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A resume is snapshot of your strongest qualifications. It is also an example of your written communication skills, so make sure to have your resume proofread before sending it to employers. Your resume is a means to convince employers that you deserve an interview.

View Sample Resumes

Formatting & Writing Tips:

• Resumes may be organized in a chronological or functional order.
  • Chronological: A chronological resume is the most commonly used format, especially among new college graduates. Most employers prefer this format because it is very easy to read. When creating a chronological resume, candidates arrange the sections (education, work experience, and activities) of their resume in reverse chronological order.
  • Functional: A functional resume is utilized when a candidate has had a number of short-term jobs or has had a large gap in employment but has many skills to highlight. The functional resume tends to de-emphasize the dates of employment by putting a larger focus on the skills, achievements, and overall qualifications a candidate possesses. The sections of on a functional resume are often different than a chronological resume. Functional resume sections tend to focus on particular skills sets such as technical skills, leadership skills, project management, etc. These section headings will differ depending on the field. Also, a potential heading could simply be, “experience highlights”.
• Fonts: The two most common fonts are Times New Roman and Arial. Keep your font consistent between your Resume, Reference Page, and Cover Letter. If using a different style, make sure that it is easy to read. Generally, a font size between 9-12 point font is acceptable, with the exception of your name which may be sized larger.
• Margins: One inch margins are standard for a resume, but you may choose to decrease the margins to 0.7 to allow for more content to be included.
• Headings: It is suggested to bold your section headings so that they stand out and are easy for an employer to find.
• Don't use personal pronouns (such as I, we, our, or my) outside fo the summary or profile section as employers understand you are referring to yourself. Delete added verbiage when possible. For example, delete “the” when appropriate throughout your resume.
• Don't mention your age, race, political or religious affiliation, or hobbies on your resume. You do not want to provide employers a potential means to discriminate against you.
• Be consistent throughout your resume, ensuring that if you bold one section heading that all of your section headings are bold. Additionally, if you utilize periods at the end of your bullet points, make sure that there is a period at the end of every bullet point. Furthermore, make sure that you are consistent with use of abbreviations (such as IL) throughout your resume.

Overview of Sections to include:

• Do not include “references available upon request on your resume.” Employers understand that they can request your references at any point.
• Instead, create a separate reference page and include it as the second page of your resume or bring it with you to an interview and say, “Here is a list of my references, please feel free to contact them at any point.”
• When creating your reference page, utilize the same heading as your resume to ensure a clean and consistent application.
• Write the word “References” either centered or left justified under your heading. (see example below)
• You should include between three to five references.
• Make sure to contact your references in advance and ask if they will indeed be a positive reference for you in your job search.
• Examples of references could be past or current supervisors, professors, co-workers, or college staff members. Your relatives should not be listed as references.
• When listing your references, make sure to include their employers name, their title at work, their employer’s address, their telephone number, and email address if available. 

Example Reference Page:

Your Name
Your Street Address
City, State, and Zip Code
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number

References

Joe Smith
Manager of Student Life
Rock Valley College
3301 N. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61114
815-222-2222
[email protected]

Cindy Jones
Clinical Supervisor
Rock Valley College
3301 N. Mulford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61114
815-333-3333
[email protected]

Kayla Brown
Supervisor
Wesley Willows
4141 N. Rockton Ave.
Rockford, IL 61103
815-444-4444
[email protected]

The cover letter serves as the introduction to your resume. It is recommended to send a cover letter with your resume. Just like your resume, your cover letter should be created separately and individually for each position for which you express interest. Your career objective should be included in the cover letter not the resume. By including it in the cover letter (which has to be written separately anyway), you can tailor the objective to the advertisement to which you are responding or to the “hot tip” you received through your professional network.

Studies indicate that your cover letter has a life expectancy of about eight seconds, so it must be brief, yet informative. The letter should have three recognizable parts. First, the opening should explain why you are writing and what interests you in the specific opportunity. This paragraph is designed to grab the employer’s attention through demonstrating your knowledge of the position and/or company. Second, the main body lists two or three of your major accomplishments and gives the reader good reason to want to interview you. Lastly, the closing paragraph expresses a desire for future communication. Be sure your letter draws a connection between the needs of the current job opening and the skills you can bring to the job.

While the experience of the applicant in the sample on the next page is undoubtedly different from your own, you can adapt the format shown below to suit your individual career search needs.

General Outline for a Cover Letter:

• Heading – Use the heading of your resume to ensure documents are consistent.
• Date of Letter
• Employer's Name and Title
• Employer's Address
• Salutation – Include an opening such as "Salutation:" or "Dear hiring committee:".
• Opening Paragraph – You should state why you are writing; the name, position, or type of work for which you are applying; and mention how you heard of the opening or organization. Also, make sure to demonstrate your knowledge of the position and/or organization when you explain why you are interested in working for this employer, and specify your reasons for desiring this type of work. 
• Middle Paragraph(s) – If you have had relevant work experience or related education, be sure to point it out, but do not reiterate your entire resume. Emphasize skills or abilities you have that relate to the job for which you are applying. Be sure to do this in a confident manner and remember that the reader will view your letter as an example of your writing skills. 
• Closing Paragraph – You may refer the reader to your enclosed resume (which gives a summary of your qualifications) or other media you may use to illustrate your training, interests, and experience. Have an appropriate closing to pave the way for the interview by indicating the action or steps you will take to initiate an interview date. 
• Complimentary Closing – Include a closing such as "Sincerely," or "Respectfully,".
• Your Name (typed)
• Enclosure – if a resume or other enclosure is used, note in the letter.

View Sample Cover Letter

Utilize transferrable skills when developing your resume and tailoring it to specific positions for which you are applying.

• Communication: Speaking Effectively, Writing Concisely, Presenting Information, Summarizing, Listening Attentively, Facilitating Group Discussions, Teaching, Expressing Ideas, Providing Feedback, Selling Ideas/Products, Negotiating, Mediating, Persuading, Reporting Information, Coaching, Delegating Responsibilities, Interviewing, Editing, etc.
• Problem-Solving: Identifying Resources, Forecasting, Researching, Imagining Alternatives, Developing Evaluation Strategies, Reconciling, Defining Needs, Interpreting Data, Managing Conflict, etc.
• Human Relations & Supervision: Developing Rapport, Cooperating, Developing Patience, Perceiving Nonverbal Questions, Describing Feelings, Empathizing, Managing People, Counseling, Encouraging Others, Providing Support, Motivating Others, Mentoring, Treating Others Fairly, Recruiting, Supervising, Developing a Team, Training Staff, Effectively Disciplining, Collaborating with Others, Empowering Others, Clarifying Misunderstandings, etc.
• Additional Work Skills: Making Decisions, Accepting Responsibility, Promoting Change, Setting & Meeting Deadlines, Enforcing Policies, Being Punctual, Scheduling, Organizing, Attending to Detail, Taking Initiative, Expediting, Managing a Budget, etc.