A resume is a written presentation of your experience, skills and education. The purpose of a resume is to highlight your accomplishments so that you can get an interview. It should contain only relevant information, compiled in a brief and concise manner, and formatted to look professional.

What information will be included in your resume will be dependent upon your background and experiences. No one resume style is best for everyone. Try a few different formats and pick the one that most effectively communicates your qualifications and is most visually appealing.

The following is the list of things you want to put on your resume and in the recommended order:

Identification

At the top of your resume type your name, address, phone number, and email address.

Objective

States the position for which you are applying and/or the company, department or industry in which you're seeking employment. Check out this short video:

Your Resume Objective

Education

List your credentials, in reverse chronological order (highest degree earned listed first). If you have not yet graduated, you will want to include your planned graduation date. Highlight any special honors or special achievements you've received. GPA is optional on resumes, but should be included if it is 3.0/4.0 or better.

Experience

Also listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first). You will want to include the name of the employer, location, your job title, and the dates you were employed. The qualifications listed in your resume should match those listed in the job description of the position you are applying for. Your job descriptions should include your major responsibilities and emphasize your accomplishments, using action verbs. (Remember to include any internships that you have done in this section). Check out this short video:

Your Resume Experience Section

Activities

List any student organizations or activities in which you were involved. Include a brief description of your duties, assignments, or accomplishments, as well as any title you held.

Interests

An optional part of the resume that allows you to put down any hobbies that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

References

You should have at least three references you can supply to employers. These can include past employers, professors, or administrators. It is also acceptable to put on your resume that your references are "Available upon Request" if they do not fit on the page.

Things to remember when putting together your resume:

• Try to keep your resume to one page
• Carefully review and edit your resume
• Use action verbs to describe your skills and past job duties
• Make sure it looks clean and professional
• Never send a resume alone - always include a cover letter
• Best Format for Your E-mail Resume
  

View the following resume examples to get ideas of different formats you can use for your resume.

Example Resume 1
Example Resume 2
Example Resume 3

You will very likely find this RESUME TUTORIAL quite useful!

Be sure to have your resume critiqued before you apply for internships or professional positions.

Call to schedule an appointment for an intensive resume review, or stop in during walk-in hours if you just have quick resume questions.

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University of Hartford • Career Services • GSU 309
200 Bloomfield Ave • West Hartford, CT 06117
tel: 860-768-4287 • fax: 860-768-5141 • email: career@hartford.edu