General Formatting
- Created without using a template
- Font is consistent, in an easy-to-read typeface (Georgia, Calibri, or Tahoma), and 10.5 pt. or larger
- Verb tense is consistent (present experiences in present tense, past experiences in past tense)
- One page (contingent upon industry and/or job level)
- Margins are no less than .5” and equally balanced to leave some room for white space
- Uses bold to highlight section headers and other important information
- Free from spelling and grammatical errors
- Information is accurate, up-to-date, and avoids redundancy
- Skimmable in less than 15 seconds
Contact Information
- Includes name, email, and phone number
- Voicemail message and email address are professional and checked often
Education
- Includes school, location (city, state), degree, and graduation date (month & year)
- Most recent education is listed first; high school omitted after first year of college
Experience (both paid and unpaid)
- Includes job title, company/organization, location (city, state), and dates
- Uses short bulleted statements to tell the reader What you did, How you did it, and the Outcome (WHO)
- Bullet points start with an action verb, demonstrating skill such as problem solving, teamwork, time management, good communication, etc.
- Free of vague language (various, much, many) and acronyms
- Incorporates numbers whenever possible that indicate how much, how many, or what percentage
- Exhibits a variety of experiences when appropriate, including jobs, internships, capstone/course projects, volunteer work, club leadership, study abroad/away, research, or service-learning
Activities/Leadership
- Includes organization, role/position, and dates involved
- Highlights activities showing well-roundedness (teamwork, artistic value, creativity, leadership, interests) and leadership
Skills/Certifications
(Computer/technical, language, special training, etc.)
- Includes your level of skill: proficient, basic knowledge, training
- Avoids listing soft-skills that cannot be easily measured (i.e. good communication skills)
Honors/Awards (optional)
- Includes professional or academic awards, scholarships, and other special honors received
References
- Avoids using the statement “Available upon Request”
- A reference page, listing three to five references (faculty, supervisor, mentor, etc.), is ready to go if requested
General Tips & Reminders
- Correct Spelling and Capitalization
- List Experiences Most Recent First
- Good Use of Space
- Has Skills or Community Involvement Sections
- Avoids Word Repetition