Composing Your ResumeContent
With the exception of your name and address, which should be placed at the top of the page, the information included and the sequence of the information are optional and will depend largely upon the qualifications you wish to feature. Following is a list of the types of information that may be included in a resume: 1. Name and Address: Give your full name (use of a middle initial is acceptable), complete mailing address (including ZIP code), phone number (with area code) and e-mail address. Students are advised to give both a college address and a permanent address. 2. Objective: If used, state the type of position you seek in very concise terms; avoid such generalities as ‘‘working with people'' and ‘‘challenging position in management.'' Care should be taken, however, to see that the objective is not too limiting. 3. Education: This section may include major field of study, degree conferred, dates of attendance or graduation date, name and location—city and state—of each institution. Grade point averages are optional. You may wish to summarize or actually list major courses or general areas of study. Use a descriptive title rather than full course names and course numbers. 4. Skills/Abilities: This section can be used to highlight skills identified in your self-assessment that can be important to your targeted employers. 5. Experience: In addition to part-time and summer jobs, include relevant experiences such as internships, co-ops, student teaching, field experiences, class projects, and community service. This may include position title and/or brief statement of responsibilities and achievements, dates of employment, and name and location of employer. 6. College Activities and Honors: List professional affiliations, honorary societies, and student organizations—specifying offices held and committee assignments. List honors received. If the name of the organization or honorary society is not self-explanatory, add a brief descriptive statement. 7. Certifications or Licenses Held, Publications, and Exhibits or Performances are examples of other appropriate categories. 8. Special Interests: If used, this should be a brief statement or listing of special skills, hobbies, and/or related interests. 9. References: If you are contacting employers in private industry or government, you may simply state “Available upon request” on your resume and prepare a typed list of three to five references with addresses and phone numbers to take with you to each job interview. If you have established a Career Services credential file containing statements of recommendation to facilitate a job search with educational institutions, “Available upon request from Career Services, The University of Oklahoma, 900 Asp Avenue, Suite 323, Norman, OK 73019-4057” is appropriate. In either case, select carefully the people you ask to serve as references. Your most valuable recommendations are from those who can comment about your academic and work skills, abilities, and aptitudes (i.e., professors of courses you have taken; supervisors of internships, practicums, or research; people for whom you worked during summers or while in school; and, if appropriate, supervisors of full-time professional employment). The people you choose should be contacted and asked if they would be willing to serve as your references. At that time, you might offer each of them a copy of your resume and provide them with information about your immediate career goals. |