COMPONENT BASICS COMMENTS
Identifying Data Name, street address, email address and phone
or message number at the top of the page
(include area codes and zip codes). Include
personal web page if you want employers to
see it.
Voicemail message, email address, and website content
should be appropriate for a potential employer.
Education Name of school, major, degree received,
graduation date, projected graduation date,
or dates of attendance if no degree was
completed.
Include any course titles relevant to the targeted position.
Honors and grade-point average optional; include if
among your strong points. If you attended more than
one school, list the most recent fi rst. You don’t have to
list all the schools you have attended. Do not list high
school. Additional training may either go here or under
a separate heading.
Experience/Work
History
Paid, volunteer or military work. Emphasize
tasks, skills, abilities, and accomplishments
related to the targeted position. Give the job
title, employing organization, and dates of
employment.
Present achievements, contributions, and results or impact
e.g., streamlined a procedure or made a cost-saving
suggestion). Experience does not have to be paid.
The components listed below are optional – use if appropriate for your background and the employers you’re targeting
Job Objective A one-line description of the type of position
you want.
Follows your name and contact information at the top of
your resume. Should be specifi c rather than a general
statement of your interests.
Skills & Abilities
or Summary of
Qualifi cations
Foreign languages, computer skills, offi ce
skills, lab techniques or transferable skills not
mentioned elsewhere in the resume.
Can be combined under this heading or listed
separately.
Languages State if you are fl uent in a foreign language. If you understand a language but are not fl uent, still
mention it. For example: Fluent in Russian, conversational
Spanish, or read and write French.
Activities & Interests In order of importance or reverse chronological
order, list student activities/ organizations,
professional associations and committees in
which you have participated. List any offi ces
that you held with the skills you used.
Include activities and interests that show leadership or
initiative or that pertain to your career interest.
Community
Involvement/Volunteer
Activities
List offi ces held, organizations, projects, and
accomplishments.
If the setting is political or religious, you may want to
use generic descriptions (e.g., Youth Leader for church,
Speech Writer for City Council candidate). If substantial,
these may be listed under “Experience.”
Honors Recent graduates and continuing students can
include academic honors such as Dean’s List,
honor societies and scholarships.
Can be listed separately or as a subsection under
Education.
Research &
Publications
Briefl y describe relevant research projects. List
published articles, papers or books.
Travel Include if your career interest involves travel or
knowledge of other cultures.
You can also use this as a way of distinguishing yourself
if you have signifi cant travel experience.
References You do not need to end your resume with the
phrase, “References Available on Request,”
but this is the best place to state that you have
“Portfolio and/or writing samples available on
request.”
Create a separate page for references. List names, titles
and contact information. Always ask permission before
using anyone’s name as a reference. Include people who
know about your work related abilities, such as former
employers, volunteer project supervisors, and faculty. Do
not use relatives or friends.
Identifying Data Name, street address, email address and phone
or message number at the top of the page
(include area codes and zip codes). Include
personal web page if you want employers to
see it.
Voicemail message, email address, and website content
should be appropriate for a potential employer.
Education Name of school, major, degree received,
graduation date, projected graduation date,
or dates of attendance if no degree was
completed.
Include any course titles relevant to the targeted position.
Honors and grade-point average optional; include if
among your strong points. If you attended more than
one school, list the most recent fi rst. You don’t have to
list all the schools you have attended. Do not list high
school. Additional training may either go here or under
a separate heading.
Experience/Work
History
Paid, volunteer or military work. Emphasize
tasks, skills, abilities, and accomplishments
related to the targeted position. Give the job
title, employing organization, and dates of
employment.
Present achievements, contributions, and results or impact
e.g., streamlined a procedure or made a cost-saving
suggestion). Experience does not have to be paid.
The components listed below are optional – use if appropriate for your background and the employers you’re targeting
Job Objective A one-line description of the type of position
you want.
Follows your name and contact information at the top of
your resume. Should be specifi c rather than a general
statement of your interests.
Skills & Abilities
or Summary of
Qualifi cations
Foreign languages, computer skills, offi ce
skills, lab techniques or transferable skills not
mentioned elsewhere in the resume.
Can be combined under this heading or listed
separately.
Languages State if you are fl uent in a foreign language. If you understand a language but are not fl uent, still
mention it. For example: Fluent in Russian, conversational
Spanish, or read and write French.
Activities & Interests In order of importance or reverse chronological
order, list student activities/ organizations,
professional associations and committees in
which you have participated. List any offi ces
that you held with the skills you used.
Include activities and interests that show leadership or
initiative or that pertain to your career interest.
Community
Involvement/Volunteer
Activities
List offi ces held, organizations, projects, and
accomplishments.
If the setting is political or religious, you may want to
use generic descriptions (e.g., Youth Leader for church,
Speech Writer for City Council candidate). If substantial,
these may be listed under “Experience.”
Honors Recent graduates and continuing students can
include academic honors such as Dean’s List,
honor societies and scholarships.
Can be listed separately or as a subsection under
Education.
Research &
Publications
Briefl y describe relevant research projects. List
published articles, papers or books.
Travel Include if your career interest involves travel or
knowledge of other cultures.
You can also use this as a way of distinguishing yourself
if you have signifi cant travel experience.
References You do not need to end your resume with the
phrase, “References Available on Request,”
but this is the best place to state that you have
“Portfolio and/or writing samples available on
request.”
Create a separate page for references. List names, titles
and contact information. Always ask permission before
using anyone’s name as a reference. Include people who
know about your work related abilities, such as former
employers, volunteer project supervisors, and faculty. Do
not use relatives or friends.