• Military & Veterans
  • Transfer Students
  • Education Partnerships
  • COVID-19 Info
  • 844-PURDUE-G
  • Student Login
  • Request Info
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Master of Science
  • Associate of Applied Science
  • Graduate Certificate
  • Master of Business Administration
  • ExcelTrack Master of Business Administration
  • ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science
  • Postbaccalaureate Certificate
  • Certificate
  • Associate of Applied Science (For Military Students)
  • Programs and Courses
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Doctor of Education
  • Postgraduate Certificate
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • Master of Health Care Administration
  • Master of Health Informatics
  • Doctor of Health Science
  • Associate of Applied of Science (For Military Students)
  • Associate of Science (For Military Students)
  • Master of Public Health
  • Executive Juris Doctor
  • Juris Doctor
  • Dual Master's Degrees
  • ExcelTrack Master of Science
  • Master of Science (DNP Path)
  • Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BSN)
  • ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BSN)
  • Associate of Science
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Master of Professional Studies

The average Purdue Global military student is awarded 54% of the credits needed for an associate's and 45% of the credits needed for a bachelor's.

  • General Education Mobile (GEM) Program
  • AAS in Health Science
  • AS in Health Science
  • BS in Organizational Management
  • BS in Professional Studies
  • AAS in Criminal Justice
  • AAS in Small Group Management
  • AAS Small Group Management
  • Master's Degrees
  • Bachelor's Degrees
  • Associate's Degrees
  • Certificate Programs
  • Noncredit Courses
  • Tuition and Financial Aid Overview
  • Financial Aid Process
  • Financial Aid Awards
  • Financial Aid Resources
  • Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions
  • Financial Aid Information Guide
  • Tuition and Savings
  • Aviation Degree Tuition and Fees
  • Professional Studies Tuition and Fees
  • Single Courses and Micro-Credentials
  • Time and Tuition Calculator
  • Net Price Calculator
  • Military Benefits and Tuition Assistance
  • Military Educational Resources
  • Military Tuition Reductions
  • Military Spouses
  • Student Loans
  • Student Grants
  • Outside Scholarships
  • Loan Management
  • Financial Literacy Tools
  • Academic Calendar
  • General Requirements
  • Technology Requirements
  • Work and Life Experience Credit
  • DREAMers Education Initiative
  • Student Identity
  • Student Experience
  • Online Experience
  • Student Life
  • Alumni Engagement
  • International Students
  • Academic Support
  • All Purdue Online Degrees
  • Career Services
  • COVID-19 FAQs
  • Student Accessibility Services
  • Student Resources
  • Transcript Request
  • About Purdue Global
  • Accreditation
  • Approach to Learning
  • Career Opportunities
  • Diversity Initiatives
  • Purdue Global Commitment
  • Cybersecurity Center
  • Chancellor's Corner
  • Purdue Global Moves
  • Leadership and Board
  • Facts and Statistics
  • Researcher Request Intake Form

Most Commonly Searched:

  • All Degree Programs
  • Communication
  • Criminal Justice
  • Fire Science
  • Health Sciences
  • Human Services
  • Information Technology
  • Legal Studies
  • Professional Studies
  • Psychology and ABA
  • Public Policy
  • Military and Veterans
  • Tuition and Fee Finder
  • Financial Aid FAQs
  • Military Benefits and Aid
  • Admissions Overview
  • Student Experience Overview
  • Academic Support Overview
  • 15 Tips for Resume Writing

A man sits at a desk and looks at a laptop

15 Resume Writing Tips: How to Craft a Resume That Gets Noticed

Preparing a solid resume is a critical step on your path to a rewarding job. While you may have years of experience, your resume can still go unnoticed if you don’t optimize it for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and ensure it stands out to human reviewers, too. As you create your new resume or modify your last one, keep the following 15 tips in mind.

1. Tailor Your Resume to Your Desired Position or Industry

As you create your resume, keep in mind the needs of your target employer and tailor your resume to show how you fit the needs of that employer. If you’re applying for a specific position, review the job requirements and description carefully and make sure that your resume reflects how you fit those requirements.

You should also research the employer and then review your resume to see if there is additional, relevant information you can add. For example, if you’re applying for a job in the medical field, make sure your resume includes any medical or health care-related experience you may have.

2. Use a Clean, Visually Appealing Format

While your qualifications are usually the greatest indicator of whether you’re a good candidate for a role, a resume that’s clean, easy to read, and visually appealing could play a part in a hiring manager reading it.

As you create your resume, focus on formatting your resume so that it’s easy to read. For example, your resume should include:

  • 1-inch margins
  • Section headers
  • Bulleted lists
  • The same font throughout the document
  • Consistent line spacing

3. Use an Appropriate Font

Use a professional, clean, modern font. Times New Roman has been a historical go-to for resumes, and is still acceptable, but you may want to consider a different font, like Arial.

Additionally, ensure that your font is appropriately sized. A 10- to 12-point font is usually best.

4. Use a Professional Email Address

You might be surprised at how many people still include unprofessional email addresses in their resumes. Have a dedicated professional email address, if you don’t already. Your first initial and last name is a common and recommended format for your email address. You may want to avoid using a number in your email address because this could be assumed to be your birth year, which could lead to perceived ageism.

Imagine you were a hiring manager, and you saw the following two email addresses:

As much as we love sports, we’re willing to bet most hiring managers would rather continue reading the resume of the second candidate.

5. Include a Summary Statement

A summary statement at the beginning of your resume is important. It’s a brief statement that covers your experience and goals as they relate to the position you’re applying for.

Keep it concise at about 3 to 5 lines.

“Think about the words you are using and try to use quantifiable information,” says Jennifer Lasater, vice president, employer and career services at Purdue Global. “Instead of ‘hard worker,’ it's better to state that you ‘increased sales by 25%’.”

 Use this space to summarize your experience, strengths, and goals as they relate to the position you are applying to.

6. Ensure All Information Is Up to Date

Some job-seekers create many resumes for many different positions. When reworking your resume for the job you’re applying for, ensure that all the information is current and relevant to the given position. Check that you haven’t left anything behind from an older version of your resume or one that was written for a different role.

7. Use Reverse Chronological Order

Putting your work history in reverse chronological order (so your most recent role is listed first, under “Experience”) is the standard practice, and it’s what your reviewer will be expecting.

The same is true for your education section. Your most recent schooling is most likely most relevant to the role you’re applying for now, so list education in reverse chronological order as well.

8. Be Concise About Experience and Job Duties

Your experience and previous job duties are some of the most important words on your resume. It’s tempting to want to elaborate on your accomplishments and make sure they’re properly explained, but hiring managers want to get right to the meat of your experience to see how it aligns with their current needs.

Be concise about your previous duties and accomplishments. Use bullet points instead of full sentences or paragraphs. Instead of elaborating on your biggest accomplishments, clearly communicate them in 1 to 2 bulleted lines that begin with action verbs such as “managed” or “developed.”

9. Make It ATS-Friendly

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of software that helps employers collect, organize, and rank candidates’ resumes. Three-quarters of recruiters and talent managers use some form of recruiting or applicant tracking software, Capterra reports .

An ATS helps hiring managers find the most relevant candidates by searching for certain keywords in resumes. To optimize your resume for an ATS, review the job description carefully for important keywords and include those that are relevant to your job or educational experience in your resume.

>> Read More: How to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

10. Decide: Education or Experience—Which Comes First?

The answer to this question is fairly simple. If you recently graduated from school with little to no relevant work experience, list your education first. This will be more relevant to employers than any unrelated jobs you held while earning your degree. If you had any internships that are relevant to the role you’re applying for, put the internships first, then education.

Moving forward in your career, your experience should be placed above the section about your education. Your professional experience will almost always be more relevant to hiring managers than your education, unless there are strict educational requirements in your field. But even in that case, experience should be listed first.

11. Include Only Relevant Educational Information

You want your resume to be concise, so if you’ve enrolled at a college or university, you can exclude education previous to that, including your high school. You should include any education that you’re currently working on, but don’t include educational programs from the past that you started but didn’t complete.

List any academic honors you’ve received, and only include your GPA if it’s above 3.0.

12. Exclude the Reference Statement

Historically, standard practice when writing resumes was to add a statement along the lines of “References available upon request.” This is unnecessary. Again, you want your resume to be as sleek and streamlined as possible, and excluding this statement saves room. Hiring managers know they’re able to request references from you if they’re interested.

13. Include Additional Section(s) if Relevant

The important thing here is “if relevant.” If you have other past experience that’s not necessarily related to the position itself but speaks to you as a candidate, you can include it. Some examples of additional sections include:

  • Internships
  • Volunteer experience
  • Community service
  • Languages spoken
  • Professional memberships
  • Associations/affiliations

14. Include a Cover Letter

You might think it’s unnecessary or unlikely to actually be read, but a cover letter gives you the opportunity to provide your potential employer with a well-spoken narrative about your qualifications and career objectives. It also serves as a way to get ahead of or explain certain aspects of your resume—for example, a gap in employment—if necessary.

Try to include some aspects that aren’t in your resume—you don’t want your cover letter to repeat your resume in story form. “We recommend that students identify three qualifications from the job description that they have and illustrate in the cover letter how they meet those requirements,” says Jennifer Katz, director of career services at Purdue Global.

Your cover letter should also be highly targeted and unique to each position you apply for.

>> Learn More: Tips on Writing a Stellar Cover Letter

15. Proofread (Then Proofread Again)

This tip can’t be emphasized enough. This is your chance to make a good first impression, and one spelling or grammatical error could compromise the credibility of your entire resume. That might sound harsh, and not all hiring managers are such sticklers on this, but some are.

Read it and reread it. Send it to family and friends who will read it and give you feedback. In addition to helping identify any spelling or grammatical errors, this will also help identify any issues with words that have multiple spellings (e.g., role vs. roll, their vs. there). The more people that can help you review your resume, the better. Other people may be more likely to pick up something you missed, even if you have reviewed it yourself several times.

If You Need Additional Education to Land Your Dream Job

If you’ve already put in the work to become qualified for the position you’re applying for, all you need to do now is clearly and effectively communicate that to your potential employers with a clean, concise resume. Good luck!

But if a college degree could help you reach your career goals, learn more about Purdue Global. We offer more than 175 online programs, from certificates to doctoral degrees. We’ve tailored higher education to meet the needs of working adults. Request more information today .

About the Author

Purdue Global

Earn a degree you're proud of and employers respect at Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. Accredited and online, Purdue Global gives you the flexibility and support you need to come back and move your career forward. Choose from 175+ programs, all backed by the power of Purdue.

  • General Education
  • Legal Studies & Public Policy
  • Online Learning

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Learn more about online programs at Purdue Global and download our program guide.

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

* Employment and Career Advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment.

Purdue University

Resume Writing Tips

Provide your name, contact information, current address (including email address) and telephone number (best number to reach you) in the header.

Include institution name, city and state.

Provide name of your degree and major and list most recent degree first.

Provide date (or expected date) of graduation.

Professional Skills or Summary of Skills

This is a great place to highlight your years of experience in a specific field, advanced skills, technical skills and other professional skills.

Be specific about your skills, and make sure you back them up in your job experience section.

Include all relevant full and part-time positions, self- employment, volunteer work, practicum, field and cooperative education.

Provide job title, dates of employment (include both month and year), company name, city and state.

List job responsibilities.

  • Use bullet points and start each bullet with an action verb ( Power Resume Words ) and use the right keywords based on the career field or company of interest.
  • Use present tense with current position and past tense with past positions.
  • If possible, use metrics, numbers, and percentages.
  • Be concise, but detailed.

Honors and Awards (if applicable)

Rank order by importance based on the career field or by dates (most recent first).

Professional Affiliations, Certifications,  and Activities (if applicable)

LinkedIn Profile

Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn Profile in the header of your resume, along with your basic contact information.

If you choose to include it, be sure to fully develop your profile prior to listing the URL on your resume ( Should I Include My LinkedIn URL on My Resume? ).

Professional Appearance

Ensure the resume is well organized, error free, and free of abbreviations, acronyms, and slang.

Proofread it – one typo could cost you the opportunity to interview for the job – and if possible, have someone else review your resume.

Use a good printer and white paper (preferred).

No pronouns (such as I, me, my).

No personal information (such as Social Security number, gender, marital status, health, age and photo) and do not include irrelevant information (such as political affiliation, religion and hobbies).

No fancy designs, graphics, images and fonts.

Do not misrepresent yourself (even small embellishments could cost you the job once discovered).

  • Resumes & CVs

Writing the Resume

  • Writing the CV

Below are the sections that will guide you on building a successful resume. The sections will take you over the overall ideas in crafting your resume and give specific examples to get you started. It is recommended to go over the sections from top to bottom.

Purpose and Types

An effective resume grabs the reader’s attention. It connects your skills and experiences with the organization’s and position’s needs. In thirty seconds or less, most employers or organization representatives decide whether to consider applicants for an interview, so your resume's content must be  CLEAR ,  CONCISE , and  COMPELLING .

Resume Types

Chronological and Functional Resumes are two typical resume formats. The most commonly used style is “Chronological.”

Chronological:

  • Highlights information in reverse chronological order within sections from most recent to least recent
  • Most commonly used format as it is easy for employers to understand your timeline
  • Allows prioritizing of your sections, so you can highlight your most relevant experiences first!

Functional:

  • Highlights information in categories based on commonly grouped skills
  • Useful for those with a wide variety of work history, gaps in experience, or those seeking to change career fields
  • Tends to be used by more seasoned candidates

PROFESSIONAL FORMAT

  • Margins: Top-0.8”-1”; Sides and bottom-0.5”-1”
  • Font Size & Style: 10-12 and simple, readable fonts (Calibri, Georgia, Arial, Cambria, Times New Roman)
  • Printed Copy: Print copies for in-person interactions (job fairs, interviews) on “resume paper” that can be found at copy centers and office supply stores/sections
  • Length: Undergraduate level-1 page; Graduate & PhD-2 pages or more; majors in Education, Nursing and Medicine can have more than 1 page
  • Templates: Refrain from using them as they lack flexibility when you want to tailor your resume!
  • Order: Heading, objective (if included) and education are first, in that order
  • No Pronouns: Do not use first-person pronouns (I, me, my)
  • Don't get Personal: Refrain from incorporating personal information such as your age, gender, religion, political affiliation, marital status, ethnicity, visa status or photographs

Your Resume Warehouse

To begin the resume writing process, consider creating a “Resume Warehouse” where you record EVERY  position or experience you have had (and will have!) using a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet, or whatever resource works best to capture your information. If you are a newer college student, this may include high school experience. Your “Resume Warehouse” will be useful as you target resumes to meet the needs of specific positions and organizations.

As you brainstorm, here are examples of items to include:

  • Social and Professional Affiliations such as teams, clubs, associations
  • Volunteer and Community/Campus Involvement
  • Leadership Positions
  • Class or Design Projects
  • Research Experiences
  • Practicum or Internship Experiences
  • Teaching Experiences
  • Study/Travel Abroad
  • Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
  • Certifications of Licensure
  • Languages (indicate level)
  • Computer/Technical Skills
  • Laboratory Skills/Field Processes
  • Presentations and Publications
  • Special Interests or Hobbies
  • Notable Achievements

KEEP IN MIND: Your “Resume Warehouse” helps you remember key skills and experiences that may be useful to tailor different versions of your resume.

Add the “CORE 4”

For each experience, record these additional “CORE 4” details:

The section on “Share Your Experiences” shows how to capture the skills and impactful details for your experiences.

Resume Sections

Resumes often include the following sections:

Honors and Awards

View the CCO Handbook for resume examples

resume_sections_header

Career Profiles 1

resume_sections_careerprofile_description

Career Profiles 2

resume_sections_careerprofile_description2

Basic areas to include would be name of institution, location, year of graduation, degree, majors, minors. The GPA often is included but not all the time depending upon the individual’s preference.

resume_sections_education

Other areas to consider including are:

  • Institution(s)
  • Graduation Date
  • Minor(s)/Concentration(s)
  • GPA (be accurate!)
  • Awards, Scholarships
  • Course Highlights

resume_sections_experience

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

Identify transferable skills, attributes, and competencies.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS are skills and traits that have been developed and used in one position that can be “transferred” (or taken) into another position. These skills are invaluable and provide a strong foundation for other positions. They demonstrate that you are capable of learning about and doing the job.

“Power Verbs” that help describe these skills can be found in the CCO Handbook .

Attributes Employers Seek in Candidates

ATTRIBUTES are skills, qualities, and traits. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in its Job Outlook 2021Spring Update, employers sought the following attributes in their candidates:

purdue owl resume guide

COMPETENCIES: In its work on “career readiness,”* the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shares that successfully developing certain competencies prepares college graduates for success beyond college. These competencies are:

NACE provides useful and detailed examples demonstrating sample behaviors for each of these competencies. Referring to these examples will help you develop bullet points for your resume and share how you have used these competencies. Simply click on NACE’s link to the “What is Career Readiness?” webpage , scroll down, and examine each competency.

* What is Career Readiness? (naceweb.org)

Relate to your tasks/responsibilities

Refer back to your “CORE 4” experiences , reflect upon, and record the  TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, and COMPETENCIES  you enriched, developed, and used in these experiences. Doing this will help you understand the value of your experience and how this will make you competitive for future opportunities. You will use this information on your resume as well as in the interview process as you explain your value to employers.

Take one of your experiences, list the TASKS you performed in that position and identify which TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, and COMPETENCIES might line up with those tasks. For example, if you were a barista, you might record something like this:

Now you have the ingredients to  MAKE STRONG BULLET POINTS on your resume! Strong bullet points help your reader “see you in action” and understand what value you may bring to the position.

Develop Strong Bullet Points

Now it’s time to incorporate those TASKS and TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, and COMPETENCIES you developed through your experiences into strong bullet points for your resume. Strong bullet points helps your reader “see” and “virtually experience” the value you bring to the position.

You can do this by implementing the following formula:

POWER VERB* + TASK/RESPONSIBILITIES + PURPOSE/METHOD/RESULT = STRONG BULLET POINTS

PURPOSE (why did you do the task?),

METHOD (how did you go about doing the task?), or

RESULT (what happened because you did it?)

HINT: You can include a combination of two of these add on items (for example: purpose and method) in a bullet point. You can even include all three (purpose, method and result)!

For a comprehensive list of power verbs check out the CCO Handbook

Formula Examples: POWER VERB + TASK + PURPOSE/METHOD/RESULT = STRONG BULLET POINTS

  • Observed and analyzed students’ behavior to guide successful classroom instruction
  • Performed gear mapping for transmissions to optimize shift patters, fuel economy and available power
  • Collaborated with Purdue faculty to increase cultural self-education amongst minority students
  • Ensured customer satisfaction by listening to orders and delivering product that fulfilled customer specifications
  • Collected quantitative infrared imaging using a high- speed infrared camera
  • Developed new ideas for Exelon’s eFin website which increased traffic flow by 20%
  • Performed internal audits on 159 underwriting cases in 3 weeks improving efficiency according to the Audit Board
  • Designed and implemented latches for condensation vents to reduce water leakage creating a safer work environment

Edit and Proofread

To help ensure that you present your best written resume to your audience, make sure you edit and proofread it. Below are suggested resources that can assist you:

RESUME REVIEW RESOURCES

  • Read it backwards to catch spelling errors.
  • Read it from top to bottom, left to right to catch awkward phrasing.
  • Compare it to the position description, organization, and field to which you are applying. Have you neglected to include any pertinent information?
  • Tell the person what you hope to achieve with the resume.
  • Share the position description so that this person can assess how you “fit” the position.
  • For a personalized review of your resume, please schedule an appointment through BoilerConnect.
  • Examples : Check out the CCO Handbook for more tips and examples.
  • UPKEY is an excellent tool for building your first resume. Upload your resume and receive tips on how to improve it.
  • VMock is an excellent tool for continuing to refine your resume drafts. It will provide feedback on content and formatting.

Recognize that you own your resume. You know yourself and your experiences best so, while others may have suggestions, this document represents you and needs to sound like you.

Purdue Careers

Purdue University Careers

  • Why Work at Purdue
  • How to Apply
  • Life in Lafayette-West Lafayette
  • Architect, Planning and Design
  • Athletics, Recreation & Wellness
  • Business and Finance
  • Business Development/Sales
  • Communication/Marketing/Public Relations
  • Custodial and Skilled Trades
  • Dining & Culinary
  • Engineering
  • Environment and Sustainability
  • Facilities Management and Physical Plant
  • Farming, Fishing and Forestry
  • Grounds and Landscape Services
  • Health and Medical Services
  • Human Resources and Legal
  • Information Technology
  • Office Administration
  • Planning, Design, and Construction
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Project Management
  • Public Safety, Security and Emergency Services
  • Research and Laboratory
  • Secretarial/Clerical
  • Student Affairs, Student Services, & Res Life
  • Veterinary Medicine

Resume & Interview Tips

Preparation is key to ensure you make a good impression.

Resume Tips

Interview tips.

Refer to the candidate in first or third person, for example "I received an award" or "Mr. Smith received an award" Use fonts that are difficult to read or smaller than 10-point Include citizenship, age, or any other personal information Include photos

Before the Interview

  • Do your research – learn about Purdue and the department your applying to.
  • Think ahead of what questions you have for the interviewer – write them down if you wish.
  • Review your resume, work history and accomplishments to prepare for questions you may be asked.

Refer to the candidate in first or third person, for example "I received an award" or "Mr. Smith received an award" Use fonts that are difficult to read or smaller than 10-point Include citizenship, age, or any other personal information Include photos

purdue owl resume guide

Day of the Interview

  • Be on time for your interview (phone or in person).
  • Ensure that you make a positive first impression .
  • Be honest, thorough and specific when answering questions.
  • If you do not understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or re-word.  It is okay to take your time with answering difficult questions.

purdue owl resume guide

After the Interview

  • You are welcome to follow up the interview with a thank you note.  
  • Prepare a list of references, and make sure your references know that you are using them as a reference.

Interview Types

STAR - Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Behavioral Interview

  • Behavioral interview questions can be used in any type of interview (email, phone, in-person, etc.).
  • Use the STAR Method.
  • Keep in mind, interviewers are looking for past actions only; instead of predicting what you might do in a given situation.
  • Be honest – Don’t embellish or omit any part of the story.

STAR - Situation, Task, Action, Result.

purdue owl resume guide

Phone Interview

  • Find a quiet space where you will be able to hear the interviewer well and have no distractions.
  • Research and familiarize yourself with the company/department.
  • Prepare answers for sample interview questions/prepare questions to ask the interviewer.

purdue owl resume guide

Virtual Interview

  • Check technical equipment, test the sound/connection, and do a test run with a friend (if possible).
  • Dress professionally and be aware of your body language.

purdue owl resume guide

Panel Interview

  • Try to find out who will be on the panel in advance so that you can bring a copy of your resume for each interviewer.
  • Engage with all interviewers as you are answering questions.
  • Try to learn everyone’s name (it’s okay to take notes).
  • Careers Home
  • View All Jobs

© Copyright 2024, Purdue University - An equal access/equal opportunity university

  • Skip to Guides Search
  • Skip to breadcrumb
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to chat link
  • Report accessibility issues and get help
  • Go to Penn Libraries Home
  • Go to Franklin catalog

Critical Writing Program: Decision Making - Spring 2024: Resume Resources

  • Getting started
  • News and Opinion Sites
  • Academic Sources
  • Grey Literature
  • Substantive News Sources
  • What to Do When You Are Stuck
  • Understanding a citation
  • Examples of Quotation
  • Examples of Paraphrase
  • Chicago Manual of Style: Citing Images
  • Researching the Op-Ed
  • Researching Prospective Employers
  • Resume Resources
  • Cover Letter Resources

Résumé Resources

  • Preparing Effective Résumés - Penn Career Services 
  • Résumés and CVs - Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) - These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers. This section also contains links to other OWL resources geared for entry-level and skilled labor positions.
  • CareerOneStop  Résumé tutorials guide job seekers through resources for resume types, design, and essential features.

Cover Art

LinkedIn Learning - Online Video Tutorials

undefined

LinkedIn Learning  (previously Lynda.com) is an online training library that provides access to video tutorials covering a wide selection of topics, including cover letters, resumes, and career development. New and improved courses are added weekly. University students, faculty, and staff have access to LinkedIn Learning.

Here are just a few of the many video tutorials available:

  • Cover Letter Tips with Jenny Foss
  • Managing Stress and Building Resilience While Job Hunting with Careercake
  • Writing a Resume with Stacey Gordon
  • Designing a Resume for Creatives with Ina Saltz
  • A Career Strategist's Guide to Getting a Job with Jenny Foss
  • << Previous: Researching Prospective Employers
  • Next: Cover Letter Resources >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 15, 2024 12:28 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.upenn.edu/spring2024/decision-making
  • Graduate Students
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Online Students
  • First Generation
  • International Students
  • Create a Resume / Cover Letter
  • Expand Your Network
  • Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment
  • Negotiate an Offer
  • Prepare for an Interview
  • Prepare for Graduate School
  • Search for a Job / Internship
  • CareerBound
  • Business Analytics
  • General Management
  • Human Resources Management
  • Integrated Business & Engineering
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Undergraduate Outcomes
  • Graduate Outcomes
  • Labor Market Insights
  • Our Mission, Vision and Values
  • Undergraduate Advising Team
  • Graduate Advising Team
  • Employer Recruitment Team

Daniels School of Business Undergraduate Resume Template

  • Share This: Share Daniels School of Business Undergraduate Resume Template on Facebook Share Daniels School of Business Undergraduate Resume Template on LinkedIn Share Daniels School of Business Undergraduate Resume Template on X

Are you ready to create or update your resume? Our undergraduate resume template is Applicant Tracking System friendly and recruiter approved! Click the “View Resource” button to download the template!

Resume & Cover Letters

  • Cover Letter

Books from the ABAC Baldwin Library

purdue owl resume guide

Creating Your Resume

A resume is a “snapshot” of who you are and your accomplishments.  It brings together your education, work experience, skills, achievements, and other useful information in an easy to read format.  The purpose of a resume is to emphasize your best qualities with the goal of securing an interview.

Your resume is completely customizable.  You choose what headings to include and in what order to place them. 

View the following links for guidance to help you create and customize your resume:

  • Resources on page design and usability
  • The Purdue OWL Writing Lab / Purdue University
  • Resume and Cover Letter Guide
  • Career Services at Princeton University
  • Step by step guide on how to build your resume
  • The Rockport Institute
  • Answers to common resume questions
  • Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor
  • Advice on the best way to create your resume 
  • CollegeGrad
  • Tips from industry professionals
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Guidance on buzzwords and making a plan

Resume Examples

Use the following links to view completed sample resumes.  Look at the format, headings, margin spacing, word selection and other techniques to decide what is best for your resume.

  • Chronological Format Resume
  • Functional Format Resume
  • Purdue OWL Writing Lab / Purdue University
  • CareerOneStop  
  • CollegeGrad  
  • The Balance Best Resume  
  • << Previous: Home
  • Next: Cover Letter >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 20, 2023 8:39 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.abac.edu/careerguide

Banner

Career Resources

  • Welcome NAU Students and Future Graduates!
  • Educational and Career Planning Resources
  • Job Search - Online Job Boards
  • CareerOneStop
  • Job Resource for Veterans, Transitioning Military, and Military Spouses
  • Job Resource for Paramedics
  • Resume Templates
  • Make your Resume POP
  • Powerful Bullet Points
  • Summary and Highlights
  • Edit and Proofread
  • Formatting Your Cover Letter
  • Build Your Personal Brand
  • Social Media
  • Master the Interview
  • Dress for Success
  • Common Interview Questions
  • STAR Responses
  • Negotiation Tips
  • Follow Up and Thank You Notes
  • Career Enrichment
  • Job Application Tracker
  • AI Tools for Job Seekers
  • Exploring Security Careers
  • Professional Associations
  • Strategic Security Related Job Links
  • Security Clearance
  • Prepare While Enrolled
  • Job Resource for Military, Military Spouses, Veterans, and Veteran Spouses
  • Educational and Career Counseling for Veterans and Dependents
  • Continuing Your Education
  • Alumni Foundation

Purdue OWL Resumes and CV's

  • Purdue OWL: Resumes and CVS This resource includes information on resume sections, scannable resumes, and The Resume Workshop - detailed explanations and the step-by-step processes for creating an effective resume.

What is a Resume?

Cv, Curriculum Vitae, Interview

The purpose of a résumé is to get an interview.  Your résumé is where employers will gather a

First impression of you, your skills, your experience and your education. it needs to be clear,, concise and captivating.  , all résumé types are widely used. choose the best type to highlight your skills and qualifications.  , types of résumés:, reverse chronological : most popular; emphasizes experience and employment history. highlights information from most recent and relevant to oldest and least relevant.   , functional :  100% skill based; emphasized specific skills and accomplishments.  listing the skills by groups. useful for those with gaps in work history, those who are seeking to change careers and those with a wide variety of skills.   , combination : combines the two; emphasizing skills and accomplishments, while also listing work history , cirriculum vitae: a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous experience, typically sent with a job application, mostly used in the education industry, federal:  federal jobs often require that you have experience in a particular type of work for a certain period of time. you must show how your skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. the following link from usa jobs gives a detailed description about "what should be included on a  federal resume "  , the difference between a résumé and a curriculum vitae (cv)  .

  • Résumés are typical for all types of employment.  A résumé is a concise document with no more than 1 or 2 pages outlining your education, and the skills and accomplishments that are specific to your career of choice.       
  • CV is a longer more detailed version of a résumé that is typically used in educational employment, government employment, military employment or for those that have obtained a PhD or EdD. A CV consists of more than 2 pages and details all accomplishments, publications and skills. 
  • << Previous: Job Resource for Paramedics
  • Next: Brainstorm >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 3:15 PM
  • URL: https://national.libguides.com/NAU_Career_Resources

Elihu Burritt Library logo, link to library homepage

Career Research Guide

  • Exploring Careers
  • Hunting for Jobs
  • Researching Employers

Creating Your Resume

Resume examples, selected books & ebooks from the ccsu library.

  • Writing Cover Letters
  • Interviewing

There are two main styles of resumes: chronological and functional

Chronological : this type of resume highlights your employment history. You should use this type of resume if you have a lot of career experience in one field and are planning to apply for a job in that field.

Functional : this type of resume highlights your skills. You should use this type of resume if you do not have a lot of work experience , or if your work experience is in a different field from the job to which you are applying. This type of resume is ideal for first-year students or people who want to switch career paths.

 Visit the following links for guides to help you create your resume:

  • CareerOneStop A great place to visit to start assembling your resume. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the process of creating a resume, providing examples along the way.
  • Penn State Career Services From Penn State. Explanation of parts of the resume & CV
  • Purdue OWL: Resumes and Vitas From Purdue University. Includes parts of resumes & vitas. Includes information on how to make a resume scannable.
  • Chronological Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
  • Functional Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
  • Skills Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
  • CareerOneStop Examples
  • Climbtheladder Resume Examples
  • << Previous: Researching Employers
  • Next: Writing Cover Letters >>
  • Last Updated: May 16, 2024 11:14 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.ccsu.edu/career

Report a tech support issue

Elihu Burritt Library Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 - Map

CCSU Home | Central Pipeline | CentralSearch / Catalog | Sign In to CentralSearch | Search Library Website

FIU Libraries Logo

  •   LibGuides
  •   A-Z List
  •   Help

Career & Talent Development Resources

  • Career Research
  • Company & Industry Research
  • Resumes & Cover Letters
  • Interviewing Tips
  • Entrepreneurs & Sales Professionals
  • International Business
  • Sustainability & Environment
  • Hospitality & Tourism Management
  • Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Other Majors
  • Fast growing Careers
  • Jobs for International Students
  • Internships
  • New Career Books in the Library

Useful websites

  • Resume Workshop - Purdue OWL
  • Resume & Cover Letter Guide - Career Onestop
  • Resume Examples

Books in the library

purdue owl resume guide

Looking for more books on this topic? Try the search term below to search the Library catalog: 

  • << Previous: Company & Industry Research
  • Next: Interviewing Tips >>
  • Last Updated: Apr 23, 2024 7:33 PM
  • URL: https://library.fiu.edu/career

Information

Fiu libraries floorplans, green library, modesto a. maidique campus, hubert library, biscayne bay campus.

Federal Depository Library Program logo

Directions: Green Library, MMC

Directions: Hubert Library, BBC

  • Franklin University |
  • Help & Support |
  • Locations & Maps |

Franklin University logo

  • | Research Guides

To access Safari eBooks,

  • Select not listed in the Select Your Institution drop down menu.
  • Enter your Franklin email address and click Go
  • click "Already a user? Click here" link
  • Enter your Franklin email and the password you used to create your Safari account.

Continue Close

ENG 205 Business & Professional Writing

  • Digital Writing
  • Primary & Secondary Research
  • Purdue OWL: Resumes & CVs

Franklin University's Center for Career Development

  • APA This link opens in a new window
  • Professional Organizations

Featured EBooks

Cover Art

  • Job Letters
  • Resume Templates from Career Development Under Our Services, expand the Your Resume section to find various resume templates created by Franklin University's Center for Career Development.
  • Purdue OWL: Resumes Use this Purdue OWL guide to find information on resumes and templates.
  • Purdue OWL: Job Letters These OWL resources will help you write job application letters, thank you and follow up letters, as well as effective acceptance and rejection letters.

Cover Art

  • 20 steps to a better LinkedIn profile in 2020 Make this the year that you invest a little time in personal branding on LinkedIn.
  • Get All You Can From LinkedIn Whether you're looking for a new role or just trying to expand your professional network, here's how to use the website's services to your full advantage.

purdue owl resume guide

  • << Previous: Primary & Secondary Research
  • Next: Plagiarism >>
  • Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 10:35 AM
  • URL: https://guides.franklin.edu/ENG205

Career Resources: Resumes & Cover Letters

  • Career Exploration
  • Finding a Job

Resume vs. Cover Letter

Resume & cover letter help.

  • Cost of Living
  • Career Research
  • UHV Career Development Center

What exactly are resumes and cover letters?

A resume is a document used and created by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. It is formatted as a list of experiences, education, and qualifications.

A cover letter  is a written document that outlines a person's qualifications and interest in a certain job position. 

So, a resume is a list of your experience and a cover letter allows you to explain why you think you are a good fit for the job.

Usually, employers will make clear in their job ads or their application websites whether or not they want a resume, cover letter, or both. Many jobs require both. 

  • UHV Career Development Center Career Services provides quality counseling in the areas of choosing a major, job search strategies, pursuing employment and/or graduate school opportunities to UHV undergraduates, graduates, and alumni.
  • CareerOneStop - Resume Guide Tips on what to include in your resume, formatting, and sample resumes.
  • Purdue OWL Writing Lab - Resumes & Cover Letters These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers. This section also contains links to other OWL resources geared for entry-level and skilled labor positions.
  • << Previous: Finding a Job
  • Next: Cost of Living >>

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Common Writing Assignments

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

These OWL resources will help you understand and complete specific types of writing assignments, such as annotated bibliographies, book reports, and research papers. This section also includes resources on writing academic proposals for conference presentations, journal articles, and books.

Understanding Writing Assignments

This resource describes some steps you can take to better understand the requirements of your writing assignments. This resource works for either in-class, teacher-led discussion or for personal use.

Argument Papers

This resource outlines the generally accepted structure for introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions in an academic argument paper. Keep in mind that this resource contains guidelines and not strict rules about organization. Your structure needs to be flexible enough to meet the requirements of your purpose and audience.

Research Papers

This handout provides detailed information about how to write research papers including discussing research papers as a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources.

Exploratory Papers

This resource will help you with exploratory/inquiry essay assignments.

Annotated Bibliographies

This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

Book Report

This resource discusses book reports and how to write them.

Definitions

This handout provides suggestions and examples for writing definitions.

Essays for Exams

While most OWL resources recommend a longer writing process (start early, revise often, conduct thorough research, etc.), sometimes you just have to write quickly in test situations. However, these exam essays can be no less important pieces of writing than research papers because they can influence final grades for courses, and/or they can mean the difference between getting into an academic program (GED, SAT, GRE). To that end, this resource will help you prepare and write essays for exams.

Book Review

This resource discusses book reviews and how to write them.

Academic Proposals

This resource will help undergraduate, graduate, and professional scholars write proposals for academic conferences, articles, and books.

In this section

Subsections.

COMMENTS

  1. Sample Résumés

    Sample Résumés. This section offers information on three common résumé styles: skills, chronological, and functional. Each section also contains a sample résumé of the particular style the section discusses. The Interactive Résumé resource contains a sample résumé on which you can click each section to learn more about the different ...

  2. Résumé Design

    By manipulating the fonts used in your résumé, you can easily create a hierarchy of information. In general, fonts are divided into two categories: serif and sans-serif. Serifs are the short stems on the ends of the strokes of a letter, as in T of the Times New Roman font. Sans-serif fonts are fonts without stems— sans means without.

  3. Résumés and CVs Introduction

    Résumés and CVs. These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers. This section also contains links to ...

  4. Introduction

    See the Purdue CCO's "Writing the Resume" resource for a helpful, concise model for developing strong bullet points. Job seekers at Purdue University may find value in the Purdue career Wiki here. Go to the OWL homepage and select Professional, Technical, and Job Search Writing to find other cover letter and résumé resources.

  5. Résumé Workshop

    A résumé (also spelled resume) is a brief document that summarizes your education, employment history, and experiences that are relevant to your qualifications for a particular job for which you are applying. The purpose of a résumé (along with your cover letter) is to get an interview. Research has shown that it takes an average of ten (10 ...

  6. Purdue OWL: Résumé Writing

    This vidcast discusses how to write a résumé. For more information on résumés, please visit the following resource on the Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purd...

  7. Writing the Curriculum Vitae

    The Curriculum Vitae Handbook by Rebecca Anthony and Gerald Roe (Rudi Publishing: Iowa City, 1994) includes sample CVs for various disciplines and tips for how to write CVs in various contexts. The Academic Job Search Handbook (3rd Edition), by Mary Morris Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick (who are the authors of the Chronicle 's "CV Doctor ...

  8. 15 Tips for Resume Writing

    3. Use an Appropriate Font. Use a professional, clean, modern font. Times New Roman has been a historical go-to for resumes, and is still acceptable, but you may want to consider a different font, like Arial. Additionally, ensure that your font is appropriately sized. A 10- to 12-point font is usually best.

  9. Resume Writing Tips

    List job responsibilities. Use bullet points and start each bullet with an action verb ( Power Resume Words) and use the right keywords based on the career field or company of interest. Use present tense with current position and past tense with past positions. If possible, use metrics, numbers, and percentages. Be concise, but detailed.

  10. Purdue CCO

    Below are the sections that will guide you on building a successful resume. The sections will take you over the overall ideas in crafting your resume and give specific examples to get you started. ... Purdue Science Student Council: Treasurer: January 2022 - December 2022: Purdue University: Mochas & Javas: Barista: May 2021 - August 2021 ...

  11. Create a Resume / Cover Letter

    Keep your resume to one page unless you have 10+ years of experience. Limit contact information under your name to Purdue email, phone number and LinkedIn URL. Home address and personal email are not necessary. Spell out your degrees, do not abbreviate. List professional experiences in reverse chronological order.

  12. Resume and Interview Tips

    Before the Interview. Do your research - learn about Purdue and the department your applying to. Think ahead of what questions you have for the interviewer - write them down if you wish. Review your resume, work history and accomplishments to prepare for questions you may be asked. Refer to the candidate in first or third person, for ...

  13. Resume Resources

    Preparing Effective Résumés - Penn Career Services ; Résumés and CVs - Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) - These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers.

  14. Résumés

    Résumé sections part 3. Optional section - professional affiliations. Optional section - other experiences. Résumé design part 1. Designing your résumé. Four-section Method (balancing your résumé) Résumé design part 2. Using columns in your résumé. Résumé fonts.

  15. Daniels School of Business Undergraduate Resume Template

    Daniels School of Business. Business Career Services. Rawls Hall, Suite 3029. 100 S. Grant Street. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2076.

  16. Interactive Résumé

    The OWL's Interactive Résumé provides a résumé sample on which you can click each section to learn more about how to compose that particular section of your résumé. Click on the "Media File" link above to see the Interactive Résumé. This resource is enhanced by an Acrobat PDF file. Download the free Acrobat Reader.

  17. Resume

    Your resume is completely customizable. You choose what headings to include and in what order to place them. View the following links for guidance to help you create and customize your resume: Purdue OWL: Resumes and Vitas. Resources on page design and usability; The Purdue OWL Writing Lab / Purdue University; Resumes. Resume and Cover Letter Guide

  18. PDF Developing Your Résumé

    What is an Objective Statement? •A short section (usually 1-3 lines), often in the form of a sentence fragment, immediately below your contact information •An "at a glance" picture of you and your career interests •AKA: Professional Objective, Résumé Capsule, Career Goals, etc.

  19. Resume

    The Difference Between a Résumé and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Résumés are typical for all types of employment. A résumé is a concise document with no more than 1 or 2 pages outlining your education, and the skills and accomplishments that are specific to your career of choice. CV is a longer more detailed version of a résumé that is ...

  20. LibGuides: Career Research Guide: Writing Resumes & CVs

    Expert Resumes for Health Care Careers by Wendy Enelow; Louise Kursmark. Call Number: R690 .E527 2010. ISBN: 9781593578022. This collection of resumes is aimed at people seeking health care jobs at all levels from allied health technicians to physicians. Last Updated: Aug 29, 2022 9:57 AM.

  21. Resumes & Cover Letters

    Resume Workshop - Purdue OWL. Resume & Cover Letter Guide - Career Onestop. Resume Examples. Books in the library. Resume Guide by Marcia F. Robinson Mba. Call Number: FIU Hubert Library (BBC) New Materials Shelf - 1st Fl. -- HF5383.R63 2015. ISBN: 9780997131604. Publication Date: 2016-05-25.

  22. Resumes, Job Letters, and LinkedIn

    Purdue OWL: Resumes. Use this Purdue OWL guide to find information on resumes and templates. Purdue OWL: Job Letters. These OWL resources will help you write job application letters, thank you and follow up letters, as well as effective acceptance and rejection letters.

  23. Resumes & Cover Letters

    Purdue OWL Writing Lab - Resumes & Cover Letters. These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers.

  24. Common Writing Assignments

    These OWL resources will help you understand and complete specific types of writing assignments, such as annotated bibliographies, book reports, and research papers. This section also includes resources on writing academic proposals for conference presentations, journal articles, and books.