1. How to Write a Resume Remember that you are trying to look mature and professional. Keep writing expository, so stick to the facts, even while trying to present yourself in a positive light.

2. General Guidelines – Resumes R esumes can be one or two pages. Use basic common language font such as Times New Roman or Arial. Also, do not use graphics. This eliminates technical problems with scanning your resume or with employers receiving them on potentially incompatible programs or printers. Keep margins ¾” to 1”; use font size 11 or 12 for the body of the resume. Italics, underlining, shading and sometimes bolding can be a problem as these do not always look the same on other operating systems and/or printers. Create a "reader-friendly" document that uses white space effectively. Research employer requirements and highlight your qualifications that match requirements. Proofread your resume for grammar and spelling errors. If you don't pay attention to small details here, why would any employer trust you with the larger details of handling their business?

3. Contact Information--This is at the top right of the form I have e-mailed to you. I nclude mailing address, telephone number with voicemail, professional e-mail (avoid slang in your e-mail address); you may want to make your name a few font sizes larger than other information so that it stands out. Use between two and four lines for contact information. Objective Make it as specific as possible (for example, “High school student with good customer service skills seeking part-time retail position)” Skills & Abilities Summary/Highlights of Qualifications U se a bullet format and highlight three to five skills and/or qualifications that are relevant to the position you are applying for, and provide a brief explanation of the experience (s) that helped you build that skill or quality.

4. Experiences and Awards L ist any work you have done (babysitting, working on a shrimp boat/seafood shop, lawn care, etc.) and your most stellar accomplishments in that job. List these in order of most recent first. If you have none, then delete this section from the resume. Education I nclude dates attended, program, area(s) of study, institution. Include relevant courses if related to job you are seeking. Include GPA if it is above 3.0 (a B average or higher). Include clubs, sports, and other activities. NOTE: Some of you have been very active in school and will need to copy and paste the sections again and again, so it will make the resume longer. That's okay! After all, Pride Day is coming up, so let's be sure your accomplishments are not overlooked by your teachers.

5. Communication I nclude any details that show you have worked well with others. Employers look for people skills! Include anything you decide is relevant here. Leadership I nclude any offices you have held in clubs or sports at school or out of school that would display your leadership abilities. References I nclude anybody who could vouch for your character and/or work ethic, such as church leaders, teachers, volunteer organization leadership, etc. Many resumes only state “References Available upon Request” – when a potential employer is interested in making an offer, they will ask for your references. However, fill this (or any other) resume form out as the requirements demand. http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/first-time-resume-writing

6. Access your school e-mail and look for the resume form that I e-mailed to you. Download it to the computer and work on it. If you run out of time, save it on Office 365 and e-mail it to yourself. That way, it will be safe until we work on it again tomorrow.