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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

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

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

14. 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”