1 Your Resume, Cover Letter, and How to Present Yourself

A Guide To Resume Writing 2 Resume Essentials  Before we start, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline -skills -abilities -work experience -extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

A Guide To Resume Writing 3 The Content of Your Resume The Header Name, address, telephone, address, web site address  Use a permanent address. NOT a residence hall.  Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.  Add your address. Use your CU - it is professional and one you should check often!  Include your web site address (LinkedIn or other site)only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions

A Guide To Resume Writing 4 Objective or Summary An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.  Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position/internship within an ______ engineering institution requiring strong ____ and ______ skills for Summer  Include a brief description of yourself (year and highlights)  Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.

A Guide To Resume Writing 5 Education Where should education go? Don’t have a lot of relevant work experience? List their educational information first. Otherwise, list it after work experience. YYour most recent educational information is listed first, most students do not list their high school. IInclude your pursued degree (B.S., B.A., M.A…), major, institution, minor/concentration and anticipated graduation. AAdd your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0. MMention academic honors including Deans list, merit scholarships/awards, honor programs, ect.

6 Work Experience Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills relevant to the job. Use action words to describe your job duties. Put your work experience in reverse chronological order— that is, put your most recent job first and work backwards to your first, relevant job. Include:  Title of position  Name of organization  Location of work (town, state)  Dates of employment  Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements. Elaborate!

Projects/Research-SEPARATE Give the employer an idea of some of the projects you have worked on and completed.  This can be a substitute for a lack of work experience. Employers will look for the technical skills you gained during the course of the project or in research. Base the structure on: What was needed and how you solved it USE ACTION WORDS!!! A Guide To Resume Writing 7

Action Words! Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Critiqued Detected Determined Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Extracted A Guide To Resume Writing 8 Solved Summarized Surveyed Systematized Tested Adapted Applied Assembled Built Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed Converted Debugged Designed Determined Developed Engineered Fabricated Fortified Installed Maintained Operated Overhauled Printed Programmed Regulated Formulated Gathered Identified Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Invented Investigated Located Measured Organized Researched Reviewed Searched

Skills A highlighted skills section is suggested. If you put this section at the bottom, it will be the last thing employers see, so it is a good way to wrap up why you would be beneficial to their company. A Guide To Resume Writing 9  Things to put on: Computer Skills (any programming language you are proficient in, SolidWorks, CAD…) Machine Shop Skills (specific machines) Laboratory Skills (specific practices) Other technical skills

Additional  Leadership Experience  Volunteer Work  Certifications  Additional Experience: Other, non- related jobs A Guide To Resume Writing 10

AVOID  DO NOT make your resume over 1 page long: only very rare occurances will recruiters even look at a second…  DO NOT use “I” or “We” or “me” or “Ours”. No pronouns! A Guide To Resume Writing 11

A Guide To Resume Writing 12 Summary Summary - Resume Checkup You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by peers, parents, AND a career counselor. AKA as many people as possible: Content: RRun a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume. GGet a friend (an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar review. AAsk another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).

Professional Actions  Handshake! Everyone practice!  Say please and thank you’s - general politeness  Smile  Know the company that you are talking to! A Guide To Resume Writing 13

Thanks! Good Luck!  Your Resume---The Road to Success How to Prepare an Effective Resume by Elaine H. King  A Guide To Resume Writing 14