CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

• Resume Development 101

RPI Career Development Center Darrin
Communications Ctr., Suite 209? Phone (518)
276-6234
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What is the purpose of a resume?

• For
• Yourself defines who you are and who you will be
• Job Search helps you get an interview
• Prior to the interview Great cheat sheet that
  sums you up to review
• During the interview serves as a discussion
  guide
• Should answer the questions
• Who am I?
• What have I done?
• Employers question, What can you do for me?

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SAMPLE SECTIONS OF A RESUMEChoose the ones
relevant to you

• Heading
• Objective
• Education
• Skills
• Computer
• Technical
• Field Related
• Other
• Relevant Coursework
• Honors/Awards
• Activities

• Experience
• Relevant
• Work / Professional
• Project
• Leadership
• Research
• Volunteer
• Professional Associations
• Interests

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME The Heading

• Name
• Address (Present Permanent)
• Phone Number(s)
• E-mail Address (should be professional)
• Online Portfolio or Personal webpage
  (professional)
• Example

• Stacy Smith
• Phone [phone] ? Email SmithS3_at_rpi.edu ?
  Portfolio www.ssmith.com
• Present Address 110 8th
  Street , Troy, NY 12180
• Permanent Address 5 Brookline Drive, Salem, MA
  01970

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME Your Objective

• The objective can tell the employer what you have
  to offer and what you would like in return.
• The objective should be general yet geared
  towards the job you are seeking.
• Dont be too specific or it could exclude you
  from an opening.
• Example of an Objective
• To obtain a summer internship to expand my
  knowledge and interest in the field of Electrical
  Engineering.

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME Education section

• List most recent education first
• No need to include high school after sophomore
  year
• Recommended that you include your GPA if a 2.8 or
  above
• Example
• Education
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY
• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
  Graduation May 2011
• Current GPA 3.8/4.0
• Troy High School, Troy, NY
• Regents Diploma
  June 2007
• Final Average 99/100?Salutatorian

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME Relevant Coursework Section

• Try to choose 3-4 courses that have really
  provided you with a better understanding of your
  field of study. Good courses to use are ones that
  you did a project in and applied theory,
  completed research, used special equipment or lab
  procedures, learned vicariously through case
  study analysis, etc.
• Example
• RELEVANT COURSEWORK
• Introduction to Engineering Design
  Fall 2004
• Designed and managed the construction of an egg
  launcher device with precise targeting mechanism.
• Produced a mouse trap powered car which carried a
  load and optimized it to go the furthest distance
  in the given time limit.
• Created a car powered by a battery to go up an
  incline to a plateau and maintain its position
  against an opposing car coming up the incline
  from the other end.

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME Work Experience section

• Begin with your most recent employer
• Entries should include
• Employer Name, City, State
• Position Title
• Dates of Employment ( Month and Year)
• Description of job duties
• Use bullet format
• Use ACTION/POWER words (i.e. developed, trained,
  converted, reduced, increased, assisted,
  provided, coordinated, implemented, achieved) to
  begin each bullet / thought.
• If youre no longer employed at a certain
  organization make sure that the position
  description is in the past tense

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BUILDING YOUR RESUME Work Experience Example

• PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
• KMART, Albany, NY
  August
  2006 Present
• Sales Associate
• Assist customers with product selection and
  provide the best possible service.
• Named 2007 Top Performer in Customer Service and
  Sales.
• RPI Career Development Center, Troy, NY
  January 2006 - October 2006
• Workstudy
• Answered office phone and attended to questions
  from students.
• Assisted staff on various projects and
  assignments on a regular basis.
• Assisted in organizing recruiting and employer
  sponsored events.

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Common Resume mistakes

• Your resume represents your skills and provides
  a first impression of yourself to a potential
  employer. Therefore, one mistake on your resume
  can reflect poorly and decrease your chances of
  receiving an interview. The following are common
  errors
• Poor spelling/grammar
• Lying about your experience
• Providing too much information
• Improper formats/paper

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FINAL RESUME TIPS

• Type on your resume should be between 10pt. and
  12pt. font
• When emailing resume, attach MS Word File
• Be selective with what you emphasize using
  bullets or bolding-dont over-emphasize
• Try to keep everything short and concise
• visually appealing- when done with content look
  at format
• Ensure format is consistent throughout (Dates is
  same place, same font used throughout, section
  headings are uniform, etc.)
• Error Free (proof read for grammar, punctuation
  and spelling)
• Quality paper and printing ( Resume Paper)
• Be honest!
• Update resume as you acquire new
  skills/experience.
• Look through the attached PDF of resume samples
  for examples on formats
• Make an appointment with a counselor in the CDC
  to have your resume reviewed before sending it
  out.

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• Stop in to get your resume critiqued during
  walk-in hours
• Monday 100pm 300pm
• Tuesday 200pm 400pm
• Wednesday 200pm 400pm
• Thursday 1000am 1200pm
• Friday 1100am 100pm
• To make a 30 minute appointment at a specified
  time outside of walk-ins with a counselor please
  visit Appointment Scheduler
• Career Development Center (CDC) ? Darren
  Communications Center, suite 209 Phone (518)
  276-6234