VOL GUIDE TO RESUME WRITING

1. Format

Easy to scan (not read)

Concise (one page-preferably)

Half-inch to one-inch margins all the

way around page

8.5x11 resume/bond paper

No colors or ﬂashy font styles (font size can

be 10–12 point)

Looks professional and aesthetically pleasing

2. Heading

Name centered and largest text on the page

(2–3 points larger than resume text)

Current address on left, permanent address on

right (centered if you only use one)

Phone number and professional/school

email address

LinkedIn personalized URL (if you have a

complete proﬁle)

3. Objective (Optional)

Type of job/industry, when, and geographic

location

No pronouns; no period at end

4. Education

Only schools from which you received

a degree or are currently attending

Graduate school listed ﬁrst (if applicable)

Degree(s) spelled out (not abbreviated)

All majors, collaterals, concentrations, and

minors

Graduation month and year (or list

dates attended if freshman through junior)

Overall and major GPAs if over 2.8

5. Relevant Coursework (Optional)

All courses relevant to the job (not just those

in your major)

Bullet format

No course number; name and subject of

the course spelled out

6. Experience

Internships included (No. 1 on resume to

employers)

Jobs/internships listed in reverse chronological

order (most recent ﬁrst)

Month and year started and ended (“present”

if you’re still working)

City and state

Job or internship title

Major achievements and skills developed,

displayed in bullet point format

Action verb at the beginning of each state-

ment, with each verb varied if possible. Bullet

point formula: Action verb + task + outcome or

purpose.

Numbers and metrics where appropriate (Ex:

“which resulted in a cost savings of $1,500”)

Additional sections—list in order of relevance/importance

7. Honors and Awards

Name of each honor and award with little

or no description

Scholarships

Dean’s list (3.7/4.0), number of semesters

8. Computer Skills

Software and languages listed if relevant,

beginning with those that not every other

applicant will have

9. Activities

Name of organization and any leadership

positions held

Leadership roles in bullet points

Limited description if just a regular member

10. Volunteer Experience

Name of organization and limited description

11. Foreign Languages

Listed with descriptions “Fluent in...” “Working

knowledge of...” or “Familiar with…”

12. Study Abroad Experience

Location, school, and dates

Courses listed or described in bullet

point format

Relevant projects described in bullet

point format

Other Section Headers to Consider

Licenses, Certiﬁcations, Relevant Projects, Job

Shadowing, Achievements, Professional Associa-

tions, Presentations, etc.

References

Listed on a separate page or document

from the resume

“References available upon request” not

included on resume

RESUME CHECKLIST

CONTENTS

Resume Checklist ................................................................................................................2

Preparing Your Resume ...................................................................................................4

Getting Started ..............................................................................................................4

Format ...............................................................................................................................4

General Tips ....................................................................................................................5

Content ....................................................................................................................................6

Identifying Information ..............................................................................................6

Career Objective ...........................................................................................................6

Education .........................................................................................................................7

Honors and Awards .....................................................................................................8

Experience .......................................................................................................................8

Professional Aliations and Activities ................................................................ 9

Specialty Content .........................................................................................................9

Military Experience.....................................................................................................10

Additional Information ............................................................................................. 12

Date Available for Employment ........................................................................... 12

References ..................................................................................................................... 12

Personal Information .................................................................................................14

Portfolio ..........................................................................................................................14

Scannable Resumes ......................................................................................................... 15

Format ............................................................................................................................. 15

Content............................................................................................................................ 16

Submitting Electronic Files .................................................................................... 16

Sample Resumes ............................................................................................................... 17

Chronological Resume ............................................................................................. 17

Chronological Resume with Skills/Coursework Emphasis ....................... 18

Early College Resume ............................................................................................... 19

Pre-Health Resume ...................................................................................................20

Global Emphasis Resume........................................................................................ 21

Student Leadership/Involvement Emphasis Resume ............................... 22

Combination Resume .............................................................................................. 23

Functional/Skills Resume ....................................................................................... 24

Experienced Resume ............................................................................................... 25

Cover Letter ........................................................................................................................ 26

Sample Cover Letter ................................................................................................ 27

Appendix A: Career Readiness

Competencies & Your Resume .................................................................................. 28

Appendix B: Action Verbs & Proﬁciency ............................................................ 29

PREPARING YOUR RESUME

Your resume provides employers with information about your abilities and experiences

so they can assess your potential for a successful job match. It is a marketing document

designed to catch the interest of an employer. First impressions are critical, since as

little as 15 seconds may be devoted to scanning each resume.

The focus of the resume must be on the employer’s needs, not your own. The word

resume means summary, not autobiography. Space is critical, so carefully evaluate each

item and its relationship to your career objective.

GETTING STARTED

To begin, put together a complete inventory of your resources—higher education

and training, work experiences, activities, and special skills. Focus on achievements,

especially as they relate to your education and work experience.

Preparing a resume involves two elements: format and content. Format describes the

structural component, or how the information is organized and presented. Content

describes the information itself, or what is presented.

See Appendix A: Career Readiness Competencies and Your Resume.

FORMAT

The two most commonly used formats are chronological and functional:

A chronological format is appropriate if you are staying in the same ﬁeld, have

training or experience consistent with the career objective, have relevant job titles

in your work history, or are applying for a job in a highly traditional ﬁeld. It is the

most eective format for most recent college graduates.

A functional or skills format is an option if you are changing careers, re-entering

the job market, or applying for positions for which your training and experience do

not directly apply. The skill categories should be ordered to support your career

objective. Consult with a career advisor before deciding on this format.

Choose the format that you believe will best market your abilities in conjunction with

your experiences, skills, and immediate career objective. You can also combine these

formats to create a combination resume.

A sample resume for each format is provided in this booklet. Additional resume

examples are also included.

This booklet is a comprehensive guide for preparing a resume that will be eective in getting a job

interview. It represents the most current information gathered from references in the Center for Career

Development and Academic Exploration and from our continual interaction with employers, students,

and alumni. Many more detailed references on resume writing are available.

There is no one way to write a resume, and no one should write it for you. You are the expert on yourself

and therefore the best qualiﬁed to present your unique strengths and capabilities in a way that is

appropriate for your speciﬁc career objectives.

GENERAL TIPS

• An employer will evaluate you as a person when scanning your resume. If it

is neat, well organized, and error-free, you will be perceived as neat, well-

organized, and careful. If it is professional in appearance, you will be seen

as competent.

• Be consistent in formatting. You can use either centered or left-hand

headings, but use them consistently. Typographic devices like capitalization,

underlining, boldface, and indentation can help direct the reader, but don’t use

them overwhelmingly.

• Present information only once. If you have had multiple job titles with the same

employer or more than one degree from the same school, combine them into a

single listing.

• Start each phrase with an action verb. The list at the end of this booklet can

give you some ideas of verbs you can use to describe your accomplishments

and experiences.

• Spell out numbers one through ten—for example, four instead of 4.

• Avoid using parentheses; they tend to give a resume a cluttered look. Use

dashes, commas, or ellipses instead.

• Place major headings in order of their relevance to your career objective so the

most signiﬁcant information appears ﬁrst.

• Limit your resume to one page if at all possible. If you must choose between

crowding material onto one page or leaving out relevant information, however, it

is best to add a second page. Always put your name and “Page 2” on the second

page.

• Balance the material on the page. Use equal margins on all sides. You may go as

small as a half inch on all sides.

• Double-check for spelling, typographical, and grammatical errors, and then

have another person check. Be careful when using a computer spelling checker

because it will miss errors like to in place of two. An error can send your resume

to the wastebasket.

• Your ﬁnal copy must be neat, well-organized, and easy to read. For hard copies,

use 20# bond resume paper and purchase additional matching paper for the

cover letter. White, o-white, cream, tan, and pale gray are accepted colors for

most areas. Pastels are not recommended. Creative ﬁelds such as advertising,

graphic design, or the performing arts have more leeway in using a variety

of colors and formats, while more traditional ﬁelds require a conservative

standard resume.

• Remember, your ﬁrst impression is a lasting one. You don’t have a second

chance to make a ﬁrst impression!

• Consider having a separate resume that is in compliance with Applicant Tracking

Systems (navigate to this section in the guide for more details).

CONTENT

This section will help you develop the content of your resume section by section.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

At the top of the page, list your name, address, cell phone number, and email address.

Some writers believe that it is best to avoid placing the heading on the left side so the

name is not covered if materials are paper-clipped together. If you have a business

address and telephone number, you may include them if it is not a conﬁdential job

search. You may include the URL of a personal website or your LinkedIn account if it

represents you professionally, but exclude it if it contains pictures of your dog, links to

favorite websites, and other personal information.

CAREER OBJECTIVE (OPTIONAL)

The purpose of the career objective is to communicate clearly the type of position in

which you are interested and focus the content of the resume toward the job desired. It

is usually written in up to four parts:

• The type of position desired

• The kind of company, industry, or organization for which you want to work

• Any special skills or abilities you have that you would like to use (optional)

• Any strong geographic preference or restriction

Many people like to add their desire to advance into management. This does not

impress employers, however, unless you identify a speciﬁc management area

compatible with your long-range career goals. Do not imply that the position desired is

to gain experience for your own long-range career objectives. Do not mention graduate

school plans.

Condense the career objective into one or two short, simple phrases. Avoid the

shotgun approach of using a very general career objective and sending it to numerous

companies. Instead, prepare dierent resumes with dierent career objectives if

you are looking for positions that are not similar in nature, such as sales or retail

management trainee, or if you are looking for a similar position in two dierent types

of companies—for example, an accounting position in a public accounting ﬁrm or a

corporation. Geographic desires can be mentioned here, but keep in mind that they

may eliminate you from consideration.

Some examples of career objectives:

• Position as ﬁeld service representative with national software corporation.

• Management trainee position with a specialty retailer. Willing to relocate and

work long hours.

• Technical sales with an energy-related industry in the Southwest.

• Long-range goal of regional sales management.

Following the career objective, order the major headings by importance to the career

objective. If you are completing a degree that qualiﬁes you for your career objective,

start with the heading Education. After you have been in a job for a year or more,

experience will usually outweigh education and that heading should be listed ﬁrst.

If you are applying to educational institutions, however, always show education ﬁrst,

regardless of the date of your degree or degrees.

EDUCATION

Degrees should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent listed ﬁrst.

Information should include degree granted, date of graduation, college or university,

city and state (if the state is not part of the institution’s name), major, and minor if

applicable. Include the state and country if the college or university is outside of the

United States. Check the catalog to see how your degree will read—for example, B.S. in

Business Administration with a major in Finance, or B.A. in English with a concentration

in creative writing. It is not necessary to include core courses, but you may list elective

coursework that is relevant to your career objective. Indicate your dissertation or thesis

title for graduate work.

Exceptions:

• If the resume is for part-time work, an internship, or a co-op position and

your graduation date has not yet been determined, use the inclusive dates of

attendance at the institution rather than a graduation date.

• Use inclusive dates of attendance for other institutions when a degree was not

granted.

Include certiﬁcations or licenses relevant to your major and career objective, such as a

teaching certiﬁcation or engineer-in-training designation.

Degrees below the bachelor’s level as well as other schools you have attended

(including high school) need not be listed unless they are of special signiﬁcance to

your career objective. For example, attendance at a school in an area where you want

to work can be used to let employers know that you are familiar with the area for an

added advantage. This type of information could also be included under the heading of

Additional Information.

In listing your grade point average, always include the grade basis. For example,

3.3/4.0 means a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Carry out your decimals evenly.

Any favorable GPA can be included, as long as it is clearly labeled (such as GPA in

major, GPA in core curriculum, or GPA in upper-division courses). For on-campus

interviews, it is recommended to include your GPA on your resume even if it is below a

Amount of College Expenses Earned

Employers are interested in knowing the percentage of money you earned for college

expenses and your sources of income. Some employers may believe that working while

you attend college develops personality traits that are valuable in a work setting—time

management, the ability to meet deadlines under pressure, motivation, goal setting,

and the like. It may also indicate that your grades may not be as high as they might

have been if you had not had to work. Include all living costs while in school, not just

tuition, fees, and books. Financial resources could include scholarships, loans for which

you are responsible, grants, summer and part-time earnings, and savings.

Exception: Include this amount only if it is 40 percent or more. This may be shown

as a separate entry at the end of the Experience section if the funds are mainly from

employment, or under Education or Additional Information if they are from other

sources.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Honors, awards, and scholarships are important items and should be listed in order

of importance to your career objective. High school honors and awards should be

included only if they relate to your current career objective. If you have only one entry,

include it under Education or Activities rather than under a separate heading.

EXPERIENCE

Use the term experience instead of work history or employment so you can include

full- and part-time jobs, self-employment, volunteer work, and practicum, ﬁeld, and

cooperative education experiences. Start with the most recent experience and work

back in reverse chronological order. Do not go back more than ﬁve years for work

experience unless it strongly relates to your current career objective.

Indicate the job title, employer, city, state, country (if out of the US), and dates of

employment. The order of these entries depends upon what is being emphasized. If job

titles are relevant to the career objective, put them ﬁrst. If the employer is well known,

however, you may want to place the organization before the job title.

Describe your functional skills in short, snappy phrases, starting with descriptive

action verbs (see the list in Appendix B). Avoid personal pronouns and complete

sentences. Be speciﬁc and never wordy. Convey your accomplishments and problem-

solving skills. Emphasize leadership potential, organizational ability, verbal and written

communication skills, ingenuity, and teamwork. Include any promotions, particularly if

they were received within a short time period. Indicate measurable results: “Increased

productivity by 15 percent.”

• Do not start descriptions with “Responsibilities were” or “Duties included.” Avoid

words like helped and worked; instead, describe the tasks you performed.

• Use past tense for past jobs and present tense for present jobs. Describe skills, not

duties. Vary the words used in descriptions of similar jobs.

• Order the phrases by their importance to the career objective and individual job

posting, so if the employer reads only one phrase it will be the most relevant.

• Write the year only once if both months fall within it (June–September 20xx), or

use Summer 20xx or Fall Semester 20xx. You may also use periods of time, such as

two years or six months, instead of dates. This approach may be especially helpful if

there are gaps in your employment or you have no recent work experience.

• Major headings may include Experience, Relevant Experience, Professional

Experience, Teaching Experience, Research Experience, Clinical Experience, and so

forth. You can choose a single general heading or multiple headings, depending on

whether you want to emphasize the relationships between positions or the variety

of your experience.

• If you have experience through a co-op, internship, or practicum, list it under a

major heading such as Co-op Experience, Internship, or Practicum Experience. Use

the heading Other Experience for other jobs.

• If you have had many jobs but want to highlight only two or three, include a blanket

statement such as “Have held various other part-time and summer positions since

early high school.”

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

List professional associations, leadership positions, and other activities in order of their

importance to your career objective. There is no need to say “Member of....” Emphasize

your leadership roles. Spell out the name of the organization; do not use abbreviations

or acronyms. If active in political or religious groups, refer generally to the group rather

than to speciﬁc party or denomination—for example, “Campus religious organization,

Vice President 20xx to 20xx ,” or “Campaign worker, state senate race.” Of course, if you

are applying for a position with that group, you will want to identify it.

SPECIALTY CONTENT

Unique relevant experiences should always be included on your resume to help set you

apart. Consider including some of the following sections:

Study Abroad

Include a study abroad section when you want to highlight your international

experience. You can include your study abroad experience under Education, Experience,

International Experience, Activities, or Additional Information. Make sure to include

dates, locations, and speciﬁc skills or strengths you gained (for example, language skills

or experience with cultural diversity).

Study Abroad

London, England, Summer 2014

• Integrated into city culture by interning at Citibank and experienced business

in the U.K.

• Analyzed dierences of international business practices through on-site visits

to U.K. companies

• Visited seven countries and learned about the culture and business environment in Europe

Relevant Coursework

Listing relevant courses can be extremely beneﬁcial if you have taken classes that are

not required within your major or that included work on nonconventional projects. This

section can also be useful if you lack experience directly related to a position but have

taken classes that grounded you in the ﬁeld.

Relevant Coursework

Marketing Analytics Search Engine Marketing Information Management

Financial Reporting Global Supply Chain Data Mining

Research

Employers and graduate admission oces may want to know about relevant research

experience in addition to work experience. By incorporating research experience, you

can highlight technical skills, interests, and professional development. Research should

be included only if it is relevant. It can be placed under Experience or a separate

Research Experience heading.

Research Experience

Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN

Undergraduate Research Assistant May 20XX–July 20XX

• Analyzed and interpreted data collected from various stages of the research process

• Developed and utilized problem-solving skills by proactively improving the tests

• Improved communication skills by collaborating with both lab technicians and interns

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

If you’re a veteran or service member, the Center for Career Development and

Academic Exploration honors your service.

Here are some guidelines for eectively communicating your military achievements

and successes in civilian terms that speak to employers’ needs:

• Assume the person reading your resume knows nothing about the military.

• Avoid confusing military jargon.

• Keep the names of speciﬁc products, techniques, or tools only if they are relevant

to the position you are applying for.

• Tone down or remove references to the battleﬁeld and weapons.

Start by creating an outline of your military responsibilities and training. Download

your Veriﬁcation of Military Experience and Training (VMET), DD Form 2586, as a

reference and work from the details there to translate your experience into condensed,

relevant description statements.

Projects

Having a projects section on your resume can show employers that you have the

ability to work within a team of people and adapt to the challenges that arise in a

group project. Additionally, it is something to talk about in an interview. Projects can

be individual or group, and can include research, fundraisers, class projects, projects

assigned to you at a job, etc. It can be placed under Experience or in its own section.

Projects

Public Writing: YWCA Knoxville, TN

Student Campaign Assistant Jan 20XX–May 20XX

• Led a team of four during a month-long campaign beneﬁting YWCA

• Exceeded our campaign goal by more than 100 percent, raising over $2,100

• Marketed through electronic, print, and social media for four successful fundraising events

• Utilized skills in FinalCut Pro to edit promotional videos for the campaign

Shadowing/Observations

This information is particularly helpful when applying for internships or jobs that require

a certain amount of experience in areas where jobs are unattainable without a higher-

level degree. It can be placed under Experience or in its own section.

Shadow Experience

The University of Tennessee Medical Center May 20XX

Emergency Room Observer Physician: Dr. Little

• Observed open-heart surgery in 50-year-old trauma patient

• Witnessed incubation and bandaging of burn victim

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital March 20XX

Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Physician: Dr. Schmitt

U.S. Army Mar. 20XX–Mar. 20XX

• Inspection and maintenance of equipment

• Certiﬁed in rappelling from buildings and helicopters

• Planned training programs about weapons, area recon, and

tactical movements

• Responsible for up to 40,000 pounds of net worth explosives, 2

heavy armored Humvees, military sensitive items, and the welfare of

8 military personnel

• Deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait

Awards

• Army Achievement Medal

• Soldier of the Year

U.S. Army Mar. 20XX–Mar. 20XX

• Oversaw biweekly inspection and maintenance of equipment valued

at $500,000

• Coordinated workplace training for up to 50 people, writing course

curriculum and assessing class success

• Supervised eight people, creating work schedules and providing

regular performance evaluations

• Traveled to 10 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East;

navigated dierent cultures and customs successfully

Awards

• Army Achievement Medal: Received for completing 400+ medical

evaluations and improving patient reports through the creation of a

patient database

• 20XX Solider of the Year: Competed against soldiers from around

the word in endurance and aptitude tests

Before

After

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Include this category only if it will include information besides interests and hobbies

that will expand information related to your career objective—for example, a farm

background for a job in agribusiness. Also include any specialized skills, training,

certiﬁcation, or licenses that are unrelated to your career objective, such as foreign

language ability, ability to sign for the deaf, pilot license, chaueur license, CPR, etc.

Many employers desire computer skills, and you may want to include this information

(programs, languages, applications, hardware, etc.). Depending on your skill level,

you may prefer to have a separate Computer Skills or Technical Skills heading. Other

points, such as “Traveled throughout Europe,” can also be listed here.

Include unique experiences; they sometimes get attention. For example, a student

who was a ﬁnance major reported that, after much deliberation, he included under

Additional Information his tour of Europe with the Chattanooga Boys Choir when he

was six years old. Employers asked him about the experience and remembered him by

it. Do not, however, include interests that may appear dangerous or negative, such as

hang gliding or motorcycle racing.

DATE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT

Most employers will assume you are available for work within a month of your

graduation date. If your availability date is more than two months out, list it on your

resume and include it in the cover letter. Never circulate a resume that mentions an

availability date that has passed. Remove the date or replace it with a future date.

REFERENCES

It is not necessary to include a line stating that references are available upon request; it

is assumed you can provide references. However, you may choose to include it if your

resume is short. Never list anyone as a reference without ﬁrst asking their permission.

If you haven’t talked to them in a while, be sure to contact them and reconnect. Then

provide each reference with a copy of your resume and the job description. Use

professors, advisors, and employers as references. Do not use personal or family friends

or clergy unless personal references are speciﬁcally requested.

Exception

All majors in architecture and planning are advised by their school to include references

on their resume.

When you do list references, provide three or four. Include name, title, organization,

complete business address with ZIP code, and phone number with area code. It is also

appropriate to include an email address. Choose a format that best ﬁts your needs and

preferences and matches your resume format. See the samples on the next page for

formatting ideas.

Davy Crockett

County Road 23

Greenville, TN 37743

(423) 555-4243

davycrockett@utk.edu

References

Ms. Samantha Cunningham

Owner, Cunningham Family Farm

54 Country Road

Knoxville, TN 37919

(865) 555-3276

scunningham@cunninghamfarms.com

Dr. Jim Bob Tennessee

Associate Professor

Department of Animal Science

The University of Tennessee

100 Volunteer Blvd.

Knoxville, TN 37996

(865) 555-4444

jimbob@utk.edu

Mr. Smokey D. Dog

Owner, Smokey’s Cafe

67 Main Street

Greeneville, TN 37743

(423) 555-2223

smokeydog@mansbestfriend.com

CARL WALKER YOUNG

55 CALLAWAY DRIVE • KNOXVILLE, TN 37919 • (865) 555-0022

CYOUNG@GMAIL.COM

REFERENCES

Dr. Jim Bob Tennessee

Associate Professor

Department of Animal Science

The University of Tennessee

100 Volunteer Blvd.

Knoxville, TN 37996

(865) 555-4444

[email protected]

Ms. Samantha Cunningham

Owner, Cunningham Family Farm

54 Country Road

Knoxville, TN 37919

(865) 555-3276

scunningham@cunninghamfarms.com

Mr. George Michael

Advisor, Students for the Betterment of Society

The University of Tennessee

100 Student Services Building

Knoxville, TN 37996-4010

(865) 555-9942

gmichael@utk.edu

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information such as age, height, weight, marital status, state of health, etc.

should not be listed since it can lead to a violation of equal employment opportunity

guidelines. For the same reason, do not include a picture with your resume.

Exceptions

• When it is relevant to the job. For example, you may want to list your age if you

are applying for a position with an establishment that serves liquor.

• When it clearly supports your career objective—for example, actors and models

generally include a photo with their resume.

• If you have a disability that you want prospective employers to know about

before an interview. A sample listing might read “Legally blind but completely

independent; live alone, participate in social activities, use public transportation,

and have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree with a B average.” Note

that achievements are stressed.

PORTFOLIO

In art, architecture, and communications ﬁelds, employers expect to know about the

availability of your portfolio. Use Portfolio as a major heading and state “Available at

time of interview” or whatever is applicable. If you have an electronic portfolio, include

the URL.

RESUMES & APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEMS (ATS)

The use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) has become common with

organizations of every size. It is reported that 98% of Fortune 500 and over

66% of large companies use it. ATS is an integral part of how organizations now

process resumes. Creating a resume that will be processed by an ATS means you

need to think about the format, content, and use of keywords/phrases as you

develop your document. An ATS is a software program that can automate and

optimize the hiring process being able to ﬁlter out unqualiﬁed applicants. Keep in

mind that any time you apply through an online form or portal most likely an ATS

will “review” your resume.

ATS can be set to ask questions or have sections completed as part of the

application process which enables the system to ﬁlter the viability of an

applicant. The system will screen each application enabling the ATS to organize

and rank applicants based on the position descriptions and needs of the

employer. These systems allow businesses to collect information, organize

prospects based on experience and skill set, and ﬁlter applicants.

Each person must be aware of the use of ATS. Being prepared with this

information will enable you to create a resume that best highlights your

experiences, skills, qualiﬁcations, training, and educational background. Your

resume will need to be tailored for each position you apply to.

FORMATTING FOR ATS

• Submit your resume as a PDF ﬁle. After 80 to 100 uses or if it sits on your

computer for 3 months with no use, your PDF can become corrupt. You

can check this by copying and pasting all the information from your PDF to

a word doc. If it loses all its formatting, your ﬁle is corrupt. This is easy to

ﬁx by accessing the original word ﬁle you used to create your resume and

exporting a new PDF.

• Avoid templates, text boxes, columns, and tables; avoid using header and

footer sections—keep everything in the body of the resume. TIP: You can

use columns inside a section to list things like “skills”, but you MUST use

bullet points in front of every list item.

• Use standard section headings on resume such as: Education, Experience,

Activities, etc. TIP: ATS will take every section with the word “experience”

in it as an important section. Consider changing section titles like “Activities

and Organizations” to “Leadership Experience”.

• When adding numerical detail into the bullet points of your experience,

consider using percentages and dollar amounts. ATS cannot dierentiate

between “4 hours of work” and the 4 in your phone number.

• Recommended fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Tahoma, Times New Roman.

• Font size 10 to 12; Margins .5 - 1 inch, left aligned. Keep your margins

consistent around the page!

• Simple bullets can be used and vertical lines for dividers (ex: l ).

• Avoid abbreviating months – use month and year (ex: December 2024).

• If resume is longer than one page avoid using name and full contact information

on succeeding pages. Just list your name and page number in small font size in

upper corner of pages.

• Avoid graphics as the images. They can get scrambled together in an ATS. In

many ATS, your resume can be excluded from consideration if even 10% of your

page is graphics (ie icons, fun borders, etc.) Resumes with graphics are best

used when networking in person.

• Use correct spelling and grammar. Run resume through spell check/grammar

and have someone else proof for any errors.

CONTENT

ATS are scanning resumes for words, phrases, titles, etc. that align with information in

the job announcement. Pay close attention to items listed in Preferred and Required

sections on the job announcement and make sure those match with information in

your resume. Use exact wording for relevant information but do not copy the job

announcement into your resume. For example, if a job announcement says experience

in “managing a team” and you say “managing 10 team members” it will not recognize

this as a match. A high score match is your goal to achieving contact from the

organization and an interview. ATS scores your resume against the job description.

Ideally you want to score around 80% and higher. You typically will not know how your

resume scored.

Avoid abbreviating or using acronyms on your resume. If in doubt list both – i.e.,

Microsoft Oce: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access. This clearly communicates you can

use Microsoft Oce Suite and its various software products. Another example listing

Master of Business Administration (MBA) on your resume. By including both ways your

degree can be listed assures one will match the ATS. If a job posting asks for “Point of

Sales experience” make sure to write it out and not use POS or point of purchase. Pay

close attention to industry speciﬁc words in the job announcement and make sure they

are included on your resume.

When considering the length of your resume, one size doesn’t ﬁt all. Some individuals

may have a one-page resume while others who have more experience may be several

pages. For a resume being reviewed by an ATS, length is not the main concern but how

informatively and concisely you have worded your information is what is important.

Applicant tracking systems are here to stay. You may ﬁnd that it is best to create

multiple versions of your resume – a resume that you use in an ATS that speciﬁcally

aligns your experiences, qualiﬁcations and education with the job description and

industry; and a resume that may have more graphic touches for in-person networking.

Be prepared for all settings.

Sales Representative with a major manufacturer with opportunity to advance

into management

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing

Overall GPA: 3.2/4.0

Completed 12 hours in Retail and Consumer Science

Dean’s list four semesters

Phi Chi Theta, Professional Women’s Business Fraternity

BELK Knoxville, TN

Salesperson

• Sell women’s clothing and suggest appropriate accessories

• Conduct inventory; arrange displays of merchandise

• Received performance-based salary increases

DILLARD’S DEPARTMENT STORE Nashville, TN

Salesperson/Clerk

• Promoted to Salesperson after three months; sold clothing and

accessories in Junior Department

• Designed and arranged displays for Back-to-School promotions

• Assigned to buyer for six weeks, included trip to New York market

WALGREENS Knoxville, TN

Cashier

• Collaborated with store manager on orientation and assignments for

new employees

• Oversaw cash drawer and made bank deposits

• Assisted pharmacist as needed

American Marketing Association, 20XX-present

Vice President, 20XX-XX

Treasurer, 20XX-XX

Delta Delta Delta Sorority, 20XX-present

Panhellenic Representative, 20XX-present

Rush Chairman, 20XX-XX

• Coordinated eight committees

• Increased membership by 20%

Financed 60% of college education through employment and loans

Familiar with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access

Working knowledge of Spanish

Traveled extensively throughout U.S. and Europe

Sarah Jane Jones

1521 Cumberland Ave. • Knoxville, TN • 37916 • (865) 595-0000 • jones@utk.edu

Objective

Education

May 20XX

Experience

August XX-present

Summers XX-XX

August XX-May XX

Activities

Additional

Information

Honors

Chronological Resume

Anita Jones

Chronological Resume with

Skills/Coursework Emphasis

2000 Sunshine Ln., Knoxville, TN, 37921

(865) 123-4567 | AnitaJones92@utk.edu

www.linkedin.com/in/AnitaJones

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN May 20XX

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering GPA: 3.25/4.0

Major GPA: 3.6/4.0

ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

Senior Design Project with DENSO Knoxville, TN August 20XX–May 20XX

Team Member

• Collaborated with team of four to improve waste removal, containment, and disposal of foreign

materials by 4%

• Researched numerous products that are currently on the market for waste removal and recycling

• Designed, built, and tested three working prototypes that met employer speciﬁcations including

size, weight, and energy usage

• Communicated monthly with representatives from DENSO Manufacturing to create a healthy and

open communication channel

Norfolk Southern Norfolk, VA May 20XX–August 20XX

Carbon Reduction Intern

• Explored and researched industry standards for carbon emissions

• Partnered with lead engineer to learn more about production processes; ultimately learning

where carbon emissions were highest

• Created and designed four proposals within system operations that could reduce

carbon production

• Built two of the four designs to further consider implementation and long term results

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Kroger Marketplace Knoxville, TN May 20XX–August 20XX

Cashier

• Recorded daily register totals to ensure accuracy of transactions

• Partnered with three other cashiers to provide timely and ecient checkout procedures

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

• Knowledge in ANSYS

• Pro-e/Creo

• MATLAB

• C++ Programming

• C# Programming

• Microsoft Oce Suite

• Business & Professional Communication

• Brand Management

• Thermal Engineering

• Business Software Application

• Sales Force Management

• Engineering & Waste Reduction

TECHNICAL SKILLS

To obtain a part-time job in the Knoxville YWCA

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Aug. 20XX–Present

Bachelor of Arts in History

Minor in Business

West High School, Florence, SC June 20XX

GPA: 3.25/4.0

Chick-ﬁl-A, Knoxville, TN Sep. 20XX–Present

Salesperson

• Assist up to 100 customers per shift in selection of items to ensure satisfaction

• Promote new menu items to customers in eort to increase sales

• Resolve customer complaints by eectively communicating

• Collaborate with a team of ﬁve to complete orders in a timely manner

• Prepare meals utilizing company quality control guidelines

Self-employed Child Care, Knoxville, TN June 20XX–Aug. 20XX

Nanny

• Provided care, safety, and nutrition for up to four children at a time ages 0-14

• Demonstrated ability to handle emergency situations eectively

• Determined and implemented wide range of activities for dierent age levels

• Tutored children on various topics and aided them in completing school

assignments

Pride of the Southland Marching Band Aug. 20XX–Present

West High School Marching Band Aug. 20XX–May 20XX

1st Chair

• Led section of 10 students in learning songs and perfecting technique

• Provided assistance in developing music skills for fellow students

National Honor Society

Vice President

• Organized social events for over 100 members

• Planned fundraising events resulting in over $3,000 donated to charities

• Led meetings by preparing an agenda in advance and keeping students engaged

Leadership Excellence Scholarship Recipient April 20XX

West High School Leadership Development Conference Speaker March 20XX

Proﬁcient in American Sign Language

Working Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

John Stephens

jst[email protected]

Early College Resume

Objective

Current Address:

1720 Melrose H-233

Knoxville, TN 37916

865-555-5555 Permanent Address:

5432 Red Rover Lane

Florence, SC 29553

Education

Experience

Activities

Additional

Information

Justin Jones

4567 Maple Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37920

(555) 555-1234 | jjone[email protected]om

www.linkedin.com/in/jjones

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Minor in Biology GPA 3.65/4.0 May 20XX

Relevant Courses: Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee

Volunteer, Renal Dialysis Center September 20XX–Present

• Provide comfort and support for patients receiving renal dialysis

• Engage in conversation with patients

• Work with medical sta to keep pod units fully stocked and running smoothly

Supportive Services for Veterans and Families Programs, Knoxville, TN

Volunteer, Volunteers of America September 20XX–May 20XX

• Developed relationship with low-income veteran families through conversations once a week

• Assisted with outreach, case management and obtaining VA and other beneﬁts

SHADOW EXPERIENCE

Memphis Health Center, Memphis, Tennessee

Shadowing December 20XX-January 20XX

• Shadowed Dr. Susan Johnson a general practitioner for 60 hours

• Viewed Dr. Johnson’s interactions with patients during examination and throughout explanations

of diagnosis

• Gained a greater understanding of the strong communication skills needed to be a physician

University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee

Shadowing October 20XX

• Shadowed various Emergency Room doctors during two eight-hour shifts

• Observed the unpredictability and variety of cases seen in an emergency room setting

• Gained a better understanding of the ﬂexibility and quick thinking needed to work as a physician

in this environment

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology May 20XX–August 20XX

• Created single amino acid mutations in an enzyme involved in sulfur metabolism, sulﬁte reductase

• Cleaned and organized lab equipment

• Ordered and maintained oce and lab supplies

Research Assistant, Cellular, Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology May 20XX–August 20XX

• Studied cell responses to a mutant yeast protein in a protein tracking laboratory

• Performed site-directed mutagenesis through PCR to create speciﬁc mutants and transformed

them into yeast

• Observed protein stability and ubiquitination by immunoblotting and localization by

immunoﬂuorescence

PUBLICATIONS

Damon GQ, Jones JA, Smith S. Methods of Endocytosis. Annu Rev Biochem 2015, 78:843-916.

Pre-Health Resume

Steven Gray

Current Address:

1234 Queen Anne Way

Knoxville, TN 37916

865-555-5555 Permanent Address:

32 W. Main Ave

Richmond, VA 23223

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee May 20XX

Bachelor of Arts, Global Studies, Minor in French

GPA: 3.3/4.0 cumulative, 3.6/4.0 in-major

Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, France 1/20XX-5/20XX

• Successfully completed six hours of French language and culture

• Lived with a host family; spoke only French while in the home

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

International Student Services Oce, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 8/20XX–Present

Peer Advisor

• Connect international students with resources on campus and promote an ongoing mentorship

with American students

• Co-coordinate and advertise for Advising International Students Seminar

• Provide information on immigration regulations and academic policies

• Record student appointment requests and communicate with student interpreters

Bridge Refugee and Sponsorship Services, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 1/20XX–Present

Volunteer

• Support case workers with providing local resources to incoming refugees

• Collaborate with ESL coordinators to communicate with Spanish-speaking families

Bureau of Consular Aairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 5/20XX–8/20XX

Intern

• Participated in meetings with senior-level U.S. government and foreign ocials

• Drafted, edited, and contributed to bureau reports

• Assisted and supported three bureau events and conferences

• Explained visa and passport processes to U.S. citizens

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Amnesty International, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 8/20XX–Present

Member

International Literacy Colloquy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 6/20XX

Participant

Model United Nations, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 10/20XX, 10/20XX

Participant

Global Studies Club, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 9/20XX–5/20XX

Member

Oxfam America Club, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 9/20XX–5/20XX

Member

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• French: ﬂuent (speaking, reading, writing)

• Spanish: intermediate (speaking, reading); basic (writing)

Global Emphasis Resume

Seeking an opportunity to combine relevant education and experience in the

nonproﬁt sector

The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN

Bachelor of Arts in Communication May 20XX

Major: Communication Studies GPA: 3.45/4.0

New Student & Family Programs, The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN

Family Initiatives Programmer December 20XX–Present

• Create programs designed to support and teach ﬁrst-generation college students

and their families

• Support current oce initiatives and events such as New Student Orientation and

the Parents Association

• Partner with one graduate student to provide overview programs throughout 14

summer orientations

Alpha Phi Omega Knoxville, TN

President April 20XX–Present

• Coordinate chapter meetings which included 45 members and two advisors

• Communicate with members about upcoming events, rituals, and national

organization news

• Partner with the Knoxville Humane Society to provide a campus-wide fundraiser

which raised over $2,000

New Member Educator April 20XX–April 20XX

• Created a three-month education series which focused on chapter traditions and

team building

• Planned a new member philanthropy where we supported the Knoxville Chamber

of Commerce with downtown cleanup

Recruitment Coordinator April 20XX–April 20XX

• Standardized the recruitment process including both formal and informal events

held during fall and spring semesters

• Expanded recruitment numbers and increased our attendance by 10%

• Organized one major recruitment event which had record attendance:

100+ students

Student Organizations: Badminton Club and Ultimate Frisbee Club (20XX–20XX)

Honor Societies: Lambda Pi Eta (20XX–20XX)

Alternative Spring Break: Branson, Missouri Trip (Spring 20XX)

Computer: Microsoft Oce Suite, Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, and WordPress

Language: Proﬁcient in Conversational Spanish

Roger Jeries

RogerJeries@utk.edu

(865) 123-4567

Portfolio: RogerJeries.net

Objective

Current Address:

123 Campus Drive

Knoxville, TN 37919

Permanent Address:

456 Home Street

Anywhere, KY 48921

Education

Experience

Campus

Activities

Additional

Information

Student Leadership/

Involvement Emphasis Resume

Sarah J. Jones

1521 Cumberland Ave • Knoxville, TN • 37916

865-595-0000 • sarah[email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/jjones

SUMMARY OF SKILLS

• Communicated with local social service agencies to schedule appointments for clients

• Informed clients of responsibilities surrounding child welfare, health and safety

• Utilized basic counseling techniques to encourage healthy lifestyles among young women

• Facilitated group interaction and multiple hands-on activities

• Supervised up to 10 children and adults in various roles

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville May 20XX

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology GPA 3.7/4.0

Minor: Child and Family Studies

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Child and Family Tennessee Knoxville, TN July 20XX-Present

Prevention Services Supervisor

• Teach independent-living skills to expectant adolescent mothers; average independent caseload

of approximately ﬁve mothers

• Assess and evaluate programming as part of a ﬁve-person team

• Co-facilitate support group of 15 mothers meeting weekly for one hour

• Lead team of eight university volunteers assisting with independent-living skills class, community

programming and administrative duties

Blount County Children’s Home Maryville, TN May 20XX-Aug 20XX

Student Counselor

• Supervised a group of 10 at-risk children

• Organized activities, taught swimming, led hikes

• Intervened in crises situations; made calls to Mobile Crisis Units, KPD and 911

• Resolved disputes among children utilizing ocial policies and procedures and

de-escalation techniques

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Amerigo: An Italian Restaurant Brentwood, TN May 20XX-July 20XX

Head Hostess

• Trained new servers and hostesses

• Created and maintained the hostess schedule for a team of six hostesses

Dillard’s Department Store Knoxville, TN Sep 20XX-May 20XX

Sales Associate

• Provided customer service in selection of merchandise

• Resolved customer complaints and completed return transactions in a professional, customer-

friendly manner

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

Mental Health Association of East Tennessee 20XX-Present

Boys & Girls Club Volunteer 20XX-20XX

HONORS

Phi Eta Sigma Dean’s List 7 of 7 semesters

Combination Resume

Sam Greene

1521 Cumberland Avenue 865-595-0000

Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 [email protected]

OBJECTIVE

A full-time position in consumer product sales that utilizes communication and interpersonal skills

RELEVANT SKILLS

Selling

• Demonstrated ability to sell goods in three retail stores during the past three years

• Earned “Top Sales Associate of the Month” honors on ﬁve occasions

• Surpassed weekly sales quotas consistently

Marketing/Promotion

• Designed and arranged award-winning displays for back-to-school promotions in Junior Department

• Participated in class project identifying East Tennessee market opportunities; used research to plan and

implement a competitive marketing strategy

• Assigned to Junior Department buyer for six weeks, including trip to New York market

• Increased sorority membership by 20% as Delta Delta Delta Rush Chairwoman

• Attended Atlanta American Marketing Association (AMA) regional conference and four Knoxville AMA

chapter meetings

Leadership

• Assisted store manager in orienting and assigning new employees

• Elected as sorority representative to Panhellenic Council and served as elected representative to

Panhellenic National Convention

• Coordinated eight sorority committees including public relations, risk management and ethical standards

• Promoted from clerk/typist to salesperson after three months

Communication

• Conversational in Spanish

• Wrote new employee training manual for all new sales associates

• Selected to lead class presentation of marketing project results; team received only “A” given in section

• Made cold calls and follow-up visits to vendors throughout the region to support sorority

philanthropy events

• Generated more than $2, 000 in goods and ﬁnancial support from companies

• Kept accurate, current computer records of inventory using Microsoft Excel and Access

ACTIVITIES

Global Leadership Scholars 20XX-Present

American Marketing Association 20XX-Present

Delta Delta Delta Sorority 20XX-Present

HONORS

High Honors (four semesters)

Scholarships: University, HOPE, and Panhellenic

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major: Marketing

GPA 3.57/4.0 May 20XX

EXPERIENCE

Belk, Knoxville, TN Sales Associate May 20XX-Present

Dillard’s Department Store, Knoxville, TN Salesperson August 20XX-May 20XX

Walgreens Drug Store, Nashville, TN Cashier January 20XX-June 20XX

Functional/Skills Resume

Jennifer Martin

123 My Street Knoxville, TN 37996 865-555-1111 [email protected]

• Product Management

• Sales Execution

• Strategic Planning

• New Product Development

• Engineering Management

• New Market Development

• Team Leadership

• Marketing

• Product Ideation

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Petfo Corporation, Knoxville TN 20XX–20XX

Strategic Business Unit Director

• Accountable for driving proﬁtable growth in $34M Pet Door Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

• Managed and achieved performance objectives for revenue, proﬁt growth, product quality standards and forward look-

ing new revenue sources.

• Directed 11 professionals including mechanical and electrical engineers, market manager and supply

chain specialist.

• Combined three acquired companies into a single entity.

• Managed vendor consolidation from six to two suppliers and SKU rationalization process resulting in a 7 base point

increase in gross proﬁt margin percentage.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Revenue increase of 36%, from $25M to $34M in three years.

• Pioneered new TECH radio frequency product application which was introduced in two new products and will pro-

vide a defensible new product launch platform for years to come.

• Launched four additional new products based on consumer needs analysis resulting in annual revenue

impact of $4.5M at a 55% gross margin.

• Established a New Product Concept Asset list with $7.5M of potential new product revenue.

• Developed a Cost Reduction Concept Asset list with the potential of $2.1M annual savings.

Kimberly Clark, Neenah, WI 20XX–20XX

Marketing Director

• Directed all marketing and product development opportunities for a $75M disposable paper products line targeted to

the health care market.

• Led a cross-functional team achieving a gross margin increase of $600K, with no additional

capital investment.

• Worked with a third-party resource to establish ﬁrst ever market measurement database.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• First ever new product development program yielding an incremental annual sales increase of $1.5M from Plus Size

products and medical kit packs.

Green Giant Foods, LeSueur, MN 19XX–20XX

Director Sales and Marketing

• Directed all sales and marketing activities for the start-up Green Giant’s Steamers consumer brand.

• Hired four grower partners who licensed the brand from Green Giant and marketed it nationally.

• Co-managed Green Giant’s sales team calling on the top 100 U.S. wholesalers and retailers.

• Directed an accrual-based marketing budget of $500K. Executed brand packaging, sales collateral, point-of-sales mer-

chandising aids and coupon programs.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Achieved $50M retail sales in two years.

EDUCATION

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

MBA, with emphasis in Marketing and Management

BBA, with double majors in Marketing and Finance

TECHNICAL SKILLS & TRAINING

Microsoft Oce, SAS, Adobe Premier, Acrobat Pro, and Photoshop, formal training in HTML

Dale Carnegie Sales Training

Experienced Resume

COVER LETTER

A cover letter contains an explanation of your interest and additional information

about your resume. It is sometimes called an application letter or letter of inquiry, and

it may be sent in response to a position announcement or sent to a company for which

you would like to work.

Employers often receive hundreds of letters and resumes for each advertised vacancy.

Your letter, therefore, needs to be well-written and designed to attract attention in a

positive way. It should communicate something personal about yourself along with

information speciﬁc to the division, organization, or company to which it is being sent.

This lets the reader know you have spent some time researching the organization and

writing a personal letter. Form letters elicit a negative reaction, if not a toss into the

trash can.

To receive a positive response, it is imperative that you research every company to

which you apply so you can give knowledgeable and speciﬁc reasons for your interest

in that company and your ability to meet their needs through your qualiﬁcations,

experiences, and personal qualities.

Do not repeat your resume. Use the cover letter to interpret and expand the resume,

stressing relevant details in a personalized fashion. Communicate your ability to assist

and support the organization. State explicitly how your background relates to the

speciﬁc job; emphasize your strongest and most pertinent characteristics. The cover

letter should demonstrate that you know both the company and yourself.

Cover letters should never be duplicated. Each must be individually written and

printed, single-spaced on a good-quality bond paper matching the paper used in your

resume. The cover letter should be one page in length and addressed to a speciﬁc

individual in charge of the department or unit in which you want to work or to the

human resources department. Dierent employers handle resumes dierently, and

you might want to try writing to both.

Use simple, direct language and correct grammar. Triple check the letter to be

absolutely sure there are no spelling, typographical, or grammatical errors. Remember,

the letter and resume are examples of your written communication skills and

organizational abilities.

A sample format for a cover letter follows. Because your letter must communicate

your ambition and enthusiasm in a unique and assertive manner, a sample letter

has not been included. Use the guidelines to write your own letter applicable to the

position and company, and to individualize your background and abilities.

May 17, 20___

Mr. Fred Isenhower

Vice President of National Sales

Drexel Heritage Furnishings

1515 Industrial Park Drive

Drexel, NC 28619

Dear Mr. Isenhower:

First Paragraph. In the initial paragraph, state the reason for writing the letter, specify

the position or type of work for which you are applying and indicate from which

resource (friend, employment service, news media, placement center) you learned of

the opening or received his/her/their name.

Second Paragraph. State why you are interested in the position, the company, and

its products or services, and, above all, indicate what you can do for the employer.

If you are completing a degree or are a recent graduate, explain how your academic

background qualiﬁes you for the position. If you have had some practical work

experience, point out speciﬁc achievements or unique qualiﬁcations. Highlight your

strengths and achievements and state how they suit you for the position. Provide

details, examples, and explanations that are not found on your resume. Indicate what

you can do for the organization: Do not inquire about what the organization can oer

you.

Third Paragraph. Refer the reader to the enclosed resume or employment application

that summarizes your qualiﬁcations, training, experiences, and the like. Assure the

employer that you are the person for the job.

Concluding Paragraph. Initiate the next follow-up whenever possible (for example,

“I will call you...” “I will be in your city on a certain date and would like to meet...”

“Are you recruiting at a school in my area?”). Exceptions are newspaper or other

ads where you cannot identify the person. Indicate your ﬂexibility, repeat a phone

number (or add a dierent number where you can be reached during certain hours, if

appropriate), and oer any assistance necessary to help obtain a speedy response.

Sincerely,

Anita Jones

Sample Cover Letter

Anita Jones

2000 Sunshine Ln., Knoxville, TN, 37921

(865) 123-4567 | AnitaJones92@utk.edu

www.linkedin.com/in/AnitaJones

Anita Jon

Career Readiness Competencies & Your Resume or CV

How can your resume or CV reﬂect the competencies employers are seeking?

Adapted from the NACE Career Readiness Competencies

Consider printing a position description &

circling the words and synonyms below that appear in it.

Bullet points should reﬂect these words/synonyms.

Club/organization, internship, co-op, part or

full-time job, assistantship, creative inquiry, research,

study abroad, volunteering, special project, etc.

Competency & Deﬁnition

Give speciﬁc examples & quantify where possible

Critical Thinking

Leadership

Communication

Professionalism

Teamwork

Career &

Self Development

Technology

Equity & Inclusion

Identify and respond to needs

based upon an understanding of

situational context and logical

analysis of relevant information.

Recognize and capitalize on

personal and team strengths to

achieve organizational goals.

Example: Marketing Internship: Created strategic marketing plans by

conducting extensive research for various clients

Clearly and e ectively exchange

information, ideas, facts, and

perspectives with persons inside

and outside of an organization.

Knowing work environments

di er greatly, understand and

demonstrate e ective work

habits, and act in interest of larger

community and workplace.

Build and maintain collaborative

relationships to work e ectively

toward common goals, while

appreciating diverse viewpoints

and shared responsibilities.

Identify skills, strengths, knowledge,

experiences, and areas of growth

related to career goals; navigate job

options and pursue opportunities

Demonstrate openness, inclusive-

ness, sensitivity, and the ability to

interact respectfully with all people;

understand individuals’ dierences

APPENDIX A

Understand and leverage

technologies ethically to enhance

eciencies, complete tasks, and

accomplish goals.

Management &

Leadership

achieved

administered

allocated

analyzed

appointed

approved

arranged

assembled

assigned

attained

authorized

awarded

chaired

completed

conceived

conducted

considered

consolidated

contracted

controlled

converted

coordinated

correlated

decided

delegated

designated

determined

developed

directed

disapproved

discharged

eliminated

emphasized

encouraged

enforced

engineered

enhanced

established

evaluated

executed

expanded

generated

governed

handled

headed

hired

hosted

implemented

improved

incorporated

increased

initiated

inspected

inspired

instituted

launched

led

maintained

managed

merged

motivated

navigated

organized

outlined

overhauled

oversaw

planned

prepared

presided

prioritized

procured

produced

provided

recommended

reevaluated

regulated

rejected

reorganized

replaced

reported

required

restored

reviewed

scheduled

secured

selected

settled

signed

solved

speciﬁed