Business Administration 106 - Written Business Communications - Cardona

A resume is an application document that highlights your work experience, accomplishments, and skills for employers in a clear and easy to read way. Resumes should be tailored for each job you apply to so don't just copy and paste!

Resumes:

• usually start as Word documents (read the employer directions if you need to convert to PDF)
• use 11 point of 12 point font for easy reading
• use a font like Times New Roman, Georgia or Cambria throughout the whole document (be consistent!)
• are usually 1 page (unless you have more than 7 years experience)
• use bullets to keep your work experience short and to the point

There are many kinds of resume but most employers expect either a chronological resume or a functional resume. Sometimes you can combine the two! We will talk more about chronological and functional resumes below.

Tips for Writing A Resume

• Be consistent! The font, size for headings and bullets, spacing, indentation, and dates should look the same throughout your document
• Begin bulleted phrases and sentences under experience with action verbs 
• Use the present tense with current jobs and experience
• Use Headings to show the sections on your document. Most student resumes include:
  • Name and contact information heading
  • Educational Experience (degrees and related coursework)
  • Professional Experience (work experience, internships, etc.)
  • Leadership Experience (roles in a student group or local organization)
  • Volunteering or Community Service Experience
  • Project Experience (roles on a project in a related industry)
  • Research Experience (roles and work for research conducted in school or for a professor)
  • Skills and Knowledge (software you use, types of work like remote work, etc.)
• When printing a resume for a job fair, use white or cream colored paper 
• Always include references. References are contacts who can speak to you ability to do the job. Try for professional references but if you don't have any yet, you can use personal references like a teacher or adult who knows you well.
• Include specific types of professional experience including: work (full time or part time), internships, volunteering, research, leadership in student groups, etc.
• Use related coursework if you don't have professional experience. Name 4-5 classes and briefly describe in bullets what you did for the class and what you learned that can help you do this job

Definition of a Chronological Resume

A reverse chronological order resume is the most common type of resume used for jobs. This type of resume organizes information (your jobs, positions, and experiences) by date from the present to past.

Each of your listed experiences should include bullets listing your duties and accomplishments.

Why Use a Chronological Resume?

Chronological resumes show employers that you have worked and/or gained experienced consistently. It shows how your experience is connected to the job you are applying for in a clear way.

What Does a Chronological Resume Look Like?

NOTE: STUDENT RESUMES SHOULD BE TAILORED USING THE CHRONOLOGICAL OR FUNCTIONAL FORMATS ONLY AS OUTLINED IN THE TEXTBOOK. NO OTHER FORMATS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

An example entry of experience in a chronological resume may include:

Professional Experience:
Front Desk Clerk, ABC Hotel, Merced, CA, March 2020 - May 2021

• Provided exemplary customer services to over 200 daily guests including answer inquiries and providing local area information
• Operated booking system and record keeping for guest reservations
• Assisted with planning and running of events, conferences, and meetings
• Received "Excellent" professional evaluation rating every quarter 

Definition of a Functional Resume

A functional resume is a skill-based resume. This type of resume focuses on skills related to the job you are applying to and not individual jobs or experience you gained. Functional resumes group your skills together using the job description you are applying to. Start with the most relevant skills with 4-5 bullets underneath each grouping.

Why Use a Functional Resume?

Functional resumes are helpful if you are changing careers and don't yet have experience in the job area you are applying to. They are also helpful if you have gaps in employment history, are a new graduate seeking your first professional job, or if you have gained new skills that aren't clearly related to your educational experience.

What Does a Functional Resume Look Like?

NOTE: STUDENT RESUMES SHOULD BE TAILORED USING THE CHRONOLOGICAL OR FUNCTIONAL FORMATS ONLY AS OUTLINED IN THE TEXTBOOK. NO OTHER FORMATS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

An example entry of experience in a functional resume may include:

Skills
Customer Service

Provided excellent customer service by ensuring all customer needs were met. Served as back up at checkout line for high register traffic averaging over 100 customers a day. Organized and restocked empty shelves.

Complaint Resolution
Answered an average of 50+ calls per day from unsatisfied customers related to delays in shipment, order mistakes and lost orders. Achieved 97% average customer satisfaction rating, surpassing team goal by 12%.