Start by checking out some sample resumes and creating a first draft.
Next, upload your draft to VMock, our resume feedback application, for review.
The Career Center will print 10 free resumes (in black and white or full color). Fill out this form and pick it up at the Career Center in 1 business day!
A resume is a personal marketing tool used for communicating experiences and qualifications. It is important to have a well-crafted resume that is easy to read, free of errors and actively demonstrates what you have accomplished. Resumes will vary in look and layout depending on the intention and your unique background.
You may need a resume when applying for a job, an internship, a student group, a scholarship or graduate school.
A curriculum vitae, or CV, is typically used when applying for opportunities in academic, scientific, research and medical fields. Many fellowships and grants also require a CV. A CV contains similar information to a resume but provides more detail in relation to your academic background, making it a longer document (at least 2+ pages).
Resumes highlight accomplishment statements that consist of: Skill verb = a strong action verb plus how or what your did. How did you demonstrate this skill - what did you do; can it be quantified, who did you work with? Why did you use the skill = what was the result or impact; what did you accomplish; how were people impacted; can it be quantified?
A variety of formats may be used in resume preparation. The two basic formats - the chronological and the functional - are briefly described, as is the combination approach. Each has certain advantages and disadvantages. Most students seeking summer jobs, internships, and jobs will find the chronological format the most convenient means of presenting their background to prospective employers.
The chronological resume is the most common format currently in use. Sections on educational background and work experience are arranged in reverse chronological order - meaning you list your most recent experiences first and work backwards. Most recent college graduates will want to list their educational background first, and then describe their work experience.
The functional resume, while more difficult to construct than the chronological, can specifically emphasize qualifications, skills, and related accomplishments. Rather than listing experiences and qualifications in chronological order, the functional resume organizes skills into functional categories, such as Leadership, Technical, and Interpersonal. Many job seekers with varied work experience or those who want to change careers tend to prefer this format. This format is not typically recommended for most Miami students. If you are considering using this type of resume, please contact your career advisor for assistance.
Hybrid format that highlights your marketable skill sets and provides a brief description of your work experience.
A professional email address
Link(s) to professional networking site(s) or personal website
Your local or home address, but most people choose to not include their address
It is becoming increasingly popular to include links to your online portfolio, LinkedIn profile, a personal website, or even professional social media accounts to drive an employer to view your online personal brand as well. If you add a link to online accounts, please be aware of the practice for your career field. Students may add various visual separators such as a straight line or box to make their heading stand out.
Is an objective or a professional summary a better option for you?
Should you include an objective statement? The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) states that there is no real agreement on this. Some employers look for an objective and others think it is unnecessary. NACE goes on to state that if you do include an objective, make sure your objective is well crafted and tells potential employers the kind of work you hope to do. Tailor it to each employer you target and every job you seek.
The objective is a concise, one-or two-sentence statement that appears as the first major section of your resume. It communicates two things: what sort of job you are seeking, and what skills you have to offer. Your objective may be oriented to:
A summary statement is a brief description of your resume that highlights certain skills and accomplishments that you believe are most desirable for an employer or industry. The summary can be quite impactful if written correctly, and is one way you can help the employer understand what you bring to the position of your professional brand.
If you choose to write a summary statement, a good place to begin is analyzing your skills and accomplishments and match them to the industry you are trying to obtain a career in. Decide on your top skills and begin compiling them in a strategic way to make it clear for the reader how and why you would be a great candidate to interview. The summary should entice the reader to look further into your experiences.
The format of the summary statement can either be in paragraph or bulleted format and should be as brief as possible yet still be a well-rounded summation of your top skills and accomplishments. You may choose to bold or italicize words to further enhance top skills.
Below are examples of a summary statement in paragraph format:
Results oriented marketing graduate with experience in business marketing. Specialist in mobile app and social media marketing. Earned award during internship for most effective marketing project involving social media marketing.
Communications professional with 3 years of internship experience in advertising and social media communication seeking a position as a financial analyst at a marketing firm utilizing professional communication, interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Currently pursuing a CFA certification (1 of 3 passed).
The education section of your resume can include the following sections:
As an alternative, you may include your academic honors in an Honors and Activities section. High school education information is not necessary to include within the Education section after your sophomore year. First and second year students can list education and experiences from high school.
Before committing your experience to the printed page, you may find it helpful to first outline this information according to:
First describe your responsibilities using action words such as created, planned, analyzed, or initiated. Show you are a doer. A list of action words is included in the Resources tab to assist you.
Next think about the transferable skills you gained from each experience. Transferable skills can include, but are not limited to:
They are transferable because you build on them and carry them with you as you move from job to job. Employers often value these abilities as much as, if not more than, technical skills.
For each job, develop (typically) two to four phrases or sentences, using your list of action words and transferable skills, which describe your key responsibilities, achievements, and results. When possible, quantify the results.
Students who have been self employed as house painters, childcare workers, etc. should be certain to mention this experience. Do not overlook the importance of including any volunteer work you may have done. Properly presented, your recent work experiences will be of interest to prospective employers.
It is important to make sure you are telling your story in a complete way and not just listing tasks you completed. In order to write a great bullet point, you can follow the formula:
Action verb + context + result + quantity
Below are examples of experience entries:
If you have been involved in campus or community organizations and/or have received academic honors, these should be indicated in your resume. Memberships in nationally recognized professional associations are also worthy of inclusion, and be sure to write out all organization abbreviations.
Be aware, however, of simply laundry listing your affiliations. Most employers can spot mere resume fillers at a glance.
Be especially certain to include and describe any of your leadership roles in activities - such as offices held, project chairs or leads, and the like. Some students may choose to treat leadership roles as entries for work examples.
Students may choose to highlight any academic related experience that is related to their major and/or position they are applying for. Students with significant research experience may also include information about the projects they have been involved with, what professor they conducted the research with, and the result of the research studies. Capstone coursework is often significant for students to list on their resume and should include a description of the project, their role, and the end result.
You may wish to include a Certifications or Skills section on your resume. Indicating skills will provide prospective employers with a more complete picture of your background and fit for the position. THis section of your resume should be brief.
Study Abroad
Remember to include your study abroad experience on your resume. Employers and graduate schools will view this experience as an example of intercultural competence, especially if you include a description or examples of the skills you developed and what you learned while abroad. Did you study another language or become proficient in a language? You may choose to include your study abroad experience under another category such as Related Experience, Teaching Experience, or Professional Experience.
If an employer requests references:
Do not list a reference without first asking permission. In fact, it is a good idea to provide your references with a copy of your completed resume so they can speak knowledgeably about your background and qualifications if a prospective employer contacts them.
You should feel free to include other sections and tailor your resume to your individual needs depending on the career industry or position you are applying for.
Other possible resume sections include:
It is important to have your resume reviewed by Miami University Career Center staff so that your message is being conveyed accurately via the correct sections and organization on your resume.
In the United States, a CV is designed for an academic setting or research facility and includes categories that reflect academic experiences, research, or teaching related.
May include some combination of the following and take into consideration what are most relevant to the position:
Remember, the order you use for your categories depends on the position, what is most important for that position, and the standard format of your field.
