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© 2006 Phil Druker
University of Idaho
 
Content / Overview: Résumé Outline

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Week 2

Sections
 

Resources
Capital Letters

Formatting
Writing Process
Résumé Parallelism

 

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Overview: Résumés Outline
 
Here is a basic outline for résumés. You can change the order of the sections to meet your needs. Place the most important points first.

Identification Heading

Give your name, address (permanent and university), phone number, email, and url.

Objectives

This is optional. Provide a one sentence statement that describes your current employment goal: be specific but not so specific you eliminate yourself from jobs you might want.

Education

University. Place. Degree title (major and minor). When attended/expected graduation
date. GPA. Place UI first.

Relevant Courses

List special course work that qualifies you, that differentiates you from other candidates. Omit the course numbers. Give exact course titles if appropriate.

Special Projects

Employment

Job title. Where. When. Brief description of your work.
Examples:

Tutor. Mathematics and Statistics Assistance Center. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. Assisted lower division mathematics students in the course work. (Fall 1996)
General Laborer. H and H Construction. Moscow, Idaho.
Worked on site excavation, concrete, masonry, framing, plumbing, electrical wiring, and roofing. Used and followed relevant codes. (Summers 1994 – 1997)

Note: Use a parallel form for these descriptions. In this case, the parallel form uses verbs. 

Special Skills / Technical Skill / Computer Skills

Honors

Scholarships

Elected Positions

Special Activities

Interests

References

Notes:

  1. Avoid using boilerplate formats from word processors. They are difficult to modify, might not meet your needs, and are used so often they might appear bland or unoriginal.
  2. Use headings and make them specific.
  3. If you are a college student applying for an entry level job, emphasize education by placing it first. If you are not a college student and want to emphasize your employment record, place employment first.
  4. List items from most recent to least recent.
  5. Use a parallel form (see the note above under the “Employment” heading).
  6. Emphasize all your strengths.
  7. Use font size and bolding to emphasize headings.
  8. Consider length. Some people say a résumé should be no more than one page.
  9. Use 1 inch margins if possible. 
  10. Pick a font size that is large enough to read easily. Use a font with serifs (e.g., Times Roman). See the Formatting resource.
  11. Omit “I,” but otherwise do not use telegraphic English (do not omit short words like “the”).

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University of Idaho
Environmental Science Program
Advanced Technical Writing

thompson@uidaho.edu