Resume Do’s and Don’ts

SWE’S CAREER FAIR PREP

January 30th, 2013

7:00-7:10 Sign in and Snacks7:10-7:20 Brief Introduction on Resume7:20-7:50 Alumni Panel and Q&A7:50-8:00 Open Questions8:00-8:30 Peer Review and Group Discussion

SCHEDULE

Format and Examples

Action Words

Checklist

careers.usc.edu

Viterbi Career Services

BRIEF RESUME INTRODUCTION

Heading

Your name and contact information

Objective/Profile

Specific and positive statement of the type of opportunity you are seeking and its fit to your skill-set

Education

List of your education background (degrees, institution, date or expected date of graduation)

Relevant coursework

Skills

List of technical skills according to skill type (programming languages, lab equipment, etc.)

List of language fluency

RESUME SECTIONS

Academic Projects

Highlighted list of academic project experience as relevant to the available opportunity

Work Experience

Summarized list of tasks and projects completed during a work opportunity

Focus on leadership, results and achievements

Affiliations/Leadership

Activities or organizational participation outside of the classroom that demonstrate transferable skills

Interests

Relevant activities that are unique and interesting

RESUME SECTIONS

HEADER

Includes Name, Address, Phone Number and Email

Tommy Trojan555 Omaha Lane, Apt. B

Los Angeles, CA 90089

213-740-1111

ttrojan@usc.edu

Jane Bovard

3650 McClintock Ave 213-555-5555

Los Angeles, CA 90089 sharaz@hotmail.com

What types of positions are you seeking?

OBJECTIVE

Seeking a challenging position at a growth-oriented

organization.

Seeking a summer internship in technical support to apply my interpersonal skills and

two years professional experience in customer service.

EDUCATION

MS in Electrical Engineering GPA: 3.2

University of Southern California Expected 5/2014

Los Angeles, CA

BS in Electrical Engineering GPA: 3.5

University of Southern California Expected 5/2012

Los Angeles, CA

Relevant Coursework:

Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design Linear Control Systems

Optical Fiber Communications Systems Principles of Radar

Highlight tools and languages unique to your

skill set

•Technical Skills

Programming Languages, Software Applications, Lab

Equipment

•Language Proficiency (verbal)

SKILLS

WORK EXPERIENCE & ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Office Assistant Sept 2011 – PresentUSC Engineering Student Affairs•Data Entry•General Office Tasks

Ozone Flight Sampler Fall 2011Team Leader

•Collaborated with a team on the thermal design of reciprocating engine and rocket propulsions

•Optimized properties in order to reach upper stratosphere

ACTIVITIES

What organizations and activities utilize your

time?

•Professional engineering organizations a must!

•Campus & community involvement

•Stress leadership roles in organized activities

•Interests should be UNIQUE & INTERESTING

Drive/Motivation/Results

accelerated, accomplished, achieved, attained, augmented, completed, compounded, contributed

Teaching/Counseling/Helping

coordinated, corrected, defined, demonstrated, designated, developed, directed, educated, elaborated, elicited, enabled, evaluated

Technical

Engineered, enhanced, enriched, excelled, exercised, exhibited, fabricated, familiarized, finalized, formed

ACTION WORDS

Management/Leadership

accounted for, administered, analyzed, centralized, certified, chaired, changed, commissioned, committed, concluded

Organizational/Time Management

integrated, monitored, operated, organized, prepared, prioritized, processed, recorded

Quantitative/Research

investigated, involved, issued, judged, justified, led, licensed, linked, minimized, modified, organized

My resume is clear, concise and makes a positive

impression in 30 seconds or less.

There are no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.

My resume is one page.

My resume presents skills and accomplishments that

match employer requirements.

My resume accurately summarizes my qualifications.

Statements of job accomplishments on my resume start

with action verbs.

My resume is organized, easy to read and has a balance

between content and white space.

The type font is Times New Roman, Arial, Century,

Helvetica or Verdana.

The type size on my resume is 11 or 12 point and is

never smaller than 10 point.

CHECKLIST

Devon Shay (Signal Hill Petroleum)

Leslie Koehn (CAST Management Consultants)

Rachelle Radpour (The Boeing Company)

Melissa Allen (The Boeing Company)

ALUMNI PANEL

What are the must HAVEs on a resume?

What are the must NOT have’s on a resume?

What is something good to have on a resume specifically

for your industry?

What are the key words employers or the online filter

systems are looking for?

Other than attending the career fair, what are other ways to find an internship?

What should I do if I don’t get a summer

internship?

PEER REVIEW