Business and Management • Health and Human Services • Social and Behavioral Sciences •

Education to access all of our online tools and information, visit: nl.edu/careerbridge

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME? Your resume is your personal sales and marketing document.

The goal is to create enough interest to generate contact with your desired employer and land an

interview! Resume writing is more of an art than a science, which means there is no one correct way to

formulate a resume. However, there are plenty of recommended best practices. In this guide, we will walk

you through some of these best practices.

FORMATTING • CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Keep your resume ‘single spaced’ and formatting consistent. Avoid the use of

templates, tables or fancy bullets. Keep formatting clear and simple.

• EMPHASIZE major headings using capital letters and bold font.

• DATES should be listed on the right-hand side of the page.

• LENGTH: 1 page is best, but 2 pages is the maximum

• FONT: Use only conservative black font types. We recommend using Times New Roman, but Arial,

Calibri, Tahoma, or Verdana will work as well. Preferably keep font size at 11pt for content and 12pt

for section titles.

• MARGINS: Set margins to no smaller than .5” and no larger than 1” inch on all sides. Margins should

be equal on all sides.

• Don’t include pictures, graphics or personal information - (ex. age, children, religion, leisure activities,

etc.)

• Don’t abbreviate – spell out words like HR, Info, Mgmt., and Prof.

• Don’t forget to proofread – Check and correct ALL spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.

• References should not be listed on your resume, nor should there be a statement such as “References

Available Upon Request”- this is no longer used. Be ready to supply a separate document when asked.

CONTACT INFORMATION • Your name goes on the top line of the document (font size for your name can be larger, 14pt or 16 pt),

with complete mailing address (or just your City, ST and Zip Code), one telephone number with area

code (be sure it is a number where you can be reached and that you have set a professional outgoing

message) and one email address. Make sure your email address is professional (e.g.

firstlast@gmail.com) and one that you check regularly.

• Include your customized LinkedIn URL.

• Don’t place your contact information inside the document header.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY & OBJECTIVE

• CPSA students/alumni can use a PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY. NCE students can use an OBJECTIVE

statement.

RESUME GUIDE

• Professional summaries and objective statements are brief (2-3 sentences) yet catchy. The goal is to

highlight the years of experience you have, the related industries you have worked in, and

accomplishments/skills that are transferrable to the job you are applying for.

o A strong summary creates an image of what you have to offer that is distinctive—just

like brand marketing does for a consumer product or service. Think of it as your branding

statement.

A branding statement includes four key components:

• Who you are: Begin with two traits that describe your work ethic or student status (if you are currently

entry- level). For instance, “Compassionate and client centered professional,” “Dynamic and solutions-

focused individual,” or “Driven and creative student”

• Where you’ve been: Identify the industries, notable companies, or fields at which you worked or in

which you have experience. We recommend adding the combined years of experience you have in your

industries, if you have 5+ years of work experience. If you are an entry level student with little to no

experience, adding the years is optional.

• What you offer: Describe your top 2-3 skill competencies that you have or are acquiring. This begins to

communicate why your candidacy is related to a particular search. As a student, this can include work

assets or areas of interest in which you hope to gain more experience. Through this information, you

are telling your reader what you can do for them.

• What you are seeking: Consider adding a sentence at the end describing what type of position you are

seeking along with the main value you are looking to bring to the employer.

o Do not use personal pronouns such as “I, me, or my”.

Examples:

Dedicated and analytical individual with 10+ years’ experience in office coordination, administrative and

supervisory roles. Expertise in managing employee relations solutions and confidential employee information

in large companies. Seeking a Human Resources Generalist role in a mission-driven organization.

Driven and imaginative Communications student with expertise in writing, customer service and social media

integration. Proven success as a contributor in social media strategy and internet marketing efforts. Looking to

apply research and creative skillset as a Communications Intern.

EDUCATION Include your degrees following the sample formats listed below…

Examples:

National Louis University Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences

June 2018

National Louis University Chicago, IL

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 6/2018

• Include your graduation year or the month and year of expected graduation (if you are still in school).

• You may wish to include your GPA (if it is 3.5 or higher) and include the scale (example: 3.8/4.0).

• List the highest degree first, and then list the rest in the same order. Only list a school if a degree was

earned.

• Related Coursework: Only include courses when they are related to the job you are applying for. Write

course names; do NOT use course numbers. Including Honor Societies, Dean’s Lists, and Awards are

optional.

If you are an Educator, list your Licensure and Endorsements in this section. Follow this example:

Licensure: IL Professional Educator License

Endorsements: English as a Second Language

**If you have still not finished acquiring the licensure/endorsements, please list the expected month and year.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

List your experiences (professional, internship, and volunteer) using the sample provided below:

Company Name Location (City, ST)

Job Title Start Date – End Date (Years only)

Identify your unique achievements in at least 5 bullet points.

• Write in the present tense for current jobs and in the past tense for previous jobs.

• Every bullet statement should begin with a strong action verb. (list is provided at the end of this

document)

• Write Accomplishment Statements – Employers are most interested in contributions and results

achieved through your experiences. Whenever possible, select concrete examples that illustrate your

success. Be sure to qualify or quantify your accomplishments as much as you can.

• The CAR Method is an effective technique to help you develop Accomplishment statements and

demonstrate your value and uniqueness:

Challenge – What was the challenge you had to overcome or goal you worked to

achieve. Action – What actions/steps/processes did you take to address this?

Result –

Examples:

• Counseled 30+ adults with severe mental illness in the areas of living skills and interpersonal

relationships which resulted in many clients landing jobs due to their ability to demonstrate appropriate

behaviors

• Resolved 50+ customer inquiries and complaints in a polite and efficient manner, thus increasing overall

customer satisfaction by 60%

• Created and implemented de-escalation and criminal apprehension training, engaging 100+ staff and

boosting confidence through mock scenarios using brainstorming and practice sessions

Most people find constructing accomplishment statements as the most challenging part of resume writing. Use

the actual words and phrases found in the description of your desired job to guide you. For more information

on writing Action-Benefit statements, connect with a Career Advisor.

• Include any Volunteer Experience in a separate section and list it just as you would your professional

experience, indicating that you were in a volunteer as part of your job title. This section can also be

titled “VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE” or “COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.”

TECHNICAL & RELATED SKILLS • List related technical skills and include skill level (Intermediate, Advanced, etc.).

• Include language skills or create a separate “LANGUAGE SKILLS” section.

• Don’t include vague generalities (such as “strong communication skills”). These broad skills are best

demonstrated as Accomplishment Statements in your specific work experiences. This gives your reader a

clearer understanding of exactly how and where you utilized these skills.

LEADERSHIP & ACTIVITIES (optional) • Include Title, Organization, Location, and Dates of Participation.

• Don’t include organization names that reveal political affiliation, religious preference, etc. If you are

unsure, ask a career advisor.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (optional) Listing professional organizations in your field is optional. Include name of the organization, your role and the

dates of involvement. Examples:

Member, American Psychological Association 2017 - Present

Member, Illinois Counseling Association 2016 - Present

ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES Use additional categories such as: Research, Publications, Certifications, Licenses, Military Service, and

Presentations, if related to the position being sought.

GOOD TO KNOW… Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen applicants. Consider the

following tips to optimize your resume and to ensure that your resume is not eliminated:

• Tailor your resume using keywords and phrases straight from the job description. Recruiters will search

for these keywords and may filter out applications that don’t contain them.

• Carefully complete all fields in online applications, even if not required. Recruiters may use those fields as

filters, and if left blank, your application might not make it through the system.

• Many organizations have employee referral systems to fast-track your application. If you have a contact at

the organization, ask them to submit a referral on your behalf.

We are confident this information will equip you with the knowledge needed to get a head start on your

resume. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor, please visit

nl.joinhandshake.com or you can contact us at: careerbridge@nl.edu or 312-261-3270.

ACTION VERBS Action verbs are a critical component of all job search correspondence (resume and cover letters).

Refer to the lists below to enhance your descriptions of internship, volunteer, academic and professional

experiences. Remember to try and vary the kinds of action verbs you utilize, so as not to repeat them.

Management skills Communication skills Clerical or detailed

skills

administered analyzed assigned attained

chaired contracted

consolidated coordinated delegated developed

directed evaluated executed improved increased organized oversaw planned

prioritized

produced

recommended reviewed scheduled

strengthened

supervised

addressed arbitrated arranged authored

corresponded developed directed drafted edited

enlisted

formulated influenced interpreted

lectured mediated

moderated motivated negotiated persuaded promoted publicized reconciled

recruited spoke translated

wrote

approved arranged

catalogued classified collected compiled

dispatched executed generated

implemented inspected monitored operated organized prepared organized prepared processed

purchased recorded

retrieved screened specified

systematized

tabulated

validated

Research skills Technical skills Teaching skills

clarified

collected critiqued diagnosed evaluated examined extracted identified

inspected

interpreted

interviewed

investigated organized reviewed

summarized

surveyed

systematized

assembled built

calculated computed designed devised

engineered fabricated

maintained operated

overhauled

programmed

remodeled repair

solved

trained

upgraded

adapted advised clarified coached

communicated

coordinated

developed enabled

encouraged evaluated explained facilitated

guided informed initiated

instructed

persuaded

set goals

stimulated

Financial skills Creative skills Helping skills

administered allocated analyzed

audited balanced

budgeted

calculated computed developed

forecasted managed marketed planned

projected

researched

conceptualized created

designed

developed directed

established fashioned illustrated instituted integrated

introduced invented

originated

performed

planned

assessed clarified coached

counseled

demonstrated diagnosed educated expedited facilitated

familiarized guided

referred

rehabilitated

represented

RESUME

SAMPLES

Please refer to the next pages in this document for samples of how a resume can look.

VICTOR SALINAS Chicago, IL 60632 • 773-123-4567 • salinasv201@gmail.com • www.linkedin.com/in/vsalinas2

CAREER GOAL Energetic and self-directed college student with 2+ years’ experience in the customer service and retail industries. Ability to utilize market analysis studies and communication skills to engage customers and stimulate sales.

EDUCATION National Louis University Chicago, IL Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Expected 6/2022

GPA: 3.8/4.0

Related Coursework: Professional Communication | Principles of Marketing | Data Analysis

WORK EXPERIENCE Walgreens Chicago, IL Stock Clerk 11/2017 – Present

Manage inventory quantity, pricing, and planograms in order to maintain overall store appearance with $300M in merchandise.

Assist manager in tracking and receiving shipment deliveries to guarantee all packages are processed as scheduled.

Greet and address customer inquiries daily to provide solid communication regarding item availability and location, resulting in a positive customer service experience.

Provide product recommendations based on individual customer needs, stimulating sales and customer retention with continued store loyalty.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE National Louis University, Student Advisory Council Chicago, IL Committee Member 8/2016 – Present

Collaborate with university leadership on improving overall student experience. Evaluate potential initiatives and finalize proposals.

Increased student engagement through student interviews, data analysis, and market research.

UIC College Prep, Lion’s Club Chicago, IL Volunteer 10/2014 – 6/2015

Promoted organization during school and community events and ongoing social media posts, which increased membership, formed new partnerships and advanced organizational goals.

Fundraised throughout surrounding community to benefit Lion’s scholarship and events fund, resulting in $1K sales.

Prepared school facilities for monthly events including food, equipment, and furniture setup.

RELATED SKILLS Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint Bilingual: Fluent in both English and Spanish

JENNIFER JONES Blue Island, IL 60472 • 312-555-4567 • jojennifer2@gmail.com • www.linkedin.com/in/jjones146

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Human Services professional with case management, coaching and child welfare experience. Extensive experience working with diverse and at-risk populations.

EDUCATION

National Louis University - Chicago, IL Expected Graduation: 6/2021 Bachelor of Arts in Human Services

• GPA: 3.9/4.0 • Related Coursework: Interviewing Principles and Practices | Crisis Intervention | Family

Intervention | Human Development | Legal Issues in Human Services

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE Casa Central - Chicago, IL 3/2019 – Present Intern

• Conduct family assessments and develop individualized plans to maintain 15+ DCFS involved families on track towards acquiring community services.

• Deliver parent education workshop classes to 10+ participants weekly regarding child welfare, court hearings and their legal rights.

• Participate in program evaluation to achieve quality improvements that benefit clients. • Promote Child Abuse Awareness campaign activities to raise community awareness. • Provide information and referrals to other community resources for families to take

advantage of including workforce development, housing, and mental health services. • Attend home visits and court hearings to provide guidance to families on a course of

action. RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

Caring Hearts - Chicago, IL 6/2017 – 8/2018 Social and Human Service Assistant

• Assisted social workers in developing treatment plans for clients. • Identified and obtained available benefits and social and community services for clients. • Aided in developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve

problems related to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE National Louis University - Chicago, IL 3/2017 – Present Welcome Week Committee Member

Promote 10+ annual student events throughout campus to increase attendee turnout. Wendy’s - Chicago, IL 1/2016 – 5/2017 Cashier

• Utilized POS system for payment processing along with marketing survey to ensure customers have opportunity to provide feedback on their experience.

• Assisted store management with opening or closing the restaurant. • Provided excellent customer service by addressing customer inquiries and deescalating

concerns; resulting in renewed customer loyalty.

TECHNICAL AND LANGUAGE SKILLS Microsoft Word | Microsoft Excel | CRM Systems | Google Docs | Spanish – Advanced

MARK ANDERSON Lombard, IL 60614 • 312-555-4557 • markanders7@gmail.com • www.linkedin.com/in/markanderscounsels

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling student with extensive background in connecting with

and motivating adults and teens through strong relationships built on trust and empathy.

EDUCATION Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, National Louis University, Lisle, IL Expected: June 2022

Bachelor of Science, Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL June 2013

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Health Track Sports and Wellness, Glen Ellyn, IL June 2015 – Present

Certified Personal Trainer

• Create and implement effective individualized exercise treatment plans for clients of various ages and

ethnic backgrounds, including those with various medical or mental health issues.

• Conduct intake interviews with all clients while setting goals, assessing risk, and ensuring client

confidentiality

• Facilitate groups on various wellness topics, including emotional wellness.

• Empower clients by challenging distorted thoughts and irrational beliefs, while bringing out creative

strengths.

Glenbard East High School, Lombard, IL August 2013 – May 2015

Teacher, Social Sciences

• Utilized differentiated instruction where students were matched with tasks compatible with their

individual learning profile.

• Planned and executed a monthly science competition to engage students and reignite their enthusiasm

for learning.

• Advisor for Geography Club, focused on fostering student leadership and organizing social and

community events.

Girls Varsity Badminton Coach August 2013 – May 2014

• Mentored high school female athletes encouraging healthy behavior and positive choices through

team building and daily team meetings.

• Coached adolescents by providing support and assistance with life transitions, academic planning, and

interpersonal difficulties.

LICENSURES & CERTIFICATIONS Master Level Personal Training Certification, American Council of Exercise March 2015 – Present CPR Certified, American Heart Association April 2013 – Present IL Professional Educator License, Endorsement in Secondary Education 2013

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Member, Illinois Counseling Association 05/2014 – Present

TECHNICAL AND LANGUAGE SKILLS Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.

Languages: Advanced - Italian

MARIA R. STEVENS Niles, IL 60646 | (555) 951-0558 | MStevens49@fictionmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/samplemstevens

OBJECTIVE Professional educator with 3 years of teaching experience passionate about developing strong relationships with

students and their families and encouraging life-long learners. Recognized for the ability to design creative,

differentiated lesson plans to keep students engaged in a safe classroom environment.

TEACHER PREPARATION AND LICENSURE

National Louis University Chicago, IL

Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education Expected Graduation: 5/2020

Licensure: IL Professional Educator License Grades 1-6 Expected 4/2020

IL Substitute License

Endorsements: Special Education and English as a Second Language

Willowfield Elementary School, Community Unit School District 123 Morton Grove, IL

Student Teaching, Grade 4 Winter 2019 Plan, create, and teach daily lesson plans in math, ELA, and social studies to a class of 26 students

using scaffolding and differentiation to ensure students are progressing at their full potential Administer student assessments, utilizing results to improve teaching strategies and further develop

future lessons to best meet student needs Collaborate with educational team members and professional learning communities to further develop

curricular ideas to implement into the classroom experience in order to ensure the students have

engaging and interactive lessons Integrate and model the use of technology into the lessons and develop practical ways for the students

to use in an educational setting that they can also use in their lives outside of the classroom, preparing

them for future educational and business opportunities Develop classroom community and culture in order to best meet each student’s needs and further

develop curricular goals based on student interests

Willowfield Elementary School, Community Unit School District 123 Morton Grove, IL Practicum II, Grade 4 Fall 2017

Observed cooperating teacher manage her classroom and assess students’ progress for development of

skills that will transfer into student teaching Developed and taught four math lessons around major curricular goal to further develop positive student

learning outcomes Conducted class meetings and read-aloud to create a positive daily learning environment Provided math box ‘transition’ instruction to provide warm up before math lessons

TEACHING EXPERIENCE Community Unit School District 123 Morton Grove, IL Substitute Teacher 2/2017 - Present

• Establish assignments that include teaching in general education, special education, and ELL classrooms

for grades 1st through 12th in order to have a wide range of exposure to many different types of classroom

experiences • Follow teacher-provided lesson plans to support the classroom specific learning targets • Provide clear and consistent directions for students, as well as, follow-through to accomplish lesson plan

goals • Challenge students with curriculum designed and answer questions to further develop critical thinking

skills

• Conduct small group and individual classroom activities based on differentiated learning needs to

effectively support each student

Evanston Park District Evanston, IL Preschool Teacher, Age 3 9/2017 - 6/2018

• Introduced students to social skills using songs, group time, and interactive play for a classroom of 10

students • Followed Jolly Phonics curriculum to teach letter names and sounds • Created and implemented daily schedule to include social-emotional, large and fine motor, basic math,

and cooperative play activities • Monitored student development of targeted skills set forth by the Director of the program and provided a

foundation for future lesson planning

St. Norbert Child Development Center Niles, IL Program Coordinator, Age 2 (Volunteer) 9/2013 - 11/2017

• Facilitated staffing for 6 classrooms of 2 and 3-year-old children to ensure a cooperative learning

environment • Ensured proper church-provided curriculum is being followed in the classroom for student enrichment • Monitored classroom environment to maintain a safe and healthy learning experience

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS National Louis University Chicago, IL Bachelor of Science in Management 10/2015

CPR/First Aid Certified, American Red Cross Present

Volunteer Advisor, Sample Youth Organization, Chicago, IL 8/2018 - Present

LANGUAGE & TECHNICAL SKILLS Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Schoology, and Google Classroom Bilingual: Advanced written and verbal Spanish language skills