Basic Information

• For students and new graduates a one-page résumé is generally expected by employers.
• Appearance of your résumé matters. It should be well laid out using the following parameters:
  • Set margins at 0.5 – 1 inch.
  • Make sure that your headings and content are consistent between sections. 
  • Use fonts that are common and easily read, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, or Calibri; font size 10 – 14 pts. 
  • Save your résumé as a PDF to submit so that your formatting stays intact.
  • Organize your information into sections so that it is visually appealing and easy to scan. Use bold print, CAPITALIZATION, italics, bullets, and indentations to help highlight main points.
  • Utilize white space strategically to help the reader. Add spaces between sections and between content within sections.
• Collegiate experience should be the main focus in the résumé. High School experience is most applicable for first year and sophomore students.
• Tailor your résumé for each position.
• References are a separate document. Adding “References available upon request.” is not necessary.
• Be sure to proofread and edit your résumé
• Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and verb tenses.
• In the United States a résumé and a CV are two separate types of documents.
• Ask for help. Career Development is here to assist you with your résumé.
  • The Center for Career Development is located in the Johnson Student Union 209. The Center for Career Development can be reached at career@gustavus.edu or 507-933-7575. The Center for Career Development is open from 8:00 am – 4:45 pm, Monday – Friday.

• Additional Resources:
  • Résumé Tips
  • Building Your First Résumé Worksheet
  • Power Verbs
  • Rubric to Assess Your Résumé
  • Résumé Examples by Major and Career Interests
  • Résumé Skill Statement Examples
  • Résumé Template 1
  • Résumé Template 2 
  • Résumé Template 3

Standard Sections

Heading

• Name (14 – 16 pt font and should be the largest font on your document – use the name that you want to be called)
• Mailing address
• Phone number 
• Email address
• Personalized LinkedIn URL or professional website

Education

• Degree (Bachelor of Arts – it is the only degree that Gustavus confers!)
• Major(s)/Minor(s) – Include track or concentration when applicable 
• Name and location (City, State) of institution 
• Graduation date – it is not necessary to include class year (e.g. sophomore, senior) as that is implied
• Grade point average if greater than 3.0 – specify major or overall
• Also include where relevant: study abroad, academic honors, awards, scholarships

Experience

• A résumé is not a history of experiences. Include what is relevant and demonstrates ability. Experiences can include work, leadership, volunteer, internship, or extracurriculars. Remember it is a one page document.
• Include your title, name of the organization, location (City, State) of the organization, and dates of experience (Month/ Year). 
• Experiences are listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent first.
• Use action verbs to start each sentence or bullet point. Use past tense verbs for past experiences and present tense verbs for current experiences. Do not overuse the same verbs – Action Verbs Resource.
• When writing about your experiences use the acronym W.H.O. to write your skill statements:
  • What I did
  • How I did it
  • the Outcome
• Do not use pronouns (I, me, their, our, my, we)
• Focus on transferable skills and cite specific accomplishments using quantitative or qualitative examples. 

Optional Sections

Related Coursework

• This is generally found under the Education section.
• List coursework when trying to highlight knowledge when you do not have experience. List only courses that are relevant. 

Relevant Course Projects

• Some courses provide opportunities for significant related work. These courses may include a service learning component or project with a community or employer partner.  These projects fall outside of standard research papers and classroom assignments.

Skills

• These include Computer, Lab, Technical, Language, Certifications, etc. and should include level of proficiency where possible. 
• Avoid the use of qualities as skills (team player, communicator, hard working, organized) – find ways to weave these qualities into your skill statements or bullet points under your experiences.

Additional Sections That Highlight Relevant Experience Could Include:

• Research
• Publications
• Professional Presentations
• Professional Associations
• Freelance