Potential Resumé Headings
These are just some of the potential headings that can be on a resumé. Not all students will have these or other headings. The idea is to create an individualized document that best suits your needs and the needs of the potential employer(s).
Identifying Information
- Your Full Name in capital letters
- Current Address (and/or campus address)
- City-State-Zip Code
- Phone Number - E-mail Address - Home Page (if applicable)
Example
JANE M. SMITH
Campus Address: 123 Main Street, #3 - Macomb, Illinois 61455 - (309) 111-1111
Permanent Address: 22 Pine Lane - Lake Snobatorium Shores, Illinois 60600 - (847) 333-3333
JM-Smith@hotmail.com
Career Objective
- If you are going to include this type of information, try and be a specific as you can.
- Sometime this information is best saved for a letter of inquiry (cover letter).
Example
An Account Representative in the Advertising Industry
Education
- The Degree - The Major - Month and Year - (if the date is a few semesters away, write the "projected graduation date")
- The Name of the University - City and State
- Emphasis: (if applicable) - Minor:
- GPA: (overall, 2.8, 2.9. 3.0 or above) and always provide the scale
Example
Bachelor of Arts in Communication - May 2008
Western Illinois University - Macomb, Illinois
Minors: Management and Spanish
Overall GPA: 3.3/4.0 - Major GPA: 3.7/4.0
Experience
- This section may be divided into two separate headings, Professional Experience and Additional Experience.
- The reason for breaking up your experience is to "target" any career related job experience that you have acquired.
- After the heading, begin by listing your jobs in reverse chronological order, most recent and work back.
- Describe what you accomplished. What were you doing? Why were you doing it? What were the outcomes?
- Try not to list your job responsibilities.
- Follow this formula: "Action = Results".
Professional Experience
(Experience that you have which pertains to the type(s) of position/job that you are applying for.)
Example
Intern - The Consulting Group - Chicago Illinois - Summer 2006
- Assisted with the administration of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to assess employee's personality types and how they correlate with job performance.
(Note: This job is written in past tense because the person is no longer employed there)
Additional Experience
(This is experience that you acquired during your university years. These jobs are important because they are full of transferable skills and establish a credible work history.)
Example
S
ales Associate - The Clothing Store - Chicago, Illinois - 2003 to present (part time and seasonal full time)
- Assist customers with locating and selecting merchandise in addition to providing options and fashion accessories.
(Note: This job is written in the present tense because the person still works there when not attending school) Notice that the person has worked at this job for a number of years. This will indicate to employers that the person has had a steady job (part time and full time) during their college years.
Affiliations
- Fraternities, Sororities, Student, Civic, and Professional Organizations
Example
Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity - 2003 to 2007
Chapter President: Successfully guided a 50 man organization in all aspects of leadership, philanthropy, and community/campus service.
Skills
- Computers, Foreign Languages, and Personal Attributes are the two most popular but there are many more.
Example
Computers: Microsoft Office 2K (all programs)
Languages: Fluent in Spanish (reading and writing), Conversational French
Personal: Superior communication (oral, written, interpersonal) skills
Project Experience
- In and out of class group assignments, team experiences, etc.
- This shows that you know how to take theory and put it into practice.
Example
Training and Development:
- Designed an HRD intervention to improve employee performance at a local grocery store. Conducted an in-depth analysis of the problem by performing a Needs Assessment using Organizational/Task/Person Analysis.
Community Service
- Volunteer Work. (NOTE: Sometimes this experience may be with your "Affiliations".)
Example
Relay-For-Life: Assisted in raising over $2,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Honors
- Scholarships, Awards, Dean's List, etc.
Intercollegiate Athletics
- The name of the team and any sort of awards or recognition.
Example
Western Illinois University Football - NCAA IAA - 2002 to 2006
Gateway Conference "Player of the Week" - 6 times
Full Scholarship Recipient
References
- With more and more employers conducting background/reference checks, they are becoming more leery of "letters of reference".
- Seek out those individuals that will give you an "excellent" reference. Current & former employers and current & former teachers, etc.
- Create a separate page to list your references, providing the references name, title, place of business, phone number and e-mail address. You should try to have 3 to 4 different references.
Example
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
FOR JOHN M. SMITH
Ms. Victoria Langer - Vice President
The Consulting Group
(312) 123-4567
vl@tcg.com
Mr. Jack Cates - Owner
The Icehouse Corporation
(309) 999-5150
jcic@ice.com
Dr. Jane Johnson - Faculty Member
The Department of Communications
Western Illinois University
(309) 555-2222
J-Johnson@wiu.edu
Mr. Donald V. Corleone - Store Manager
The Crafty Beaver Home Center
(312) 448-6266
hitman@yo.com