
 
Résumé Writing 
and Samples 
WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ? 
A résumé is a brief summary of your skills, accomplishments, and other relevant information to support 
your application to a specific job. 
 
Considerations for Writing a Résumé 
  Create a positive impression by tailoring your résumé to each position and employer. 
  Determine experiences and skills needed for the job. 
  Analyze functional and transferable skills.  
  Choose a résumé style that highlights your background.  
 
What to Avoid 
  Citizenship, unless indicating U.S. work authorization 
  Personal information such as Social Security Number, age, marital status, sex/gender 
  Picture 
 
 
SECTIONS TO INCLUDE: THE BASICS 
Contact information: Name, phone, email address, and one mailing address 
Education:  List  degrees  in  reverse  chronological  order.  Include  university  name,  location,  and 
graduation date. Grade Point Average (GPA) is optional. 
Employment history: Itemize relevant positions, including information about position/title held, location, 
dates,  and  three  to  five  bullet  points  describing  the  experience  and  highlighting  your 
accomplishments. 
  Do not use paragraphs or personal language (i.e. “I,” “we,” or “my”). 
 
Other Sections You Can Include 
Experiences: Summer internships, publications, presentations, projects, and research 
Skills:  List  of  skills  gained  through  experiences  as  it  pertains  to  the  job,  including  foreign  language 
fluency, technological programming, laboratory skills, and operating systems knowledge 
Honors and awards: Scholarships or notable scholastic awards 
Activities  and  interests:  List  activities,  campus  or  professional  organizations,  and  leadership  positions 
held. Emphasize how these experiences relate to the position. 
 
FORMATTING 
  Use standard font styles between 10-14 point in size. 
  Clear and consistent formatting creates an easily readable document. 
  Start bullet points with action verbs. 
  Describe and quantify experiences as much as possible. 
Rev 04/2015