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Introduction
How To Develop a Resume
See also: Summary Statements
Action Verbs (MS Word or PDF)
CREDITS: Much of the material in this section (except the resume samples and the eRecruit Resume Builder) came from the Career Center for students’ Guidebook: Job Search Guide 2005-2006. We are grateful for their permission to edit and use these materials.
Introduction
You often make your first impression on hiring managers and Search Committees through your resume, and you want your resume to be outstanding. A truly outstanding resume is custom-tailored to the position you want, presenting information in order of relevance to the position.
See step-by-step guidelines on how to develop a resume
Check detailed recommendations, section by section, of How To Create a resume document.
Find out about the "Dos & Don'ts" of resume writing
- See examples of resume formats
Things to keep in mind:
At UC Berkeley, hiring managers and supervisors are trained to screen resumes and cover letters to find the most qualified applicants.
The candidates who, based on their resumes, appear to best meet or exceed the posted requirements of the position advance to the next stage of the process.
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How To Develop a Resume
Steps
What to do
How to do it
Analyze the job posting
Read job posting and highlight the required and preferred skills, abilities, attributes, and qualificationsUse these words in your resume.
Create a list of accomplishments
Take some time to think about tasks that you enjoy doing, do well, and of which you are proud. Include education/training, jobs, significant projects, group/team activities, and volunteer experience. Describe in detail what you did and with whom, the resources you used, the personal strengths and skills you employed, and the outcome of your efforts. Quantify your results, if possible, and use commonly understood terminology. Don’t be humble; this is your chance to promote yourself.
Analyze experiences for relevant skill areas
Reviewing each experience, identify the skills you used that fit with positions for which you are applying.
Write descriptive phrases
Using action verbs, write short phrases to describe what you did that illustrates each skill. Be concise and specific. Arrange the descriptive phrases in order of relevance to the position for which you are applying, with the most relevant at the top of your list.
Choose an appropriate format
Depending on the type of position for which you are applying, you can either choose to use the eRecruit Resume Builder or create your resume from scratch using one of the suggested formats below. If you are applying for a position that does not require the use of a computer or significant writing (such as Gardener, Laborer, Food Service Worker, Lab Assistant or Custodian) you may find the use of the eRecruit Resume Builder a helpful tool to create your resume. Most successful applicants for other types of positions will find the formats below to be appropriate.
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Resume Formats
Select the resume type that best presents your background and qualifications:
Chronological
This type of resume lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. Arrange your resume sections based upon which aspects of your background you wish to stress, putting the most relevant information first. It works best when your work and volunteer experiences relate directly to the type of job for which you are applying. Most managers prefer a chronological resume.
Skills
Using headings that reflect skills, this resume highlights your most important skill areas and knowledge relevant to a given position. This format focuses less on where and when you obtained skills by listing job titles, employers, and dates of employment in a brief section at the bottom of the page. It works well when your work experience is not directly related to your career goal or when you are making a career change.
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Links
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