Components of a Resume

HEADER

The header is the most eye-catching section of your resume because it contains your name. Because your name acts as an identifier for the resume, it should be typed in a font slightly larger than the rest of the resume type.

Also included in the header should be:

• Address- If you will be moving out of a residence hall at the end of the semester, or will be moving home after graduation, it is acceptable to list both addresses. Let the employer know the specific date the address will change by simply writing: “After month/day, please contact at (address)”.
• Phone number- List a number where employers can most easily reach you.
• Email address- Make sure your email address is professional. Use a school email address or create a free account using your initials, partial name, etc. Avoid cute or catchy email addresses.

OBJECTIVE OR PROFILE

While many students choose to use a traditional objective statement to open their resume, some students prefer to use a profile instead. Either acts as an appropriate introduction to a resume, but only one is necessary.

Objective: An objective is a statement of the candidate’s goal and reason for submitting the resume. For example: “Objective: To obtain an entry level position in the field of accounting that utilizes strong organizational and written communication skills.”

Profile: A profile offers a quick introduction to candidate and allows the person reading the resume to view a summary of the person’s qualifications. For example: “Profile: Self-motivated leader with internship experience in human resources, compensation and benefits.”

EDUCATION

For most college students, education should be listed within the top half of a resume. The education section of your resume can include not only your degree information, but courses taken, certifications earned, etc.

Once you have begun attending college, it is no longer necessary to include your high school education on your resume. Here is a list of some of the information you may include in the “Education” section of your resume:

• Degree Information (required)- Even if you have not yet graduated, this is the most important information to include under “Education”. Employers find information about your major, graduation date and institution to be useful in getting to know a little more about the candidate’s experiences. Within this section, include your major, institution, anticipated graduation date, and minors or concentrations.
• Grade point average (optional)- Only list your GPA if it is above a 3.0. Do not try pass off your major GPA as your overall GPA…be honest! If you choose to include your major GPA, include your overall academic GPA as well. If you work to pay for school, you may want to make mention of that in this section by using a statement such as “maintained a 3.0 average while working to finance education”. Again, be truthful! Do not include such information if it is not true.
• Certifications and Related Coursework (highly recommended)- Many students have earned certification in areas related to their coursework, such as computer skills training, CPR, first aid, leadership training etc. If you have earned certification in any area, it is appropriate to list it under the education section as “Certifications” and “Related Coursework”.
  
• “Related Coursework” is the section of the resume used to outline academic coursework that relates to the position applying for. This information is used by employers to determine the candidate’s level of knowledge about the field or subject matter. Include only courses that relate to the position you are applying for, and be careful to include no more than six courses.

SKILLS
The skills section of your resume is a summary of the skills you possess. When applying to internships and jobs online, employers can often use a key word search to view student resumes. For this reason, it is important to place any skills that may be of interest to the employer within the skills section. The skills section is the appropriate place to list computer skills as well.

WORK EXPERIENCES  

Work experiences make up the body of your resume, and can include a wide variety of experiences, from summer work to professional internships.

Do not neglect to include work experiences that are not directly related to your career field. Most employers view any kind of employment favorably because it showcases dedication and responsibility. Although you may believe temporary jobs will not be valued by potential employers, they truly are!

When listing temporary jobs on your resume, try to focus on skills you developed that are transferable into any workplace environment, such as communication, leadership, organization, etc. Although the experience may not relate to your career field, you probably developed skills that will benefit you as you begin your professional career.

ACTIVITIES/VOLUNTEERISM

Participation in activities shows you are an active member of the community, and employers know that valuable learning occurs in the experiences outside of the classroom. When listing activities, also include any positions you may have held within each organization. Employers think highly of leadership!

Although involvement with activities is generally a positive attribute during a job search, be aware that listing some organizations on your resume may reveal religious beliefs, sexual preference, ethnic background, political opinions or other private information that employers could use to determine whether or not you may be a fit in their companies. If you do not want employers to judge you based on your involvement with a specific group, you may want to omit the information from your resume.

AWARDS/ HONORS 

Listing awards and honors is a great way to communicate proof of your successes to potential employers. Employers truly value awards and honors because they offer evidence of your skills and talents, and are based on the opinions and thoughts of others.

If the name of an award or honor is not self-explanatory, you may wish to offer a brief description of it along with the title. Many students also include a date along with the award, although it is not necessary to do so.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This section of a resume is optional, although many students who have been active in their career field throughout college may find it useful to highlight involvement with professional organizations, attendance at conferences and seminars, participation in workshops, and study abroad experiences.