GUIDE TO:

RESUME WRITING

UNH Career Development Center

103 Bartels Student Activity Center
[email protected]
www.unhcareercenter.com

Contents
Purpose of a Resume........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Formatting a Resume .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Heading ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Objective vs. Profile/ Summary of Skills ........................................................................................................................... 4
Education ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Experience ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Additional Sections ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

What NOT to Include on a Resume..................................................................................................................................... 6

Action Words ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Sample Resumes.................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Check out our video tutorial for Resume Writing at

www.unhcareercenter.com!

Purpose of a Resume
*The goal of a resume is not to get a job it is to get an interview. All content should be focused on that goal*
-

The resume is your first impression to a prospective employer. Therefore, it needs to be well-written, factual,
and relevant to the position.

A resume is a marketing tool, designed to sell you to a prospective employer. A resume is designed to market
you for the next job you want, not the last one you had!

It is essential to highlight these four main points:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Character - Who are you? What makes you unique?

Purpose - What do you want? Why are you applying for this job?
Experience - What have you done? How are you qualified for this position?
Potential - What skills do you possess? Can you apply them to the position?
*An employer will visually scan your resume for 30-45 seconds.*

Formatting a Resume
Organization

Create a well-organized resume by using bullet points to list information. Use bold
words to emphasize important information and be consistent in placement of the
information. Be sure that all content is in reverse-chronological order (most recent
position first).

Page Length

Less is best, so try to keep it to one (1) page, single spaced. If you need more room to
showcase your qualifications, then you can have additional pages.

Font Size

11-12 point

Font Style

Use a professional font such as Times New Roman, Georgia, etc. Avoid using
different colors black text only.

Margins

A minimum .5 border all around

Graphics

Only use graphics (pictures, designs, etc.) if you are in the graphics industry

Resume
Templates

Avoid using pre-formatted resume templates typically found in Microsoft Word. The
point of a resume is to differentiate; using a template makes you conform

Heading
-

The heading section contains your name, address, phone number and your UNH or professional email address.
Your name should be the largest item on your resume. Avoid using a header. This would be a great place to
include your LinkedIn profile link in order for employers to access your valuable information easily.
EXAMPLE

MICHAEL LEWIS FISHER

343 Leonard Avenue, East Haven, CT 06543
(203) 876-8954 [email protected]
http://linkedin.com/in/michaelfisher
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Objective vs. Profile/ Summary of Skills

Many recruiters recommend a Profile or Expertise section instead of an Objective statement. This section provides an
overview of your skills and experience in 2-3 sentences or through the use of bullets. Avoid generic statements and try
to use keywords from your industry that reflect your skill set.
EXAMPLES
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Possess academic knowledge in abnormal psychology, personality theories and child development
Proficient in applying various research methods including analyzing data with SPSS
Capable of leading and creating innovative programs for children
Committed to maintain the highest level of confidentiality

SKILLS
Mechanical Engineering student with team-based experience gained from academic projects. Proficient in AutoCAD,
SolidWorks, ANYSYS Workbench, MATLAB and Microsoft Office. Able to design systems, components, and processes to
meet organizational needs.

PROFILE
Motivated criminal justice graduate with paralegal and business analyst background. Tri-lingual with fluency in English,
Spanish and Arabic. Familiar with concepts of criminal behavior, various criminal procedures and policing practices.

Education
For most college students, your education section is going to be your selling point and should come before your
experience section. As you accumulate experience, your education may fall further down on your resume. You do not
need to list your high school.
It is essential to include the following:
Name of your university (University of New Haven)
University location (West Haven, CT not New Haven!)
Your degree (include concentrations and minors as appropriate)
Graduation date (without using the word Expected)
GPA (if it is a 3.0 or higher), Honors, Scholarships, Awards, etc.
If you obtained an Associate degree or a certificate from UNH or another University, you can add in in this section as
well. If you attended another University but did not graduate, it is optional to include the name of the school and dates
attended.
EXAMPLE
EDUCATION
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
May 2016
Concentration: Investigative Services, Minor: Spanish
Deans List: Fall 2014-Present, GPA: 3.96, Honors Program, Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society

Experience
The best way to begin writing your experience section is to grab several sheets of paper and write one experience at the
top of each page (internship, job, volunteer, etc.) and list everything that you have done during your experience. Once
you have listed all of this information, it will be easier for you to develop this section. Then, incorporate the most
important aspects of your positions into strong, action-oriented statements using our list of action words. If you are not
currently at a specific job, all action words should be in the past tense. All duties and responsibilities of positions should
be listed in order of importance.
When writing your bulleted statements for positions held, think of where you added value to an organization and
quantify where possible. Did you increase sales? If so, how much did you increase sales? Did you streamline processes?
If you trained or supervised, how many individuals did you lead? Stay away from solely listing your job duties. You will
want your resume to highlight the skills you have obtained from your various experiences. Think of formatting your
statements in this manner:

Action + Result + Outcomes = SKILLS

EXAMPLES
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Columbia University Hospital, Department of Nutrition, Dugtown, NY
Assistant Dietetic Technician
Implement meal inspections to ensure patient satisfaction with food service
Provide optimal nourishment based on medical and age specific needs
Assist dietitian supervisor with various supplemental needs of patients
Paradise Assisted Senior Living, Wallingford, CT
Dietary Kitchen Staff
Supported staff in food and dining hall preparation, service and maintenance
Assisted with inspections of meal service for 350 residents

June 2012-Present

December 2011-May 2012

INTERNSHIP
Federal Bureau of Investigation
New Haven, CT
Intern (500 hours), Assistant Analyst
January 2012-December 2012
Participated in investigations involving airline hijackings and hostage situations
Planned and executed mock crime scene scenarios for other interns
Assisted Intern Coordinator with various administrative duties and responsibilities
Attended Advanced Spanish Diagnostics Conference in Sierra, NV

*NOTE: You can and should have several sections that represent the depth and breadth of your experiences*
Example: Internship Experience, Research Experience, Volunteer Experience
Consider a Relevant Experience section to group together part-time, full-time or internship positions you have held that
are directly related to your future career goal. You may also choose to have a Work History or Work Experience section,
which can host any other experiences, such as waiter/waitressing positions.
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Additional Sections
Leadership

If you have been more than just a member or an organization(s) you could incorporate it
into a leadership section (e.g. Peer Mentor).

Extracurricular Activities

If you have not held any leadership roles on campus but have been involved in different
clubs/ organizations and campus activities, you should include it on your resume. The
activities section shows that you are involved on campus and are well rounded.

Community/ Volunteer
Experience

This section shows that you are motivated, involved and care about the community.

Computer/ Language Skills

Related Coursework

Related Projects

Focus on specific computer skills for the job and/or industry. Include other specialized
skill sets such as laboratory equipment. If you also are fluent or have an understanding of
other languages you should specify them in this section.
If you do not have much related experience, this is a great addition. List about 4-8
relevant courses. Key work is relevant only list courses related to the job.
This section works well for students that engage in team-based projects in business,
engineering or other disciplines. List the name of your project, the semester it was
completed, as well as project goals and outcomes.

Remember: A resume is designed to highlight your personal qualifications. Therefore, the order of your sections may
differ from someone who has a similar educational background. You can have more than one resume directed towards
specific job positions.
Example: If Leadership Activities are stronger than Work Experiences, you would put Leadership above Work
Experience.
*Please note: this guide provides basic information relevant to all career/industry types. Different resume formats exist
for various career paths. For example, if you are pursuing a position that is technical in nature, your Computer Skills
section will be up higher on your resume. For science-related positions, Lab Skills will also be placed higher up.
Art/design students may have pictures or graphics to highlight creativity. If you have questions on what type of format is
right for you, please contact the Career Development Center.

What NOT to Include on a Resume

The following is a list of things that you should not include in your resume:
A picture
Your social security number
Your birthdate
Marital status, height and weight
The words I, my, or other forms of the first person (e.g. I was responsible for)
Full sentences or paragraphs use bullets or sentence fragments instead
Responsibilities included Your resume should be more than a listing of tasks
References or a line stating that references are available upon request

Action Words
The following page contains a series of action words that could be used on your resume:
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Accomplished
Achieved
Acquired
Acted
Addressed
Adjusted
Administered
Advertised
Advised
Allocated
Analyzed
Answered
Anticipated
Applied
Appraised
Appreciated
Arbitrated
Arranged
Articulated
Ascertained
Assembled
Assessed
Assigned
Assisted
Attained
Attended
Audited
Balanced
Bargained
Budgeted
Calculated
Carried out
Catalogued
Categorized
Chaired
Challenged
Changed
Channeled
Clarified
Classified
Coded
Collaborated
Collected
Committed
Communicated
Compared
Compiled
Completed
Composed
Computed
Conceived
Conducted
Confronted
Constructed
Contacted
Concluded

Contracted
Continued
Contributed
Conveyed
Convened
Cooperated
Coordinated
Corrected
Corresponded
Counseled
Crafted
Created
Critiqued
Dealt (with)
Defined
Delegated
Delivered
Demonstrated
Derived
Designed
Described
Determined
Developed
Devised
Diagnosed
Directed
Discovered
Discussed
Dispatched
Dispensed
Displayed
Dissected
Distributed
Diverted
Drafted
Dramatized
Edited
Educated
Elicited
Empathized
Empowered
Encourages
Endured
Enlisted
Ensured
Entertained
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Examined
Exchanged
Executed
Exercised
Exhibited
Expanded
Expedited

Experimented
Explained
Expressed
Facilitated
Fashioned
Filed
Financed
Focused
Forecasted
Formed
Formulated
Founded
Functioned
Gathered
Generated
Graded
Guided
Handled
Helped
Identified
Illustrated
Implemented
Impressed
Improved
Increased
Influenced
Informed
Initiated
Innovated
Inquired
Inspected
Inspired
Installed
Instilled
Instructed
Insured
Interacted
Interpreted
Intervened
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Inventoried
Investigated
Involved
Joined
Judge
Learned
Lectured
Licensed
Listened
Located
Maintained
Managed
Manipulated
Marketed

Mastered
Measured
Mediated
Memorized
Mentored
Mobilized
Modeled
Modified
Molded
Monitored
Motivated
Named
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Operated
Ordered
Organized
Outlined
Oversaw
Paired
Participated
Performed
Persevered
Persuaded
Planned
Played
Possessed
Predicted
Prepared
Presented
Printed
Processed
Produced
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Proposed
Protected
Provided
Publicized
Published
Purchased
Qualified
Quantified
Raised
Rated
Recognized
Recommended
Reconciled
Recorded
Recruited
Referred
Regulated
Related
Rendered

Reorganized
Repaired
Reported
Represented
Reproduced
Researched
Resolved
Responded
Restored
Retrieved
Reviewed
Revised
Scheduled
Searched
Selected
Sensitized
Served
Serviced
Shaped
Shared
Showed
Simplified
Skilled
Socialized
Sold
Solicited
Solved
Sought
Specified
Staged
Stimulated
Structured
Studied
Succeeded
Suggested
Summarized
Supervised
Supported
Surveyed
Synthesized
Targeted
Taught
Tended
Tested
Took
Trained
Translated
Treated
Tutored
Updated
United
Utilized
Verified
Volunteered
Wrote

Sample Resumes Visit www.unhcareercenter.com for samples from all majors!

JOHNATHAN LEWIS FISHER

343 Leonard Avenue, East Haven, CT 06543
(203) 876-8954 [email protected]
http://linkedin.com/in/michaelfisher
PROFILE
Experienced in providing crisis management to children, adolescents and adults
Capable of building collaborative relationships with service providers
Possess strong interpersonal skills and able to remain calm under high pressure situations
Committed to maintain the highest level of confidentiality
EDUCATION
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
May 2015
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
GPA: 3.67
Scholarships/Awards: Presidential Scholarship, SAT Writing Award, Town of East Haven Outstanding Student Award,
Student Affairs Leadership Award
RELATED EXPERIENCE
East Haven Crisis Center
East Haven, CT
Crisis Management Intern (150 hours)
Aug.2014-May 2015
Provided crisis management to approximately 100 individuals under direct supervision of Program Manager
Assisted with integration of new hotline telephone program
Provided support and assistance to walk-in patients
WORK HISTORY
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Resident Assistant
Aug. 2013-Present
Directly oversee the safety, health and wellness of 60+ residents
Utilize crisis, organizational and time management skills to resolve conflicts among residents
Design and perform programs to build community throughout the residence hall
Allen County Public Library
Receptionist
Addressed customer concerns in efficient and timely manner
Exhibited superior interpersonal skills with customers and coworkers
Improved efficiency of front desk by implementing innovative clerical procedures

New Haven, CT
Jun. 2011-Jan.2013

ShopRite
West Haven, CT
Cashier (part time)
May 2010-Jun.2011
Maintained a clean and orderly checkout station and accurately completed all transactions
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Admission Team (A-Team)
Provide campus tours for prospective students and families

Dec. 2013-Present

Psychology Club
Sept. 2013-Present
Vice President schedule community service events and serve as assistant to club president
Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) Representative represent the club during meetings
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office, InfoPath, SharePoint, Visio, OneNote
8

Anita Job
287 East Meadow Street Yorkville, NY 11765
(652) 783-8272 [email protected]
http://linkedin.com/in/debbiemorgan
PROFILE

Motivated graduate with history and archaeological background. Bi-lingual in English

and Spanish. Highly knowledgeable in American History and historical research
methods. Experienced in providing historical tours to children and adults.

EDUCATION

University of New Haven, West Haven, CT

Bachelor of Arts, History
Minor: Spanish

RELATED
EXPERIENCE

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT

August 2014-Present
Volunteer
Provide educational and engaging programs on biology, paleontology, geology,
and ancient civilizations to children aged 5-12
Guide visitors through various exhibits such as the history of Native Americans,
mammalian evolution and ancient Egypt

May 2015
GPA: 3.62

Colonial New Amsterdam Exhibit, New York, NY

Summers 2012-2014
Intern Guide
Participated in reenactments of 18th century history events
Served as exhibit tour guide for various local elementary schools
19th Century Museum, Plainsville, NY
Summer 2012
Office Assistant/Guide
Exhibited superior interpersonal skills with customers and coworkers
Improved efficiency of front desk by implementing innovative clerical procedures
LEADERSHIP

University of New Haven, West Haven, CT

Aug. 2013-May 2013
Resident Assistant
Directly oversaw the safety, health and wellness of 60+ residents
Utilized crisis, organizational and time management skills to resolve conflicts
among residents
Designed and performed programs to build community throughout residence hall
Undergraduate Student Government Association
Aug. 2012-Sept. 2013
Served as President of student body to promote interests of the university to
administration
Managed a $1.5 million budget and oversaw 150 recognized student
organizations
Supervised and delegated tasks to appointed Executive Board

WORK
EXPERIENCE

Applebys, Yorkville, NY
Trainer/Wait Staff
September 2011-May 2012
Trained approximately 15 wait staff on restaurant procedures and policies
Provided strong customer service to all guests through utilizing specific selling
techniques
9

William Harris Cooper

300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06156 (campus) 258 York Avenue Miller, PA 98734 (permanent)
(763) 384-3676 [email protected]
SKILLS
Highly knowledgeable in criminal behavior, various criminal procedures and policing practices. Able to make
accurate decisions quickly under high stress situations. Strong communication skills and capable of producing
well-written incident reports. Possess CT Guard Card.
EDUCATION
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
May 2016
Concentration: Investigative Services, Minor: Spanish
Deans List: Fall 2010-Present, GPA: 3.96, Honors Program, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
INTERNSHIP
Federal Bureau of Investigation
New Haven, CT
Intern (500 hours), Assistant Analyst
January 2014-December 2014
Participated in investigations involving airline hijackings and hostage situations
Planned and executed mock crime scene scenarios for other interns
Assisted Intern Coordinator with various administrative duties and responsibilities
Attended Advanced Spanish Diagnostics Conference in Sierra, NV
WORK EXPERIENCE
ShopSmart Mall
West Landing, CT
Security Guard
January 2012-Present
Maintain secure environment to ensure safety of all customers
Prepare reports for all incidents regarding burglary, alarms, bomb threats and medical emergencies
ShopRite
West Haven, CT
Cashier (part time)
May 2010 - June 2011
Maintained a clean and orderly checkout station and accurately completed all transactions
LEADERSHIP
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Resident Assistant
August 2014-Present
Directly oversee the safety, health and wellness of 60+ residents
Utilize crisis, organizational and time management skills to resolve conflicts among residents
Design and perform programs to build community throughout the residence hall
Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA)-President
August 2013-September 2014
Elected by student body to promote interests of the university to administration
Managed a $1.5 million budget and oversaw over 150 recognized student organizations
COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat
10

Debbie Morgan
300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06156 (Campus) 258 York Avenue Miller, PA (permanent)
(763)384-3676 [email protected]
http://linkedin.com/in/debbiemorgan
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS SCIENCE AND LABORATORY
A recent Biology graduate with hands-on experience in scientific research and reporting, animal behavior and
care, program planning and delivery, and science-based education. Proficient with PCR, Microscopy, DNA
litigation, Chromatography (ion exchange, affinity, gel filtration), Methylmercury Analysis
EDUCATION
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT
Bachelor of Science, Biology
May 2015
GPA: 3.65
Coursework Includes: Marine Vertebrate Zoology, Genetics, Environmental Health, Invertebrate Zoology
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Animal Behavior Research Project
September 2013- Present
Worked under Dr. Jane Science at University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
Gather and manipulate behavioral data to find trends in adolescent male chimpanzee grooming patterns
Investigated whether time of day, frequency of meals, mating habits, and other factors influenced patterns
Report findings to processor through written reports and presentations
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Morgan, D. (2013). DNA comparison of chimpanzees and humans, Basic Research of Animal DNA
Morgan, D. DNA comparison of chimpanzees and humans. Presented at the American Society for Animal
Science Conference, New York, NY, March 28-April 1, 2013; poster XX.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Animal Education Intern
May 2013-Present
Cape May County Zoo
Cape May, NJ
Planned and facilitated educational programming for elementary school children
Observed animal training and care taking; assisted with feeding, grooming, and medical care
Collaborated with a staff of ten to create a new initiative to raise awareness of endangered species
Animal Volunteer
June 2011- Present
Jersey Shore Animal Hospital
Toms River, NJ
Assisted with care of animals, including feeding; Educated visitors and answered questions
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Resident Assistant, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
September 2013-Present
Develop and implement recreational, social and cultural programming for 60 students
Serve as the Universitys representative and role model in the residence halls and across campus
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
Member, Alpha Lambda Delta
Member, American Society of Animal Science

Spring 2013-Present
Fall 2012-Present
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