A resume is a one to two page working document (not including your reference page). We call it a working document, because it is never final. We are always joining new organizations and gaining new employment opportunities. It is forever being updated and changed. Your resume will be a summary of your skills, abilities, work experience, education, and accomplishments. A resume is designed to provide a detailed summary of an applicant’s qualifications for a particular job—it is not usually meant to provide a complete picture. It is a quick advertisement of who you are. It is a “snapshot” of you with the intent of capturing and emphasizing your best professional attributes to get you past the first screen and into an interview.

Keep in mind that designing your resume requires you to match your transferable skills to the job description you are applying to. Employers give you a job description, so you can utilize it to build your resume. This means your resume may vary depending on which positions you are applying to. 

Below you will find two sample resumes. These give you an example of resume format, however you should know there are multiple formats you can choose. There is not just one or two that are appropriate. Be sure to choose a style that you feel comfortable with. You should choose a format that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to read. The moment a recruiter/hiring manager is trying to determine what you are trying to say is the moment he or she moves on to the next candidate.

We want you to make it to the top of the stack! For resume assistance, please feel free to make an appointment with the Office of Career Connections.