Resumes

If you are creating your first resume, take some time to brainstorm a running list of your skills and experiences. Include every position you’ve had (paid or unpaid), organizations to which you’ve belonged, leadership positions, special projects you’ve initiated, honors or awards, languages you speak, computer skills, special interests or hobbies, travel, and anything else significant.

Format

Resume formatting can be somewhat flexible, but there are a few guidelines that will ensure it is easy to read.

  • Font: 11–12 point professional font (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), with no more than 2 sizes used.
  • Margins: 0.5–1 inch margins.
  • Length: 1 page ideal, 2 pages maximum for those with significant experience.
  • Font Style: Use select font styles (bold, italic, all caps) to highlight important elements, such as headings.
  • Description Style: Use basic bullet points rather than paragraphs.
  • Spacing: Use white space intentionally but don’t overdo it. Single-space the lines within a set of bullet points. Use 1.5 line space between items in the same section, such as between 2 different jobs in your experience section. Use double line space between sections.

Sections

Required Sections

  • Header: Place at the top of the page and include your name, email, and phone number. Optional: You can include links (portfolio site, Linkedin profile) or your address.
  • Education Section: Include degree title, university name and location, and month/year of graduation (or expected graduation). For most students and new graduates, this section should be first. Optional: Relevant coursework or study abroad information should go here.
  • Experience Section: Include position title, organization name, location, and date span (with month and year). The heading for this section can be more specific to your experience, such as Lab Experience or Professional Experience.

Optional/Additional Sections

After the required sections, include any other section that would be helpful to display your skills and experiences related to the specific position:

  • Honors/Awards
  • Skills
  • Research
  • Projects
  • Leadership Experience or Activities and Leadership
  • Internship Experience
  • Additional Experience
  • Volunteer Experience

        General Notes on Resume Sections

        • The first section on the page should be most important and the final section should be least important.
        • Within each section, items listed should start with most recent and work backward in time (reverse chronological order).

        Content

        Show Impact and Results

        In the information about each role, focus on the impact and results of your work rather than a description of your responsibilities and tasks. Include quantifiable information where possible. For example, if you led the organization of a student group event, include details like ticket sales (or attendance), the number of performers, or the time it took to pull it together.

        View samples of demonstrating skills and competencies, plus a list of strong verbs.

        Make It Scannable and Easy to Read

        On average, employers spend less than 10 seconds on each resume they are screening. This means that, in order to get a second (longer) look, your resume needs to be scannable, with important and relevant information easy to find without fully reading it.

        Get Proofreading Help

        Typos can be easy to miss, especially when you’ve read through something many times. Get help checking for typos and other errors. In addition to friends or family helpers, use VMock to catch spelling, spacing, and other presentation mistakes.

        Updating Your Resume

        Once you have a solid resume, you’ll want to keep it up-to-date so it is ready to use. This can feel daunting if you have a lot to add. To make it easier, update your resume 2–3 times per year. Add new experiences, projects, coursework, activities, and anything else that makes sense for you.

        You might also use this opportunity to create more than one version of your resume, particularly if you are interested in a few different fields. Adjust your resume to be as relevant as possible to make the best impression. For example, you might focus on operational impact on one version and customer service on another.

        Sample Resumes

        Industry Examples (available as a PDF)

        Affinity Examples (available as a PDF)

        Video Series: How to Write a Resume

        Learn how to write a resume that stands out! Our video workshops cover everything from tailoring your resume to the job description, resume formatting tips, essential content, and resume organization strategies.

        Get Started Writing Your Resume

        Formatting a Resume

        Resume Content

        Next Steps