Resume Building Basics

O4U | 2014

Resume Basics
The resume is not just a listing of your experiences. It is an opportunity to tell
your story and explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Make sure
that your resume is impactful and concise.
o Length: One page. No exceptions
o Font: Use a professional and basic font; avoid using a font smaller than 10
pt.
o Chronological format: Reverse (listing most recent experiences on top)
o Margins: No smaller than 0.5
o Additional formatting: Use sparingly
Proof Reading Tips:
o Mistakes may indicate lack of effort or attention to detail. Be sure to
review spelling, grammar and formatting consistency several times.
Check after PDF conversion
o Leverage parents, trusted friends with strong resumes, career center,
mentors , alumni, and industry professionals
2

Name and Contact Info

Name should
stand out

Do not abbreviate unless

space restrictions require

Use first name &

last name. Add
middle initial, if
desired

Orient contact info the

same as your name
(centered or left)

Remove hyperlink

Notes:
- Ensure voicemail greeting and email address are professional and appropriate
- Including permanent and school addresses are acceptable
3

Education
No abbreviations
Include GPA

Reverse
chronological
order

Include SAT scores

Include double major & minor
information and academic awards

Notes:
- Including high school information is not recommended unless first-year student
- Relevant coursework and supplementary education can also be included
4

Experience
Include firm name, group, title, location, & employment dates

Use bullets instead of paragraphs

Use month range

Notes:
- Begin accomplishments with action verb (see appendix). Avoid repeating verbs
- Include all relevant work, including part-time, extracurricular, or unpaid positions
- Leave high school positions off unless you are a first-year student
- Including an objective on your resume is not recommended
5

Experience continued
Prioritize accomplishments by most impressive or relevant
within each position description

Tell employer the

quality/skill to expect and
show how you
accomplished
6

Quantify impact as much

as possible

Experience continued
Highlight increases in
responsibility. Emphasize
teamwork and leadership.

Dont spill over onto the next line

with one or two words

Notes:
- Tailor your resume to each job; list tasks and skills most relevant to desired job first
- Include skills specifically valued in your industry; look at job description to gain clues
for specific skills required and be sure to address them
- Maintain consistent tense for each bullet (present for current position, past for
previous positions)
- Employers may verify claims: Always TELL THE TRUTH
7

Leadership/Awards
Note: If opting to have separate section for leadership, include: awards,
clubs/professional organizations, patents, publishing, community service/volunteering,
sports, travel abroad, and any unique leadership initiatives

Include club/group, position held, dates of

membership/service, and brief content entries

Additional Info
Include accreditation, licenses, professional training,
computer/program literacy, foreign language ability

Activities and interests

outside of college or
interesting/relevant hobbies

Note: International students should note US residency status here

Being Out On Your Resume

How can you come out on your resume?
o Highlight leadership in LGBT organizations: you should spend time describing in detail any
leadership positions or accomplishments of which you are proud. Describing these
experiences can aid your candidacy.
How else can I be out if I dont have LGBT leadership experience?
o Discuss in your interview or mention in your cover letter: A cover letter is a medium to
describe your experiences, both professionally and personally. Mentioning how you
overcame adversity as an LGBT person can spark a conversation about your resilience. If you
feel it appropriate, ask about the rms LGBT network in your interview.
There are many reasons why one would choose to be out on his/her resume:
1. To ensure you are working in an LGBT-friendly environment during the interview process
o If you are interviewing at a rm that sponsors O4U, they are interested in recruiting and
retaining LGBT talent. If the rm does not sponsor an LGBT organizations activities, being
out on your resume can help you get a sense of the rms culture and values.
2. Because you have held leadership positions or volunteered with LGBT organizations
o If you have leadership positions in or relevant work that is LGBT focused, highlighting these
experiences strengthens your resume and brands yourself as a strong diversity candidate which most rms are interested in recruiting.
o Be wary of including participation in LGBT organizations to play the gay card. Recruiters
are smart and will weed out candidates who are trying to gain an unfair advantage.

Appendix: Helpful Dos and Donts

DO
Keep job titles generic; list divisional
employer for large corporations
Keep jargon to an absolute minimum
Use action verbs and active voice
Highlight transferrable skills
Be concise

11

DONT
Use excessive bold, italic or underline
formatting
Use excess words (e.g. pronouns or
helping verbs)
Use the word very unless absolutely
necessary
Use passive voice or write in first
person
Write lengthy paragraphs or
statements
Include testimonials
Reference previous salary information
Rely solely upon spell check
Use graphics, logos, or artistic fonts
Use vague language

Appendix: Action Verbs

CLERICAL OR
DETAILED SKILLS
Approved
Arranged
Catalogued
Conveyed
Convinced
Corresponded
Debated
Modeled
Modified
Organized
Performed
Recruited
Referred
Reinforced
Reported
Retrieved
Set goals
Stimulated

12

HELPING SKILLS
Adapted
Advocated
Aided
Answered
Assessed
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Defined
Developed
Directed
Discussed
Dispatched
Drafted
Edited
Elicited
Executed
Generated

Implemented
Planned
Resolved
Responded
Revised
Revitalized
Shaped
Solicited
Solved
Specified
Spoke
Suggested
Summarized

DATA AND
FINANCIAL SKILLS
Adjusted
Administered
Allocated
Assisted
Clarified
Coached
Collaborated
Enlisted
Explained
Expressed
Formulated
Inspected
Monitored
Operated
Synthesized
Translated
Wrote

CREATIVE SKILLS
Acted
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Began
Budgeted
Calculated
Combined
Composed
Computed
Conceptualized
Condensed
Conserved
Contributed
Cooperated
Corrected
Counseled
Created
Customized
Demonstrated
Designed
Determined
Devised
Diagnosed
Educated
Encouraged
Ensured

Expedited
Facilitated
Furnished
Incorporated
Influenced
Interacted
Interpreted
Interviewed
Involved
Joined
Judged
Lectured
Prepared
Processed
Purchased
Recorded
Screened
Systematized
Tabulated
Validated

ORGANIZATIONAL
SKILLS
Handled
Headed
Updated

Appendix: Action Verbs continued

COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE
Addressed
Advertised
Arbitrated
Articulated
Authored
Categorized
Charted
Communicated
Conferred
Consulted
Contacted
Displayed
Drew
Established
Estimated
Familiarized
Fashioned
Forecasted
Founded
Furthered
Guided
Helped
Hired
Hosted
Illustrated
Initiated
Instituted
Insured
Integrated

13

Intervened
Introduced
Invented
Listened
Managed
Marketed
Measured
Mediated
Moderated
Motivated
Negotiated
Netted
Observed
Outlined
Participated
Persuaded
Presented
Prevented
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Proposed
Provided
Publicized
Qualified
Reconciled
Rectified
Reduced
Rehabilitated

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Represented
Researched
Simplified
Supplied
Supported
Verified
Volunteered

Constructed
Converted
Debugged
Emphasized
Enabled
Enforced
Engineered
Enhanced
Evaluated
Fabricated
Fortified
Registered
Replaced
Reserved
Restored
Reviewed
Routed
Scheduled
Searched
Secured
Selected
Streamlined
Strengthened
Submitted
Supervised
Surveyed
Tested
Trained

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Advised
Appointed
Assigned
Attained
Authorized
Chaired
Coded
Compared
Conducted
Considered
Consolidated
Contracted
Controlled
Coordinated
Critiqued
Decided
Delegated
Detected
Distributed
Eliminated
Examined
Experimented
Explored
Extracted
Filed
Focused
Gathered
Identified
Improved
Increased
Individualized

Informed
Instilled
Instructed
Investigated
Led
Located
Logged
Maintained
Merged
Navigated
Obtained
Ordered
Originated
Overhauled
Oversaw
Presided
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Remodeled
Reorganized
Repaired
Simulated
Specialized
Standardized
Studied
Taught
Transmitted
Tutored
Upgraded
Utilized