RESUME GUIDE

A resume, an essential component of a job search, is a clear and concise document which markets specific skills in an easy-to-read format and reflects both career and educational achievements. The information included should be limited to one or two pages, have good organization, and demonstrate quality writing.

Using Action Verbs

Resume Checklist

Heading

• Do not put "Resume" on top of your resume.

• List your name in large bold letters, a current address, telephone number and e-mail address. If your current address is temporary, list a date you can be reached until, and also an address where you can be reached after this date.

Example:

Anne B. Nurse
5135 North Halsted Street, Unit 3
Chicago, Illinois 60645
(773) 555-1212
a_nurse@rush.edu

Career Objective (Optional)

• This brief, but detailed statement should outline your career goals as it relates to the type of position you are seeking. It is best to use a career object when you have a very specific goal. A good statement is well balanced, concise, and powerful. A statement that is too vague does not tell the reader anything and wastes precious space at the top of your resume. Conversely, a statement that is too focused and wordy may detract from the rest of your resume and disinterest the reader.

Example:

To acquire a clinical position in an occupational therapy facility emphasizing orthopedics and sports medicine where I can continue to develop and refine my abilities as a therapist.

Education

• List all colleges/universities you have attended in reverse chronological order. Be sure to include the degree, name and location of the institution, date of the degree and major. Also include any institutions you attended where you did not earn a degree.

• Some optional items to list in this section: G.P.A. if it is an asset; minor; relevant course work or educational specialty area; awards/scholarships.

• Clinical experience is a part of your education. It may be listed after your degree(s), in a separate section, or not at all.

Examples:

June 2001

Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
Master of Science, Occupational Therapy

May 1998

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Science
Major: Biological Sciences, Minor: Spanish
G.P.A.: 3.85

Clinical Experience

• List each clinical experience in chronological order. Be sure to include the location, the department or unit and the dates of each clinical. If each clinical was completed at the same medical center/ hospital facility, it is optional to list the clinical location.

• You may choose to also include any special projects completed as part of a clinical requirement, workshops attended or presented or service related activities performed.

• This is also a good place to denote clinical honors received, if not previously listed under education.

Include:

Title of Course (optional)
Location of Clinical Experience
Department/Unit
Dates

Work Experience

• List the name and location of the employer, the position(s) held, and dates of employment. Be sure to include a brief description (using action verbs) of the relevant duties of your position, focusing on the skills you acquired.

• List all work experience related to your career objective. Skills such as organization, communication, leadership, decision making, management and attention to detail are important areas in which to focus. Positions which target a specific consumer group such as the elderly or children may be informative to a potential employer.

• Be careful not to reiterate responsibilities from position to position; be creative in your descriptions.

Example:

3/97 - 7/99

Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois

Nursing Assistant I

· Assisted registered nurse in providing care to patients on four different surgical units: orthopedic, transplant, general surgery and telemetry.

· Responsible for patient care, vital signs, recording intake/output, and blood glucose monitoring.

Affiliations

• List the professional memberships and/or academic associations in which you have been involved, as well as all leadership positions you have held within these organizations.

• You may choose to include the dates of each membership or leadership position (optional).

Committee Involvement

• List all committees on which you have served. Include the name of the committee or organization, the dates of service and any leadership positions you have held.

Community Service

• List any volunteer service you have performed. Include the type of volunteer work, the name of the organization for which or through which it was done, and the dates of service.

• Note: This is not the place to list service-related experiences associated with class assignments. You may choose to list those under education or clinical experiences.

Special Skills

• List any additional skills that do not fit into a specific category.

• Examples might include proficiency in a foreign language, computer or word processing knowledge, certifications, etc.

Other Categories -- Which May Personalize Your Resume

Awards / Recognition / Honors

Continuing Education

Credentials / Certifications

Publications

Speeches / Presentations

Research

Workshops / Conferences

Reference

• Though this is optional, many choose to include the statement, "References Available Upon Request," at the bottom of a resume. If space does not allow for the statement to be noted, you may choose to incorporate it into your cover letter.

• Names of references should not be included on a resume; however, now is a good time to gather reference information and create a separate reference list. Be sure to secure your references before including them on your reference list. When asking an employer or faculty member to write a recommendation, or to be used as a reference, be sure to provide them with an updated copy of your resume.

• Include the name (with title and degree), official job title, employer, address, phone number and e-mail address of each reference.

Example:

Dr. Mary S. Smith, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy
Rush University
600 South Paulina, Suite 1105
Chicago, Illinois 60612
(312) 942-6302
ms_smith@rush.edu

Using Action Verbs

Bring your resume to life by using action verbs rather than passive verbs. Instead of "Responsible for. . ." and "Duties included. . ." try:

Supervised

Trained

Documented

Created

Administered

Designed

Produced

Completed

Conducted

Coordinated

Maintained

Managed

Additional examples of actions verbs and power phrases are available at the
Monster.com Career Center

Resume Checklist

· Is your resume concise and clear?

· Is everything on your resume based on fact?

· Does your resume realistically and accurately market your skills and talents?

· Are grammar and punctuation used correctly throughout the document?

· Have you consistently used the same font on your resume and cover letter?

· Is the content organized so the reader can scan it easily?

· Have you double and triple checked for spelling errors?

· Have you had at least one other person proof your resume?

· Are you pleased to have this as a tool to represent YOU?

· Is it neat, clean and smudge free?

· Is it printed on good quality stationery?

· Blank cover letter paper and envelopes to match?

Helpful Hints

· Focus on using strong action verbs throughout your document

· Avoid abbreviations -- especially state abbreviations

· Never use "I"

· Be consistent throughout your resume

Do not include:

· reasons for leaving a former position

· personal information regarding height, weight, marital status, etc.

· a photograph of yourself