Resumes

The resume is generally the most important part of any application.  It is a concise (no more than one page) list of qualifications and experiences.  While there are countless resources out there on how to write resumes, the University of Maryland Career Center has compiled a list of things you should include.  They have also compiled a lot of helpful information, such as formatting examples and action verbs to include, which can be found here.

A resume should include:

Contact Information
Name, Permanent Address (with ZIP code), School Address, Permanent Phone Numbers, School and Work Phone Numbers, E-mail Address

Career Objective (please note there is some disagreement over whether or not objects should be included on resumes)
A brief statement of the type of position sought and what you can bring to the employer. Elements can include (1) job title, (2) level or type of responsibility, (3) skills, qualities, and/or knowledge you can bring to the organization or (4) a combination of two or three of these elements.

Example using elements 1, 2, and 3: Position as a (1) sales representative with (2) responsibility for identifying and building a client base (3) using my organizational and interpersonal skills. Of course, don't include the numbers. They are included to show how each section relates to the categories.

Don't use phrases such as "challenging position." An employer assumes you want to be challenged. If you didn't, would you say, "simple position that doesn't tax my brain too much."

Education
Begin with the most recent degree received or working on. Omit high school, unless you are starting your first year of college. Include the university/college name, degree, major, (anticipated) date of graduation, and location if not clear from the name. May also include GPA, relevant courses, special projects, academic honors, percentage of education/living expenses earned.

Experience
List position, organization, location and dates. Using action verbs, describe activities and accomplishments performed. May include full- and part-time work, internships, summer jobs, volunteer experiences, extended research projects for classes, assistantships, and extracurricular activities.

Honors and Awards
List any received. Include high school, but if you are a first-year student in college.

Skills
Computer (hardware and software), foreign language proficiency.

Extracurricular Activities
List activities in or out of school if not already covered under experience.
Professional Organizations: List memberships, offices and dates held.

Other Pertinent Information
Citizenship, special licenses, certificates. Omit personal information about background, family, marital states, age, hobbies, or interests not relevant to your objective and/or the position advertised.

References
Include the line "References available upon request" if you have room. When asked, submit references on a separate piece of paper with your name and contact information at the top (in case it gets separated from the resume). Then list the name of the reference, job title, employer name, and contact information (phone number, e-mail address, and address of physical location). Bring the list of references to interviews.