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Your Resume, Cover Letter,

and How to Present Yourself

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Resume Essentials

Before we start, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline

-skills -abilities

-work experience -extracurricular activities.

This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

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The Content of Your Resume

The HeaderName, address, telephone, e-mail address, web

site address

Use a permanent address. NOT a residence hall. Use a permanent telephone number and include the

area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.

Add your e-mail address. Use your CU email- it is professional and one you should check often!

Include your web site address (LinkedIn or other site)only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions

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Objective or Summary

An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.

Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position/internship within an ______ engineering institution requiring strong ____ and ______ skills for Summer 2015.

Include a brief description of yourself (year and highlights)

Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.

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Education

Where should education go?Don’t have a lot of relevant work experience?

List their educational information first.Otherwise, list it after work experience.

Your most recent educational information is listed first, most students do not list their high school.

Include your pursued degree (B.S., B.A., M.A…), major, institution, minor/concentration and anticipated graduation.

Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.

Mention academic honors including Deans list, merit scholarships/awards, honor programs, ect.

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Work Experience

Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills relevant to the job. Use action words to describe your job duties. Put your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your most recent job first and work backwards to your first, relevant job. Include:

Title of position Name of organization Location of work (town, state) Dates of employment Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis

on specific skills and achievements. Elaborate!

Projects/Research-SEPARATE

Give the employer an idea of some of the projects you have worked on and completed.

This can be a substitute for a lack of work experience. Employers will look for the technical skills you gained during the course of the project or in research.Base the structure on:

What was needed and how you solved it

USE ACTION WORDS!!!

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Action Words!

Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Critiqued Detected

Determined Diagnosed Evaluated Examined

Experimented Explored Extracted

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Solved Summarized

Surveyed Systematized

Tested Adapted Applied

Assembled Built

Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed Converted

Debugged Designed

Determined Developed Engineered Fabricated

Fortified Installed

Maintained Operated

Overhauled Printed

Programmed Regulated

Formulated Gathered Identified Inspected

Interpreted Interviewed

Invented Investigated

Located Measured Organized

Researched ReviewedSearched

Skills

A highlighted skills section is suggested. If you put this section at the bottom, it will be the last thing employers see, so it is a good way to wrap up why

you would be beneficial to their company.

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Things to put on:Computer Skills (any programming

language you are proficient in, SolidWorks, CAD…)

Machine Shop Skills (specific machines)

Laboratory Skills (specific practices)Other technical skills

Additional

Leadership Experience Volunteer Work Certifications Additional Experience: Other, non-

related jobs

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AVOID

DO NOT make your resume over 1 page long: only very rare occurances will recruiters even look at a second…

DO NOT use “I” or “We” or “me” or “Ours”. No pronouns!

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SummarySummary - Resume Checkup

You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by peers, parents, AND a career counselor. AKA as many people as possible:

Content: Run a spell check on your computer before

anyone sees your resume. Get a friend (an English major would do

nicely) to do a grammar review. Ask another friend to proofread. The more

people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).

Professional Actions

Handshake! Everyone practice! Say please and thank you’s - general

politeness Smile Know the company that you are talking

to!

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Thanks! Good Luck!

Your Resume---The Road to Success How to Prepare an Effective Resume by Elaine H. King

http://careerservices.colorado.edu/

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