Job Search Tips: CV Resume Checklist for College Students
by Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development
When you apply for most jobs, employers expect you to have a short, typed summary of your qualifications called a resume or a curriculum vitae.
The purpose of a resume is to draw attention to your skills and accomplishments, and get you invited for an interview.
Many books have been written about how to write a resume. Unfortunately, the advice is not always the same! Don’t let this lack of agreement trouble you.
The bottom line is that there is no “perfect” resume style or format. The best resume for you is one that markets your skills the most effectively for the type of job you want.
The format you should use depends on the information you want to highlight and the type of job you are applying for.
For example, a strikingly unusual resume might be very effective if you are applying for a job that requires lots of creativity, but might not be well received for other more conservative jobs.
Use a resume format that brings your strongest qualifications for the job to the employer’s attention first:
- If you want to emphasize how you have progressed to increasingly complex and responsible jobs, use a chronological format that lists your work experience from the most recent to least recent.
- To emphasize the skills you have developed, use a “combination” format that groups your experience according to skill categories, then gives a brief chronological account of your background.
If you don’t have much work experience, but your education is directly related to the position, list your education first. Your most impressive qualifications should be at the beginning of your resume.
When you have a draft resume prepared, ask yourself the following questions.
- Is it short and to the point – preferably one page long, no more than two pages? (Busy employers won’t take the time to sift through a lot of information.)
- Is it typed on good quality paper, white or off-white, standard, business-size bond? Are the margins at least one inch?
- Does it look professional and inviting to read? Are items listed in point form? Is there lots of “white space” on the page?
- Is it well organized and readable? Do key points and headings stand out? Is your eye drawn immediately to the information you want employers to notice first – your accomplishments and achievements?
- Have you described how your work benefited your former employers (e.g. you improved sales by a certain percentage, how you made procedures more efficient or developed an innovative program)?
- Is the language clear, simple, and concise? Does every statement emphasize a skill or ability? Are there unnecessary words or sentences?
- Is all of the information relevant and positive? Does everything you say about your qualifications relate to the requirements of the job you are applying for? (Never include anything negative!)
- Does every item start with an action verb? (Avoid the pronoun “I” and inexpressive phrases such as “I was responsible for…” or “My duties involved…” Instead, start with “Initiated and developed a project…”)
- Is the information accurate? (Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent yourself- most employers check information. On the other hand, don’t sell yourself short by being humble.)
- Have you listed your contact info: name, address including postal or zip code, and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day? (Don’t include a photograph or unnecessary information such as height, weight, sex, or health. Also, don’t put the title “Resume” at the top or date or sign your resume.)
- Are you sure there are no spelling, grammar, or typing errors? (If you are not absolutely sure, ask a friend to proofread your draft.)
- If you have listed your references, are they people who can verify the skills you have chosen to emphasize? (Always find out if the people you list are willing to provide a positive reference before you distribute your resume! And let them know the skills required for the jobs you’re applying for.)
If you answered “no” even once, redo your draft. When your resume is to the point you can answer “yes” to all of the questions, find out if other people agree with you.
Show your draft to people who work in your target industry and to an employment counselor or two.
Accept their comments without argument, then make up your own mind about what you will and will not change.
If you have the qualifications required for a job, the appearance and content of your resume will determine whether or not you are invited for an interview.
If your resume consistently fails to get you an interview, call employers after their job competitions are over, explain that you are trying to improve your resume, and ask for suggestions. Then listen carefully to their answers and incorporate the changes.
Copyright 1998 Province of Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development. Used with permission.