN, Jan May 2009 Tutored students in English courses Compiled tutorial materials for use in the Writing Center Served as a guest workshop leader for the Writing Center Example: Experience

References name position address phone number

References Rhonda Kavan, Tutor, Tennessee State University Writing Center 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN Leah Soule, Tutor, Tennessee State University Writing Center 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN Lisa Williams, Tutor, Tennessee State University Writing Center 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN Example: References

Optional Categories & Headings GPA (3.0 or above) Relevant Coursework Certification Volunteer Work Professional Organizations Honors Activities Special Skills Languages

Final Steps Be honest. Test your resume by giving someone 20 seconds to read it; see if he or she recalls everything you want a prospective employer to remember about you. Proofread.

Resume-Example

Don’t forget: print the handout that goes with this presentation! Please complete a survey on this tutorial.survey For more information about how to write resumes or for help with other writing concerns, come to TSU’s Writing Center. Visit room 300 in the Learning Resources Center or call to make an appointment.