CRAFTING
A RESUME
UC Davis Internship and Career Center
South Hall 2
nd
Floor • icc.ucdavis.edu
Spencer Atkinson
rsatkinson@ucdavis.edu
he/him/his
QUIZ TIME!
What is the initial amount of time an
employer takes to review an
applicant’s resume?
30 SECONDS OR LESS
SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU BRING TO EMPLOYER
MARKETING DOCUMENT TO GET TO INTERVIEW
HELPS YOUR REFERENCES STAY UPDATED
RESUME DEFINED
GENERAL RESUME
FORMATTING GUIDELINES
(FOR A BS/BA JOB SEARCH IN THE U.S.)
▪ Generally one page
▪ Easy to read & good use of white space
▪ 0.5-1.0 inch margins
▪ 16-22 point font name, 10-12 for body
▪ Standard fonts (e.g., Times, Arial)
▪ Most important information toward the top & left
▪ Reverse chronological order
▪ Be consistent with formatting
▪ Avoid templates, photos, colored ink, & boxes!
RESUME CATEGORIES
STANDARD
CATEGORIES:
NAME &
CONTACT INFO
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
OPTIONAL:
▪ Objective or Professional Summary
▪ Skills or Summary of Qualifications
▪ Projects
▪ Research
▪ Leadership
▪ Affiliations/Activities
▪ Community Service
- NOT one-time events
▪ Publications/Presentations
RESUME CATEGORIES
ORDER & ORGANIZATION
RULE #1
We read/skim top to bottom, left to
right. Place priority information toward
the top & left.
RULE #2
Within each section, list experiences in
reverse chronological order.
Name
Contact Info
Education
Experience
Skills
Skills
Relevant Experience
Other Experience
Research Experience
Community Service
Affiliations
OBJECTIVE OR
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
OBJECTIVE
Purchasing Coordinator in Logistics Department.
Best when skills
& experience do not
make job objective
clear
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Bachelor of Science in International Agricultural Development, expected
June 2021. Data collection and analysis skills. Knowledgeable in
international policy and non-governmental organizations. Experienced in
presenting scientific research findings to a lay audience. Interested in food
security and nutrition education within developing economies.
Highlights unique
packet of education,
experience, skills &
area(s) of interest
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science June 2020
University of California, Davis
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with Minor in Art Studio
University of California, Davis June 2020
Transfer Program in Applied Sciences
Santa Barbara City College May 2017
EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
University of California, Davis Anticipated June 2022
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, concentration in Companion and Captive Animals
University of California, Davis June 2020 GPA : 3.73
Relevant Coursework: General Biology (with lab), General Chemistry (with lab),
Animal Biology, Domestic Animal Behavior, Ethics of Animal Use
M u s t i n c l u d e :
- d e g r e e ( s )
- s c h o o l n a m e
- g r a d u a t i o n
d a t e
M a y i n c l u d e :
- m u l t i p l e
s c h o o l s
- r e l e v a n t
c o u r s e w o r k
- s t u d y a b r o a d
- h o n o r s
- G P A
SKILLS
SKILLS
Animal Skills: Safe restraining techniques, sanitation, training, basic blood drawing
and vaccination skills
Computer: Google Docs, MS Excel and PowerPoint, Mac/Windows OS
Interpersonal: Client service, public speaking, teamwork, leadership
Languages: Fluent Spanish and English; conversational French
SKILLS SUMMARY
• Familiar with CEQA, CWA, and NEPA
• Working knowledge of environmental impact assessments
• Proficient in ArcGIS, ERSI, and MS Office Suite
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent time management
SKILLS
CEQA ERSI
CWA MS Office Suite
NEPA Time Management
ArcGIS Oral and Written Communication
U s e
c a t e g o r i e s
t h a t f i t
f o r Y O U
L i s t i n
p r i o r i t y
o r d e r
S e e j o b
d e s c r i p t i o n
f o r r e q u i r e d
s k i l l s
EMPLOYERS SEEK KEY SKILLS
ON STUDENTS’ RESUMES
Source: Job Outlook 2019, NACE
T h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f C o l l e g e s
a n d E m p l o y e r s ( N A C E ) s u r v e y e d
e m p l o y e r s a n d a s k e d :
WHI C H A T T R IB U T E S
(B E Y O N D A ST R ON G GPA )
D O Y O U M O S T V A L UE ?
ATTRIBUTE
% OF RESPONDENTS
Communication skills (written) 82.0%
Problem-solving skills 80.9%
Ability to work in a team 78.7%
Initiative 74.2%
Analytical/quantitative skills 71.9%
Strong work ethic 70.8%
Communication skills (verbal) 67.4%
Leadership 67.4%
Detail-oriented 59.6%
Technical skills 59.6%
EXPERIENCE
I n c l u d e
- P a i d & u n p a i d j o b s
- I n t e r n s h i p s
- C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e
- L e a d e r s h i p
- A f f i l i a t i o n s
- S p e c i a l P r o j e c t s
P r o v i d e
- J o b t i t l e
- E m p l o y e r / O r g a n i z a t i o n
- L o c a t i o n
- D a t e s
- A c c o m p l i s h m e n t
s t a t e m e n t s
N O T j u s t a s u m m a r y o f y o u r j o b d u t i e s
H i g h li g h t y o u r a c h i e v e m e nt s &
s p e c i f i c c o n t r i b u t i o n s
S h o w t h e v a l u e y o u c a n b r i n g t o
a p r o s p e c t i v e e m p l o y e r
P r o v i d e e v i d e n c e o f y o u r
t r a n s f e r a b l e s k i l l s i n a c t i o n
ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
A C TIO N V E R B
CO N T E X T
R E S U L T S=+
U s e a c t i o n v e r b s
d r a w n f r o m :
( 1 ) J o b p o s t i n g s
( 2 ) V e r b l i s t s
A V O I D :
“ A s s i s t e d ” / ” H e l p e d ”
“ R e s p o n s i b l e f o r ”
“ T a s k e d w i t h ”
“ D u t i e s i n c l u d e d ”
I n t e r e s t i n g d e t a i l :
P o p u l a t i o n s e r v e d ?
T i m e f r a m e ?
T y p e o f i s s u e s ?
Q u a n t i f y t o p r o v i d e
a s e n s e o f s c o p e
I n c o r p o r a t e
k e y w o r d s f r o m j o b
p o s t i n g
T h e o u t c o m e
( o r a i m ) o f
y o u r e f f o r t
Q u a n t i f y r e s u l t s
w h e n p o s s i b l e
P h r a s e s s u c h a s :
“ r e s u l t i n g i n ”
“ i n o r d e r t o ”
“ l e a d i n g t o ”
ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
LET’S REVISE
TO REFRAME TASKS AS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
H e l p e d f u n d r a i s e
F u n d r a i s e d $ 6 0 0 i n d o n a t i o n s f o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s
I w a s o n e o f s i x u n d e r g r a d s w h o a s s i s t e d a p o s t d o c t o c a t c h a n d t a g
r a t t l e s n a k e s
C a u g h t a n d t a g g e d 3 0 r a t t l e s n a k e s d a i l y a s p a r t o f s i x i n t e r n t e a m l e d
b y p o s t d o c t o r a l r e s e a r c h e r
ACTION VERB
CONTEXT RESULT
Q U A N T I T Y
ACTION VERBS
CONTEXT
F R E Q U E N C Y
M O D I F Y I N G I N F O R M A T I O N
RESUME GRAMMAR
RESUMES HAVE SPECIFIC
GRAMMATICAL GUIDELINES
▪ Eliminate first person and possessive
pronouns: I, my, mine, his, hers, etc.
▪ Avoid articles: a, an, the
▪ Avoid overusing abbreviations
▪ Spell out acronyms the first time
- Keep your audience in mind
Revise the following accomplishment statements,
keeping in mind:
▪ Action Verb + Context = Results
▪ Resume grammar guidelines
LET’S REVISE SOME
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
STATEMENTS
LET’S REVISE
SOME ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
A. Helped teachers during class lessons about the environment
B. Responsible for helping and assisting vet tech in a local vet clinic to care for
animals who were in surgery
C. For a class project, I wrote up a sample repair manual that would help
consumers fix minor problems with vacuum cleaners
Action Verb +
Context = Results
- - -
Resume Grammar
REMEMBER!
RESUME FORMATS
VS
CHRONOLOGICAL
▪ Experience is a single section
▪ Organized in reverse chronological
order (most recent position first)
▪ Works well when your experiences
are in similar fields
MODIFIED
CHRONOLOGICAL
▪ Experience is subdivided in 2-3
subsections, delineated by their
own headings
▪ Works well if you have work within
2-3 distinct areas AND you want to
highlight one area more than
another
CHRONOLOGICAL
RESUME
FRESHMAN WITH HIGH
SCHOOL CONTENT
CHRONOLOGICAL
RESUME
GRADUATING
COLLEGE SENIOR
MULTIPLE RELEVANT
EXPERIENCES
MODIFIED
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
3 EXPERIENCE SECTIONS
PLACED IN ORDER OF
IMPORTANCE
TIPS & TRICKS
▪ Start with building/collecting/editing content
▪ For help generating accomplishment statements, look up
jobs & job descriptions on www.onetonline.org or
www.bls.gov/ooh/
▪ Create “master resume” housing all experiences &
reference when applying to positions
▪ Be patient—expect to produce multiple drafts before you
are happy with it!
▪ On average, it takes 4-7 drafts to develop a really excellent resume!
TIPS & TRICKS
▪ Proofread
▪ When turning in resume electronically, submit as PDF
(when you can) to retain formatting
▪ Save with useful names: Atkinson_Resume_VMTH.pdf
▪ Tailor for each job
TIPS FOR
TAILORING YOUR RESUME
Your resume may need to be adjusted
every time you apply to a job
to reflect the desired qualifications.
▪ Study each job posting to identify the desired
qualifications & what’s most relevant to
employer
▪ Adjust wording, including incorporating
keywords when appropriate
▪ Determine resume sections & organize in order
of importance
GOAL = C O M M U N I C A T E FIT
CAREER RESOURCE
MANUAL
RESUME & COVER
LETTER VIDEOS
DOCUMENT
REVIEW
APPOINTMENTS &
DROP-IN ADVISING
RESUME WRITING RESOURCES
THROUGH THE ICC
Drop-In Advising (in person)
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/advising
Appointments (in person or Zoom)
ucdavis.joinhandshake.com
Email me:
rsatkinson@ucdavis.edu
ICC: South Hall 2
nd
Floor
THANK YOU
