Resume Writing Guide

2201 G Street, NW Duqus Hall Suite 560 Washington, DC 20052 (202) 994-6704 sbcareer@gwu.edu The Real Purpose of a Resume It presents your background and qualifications in the best possible way. It is a sales brochure that should be designed to take a product (you, your skills and experiences) and market them to a specific consumer or targeted consumer base (employers).

R es umes do not get you jobs , they get you interviews

Formatting Your Resume Chronological: This is the resume type is favored by US employers. It identifies your experiences in reverse chronological order. (See examples) Combination: This method is not as commonly used, but can be useful for career starters persons changing both job function and industry. It highlights skill sets and accomplishments but still lists work experience in chronological order. Check with your career consultant to determine if this format might work for you. Tips Page length: Employers prefer ONE page (two pages are acceptable for 10+ years of solid work experience) Perfect format: Use the GWSB format template to ensure consistent indentation, capitalization, punctuation, font style, font size and spacing. Print and review for typing and spelling accuracy. Have at least 2 other persons proofread it.

E mployers s c an a res ume in 30 s ec onds to determine if it is worth reading!

Writing an Outstanding Resume Target your content: Highlight experience, transferable skills and language/key words relevant to the specific industry and job function Highlight transferable skills: These types of skills can relate to multiple fields and can help you successfully transition to a new industry or function. Examples of transferable skills are: project management, research, customer retention, client management, financial modeling etc. Results-oriented accomplishments; Quantify and/or qualify your results Target SAR: Write concise bullets based on Situation / Action / Results) Tips Action verbs: Begin bullets with strong action verbs. Use key words. Refer to Action Verbs list. Be consistent: Show clear career and/or skill set progression Donts: Do not exaggerate your experience, begin phrases with I, or use narrative sentences S c an able Resumes Scanner technology is increasingly used to search resumes for keywords that relate to skills and experience the employer seeks. Simplicity is important for scan able resumes Make liberal use of keywords that define your experience and are listed in the job description Avoid complex formatting like italics, tables, tabs and decorative lines. Refer to the VAULT Career Library article, Resume Advice: Writing a Scan able Resume.

ELEMENTS OF A RESUME HEADING Include name, mailing address, telephone number email address and Linkedin address or link SUMMARY - This is an optional section in a resume which is best used by persons with significant work experience The purpose of a summary statement is to encapsulate the experience, areas of expertise, and technical and/or professional skills detailed in your resume that highlight your qualifications for a specific job in your target market. Use key words; consider bulleting statements EDUCATION List all institutions and degrees; include dates of completion in reverse chronological order. Foreign Schools: Introduce employers by providing a frame of reference. Example: One of the top 5 universities in China or Ranked as the top engineering university in India. Include awards and details relevant to the job you are seeking: Merit scholarships, case competitions, clubs, leadership positions etc. Listing relevant courses can be included if you are changing careers. Study Abroad experiences should be included with dates and location. RELEVANT PROJECTS - This is an optional section in a resume while still in school Include projects, (i.e. International Residency Projects), related to your career goal: See Martha Washington resume example. Career Starters and Career Changers: Employers are looking for experience, not just education, especially for Masters level candidates. By seeking out and highlighting class and outside consulting projects you demonstrate exposure and commitment to your chosen field EXPERIENCE Order: All work experiences should be listed in reverse chronological order. Include the job title, employer name, city and state, and dates of employment. Action-orientated statements: Lead the reader to an understanding of the skills you bring to the table o Each one of your bullets under your work experience should start with an action verb o Do not use any action verb more than once under each job you have had o See action verb table in this guide Accomplishments not just responsibilities: Describe experiences that demonstrate you get results and can succeed in the position you are pursuing. Refer to Accomplishment Memory Joggers list. Quantify results: As often as possible, use stats, percentages, or numbers. Examples: Campaign resulted in a 30% membership increase. Re-organization reduced annual operating expenses by 15%. Numbers can also be used to add magnitude: Designed and delivered a corporate technology training program for 500 participants in 10 locations. Qualify results: If unable to quantify results, qualify them. Presented report to Senior Management; recommendations were accepted and implemented. Skills Gained: These are optional, but appropriate for career starters or career changers especially if not clear in accomplishment bullets. Including skills gained for each position, located under each title, can be a good way to highlight transferrable skills. See Martha Washington resume example. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION It is important to highlight relevant interests, skills, affiliations, certifications and other criteria that will make you more attractive to employers. For example: Languages Russian (fluent), French (proficient), Spanish (competent), Greek (basic knowledge)

Affiliations / Interests / Volunteer Affiliation List professional organizations and other community affiliations that support your career goal Hobbies and interests: List those that show sustained interest, activity, and / or are directly related to your career goals. Examples: avid marathon runner; extensive travel throughout Latin America. Avoid including activities that might be considered controversial Volunteer: List most recent activities and highlight leadership role Computer or T ec hnic al Skills List computer applications, languages and any other technical hardware / network skills

Accomplishment Memory Joggers Use the following memory joggers to help you recall your accomplishments in each of the positions you have had in the past including relevant internships and volunteer positions. P R OB L E M S OL V ING Did you identify any problems or challenges? Did you resolve or minimize any problems? Did you discover and take advantage of any opportunities? C OS T R E DUC T ION & E F F IC IE NC Y Did you reduce costs, waste, time, or effort? Did you make any recommendations that saved money, made money, increased efficiency or productivity? Did you make any recommendations that saved money, made money, increased efficiency or productivity? Did you produce reports whose recommendations were well received by senior management, and whose suggestions were incorporated into their strategic planning? Did you uncover accounting errors, and correct them, thus saving them money? Did you reduce the liability for the company by suggesting safety improvement, improved security, etc.? P R ODUC T DE V E L OP ME NT & P R OC E S S IMP R OV E ME NT Did you target a need for a product, service, plan, program, system, method, procedure, technique? Did you develop or design a new program, plan, service, product, process, project, system method, strategy, etc.? Did you improve (redesign, streamline or reorganize), administer or implement any projects, plans, programs, processes, services, products, etc.? Did you develop new markets, territories, clients, accounts, etc.? Did you increase or participate in increasing sales, profits, market share, volume, distribution, production, revenues, cash flow, etc.? Did you improve quality or standards for hiring, products, services? Did you improve customer satisfaction or service? P L ANNING Did you formulate or participate in formulating any management decisions, policies, goals, organizational changes, acquisitions, recruitment? C OMMUNIC AT ION Did you facilitate or improve communication among employees, with clients, or with the community? Did you train, present or impart knowledge to a senior management, staff, or clients? OT HE R Did you improve employee relations or boost morale? Did you open or establish a new office, department, branch, facility? Did you make a technical contribution? Did you create any original works: reports, brochures, newsletters, guides, manuals, proposals, contracts, etc.?

You did? Great! By how much and for whom?

ACTION VERBS
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Enlarged Expanded Extended Facilitated Fostered Guaranteed Inspired Mastered Maximized Minimized Motivated Obtained Overcame Perfected Promoted Provided Reduced Restored Reinforced Stimulated Strengthened Upgraded Counseled / Instructed / Learned Adapted Advised Advocated Aided Applied Assessed Bolstered Briefed Cared Chaired Charged Charted Clarified Coached Comforted Communicated Conducted Consulted Coordinated Demonstrated Educated Emphasized Enabled Encouraged Enlightened Established Exercised Explained Facilitated Familiarized Fostered Guided Helped Implemented Improved Influenced Informed Inspired Interpreted Investigated Lectured Led Listened Maintained Manipulated Monitored Modified Motivated Observed Perceived Persuaded Prescribed Programmed Promoted Read Reduced Reflected Related Restored Saved Shared Spoke Stimulated Strengthened Substituted Suggested Supported Sustained Taught Trained Tutored Validated Operated / Maintained Activated Adjusted Adapted Bolstered Changed Clarified Corrected Continued Edited Eliminated Executed Expedited Facilitated Fixed Implemented Installed Modified Molded Navigated Ordered Overhauled Performed Prepared Piloted Preserved Prioritized Produced Programmed Promoted Protected Ran Reduced Regulated Replaced Screened Serviced Set Sustained Transported Upheld Utilized Negotiated Advised Advocated Arbitted Bargained Closed Concluded Consolidated Dealt Expedited Facilitated Handled Interfaced Lobbied Mediated Merged Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Promoted Reconciled Resolved Solved Widened Organized Accumulated Arranged Assembled Balanced Budgeted Built Catalogued Clarified Classified Collated Collected Completed Compiled Composed Coordinated Copied Correlated Detailed Developed Diagrammed Displayed Edited Facilitated Filed Gathered Graphed Identified Indexed Inspected Inventoried Kept Located Maintained Mapped Met Deadlines Methodized Obtained Organized Planned Prepared Prioritized Processed Programmed Ranked Recorded Reorganized Reproduced Reshaped Retrieved Revamped Reviewed Revised Routinized Scheduled Set Simplified Solved Streamlined Structured Synthesized Systemized Tabulated Unified Served Assisted Attended Cared Catered Delivered Dispensed Entertained Facilitated Furnished Listened Maintained Performed Prepared Procured Provided Represented Satisfied Served Supplied Sold Aided Advertised Auctioned Bartered Bolstered Bought Enlisted Facilitated Generated Helped Improved Led Maintained Marketed Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Promoted Purchased Raised Recommended Recruited Stimulated Responded Supervised Administered Allocated Approved Arranged Assigned Authorized Bolstered Chaired Clarified Coached Conducted Confronted Consulted Contracted Controlled Coordinated Decided Delegated Directed Dispatched Distributed Educated Effected Encouraged Enforced Evaluated Executed Exercised Expedited Explained Facilitated Fired Followed (through) Fostered Governed Guided Handled Harmonized Headed Hired Implemented Instituted Instructed Led Maintained Managed Met Guidelines Mentored Monitored Motivated Navigated Ordered Organized Oversaw Planned Prepared Presided Prioritized Promoted Purchased Regulated Reinforced Reinstated Resolved Retained Reviewed Scheduled Selected Set Solved Strengthened Supervised Taught Teamed Trained Updated Volunteered

Sample Resume

MARTHA WASHINGTON
1234 First Street, Arlington, Virginia 22213 Martha@gwmail.gwu.edu 202 -333-3333 Linkedin address or link

EDUCATION_________________________________________________________________
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, School of Business Washington, DC Master of Business Administration, Marketing Focus May 2012 Price Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies Fellow Case competition winner: Best startup business plan Pres. GWSB American Marketing Association; VP Net Impact, Corporate Relations Committee
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE Bachelor of Arts, Art History and French Waskowsky Art History Award for best senior thesis Captain, Womens Softball Team Institute for American Universities, Spring semester 1997 Kalamazoo, MI May 2006

Aix-en-Provence, France

RELEVANT MBA PROJECTS__________________________________________________

Performed Competitive Intelligence and Scenario Analysis of Internet services firm (e-business and wireless). Recommended and implemented changes expediting internal workflows by one week. Created strategy for Branding/Customer Retention campaign for property management firm and led inter-division focus groups. Prepared and presented Marketing Strategy business case on International Olympic Committee online initiatives. Developed Business Plans for broadband project and for startup consulting company.

EXPERIENCE________________________________________________________________
THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington, DC Web Communications Manager, Web Site Redesign and Maintenance Project July 2008 August 2010 Skills gained: Leadership, image branding, performance metrics development, vendor selection Led cross-departmental team and managed new Web site Redesign and Maintenance Project. Analyzed company strategy and image branding. Formulated strategic plan to significantly enhance Web site featuring new design, content and functionality. Presented to Senior Management team and won approval for project. Developed performance metrics and requirements to write RFP and communications plan. Project completed two months ahead of schedule. Led procurement team and managed vendor selection for site development. Signed contract for 5% under budget.

Communications and New Media Manager July 2006 June 2008 Skills gained: Internal and external client management, project management, database management Performed ad hoc marketing communications for internal staff, art dealers, museum professionals, collectors, publishers, film industry and general public. Expanded sphere of influence by 20%. Revised and improved internal communications reporting and procedures enhancing museum efficiency, saving approximately 12 man-hours per week. Analyzed and implemented new procedures for updating collection databases, reducing process time by 50% and increasing data accuracy by 4%.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION________________________________________________
Languages: Technical Skills: Interests: Volunteer: French (fluent), Spanish (proficient) Front Page, HTML, Access and relational databases Travel throughout Western Europe, US History, marathon runner Tutored at Patrick Henry Elementary School, Alexandria, VA 1997-2000

Sample Resume

GEORGE WASHINGTON, CPA

714 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 gwash@gwu.edu 202-994-6704 Linkedin address or link

EDUCATION_________________________________________________________________
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, School of Business Master of Business Administration, Finance and Investments focus Finance Club, VP of Operations GW MBA Association, VP of Marketing VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY Bachelor of Science, Accounting Subsidized education by working 20-25 hours a week during senior year Washington, DC May 2012

Blacksburg, VA December 2004

EXPERIENCE________________________________________________________________
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, LLP Washington, DC Consulting Manager, United States and Canada August 2008 - August 2010 Integrated national PwC business strategy into technology solutions. Created financial budgets, conducted customer needs analyses and drafted process flowcharts to understand clients businesses and identify their product requirements. Recognized by Firm for superior customer service and on time, within budget product delivery. Hired external vendor to build web document sharing system for Fortune 200 clients. Reviewed contracts and assisted in negotiations. Managed key projects on time and within budget producing $1.5 million in fees. Led coordination of global activities for the implementation of PwCs performance management tool for 8,000 users in the US and Canada. Software reduced national HR review cycle time increasing Firms billable hours by 10%.. Sr. Consultant August 2004 - July 2008 Designed a complex, spreadsheet-based cost analysis software that IBM, Hewlett-Packard and AT&T successfully used to calculate taxes and compensation for overseas employees. Received award for customizing and delivering this software to IBM faster than any PwC competitor had done in the past. Redesigned customizable PwC product offering resulting in a 20% decrease in client implementation costs, a 33% reduction in learning curve for new employees and a $2,400 per project increase in income based on $12,000 price. Employed gap analysis and brainstorming sessions to reveal inefficiencies in Johnson & Johnsons overseas payroll process. Designed and delivered new product reducing J&Js processing time 73% from three weeks to four days. KPMG, LLP Baltimore, MD Senior Accountant January 2003 - July 2004 Managed client relationships and project finances. Researched accounting / tax issues. Coached team of five. Built 100 standard work-papers for national project tracking software reducing managements review time. DELOITTE & TOUCHE, LLP Baltimore, MD Staff Accountant Intern May 2002- December 2003 Audited companies, analyzed and drafted detailed financial statements and prepared corporate tax returns. Created fixed asset spreadsheets for golf course audits. Reduced project hours 13% by replacing manual process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION_________________________________________________
Certifications: Technical Skills: Languages: Volunteer: Certified Public Accountant in the District of Columbia Advanced Excel modeling, Lotus Notes database design Spanish and French (fluent), German (Conversational) Public Relations Committee, DC Habitat for Humanity.