RESUME

WRITING
WORKSHOP
Learning Outcomes

After today's workshop you will be able to:

Recognize the difference between a resume and
a CV

Explain when you would use a functional resume
versus a chronological resume

Identify proper the format of a resume and
content to include in a resume

Write a basic resume

Recognize the three general types of cover
letters
WHAT IS A RESUME?

A summary of your qualifications

Education

Experiences (all types!!!)

Skills

Marketing tool  an advertisement on
you!

Know your audience

Be prepared to spend ample time
preparing resume
HOW IS A RESUME USED?

Most often used when applying for
employment

Can be used to apply for a co-op or
internship or summer position, graduate or
professional school or leadership positions
in particular organizations

A screening tool – the 10-20 second scan

Resume  Interview  References  Job
Offer
WHAT IS A CURRICULUM VITA
(CV)?

Comprehensive biographical statement

Usually 3 or more pages in length

Emphasizes qualifications and activities

Should address faculty roles such as
teaching, research, service, professional
associations and presentations
HOW IS A CURRICULUM VITA
USED?

In the United States, a curriculum vitae is
used primarily when applying for academic,
scientific, or research positions. It is also
applicable when applying for fellowships or
grants

When seeking a job in Europe, the Middle

East, Africa, or Asia, expect to submit a CV
rather than a resume
HOW IS A CURRICULUM VITA
USED?

Overseas employers often expect to read
the type of personal information on a
curriculum vitae that would never be
included on an American resume, such as:

Date of birth and place of birth

Nationality

Marital Status
Remember that US law on what information
job applicants can be asked to provide does not
apply outside the country
FORMATS
Reverse Functional or
Chronological Skills-Based

Emphasizes work
Organizes
experience history information around
around dates functional headings

Highlights career which highlight
progression skills & abilities

Is what employers
prefer
Formats (continued)

Reverse Functional or
Chronological Skills-Based

Advantages:
Advantages:

Easier to understand
It will assist you in
your job history achieving a new goal or

Helps the name of a direction
previous employer stand
out
Skills stand out

Typically used when you
Disadvantages:
are staying in the same
Hard for employer to
field
know exactly what you

Disadvantages: did in which job which

Much more difficult to could be a problem for
highlight what you do conservative readers
best

Past companies are not
prominent
STYLE & APPEARANCE

Stick to 10-12 font size

Times New Roman and Arial are standard
fonts

Use bolding, italics, all CAPS, underlining,
etc.

Use lines to separate heading/sections

Use bulleted statements with action-oriented
verbs

½-1-inch margins all 4 sides are standard

Balance white space and text
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
(continued)

Use neutral, professional resume

paper – match to cover letter and
reference page

Use letter size, 20lb., white or light
colored paper

Use same style paper for resume/CV,
cover letter and references
WRITING TIPS

Spend ample time preparing your
resume/CV

Be prepared to write and rewrite

One-page resume is usually sufficient, CV’s
are two or more pages

Customize your resume/CV for each
position

Catch your reader’s eye

Accentuate the positive

Use action-oriented verbs and quantify
when possible
 Examples of Action Verbs

accommodated
demonstrated
handled
marketed

accomplished
earned
hired
organized

assigned
edited
honored
participated

assisted
enhanced
identified
raised

broadened
established
illustrated
recommended

budgeted
exceeded
implemented
revised

cataloged
facilitated
improved
summarized

chaired
formulated
led
supervised

coordinated
founded
learned
trained

created
gained
listened
utilized

decided
generated
made
volunteered

defined
governed
maintained
won

delegated
grouped
managed
worked
WRITING TIPs (continued)

Remember the three C’s

Clarity: make presentation clear
and concise

Consistency: do not mix categories

and dates

Conciseness: summarize and

highlight - do not pad

WRITING TIPs (continued)

How do I choose what will

ultimately go on the final draft?

What things are most relevant to the
job?

Which things are most recent

chronologically?

What things make you unique

among other candidates?

THE BASICS OF RESUME CONTENT

Categories used will vary based on your

qualifications and/or intended goal

Consider several versions of resume for
different targets

Describe more than duties/tasks performed

indicate skills developed/demonstrated

indicate value added – accomplishments
RESUME CONTENT

HEADING

Cap the top of your resume with:

Full name (can put nickname in

parenthesis if you wish)

Complete address (may include both
permanent and present address)

Phone number (can list work/cell
phone number - designate each with an
“C” “H” or “W”)

E-mail address
EXAMPLE HEADINGS
Cecilia X. Sample Cecilia X. Sample
222 Strawberry Lane 222 Strawberry Lane
Columbia, South Carolina Cola, S.C. 29208
29208 803.777.3972
803.777.3972 sexiicc@hotmail.com
c.xsample@mailbox.sc.edu
OBJECTIVE

The objective is an optional category
that indicates the type of work you are
seeking

Employers prefer objectives that are
specific and concise. If you know the
exact position you are pursuing or field
that you are considering, you may
include an objective. Otherwise, you
may omit this category
EXAMPLE OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
An internship at An internship utilizing
Computer Sciences my skills and training.
Corporation in computer OR
programming. A position in financial
OR services where I can learn
A management training and progress in my
position at Bank of career.
America.
EDUCATION

Degrees should be listed in reverse chronology
Include only those schools in which you earned a
degree

Names and locations of schools or programs

Graduation date

Degrees or certificates

Major, minor or cognate

Grade point average (if 3.0 or above)

Awards/Honors/Scholarships (consider a separate
section if more than 3)

Study abroad experiences
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO SHOW YOUR
EDUCATION
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Master of Public Health, May 2010
Department: Health Promotion, Education and Behavior (HPEB)
GPA: 4.0/4.0

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, May 2007
Concentration: Pre-Physical Therapy
GPA: 3.4/4.0

Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico

Summer 2006
Enrolled in language, cultural and science courses
RELATED COURSEWORK

This category is optional and can also be part of
the Education section

Mainly used when you are lacking related
experience but want to demonstrate specific
knowledge

List the titles of courses you’ve taken that relate to
the position for which you are applying
RELATED COURSEWORK:
Mathematics: Science:
Physics General Chemistry
Calculus Organic Chemistry
Statistics Biology
EXPERIENCE

Include full-time and part-time jobs,
summer positions, volunteer work, military
service, internships, self-employment,
research projects, and even activities if they
are directly related to the position

In some cases you may wish to divide this
category into two sections: one called
Related Experience and one called
Additional Experience
EXPERIENCE (continued)

EXPERIENCE
Clinical Pharmacist Assistant, 08/06–present
Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital,
Columbia, SC
• Partner with and help doctors and professors in

the Department of Neuropsychiatry and

Behavioral Sciences
• Develop positive relationships with clients and

co-workers
• Developed an archival system for patient data

and information
• Trained 12 employees on the treatment of

confidential documents
ADDITIONAL CATAGORIES

HONORS, ACTIVITIES, RESEARCH,
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

You may specifically want to list:

Activities or leadership positions that

demonstrate job related skills

Honors or awards (Scholarships may or may
not be relevant)
ADDITIONAL CATAGORIES
(continued)

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, awarded
August 2005 for Arabic language study at the
American University in Cairo in Cairo, Egypt. Study
period: January to May, 2007
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, 2006-present
• USC McKissick Scholarship, 2003-present
• Girl Scout Gold Award, 2003
• Howard County Asset Ambassador, May 2003
ADDITIONAL CATAGORIES
(continued)

SKILLS

We recommend a separate section listing
computer skills. Be specific, listing product
names and version numbers if possible

Students seeking technology positions

specifically should break this list down into

subcategories such as programming languages,
hardware, software, operating systems,
databases, peripherals, etc.

If you speak more than one language, you should
also list them here, indicating your level of
proficiency in each
ADDITIONAL CATAGORIES
(continued)

SKILLS
Computer
• Languages: C++, java, HTML, CSS

• Applications: Eclipse, Microsoft Office, Putty,

MATHLAB
• Machines: Unix, Linux, Solaris

Languages
• Fluent in French and Spanish, Basic knowledge of
German
Let’s look at some other examples

http://www.sc.edu/career/Sample
Resumes/bycollege.html
TYPES OF COVER LETTERS

There are three general types of cover

letters:

The application letter which responds to
a known job opening

The prospecting letter which inquires
about possible positions

The networking letter which requests
information and assistance in your job
search
APPLICATION -COVER LETTER

Should be specific to the position

Explain the reasons for your interest
in the organization and in the job you
are applying for

Explains how your skills relate to the
criteria listed in the job posting
PROSPECTING -COVER LETTER

Sent to prospective employers that

may be hiring, but, haven't listed a
specific job opening to apply for.
Should contain information on:

Why the company interests you

Why your skills and experience would be
an asset to the company

How you will follow-up and where you
can be reached
NETWORKING –COVER LETTER

Used to set up an informational

interview

Make your request clear

Why the career interests you and what
you expect to ascertain

How much time are you requesting (20
minutes is typical)

How you will follow-up and where you
can be reached
FORMAT OF A COVER LETTER

Use your resume heading as a

letterhead

Three basic paragraphs:
1. Why are you writing to them and who
are you?
2. Why are you the best fit for their
organization and this position?
3. How will you follow up with them from
here?
REFERENCE TIPS

Choose references carefully

Ask references

Gather accurate contact information

Prepare references

Keep references informed

Thank references
Final TIPS

Employers only look at a resume for 10 -20
seconds, make sure they get what you want
them to from that glance!

Always include a cover letter when mailing
out your resume

Paper clip, do not staple, your cover letter
to your resume

Use matching paper
CAREER CENTER RESOURCES

Resume Critiques - On-Call Counseling from 1-4pm,
Monday-Friday

Resume & Cover Letter Writing Books, and

Web resources (www.sc.edu/career)

Resume tip sheet
(http://www.sc.edu/career/tipsheets.html)

Optimal Resume

A web-based template/tutorial that provides resume

writing and formatting assistance

It is FREE for any current USC student

Select Optimal Resume from the Career Center

homepage

Use USC email address to get started
THANK YOU
FOR
ATTENDING
THIS
WORKSHOP!