Anatomy of a Resume

Someone may have to mail

you documents or have
your address for official
correspondence. Keep
your address simple. Only FULLNAME  BIG&BOLD  
include multiple addresses Address     Best  Phone  Number  
if necessary.     Best  Email  Address  
 
This can include major, Education  
minor, certificates, Duke  University     Durham,  NC  
specializations, or other Your  Degree     Graduation  Month  and  Year  
degree components. • What  have  been  your  meaningful  educational  accomplishments  while  at  Duke?  
• Include  highlights-­‐  you  don’t  have  to  be  comprehensive.  
You can use this section to • Consider  GPA,  honors,  study  abroad,  thesis,  projects,  research,  relevant  courses,  or  other  components  
feature your study abroad  
experiences. Other  Universities     Location  
Degree  or  Program     Dates  of  Study  
A high school section is • What  were  the  main  benefits  to  you  inside  and  out  of  the  classroom?  
most used by first and  
second year undergrads or High  School   Location  
those who attended schools Degree,  GPA,  or  other  characteristics   Dates  of  Study  
• What  were  your  primary  accomplishments,  educationally?  
with a large or passionate
 
network of alumni.
Specific  Experience  Category  #1  
Interesting  Job   Location  
Think creatively about how Role   Dates  
you design your categories. • Bullets  include  an  active  and  specific  verb  that  describes  this  contribution,  learning,  skills  or  outcome,  and  details  and  data  
This is an opportunity to that  make  it  tangible.  
bring attention to patterns in • Prioritize,  with  the  most  important  and  relevant  bullets  first.  
your interests or skills. Look • Use  concise  and  clear  language  and  industry-­‐specific  language  only  if  applying  to  that  industry.  
at example resumes more  
for ideas, but two general Student  Organization   Location  
categories could be common Current  Role   Dates  
type of organization, e.g., • Write  about  being  elected  (what  for!)  or  ways  you  contribute  more  over  time.  
Media Experience or function, Earlier  Role   Dates  
e.g. Research Experience. • Include  a  variety  of  experiences  and  contributions;  no  need  to  replicate  information  in  similar  roles.    However,  repeating  
something  and  presenting  it  in  a  new  way  can  serve  as  an  enhancement.  
 
Specific  Experience  Category  #2   e.g. researcher, founder,
Internship   volunteer, consultant Location  
Role   Dates  
• The  number  of  bullets  under  each  experience  does  not  need  to  be  consistent.    However,  the  space  that  something  takes  on  
the  resume  does  give  a  sense  of  its  level  of  importance.  
 
Specific  Experience  Category  #3  
Independent  Project   Location  
Role     Dates  
Use a skills section to
• Describe  your  initiative,  managing  a  huge  endeavor,  overcoming  obstacles,  getting  support  from  others,  and  other  
bring added attention to
challenges  you  overcame  when  managing  something  new!  
RELEVANT skills. Be sure
 
these skills are evident Skills  
throughout your resume Language:  
as well. Computer:  
Lab:  
 
Interests  
No need to add a line about Highlight  unique  aspects  of  your  background,  personality,  or  attention  to  professional  topics.  
references being available.    
This has been seen on
resumes, historically, but is no
longer expected. Save that
space for interesting content.
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