Workforce Series #2: How to Write Your Resume

1 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY / USDA ExEx 15003 February 2004 Youth Development / 4-H What is a Resume? A resume is an accurate description of who you are in the workforce—where you have worked, what you have done, and when you did it. It is a brief one or two page summary of your background that provides an employer with information regarding your education, work experience, achievements, skills, special knowledge, and training.

The main purpose of a resume is to make employers interested in learning more about you. Your resume is meant to get you past the initial screening so that you have an opportunity to be interviewed by someone who has the power to hire you. For some jobs, you may also have to fill out a job application form. The job applica- tion does not replace the resume. It provides the basic facts about you, but it does not show your personality, and you still need to write a resume and a cover letter. Resume Writing Tips A resume is a business document. It should look profes- sional and be neat, clear, concise, and error-free. Here are some writing tips for resumes: • Do not use the first person pronoun, “I.” Instead, use short, easy-to-read paragraphs, starting with action verbs when describing your work. Examples of action verbs are: analyzed, coordinated, designed, directed, guided, initiated, modeled, organized, presented, and supervised. Describe actual accomplishments rather than general duties. • Structure all the entries in a similar way. Consistency helps to clarify. Strive for precision. Every word counts. Resumes should contain short, crisp statements that do not have to be complete sentences....

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