WRITING SUCCESSFUL RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
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WRITING
SUCCESSFUL
RESUMES AND
COVER LETTERS
Career Development Center
York College of Pennsylvania
Campbell Hall Room 200
717-815-1452
careerdevelopment@ycp.edu
www.ycp.edu/careerdevelopment
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Getting Started 2
Organizing Your Resume: Format and Content 3
Resume Tips to “Wow” an Employer 4
Resume Supplements 8
Online Applications 9
Effective Writing to Get Your Resume Noticed 10
Resume Checklist 15
Sample Resumes 16
Cover Letters and Other Correspondence 29
Sample Cover Letters 31
Sample Thank You Letter 34
The Career Development Center realizes that
each resume is unique. We offer one-on-one,
in-person resume reviews that may be
scheduled through Spartan Career Path.GETTING STARTED
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RESUME?
Think of your resume as a marketing tool for demonstrating
that your product (you) meets the needs of your potential
customer (the employer).
Your resume summarizes your qualifications, lets the reader
know what type of position you are seeking, and highlights your
education, experience, skills, and other relevant information.
Keep in mind:
Employers spend less than a minute scanning a
resume to determine whether a candidate’s
background matches their requirements.
It is important to match your skills with the employer’s
needs by using key words/jargon found in the job
description and in the industry.
When your resume is done well, it will often lead to an
interview.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
1. Self-Analysis
If you are just beginning your resume, start with brainstorming to identify some of the skills and abilities you
have to offer an employer.
Think about and draft an outline of experiences from the past three to five years, including:
Education and coursework College and community activities Foreign language skills
Internships or co-ops Honors and awards Study abroad
Jobs Publications and presentations Military experience
2. Research
Learn more about your field using the resources on the Career Development website.
Visit www.onetonline.org to review tasks that are associated with job descriptions in your field.
Develop a list of skills and abilities that employers are seeking in potential candidates.
Visit www.indeed.com and other job boards to review several job descriptions and identify employer
needs and “buzz” words.
Compare your skills and qualifications to employer requirements and prioritize what to highlight in your
resume.
3. Write a Draft
Follow the guidelines and examples in this packet to create your resume.
Be concise and use as few words as possible while providing relevant details.
Do not use first-person pronouns (I, me, my).
Do not include your age, gender, religion, political affiliation, ethnicity, marital status, social security
number, references, or salary expectations/history.
4. Proofread and Obtain a Critique
Don’t let your resume be eliminated from consideration due to careless errors.
Read each section carefully and ensure that you have effectively addressed the skills and
accomplishments the employer is seeking.
Don’t rely on Spell Check. Carefully proofread for spelling, capitalization, and/or punctuation errors.
Obtain a resume critique from Career Development: You may drop off or email
(careerdevelopment@ycp.edu) your resume to receive written feedback within 48 business hours, or
you may make an appointment with a career counselor through Spartan Career Path.
2ORGANIZING YOUR RESUME: FORMAT AND CONTENT
FORMAT
Resumes should be 1-2 pages long and printed on resume paper by a quality printer.
o One-page resumes are for entry level positions and corporate employment.
o Two-page resumes are appropriate for those who have extensive experience, who are seeking
a nonprofit position, or who are applying for research positions or graduate school.
Font style is generally Arial (size 10) or Times New Roman (size 11) for easy reading.
Margins should be no larger than 1” and no less than 0.8”.
Consider having your section titles in all capital letters
or in bold font so they are prominent.
Use indents to make your headers and text stand out.
Order the most important/relevant information top to Resumes get noticed when they:
bottom and left to right (i.e., place related experiences Are concise, organized, and
toward the top and dates toward the right margin). easy to read
Do not split information between lines or page sections. Emphasize relevant
Avoid resume templates: Create your own unique accomplishments and potential
document that is professional and easy to edit. contributions
Save and submit your documents as PDFs to preserve Focus on the skills for a specific
formatting. position and industry
Have a separate resume that does not use hollow
bullets, italics, or lines for online applications because
these do not translate well when electronically scanned.
CONTENT
Do not develop a generic resume! Target your resume to each specific job for which you apply.
Be sure to use key words from your field and the job description you are seeking! Embed these “buzz”
words/jargon throughout your resume, cover letter, and online applications.
Sell yourself with section titles and statements that reflect what you want the employer to know about
you. For example, use a header entitled “Leadership” instead of “College Activities.” Insert words and
phrases such as “takes initiative” or “demonstrates effective goal setting” as they apply to you.
Do not include personal information or license and certificate numbers. Exclude hobbies, interests and
religion/ethnic background unless they would be relevant to an employer.
Do not rely solely on Spell Check. It is sometimes inaccurate, and it will not work on words in all caps.
WHAT RESUME FORMAT SHOULD I USE?
Combination Resume
Most appropriate for the majority of traditional college students.
Combines work history with sections for skills and accomplishments.
Highlights relevant or useful experiences such as leadership activities, volunteer work, honors or
awards, and educational experiences such as internships, study abroad, etc.
Chronological Resume
Good for the person with a long and consistent work history who is staying in the same career.
Highlights the most recent work experience first, followed by all previous jobs (in reverse order).
Not especially good for career changers or those with little work experience.
Functional or Skills
Useful for career changers and individuals with either limited work experience (to highlight transferable
skills) or significant work experience in the same field (to avoid repetition of information).
Highlights skills and accomplishments—whether or not they were gained through jobs.
De-emphasizes dates, which helps hide gaps in employment or schooling. However, employers have
more difficulty piecing together chronological information.
3RESUME TIPS TO “WOW” AN EMPLOYER
Follow these general guidelines to develop the content in each section of your resume.
1. HEADING
The heading should include your name and contact information (address, phone, and email). It is the first thing
employers see so be sure to make a good first impression.
Tips for your header:
Provide only one phone number and one email address. (Make sure your email address and voicemail
message are professional and appropriate. Avoid addresses like CrazyPartyPal84@aol.com.)
Your name should be bold with a font size a few points larger than the rest of the text.
Avoid the use of a middle initial unless you have a common name.
Consolidate your information to avoid too much wasted white space.
2. OBJECTIVE VS. PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Objectives: For entry level candidates, an objective should be used to tell the prospective employer (1) what
type of internship or job you are seeking and (2) the skills, traits, or expertise you have to offer. A well-written,
concise, focused job objective conveys a sense of direction and professionalism.
Sample inappropriate objective: “Seeking a challenging position where I may use my skills and abilities”
Sample well-written objectives: Depending on your job target and objectives, there are many ways to format
your objective as shown below:
“To perform planning, marketing, and programming in the administration of a large recreational area”
“To assist in the development and provision of educational programs within a human services agency”
“To conduct cancer research at a medical research facility while
using critical thinking and organizational skills”
“To utilize skills in communication and web design to create and
implement effective marketing strategies” Objectives and
“To produce commercials for advertising products and services professional summaries
utilizing artistic and graphic design skills” should NOT be generic, as
employers are not
Professional Summaries: Experienced job seekers with considerable attracted to candidates
experience or expertise in a given field (usually 5-10 years) or a who want to land “any
nontraditional student with varied experience and skills may wish to use job” in “any industry” to
a professional summary instead of an objective. This can include 4-6 use “any skills.”
bullets or phrases highlighting the skills and traits that would be of
interest to the specific employer. An example of a professional summary
with bulleted highlights of qualifications might look like this:
“Self-starter with over twelve years of experience in human resources seeking a management position within a
manufacturing environment:
Special expertise in technical staff selection, training, and succession planning
Skilled in the development and facilitation of management training programs
Solid background in employment law, OSHA, and requirements within an industrial setting
Talent for balancing long-range vision with short-term goals and objectives”
3. EDUCATION
List colleges and universities attended as well as degrees, majors, minors, and concentrations.
Include special educational experiences like study abroad or certifications that are relevant to the field.
Do not include internships and co-ops here, as they should be put in a “Related Experience” section.
4 If you personally paid for a significant percentage of your education (utilizing personal loans does not
count), you could include this on your resume or expand upon it in your cover letter.
List your GPA if it is 3.0 or above.
o If the GPA in your major is significantly higher than your cumulative GPA, you may list them
both.
o If you graduated with honors (e.g., cum laude), you do not need to include your GPA.
o Once you are in graduate school or have been out of college for 3+ years, GPAs are not
required.
Sample Education section format:
York College of Pennsylvania York, PA
Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice May 2011
Minors: Sociology and Spanish GPA: 3.24
4. RELATED COURSEWORK
List any courses that are extremely relevant to success and performance in your future career,
especially if they are in addition to your major.
Identify focus areas if they are not already listed on your resume as a major or minor.
Upper level classes containing hands-on experience, product development/creation, research, or
industry recommendations should be included under a “Related Experience” section and described in
bullet statements rather than included in this general listing of courses.
Once you are seeking full-time employment, a general list of courses can be removed from the resume
because your degree encompasses coursework.
5. SKILLS
The skills section should include “hard skills” that can be easily tested or proven:
Computer skills including software applications, programming, and certifications
Language proficiency including foreign study
Technical skills or knowledge (e.g., testing, analysis, laboratory, shop, procedures, methodology)
Specialized training such as CPR
Soft skills (e.g., personal characteristics) are best represented when woven into
bullet statements describing your actual work and life experiences (see the next
section for details). They may also be discussed in your cover letter.
6. EXPERIENCE
Your experience section can be titled a variety of ways to showcase your experience and can include
paid/unpaid internships or co-ops, part-time jobs, co-curricular activities, military experience, volunteer work,
and/or work-study positions. Proper organization of your information is critical to an employer’s understanding of
what you have to offer. Each experience should include title/role, organization, location, date range, and
descriptions of duties.
Organize related experiences together in one section called “Career Related Experience,” “Relevant
Experience,” or “Related Experience.” Alternatively, you may use titles that pertain to your career goal such as
5“Research Experience,” “Engineering Experience,” and “Teaching Experience.” Effective titles draw attention to
the fact that you have experience in your field and highlight the progress you are making on your career path.
The remainder of your experience, which is not necessarily career related but equally important in enhancing
soft skills, can be incorporated into sections titled “Employment” or “Additional Experience.” When possible,
create specific/descriptive sections such as “Leadership Activities” and “Military Experience,” but be cautious
about having too many sections containing little information: your resume will become busy and harder to digest.
The key to effectively representing your experience is to:
properly organize and label your sections to draw an employer’s
attention to relevant skills
begin each bullet statement with an action verb and organize similar
ideas together
provide proof of your experience and transferrable skills through
well-written action statements
highlight soft skills, major responsibilities, projects, and
achievements—not just routine duties
Writing Effective Bullet Statements
Use the ATR framework to describe your accomplishments in your resume: Action + Task + Result. Think about
a task you completed at a job or internship; begin the statement with an appropriate action verb that describes
what you did to complete the task and the results you achieved. For example:
Action: Developed
Task: a grant proposal for a human services agency
Result: that produced over $15,000 to start community counseling outreach for the homeless
Effectively Representing Your Transferrable Skills
"Soft skills" refer to a cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes, and social graces that make someone a
good employee; they are “transferrable skills” that you take with you to any job. Companies value soft skills
because they can be just as important as hard skills in predicting job performance. Listed below are sample
soft/transferrable skills that should be woven into bullet statements within various sections of your resume. See
page 10 for additional information about soft skills.
Accepting responsibility Goal-setting Organizational skills Self-motivation
Attention to detail Initiative Presentation skills Selling
Communication Leadership Problem-solving Social Skills
Conflict management Listening skills Public relations Teamwork
Critical thinking Management skills Public speaking Technical writing
Customer service Marketing Reporting Time management
Decision-making Motivating others Research Troubleshooting
Delegating Multi-tasking Resourcefulness Willingness to learn
Ethics Negotiation/compromise Risk-taking Writing
Flexibility Networking
Additional Tips for Bullet Statements
Use action verbs—not “I” or “Responsible for”—to begin statements
List experiences within each section in reverse chronological order (start with the most recent
experience and work backwards in time)
Use proper verb tenses (present tense for current positions and past tense for previous roles)
Change your resume each time you apply for a different type of position and reorganize your bullets in
priority order according to the needs identified in the job description
Do not list every part-time position you’ve ever held; focus on post-high school jobs
Include numbers and statistics if they are available (e.g., Oversaw more than $10,000 in store inventory)
6 Include the level of responsibility you’ve held in your employment (e.g., Were you responsible for
training all new employees? Did you close out the cash drawers and make the nightly deposits? Were
you “unofficially” in charge when the manager was out?)
7. LEADERSHIP/ACTIVITIES
Do not underestimate the weight that employers place on co-curricular activities. If this was a strong part of your
experience while in school, emphasize it! When possible, don’t just list involvement; describe, for example, what
your role as Vice President entailed.
Why employers value co-curricular activities:
Opportunity for professional development through membership in organizations
Great way to develop references from interactions with faculty and staff outside of the classroom
Develop the ability to work as part of a team as well as to collaborate, cooperate, and compromise
Opportunity to value diversity by learning from and working with individuals from different backgrounds
and belief systems
Non-threatening way to develop new and transferrable skills
Increase knowledge about complex issues and improve critical thinking skills
Encourage social responsibility and service to the community
8. OTHER CATEGORIES
Other optional categories, which may fit your background, include “Volunteer Work” or “Community Service
Activities,” “Honors/Awards,” and “Military Experience.” Provide details of your accomplishments and
responsibilities.
Awards and scholarships are listed on resumes for undergraduate and graduate students, usually toward the
bottom of the page. The number of academic accomplishments on your resume should decrease as relevant
work experience increases—unless they are applicable to the position you are seeking.
7RESUME SUPPLEMENTS
REFERENCES
This category is no longer included on a resume but should be on a separate sheet and provided to an employer
upon request. Copy the header from your resume and use it on your reference sheet as letterhead. List your
references in the following manner:
Mr. Bruce Wayne, President, Wayne Enterprises
100 Bat Cave Blvd., Gotham City, CA 12345
(234) 567-8909/bwayne@comcast.net
Employer for three summers who supervised me in the
development and implementation of direct marketing programs.
Three to five references is the norm; however, you may list more.
Include employers, professors who know you and your quality of work well, internship supervisors, etc.;
personal “character” references (such as your neighbor or minister) are not as strong.
Ask people in advance if they will serve as a reference for you, supply them with a copy of your resume,
and familiarize them with the skills you possess for the positions you are seeking.
When you land a job, send your references a thank you letter and update them on your status.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
If you need a letter of recommendation, provide your references with several weeks of advance notice. Talk to
your references about your goals and supply them with your resume and any materials that will assist them in
writing on your behalf (e.g., job description, graduate school essay, etc.).
8ONLINE APPLICATIONS
When completing online applications, resume guidelines still apply, such as tailoring the application to the
industry/position and checking for errors. However, here are additional guidelines specific to online applications.
TIPS FOR COMPLETING ONLINE APPLICATIONS
Follow directions. Be careful to enter the correct data in the correct field.
Ask for advice on completing the application from a company recruiter or
an alumnus at the company.
Complete all fields--even those that are not required.
If the company offers an optional assessment test online, take it.
Use a very simple format; fancy bullets, text, italics, and bold do not
convert well.
In the comment section, demonstrate that you’ve done research on the
company and the industry or list relevant “hard” skills.
After submitting your application, follow-up with a personal email or
LinkedIn message to the recruiter.
EMAILED RESUMES
Save your cover letter, resume, and references in one PDF document to save time for the recruiter and
avoid compromising the format.
Ensure that your subject line includes the job title to differentiate it from junk mail.
Do not use texting jargon or emoticons.
In the body of the email, provide a brief introduction containing your contact information so that a
recruiter can call you if your resume does not upload properly. For example:
Dear Mr. Smith:
I am interested in the research associate position available in the marketing department.
With my previous internship in market research and my business degree, I am eager to
contribute innovative marketing ideas to increase sales. Attached are my resume, cover
letter, and references for your consideration. Please confirm receipt by contacting me at
717-222-8888 or xyz@gmail.com. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Your Name
MULTIMEDIA OR ONLINE PORTFOLIOS
A website or online collection of work samples can be great for artists, web designers, journalists, professional
writers, and those in technical fields
List the site address in your resume header and refer to it in your cover letter
Record an “elevator speech:” a brief 30 second introduction describing who you are and what you hope
to achieve
Establish your profile and history on a professional networking site such as LinkedIn or Twitter
Consult our “Job Search Skills” packet for detailed information about how to use social media tools
effectively in your job search
9EFFECTIVE WRITING TO GET YOUR RESUME NOTICED
RESEARCHING KEY WORDS
More and more companies are using online applications and scanning technology to assist them with
information management in Human Resources. Instead of reading hundreds of resumes to select qualified
candidates, recruiters can utilize a key word search to identify potential candidates from the pool of resumes.
Consequently, you should ensure that key words from the field and the job description are used in your resume,
cover letter, and online applications. Candidates whose resumes contain a best match for key words are likely to
obtain an interview.
Tips for locating key words in your field or industry:
Use onetonline.org to research job descriptions in your field and look for commonalities in required skills
and tasks.
Use Indeed.com to search for posted jobs in your field and highlight common threads.
Copy and paste job descriptions into Tagcrowd.com—a free web application for visualizing word
frequencies in any text by creating a word cloud, text cloud, or tag cloud.
SOFT SKILLS DEFINITIONS
Employers are interested in the “soft skills” and competencies you have obtained through jobs, volunteer work,
internships, or co-curricular activities. Here are a few examples of these soft/transferrable skills to help you
brainstorm and identify your strengths so that you can adequately discuss them in your resume and cover letter.
Communication Information Management
Use various forms, styles, and media to Sort data and objects
present ideas Compile and rank information
Speak effectively to individuals and groups; Apply information creatively to problems or
listen carefully and respond appropriately tasks
Describe objects or events with few errors in a Synthesize facts, concepts, and principles
concise and logical manner
Conflict Resolution Personal and Career Development
Anticipate problems before they occur Develop personal growth goals that are
Develop plans to implement solutions motivating
Define the problem and identify possible Take risks
causes Identify one’s own strength and weakness
Handle several problems at once Accept and learn from criticism
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Professional Management
Define the parameters of a problem Work efficiently under pressure
Apply appropriate criteria to strategies Manage time and stress effectively
Take given premises and reason to their Seek opportunities for professional
conclusion development
Create innovative solutions to problems Arrive at work on time
Decision-Making Project Management
Understand the steps of effective decision Follow up with others to evaluate the progress
making of tasks
Facilitate groups in decision making Conduct meetings
Implement sound decisions Give praise and credit to others for work well
Take responsibility for decisions done
Motivate others on group projects
10Design and Planning Research and Investigation
Identify alternative courses of action Use a variety of sources of information
Set realistic goals Identify problems and needs
Follow through with a plan or decision Apply a variety of methods to test the validity
Manage time effectively of data
Ethics and Tolerance Supervision and Leadership
Define and explain ethical behavior Analyze tasks
Practice ethical behavior in difficult situations Delegate responsibility
Accept others’ opinions and actions non- Identify people who can contribute to the
judgmentally solution
Understand equal opportunity and acceptance Identify resource materials
Financial Management Teamwork and Teambuilding
Develop a budget Motivate team members to work toward a goal
Estimate expenses and income accurately Collaborate on projects
Justify the organization’s budget to others Understand strengths and weaknesses of
Work within a budget members; use strengths to build the team
Human and Interpersonal Relations Valuing
Keep a group moving toward achievement of a Assess a course of action in terms of its long-
goal range effects on general human welfare
Maintain group cooperation and support Make decisions that will maximize both the
Delegate tasks and responsibilities individual and collective good
Understand the feelings of others
EXPERIENCE ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Here is a list of questions to facilitate brainstorming about and analysis of your experiences to help you create
effective bullet statements for your resume:
1. What skills have you developed as a result of the experience?
2. Did your experience involve recruiting, training, or supervising others?
3. Did you make any decisions or recommendations that were implemented?
4. What were your job responsibilities? How did they change and/or develop over the course of the
experience?
5. Did you gather or analyze any information?
6. Can you quantify the results of your work (e.g., number of customers served, percentage increase in
sales, percentile rank in class, amount of money raised, frequency of writing, etc.)?
7. Did you utilize and/or develop any technical skills?
8. How did you utilize and/or develop your personal qualities?
9. Did you produce any written documents and/or reports?
10. Did you assume any leadership or planning roles?
11. Did you volunteer or offer to do something above and beyond normal expectations?
12. Did you participate in any training?
13. Can you recall any situations where you successfully solved a problem, handled a crisis, managed a
difficult customer or co-worker, or received praise or recognition for performance, etc.?
11MAKING IMPACTFUL STATEMENTS
Dull With Impact
1. Raised level of sales above previous year 1. Increased sales by 41% over prior year,
reversing a negative trend
2. Trained new employees 2. Created and implemented an orientation and
training program for all new employees
3. Wrote procedures manual for museum 3. Authored a 53 page procedure manual for
museum artifacts department
4. Called prospective customers 4. Participated in a targeted calling program to
market services and products to prospective
customers
5. Answered phone 5. Provided quality customer service by
answering multi-line phone, providing accurate
information to callers, and relaying messages to
appropriate individuals
6. Data entry 6. Entered and maintained data in Microsoft
Access and generated weekly sales reports
7. Sold clothes 7. Assisted customers using product knowledge,
customer service, and suggestive selling
8. Operated customer service desk 8. Addressed and resolved customer issues and
concerns
9. Supervised day campers 9. Planned, developed, and facilitated daily
educational and social activities for approximately
twenty campers ages 7-9
10. Tutored child 10. Tutored a special needs child in the areas of
reading and writing, resulting in an increased
reading level of two grades
12SAMPLE ACTION WORDS
Accompanied Coordinated Indexed Reduced
Accomplished Corrected Influenced Referred
Accounted for Counseled Initiated Refined
Achieved Created Innovated Regulated
Acquired Cultivated Inspected Rehabilitated
Acted Decreased Installed Related
Adapted Delegated Instituted Renegotiated
Administered Demonstrated Instructed Reorganized
Admitted Designed Integrated Repositioned
Advanced Determined Interpreted Represented
Advertised Developed Interviewed Researched
Advised Devised Invented Reshaped
Advocated Differentiated Investigated Resolved
Aided Directed Launched Responded
Allocated Dispatched Leveraged Restructured
Amended Displayed Lobbied Retained
Analyzed Disseminated Maintained Reversed
Answered Distributed Managed Reviewed
Applied Diversified Marketed Revised
Appointed Diverted Masterminded Scheduled
Approved Documented Maximized Screened
Arranged Drafted Mediated Secured
Assembled Edited Merged Served
Assessed Eliminated Moderated Sold
Assisted Employed Modified Solved
Assured Enabled Monitored Sorted
Attained Enacted Motivated Spearheaded
Audited Encouraged Negotiated Sponsored
Automated Enforced Observed Stabilized
Awarded Engineered Obtained Streamlined
Balanced Enhanced Operated Strengthened
Budgeted Enlarged Organized Structured
Built Ensured Originated Supervised
Calculated Equated Oversaw Surpassed
Catalogued Established Packaged Synthesized
Chaired Evaluated Participated Systematized
Charted Examined Perfected Taught
Clarified Exceeded Performed Tested
Classified Executed Persuaded Testified
Closed Expanded Pioneered Theorized
Coached Expedited Prepared Trained
Collaborated Experimented Presented Translated
Collected Extrapolated Preserved Trimmed
Commissioned Facilitated Presided Updated
Communicated Forecasted Prioritized Upgraded
Compared Formulated Processed Utilized
Compiled Founded Produced Validated
Completed Gained Programmed Verified
Computed Generated Promoted
Conceived Grouped Proposed
Conducted Guided Provided
Consulted Handled Publicized
Contracted Headed Published
Contributed Hired Received
Controlled Identified Recommended
13SAMPLE ACTION STATEMENTS
Acted as liaison to… Improved productivity by…
Administered plan created to… Increased earnings # percent in # months by…
Attained a referral rate of # percent… Initiated an innovative campaign designed to…
Automated billing requirements for… Installed a process that…
Chaired a task force to develop… Interviewed candidates seeking…
Compiled statistics supporting… Managed, organized, staffed, and trained…
Completed projects $ under budget in # months Managed # engineers on a project that…
Conducted management activities of… Marketed new concept in…
Conducted studies on… Negotiated contracts for campus activities…
Consolidated regular reports of… Performed financial analysis designed to…
Counseled large groups of… Planned and directed a team of # staff who…
Created financial model that… Promoted new technique that…
Created financial plan used to… Provided services that…
Created new product image with… Presented research findings at…
Cut production time by # percent… Rated in top # performers for # years…
Designed project promotional plan that… Received # promotions in # years
Designed equipment for… Recruited talent for…
Developed new procedures to... Redefined a process that…
Developed a unique program that… Reduced expenditures by…
Directed activities that… Reorganized the function that…
Directed a consumer research study which… Reorganized work patterns that…
Directed a department staff of # that… Served on major committee to…
Discovered problems that… Serviced a team of physicians who…
Established reporting procedures for… Sold new concept to top management by…
Facilitated training on… Sold # units in # months by…
Increased morale of team by… Strengthened organization by…
Implemented computerized system to… Supervised a staff of…
Wrote marketing plan designed to… Taught training programs for…
Wrote proposal that achieved… Traveled extensively to…
Wrote # publications in the field of… Voted as “Best Leader” by coworkers
14RESUME CHECKLIST
Your resume represents you to potential employers, so it must contain pertinent information formatted in
a professional and well-organized document. This checklist will ensure your resume achieves its purpose:
Content: X indicates revisions needed
Contact information:
Name, address, one phone number, and one email address; easy to locate
Objective:
Briefly indicates the sort of position sought focusing on what you will provide to the
employer/reader (e.g., skills and traits)
Education (section):
College name and location, degree(s), graduation month & year
Major, minor or area of concentration, GPA (if over 3.0)
Relevant courses (maximum of 5 and only if applying for internships) OR related
projects (for significant course projects that support your objective) if needed
Does not include high school
Skills (section):
Relevant technical skills and language skills that support the objective—not vague
generalities (i.e. “strong communication skills” or “leadership”)
Experience (section(s)):
Paid, unpaid, volunteer, or internship positions are included in one or multiple sections
(separate Related Experience and Additional Experience sections) with each entry
including title, organization name, location, and dates (month/semester & year)
Each experience is described with action word phrases that describe higher level
responsibilities, projects managed, and results while demonstrating related and
transferable skills with evidence. Uses industry-appropriate buzz words & jargon
Co-curricular activities are represented within an experience section or in a separate
section based upon relevance to the objective
Additional sections may include Research, Publications, Military Service, and Professional Development,
but only if they are relevant to the objective.
Organization & Professional Appearance:
Layout and order of sections showcases skills and experience based upon need of
employer/reader; section headings are clear, specific and related to the objective
Resume has positive visual impact using bullets, boldface, underlining, and/or italics
Reader is able to quickly (in 30-45 seconds) glean important information
Within each section, entries are placed in reverse chronological order
Free from grammatical, spelling, punctuation, usage, and typographical errors
Appropriate length: one page for every 6-10 years of full time experience (resumes for
Graduate School and positions in Education may be two pages)
Formatting and construction are consistent: spacing within and between sections, text
or bullets align vertically, font size/style does not vary, margins are set equally 0.8-1”,
abbreviations and verb tense is consistent
Resumes should NOT contain:
Personal information not relevant to the objective (age, sex, photo, marital status, national origin,
religious or political affiliations)
References (these should be placed on a separate page)
Graphics or color (unless you are pursuing a design/creative position )
15SAMPLE RESUMES
COMBINATION RESUME (ACCOUNTING)
MAX BENSON
mbenson@gmail.com / (717) 123-4567
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/benson
Permanent Address Current Address
456 Westover Way 123 W. Jackson St.
Allentown, PA 34567 York, PA 17403
Objective Seeking an accounting internship with a corporate accounting department
Education York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA May 2015
Bachelor of Science, Accounting
Minors in Finance and Philosophy
Will earn 145 credits upon graduation
Career Related DENTSPLY Corporation, York, PA Summer 2014
Experience Accounting Internship
Prepared journal entries in monthly consolidated reports
Assisted Corporate and Tax Accountants with special projects
Worked with fixed asset maintenance and ledgers
Work Experience ABC Insurance Co., Allentown, PA Summers 2012, 2013
Office Assistant/Accounts Clerk
Developed spreadsheet applications to track customer accounts
Accurately posted all journal entries weekly and prepared reports
Provided excellent customer service to clients and field agents
Sam’s Landscaping, Allentown, PA Summers 2010, 2011
Crew Leader, Landscaper
Promoted to Crew Leader after one season
Established daily and weekly priorities for crew of three
Submitted activity logs and maintained equipment
Installed and maintained residential landscaping
Leadership Ambassador, York College Admissions Office 2011-Present
Activities Treasurer, Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity 2011-Present
President, Accounting Club 2012-2013
Recruited new members, coordinated and managed meetings
Arranged corporate speakers to present at meetings
Computer Skills Experienced in Peach Tree & QuickBooks; proficient in Microsoft Word,
Excel, & PowerPoint
16COMBINATION RESUME (NURSING)
Carla Espinosa
5213 Miami Court • Ellicott City, MD 21043
(443) 456-4567 • cespino@ycp.edu
Objective: To obtain a clinical ICU nursing position at York Hospital to utilize my critical
thinking, interpersonal, and communication skills while contributing to patients’ holistic health
Education:
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA Dec 2016
Bachelor of Science, Nursing GPA: 3.0
Clinical Rotations:
York Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, & Memorial Hospital Jan 2014-Present
Completed rotations in Basic Principles, Med/Surg, Psychiatry, Obstetrics, Pediatrics,
Acute Care, and Community Health
Related Experience:
Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA May 2014-Present
Nurse Extern
Collaborate within a team to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans
Report any changes in patient progress or critical situations to a Registered Nurse
Observe diagnostic and surgical procedures; attend multidisciplinary rounds
York Hospital, York PA May 2013-Present
Certified Nursing Assistant
Provide physical support to assist patients with daily living activities
Review patients' food restrictions, allergies, and preferences to ensure appropriate diet
Observe, document, and report symptoms while adhering to treatment plans
Evidence Based Practice:
“What is the Best Nutritional Practice for Obese or Bariatric Adults in Community Nursing?” at
York Hospital
“Does Screening for Domestic Violence Open Dialogue for Victims?” at Memorial Hospital
“What is the Best Sedation Assessment Tool for Patients in the ICU?” at Memorial Hospital
Certifications
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Expected February 2016
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Certified (ACLS) Expected December 2015
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Since 2014
Nursing Assistant Certified Since 2013
Leadership Activities:
Academic Affairs Chair of Student Senate 2013-2016
President for Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity 2014-2015
Student Ambassador 2012-2015
Publicity Chair for Relay for Life 2013-2014
17COMBINATION RESUME (MASS COMMUNICATION)
Anderson Cooper
9 Amanda Ave, Hanover, PA 17331 | 717.987.6543 | acooper59@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a position as a film/video editor to exercise active listening and critical thinking skills
EDUCATION
York College of Pennsylvania | York, PA | Graduated May 2014
Bachelor of Arts: Mass Communications | GPA: 3.47
Minors: Visual Communication | Philosophy | Speech Communication
CAREER RELATED EXPERIENCE
Production Intern | ABC27 WHTM | Harrisburg, PA | Spring 2014
Operated cameras and gave cues/signals to on-air talent during broadcasts
Marked scripts and helped prepare the set before broadcasts
Traveled with photographer in field and shot footage, performed interviews, and edited
segments
Operated, monitored, and coordinated audio during sections of broadcasts
Edited video sequences to ensure accuracy, clarity, and aesthetic quality
Digital Media Intern | Media Two | Baltimore, MD | Fall 2013
Created content and performed search engine optimization for TheHuntMagazine.com and
CharmsoftheChesapeake.com
Maintained a social media presence for The Hunt Magazine using Facebook, YouTube, and
Twitter to engage current and future readers
Fact-checked contact information for businesses in the New Jersey Travel Guide
Wrote and edited short articles targeting specific audiences and topics
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Non-linear editing
Final Cut Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro
Camera operation
Photoshop
ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Cashier | Liberty Mountain Resort and Conference Center | Carroll Valley, PA | November 2011-Present
Communicate clearly and efficiently while selling tickets for skiing, snowboarding, and lessons
Provide excellent customer service by answering questions and addressing needs
Exercise organization skills while maintaining a clean and orderly work area
18COMBINATION RESUME (HISTORY)
AMANDA WILKERSON
10 Ashley Drive • Bigtown, PA 17340
(856) 555-1689 • awilk@ycp.edu
OBJECTIVE
Goal-oriented critical thinker seeking a challenging and rewarding full time position with a state
government agency
EDUCATION
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA, May 2014
Bachelor of Arts in History
Minors in Geography and International Studies
Phi Alpha Theta: National History Honor Society Member
Gamma Theta Upsilon: International Geographic Honor Society Member
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Congressman Todd R. Platts, 19th District of Pennsylvania, Summer 2013
Congressional Intern
Assisted and corresponded with constituents regarding various forms of casework
Collaborated with staff to develop positions and strategies related to issues impacting
constituents
Attended congressional hearings and conferences to understand legal policies and procedures
York County Heritage Trust, York, PA, Summer 2012
Library & Archives Intern
Exercised proper preservation and organization of historical artifacts for five museums
Catalogued and digitized photograph, postcard, manuscript, and architectural drawing
collections
Transcribed oral histories related to local events
COLLEGE ACTIVITIES
Campus Activities Board Member, August 2012-May 2014
Helped plan and organize on- and off-campus events for students and faculty
Served as a Diversity Committee member
Orientation Leader, August 2011-May 2014
Helped coordinate orientation weekend and organize commuter check-in
Facilitated meetings with new students to address their questions and concerns
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Red Cross, Bigtown, PA, Fall 2011-Present
Swim Instructor
Teach “Learn-to-Swim” classes to children ages 2-10
Monitor students’ progress and grade skills to provide effective guidance
Exercise verbal and nonverbal communication skills while explaining and demonstrating
important water safety techniques
19COMBINATION RESUME (SPORT MANAGEMENT)
Justin Jackson
(654) 555-6665 2 Windsor Road, Ardmore, PA 19003 jjack1@ycp.edu
OBJECTIVE
Experienced Sport Management major with excellent communication skills seeks a full time
position within a sports organization upon graduation from college in May 2015.
EDUCATION
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA Grad date: May 2014
Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Minor in Marketing Communications
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Philadelphia Union, Chester, PA, January 2014-Present
Communications Intern
Provide support to players during appearances and act as liaison between player and
venue
Research and analyze information related to public opinion about the Union in order to
be able to provide complete and accurate information.
Review and evaluate notes taken during a game or event in order to isolate pertinent
facts and details for the media.
Coordinate promotional activities, working with advertisers and production managers, to
market products and services.
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA, September 2013-present
Event Attendant/Desk Attendant
Individualized experience for York College Athletic event patrons
Participate in critical decisions within high stress situations
Presented professional conduct through effective problem solving and guest relations
Washington Redskins, Landover, MD, August 2013-January 2014
Game Day Public Relations Intern
Responded to requests for information from the media or designated an appropriate
information source
Distributed game day materials to members of the press
Supplied end of quarter statistics to Coaches’ Booth, Network TV Booth, and Owners’
Suites
Transcribed player and coach interviews for press release after game
Schaumburg Boomers, Schaumburg, IL, May 2013-August 2013
Summer Intern
Identify prospective customers by using business directories and following leads from
existing clients
Provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations to
patrons
Created presentations to be shown on scoreboard for between inning entertainment
Prepare or edit organizational publications for internal and external audiences
COLLEGE ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Sport Management Student Association (SMSA), Fall 2010-Present
Club Volleyball Team, Vice-President 2012-2014, Fall 2010-Present
Intramural Athletics, Fall 2010-Fall 2014
20COMBINATION RESUME (ENGLISH LITERARY STUDIES)
Linda Anne Landry
landry@abc.def 3456 School House Lane
301.654.3297 Frostburg, MD 21532
Online portfolio: LAL@ycp.com / www.lindalandry@linkedin.com
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Seeking an entry level position in Public Relations for a community nonprofit organization
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts Degree, York College of Pennsylvania, May 2013
Major in English Literary Studies; Minors in Human Resources and Public Relations; GPA 3.5
Alpha Chi Honorary Society, Inducted 2008
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Inducted 2009
LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Editor, The Spartan York College Newspaper, 2009-2010
• Coordinated and delegated all assignments to newspaper staff of 20
• Edited all work to be included in weekly publication
• Authored weekly column on topics of interest to college community
• Managed annual budget of $50,000
• Increased outside advertisement revenues by 20%
Student Assistant, York College Department of English and Humanities, 2009-2010
• Helped direct people to the information they desired
• Completed supporting work for professors
• Marketed new classes offered by department through fliers and campus newspaper
• Coordinated fundraiser to help raise money for Department field trip
Resident Assistant, York College, 2009-2010
• Responsible for safety and well-being of 40+ freshmen students
• Developed and implemented programs to promote and enhance quality of life issues
• Informed and educated residents on services and programs on and off campus
• Counseled students on personal issues including relationships, academic advising,
substance abuse, career planning, and healthy life choices
• Maintained discipline and imposed sanctions on students when necessary
WORK HISTORY
Human Resources Assistant, Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff, Inc., York, PA, Summers 2010-2011
• Assisted staff in developing employee orientation manuals, literature regarding benefits and
compensation choices, and various training materials
• Generated routine correspondence to job applicants regarding employment status
• Answered phone calls, routed messages to appropriate staff, filed documents, and provided
other general office assistance
Crew Chief, McDonald’s Restaurant, Frostburg, MD, Summer 2010
• Assigned staff to daily job responsibilities
• Scheduled and supervised crew members
• Trained all new employees in operations and customer service skills
21COMBINATION RESUME (ENGINEERING)
ANDREW JOHNSON
320 Square Drive ∙ Red Lion, PA 17303 ∙ (717) 555-1212 ∙ ajohnson@ycp.edu
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a challenging co-op for a process engineer that leverages my strong engineering, technical,
and management backgrounds to improve workflow and efficiency of the facility
EDUCATION
York College of Pennsylvania August 2017
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering GPA: 3.44
Dean’s List: Fall 2013
Relevant Coursework: Engineering Physics: Electricity & Magnetism, Computational Methods in
Engineering, Mechatronics, Management Information Systems, Engineering Mechanics: Statics,
Thermodynamics
CAREER RELATED EXPERIENCE
York College of Pennsylvania Fall 2013-Spring 2014
EPADS I and II
Designed and constructed an automated LEGO robot using Solidworks
Enhanced teamwork skills and increased familiarity with computer programming
Designed and built an automated machine that moves, fills and caps bottles
Obtained experience with leadership, planning, and problem solving
Gained metal shop and woodshop experience including drill press, lathe, welding
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Circuit City Stores, Inc. December 2013-Present
Entertainment Associate
Increased sales by 41% over prior year, reversing a negative trend
Assist customers using product knowledge, customer service, and suggestive selling
Address and resolve customer issues and concerns
COLLEGIATE CLUBS
Collegiate Engineering Society 2013-Present
Secretary 2014-Present
Provide detailed notes of the meetings
Assist in organizing events and guest speakers for the society
22COMBINATION RESUME (SOCIOLOGY)
ANGELINA JOLLY
123 Richland Avenue, York, PA 17405 ajolly@ycp.edu (609)923-3426
Objective
Seeking a summer internship in the field of human services where I can contribute to
community development and planning initiatives, as well as gain additional research
experience in community studies.
Education
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA May 2016
Bachelor of Science, Sociology GPA: 3.7
Minors: Human Services and Women/Gender Studies
Career Related Experience
Institute of Applied Social Research, York, PA Spring 2015
Intern/Research Assistant, Healthy York County Coalition
• Interviewed and collaborated with health professionals in the community to
develop needs assessment questionnaire
• Administered needs assessment and analyzed data on health concerns using SPSS
• Developed a proposal for health agencies with professional summary and
recommendations for meeting projected health outcomes
Spring Garden Police Department, York, PA
Volunteer Research Assistant, Citizen’s Satisfaction Survey Fall 2014
• Prepared tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research
results from survey
• Developed a new satisfaction survey and distributed to Spring Garden Township
citizens
• Verified the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any
errors.
Work Experience
Friendly’s Restaurant, Moore, NJ
Server May 2011-present
• Recognized by management for friendly and efficient customer service
• Train new servers and provide mentoring and assistance where needed
• Earned responsibility of opening and closing shifts including cash deposits
Leadership
York College Women’s Swim Team Spring 2014-present
• Lead practice in the absence of coaches and captains
• Motivate players and mediate conflict if necessary
Volunteer Work
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Spring 2013-present
• Assisted with Junior League of York Dress Sale and the Cinderella Project of PA
• Assisted with the organization of the Prom Dress Rugby Tournament, which
raised awareness and gathered over $500 in donations for the Cinderella Project
23COMBINATION RESUME (GRAPHIC DESIGN)
Those pursuing creative fields are encouraged to have both a traditional resume and a design resume
Chloe Williams
behance.net/chloewilliams ● cwilliamsart.net
cwilliam24@ycp.edu ● 123-456-7890
Objective
Creative and ambitious undergraduate seeking an internship to develop and utilize graphic design and
illustration skills
Education
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA May 2016
Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design 3.47 GPA
Related Work Experience
Photography/Graphics Intern, Bennett Williams Realty, Inc., York, PA Fall 2014
Complete photography assignments and accumulate photo profiles for various listed properties
Enhance and edit photos as requested using Photoshop
Assist with industry-related graphics projects, including brainstorming, mocking-up ideas, and
executing designs
Freelance Designer, Artistry, INC., West Chester, PA Summer 2014
Drafted and produced brand design, including message and aesthetic appeal
Directed and organized final layout of the reconstructed website
Used project and file management skills to organize picture galleries on web server
Freelance Designer, Thomasville United Methodist Church, Thomasville, PA Spring 2013
Created T-shirt designs via Photoshop and Illustrator Print
Worked with marketing team to ensure the design portrayed the church’s mission
Established the design as part of social media campaign
Special Skills
Software: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, CSS, XML, Flash, Visual Studio,
Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Camtasia
Hardware: Photography, Screen Printing, Letterpress
Programming Languages: C#, C++, Javascript, Visual Basic
Exhibitions
York College of Pennsylvania Exhibition, Annual Juried Student Exhibition Spring 2015
2 Pen/Ink/Marker Illustrations accepted
Professional Development
AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Arts 2013-Present
Drive by Press, Lecture Fall 2014
Post Typography: Greatest Misses, Lecture Spring 2014
Additional Work Experience
Barista, Starbucks, Shrewsbury, PA April 2013-Present
Provide quick and efficient customer service
Create gourmet coffee blends for multiple patrons at once
Maintain organization while performing inventory and monetary exchanges
24COMBINATION RESUME (BIOLOGY)
William S. Nye
441 Country Club Road York, PA 17403 | 717.746.7788 | wnye@ycp.edu
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position as a research technician with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
that focuses specifically on prevalence of emergent diseases and their transmission through
populations and communities.
EDUCATION
York College of Pennsylvania–York, PA May 2015
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Minor in Chemistry
GPA: 3.83
Dean’s List: 6 of 8 semesters
Member of York College’s biology club and βββ National Biological Honor Society
(Tri-Beta)
SKILLS
Field Skills: natural cover surveys, transect and quadrat sampling, coverboard assays,
tissue collection (lethal and nonlethal)
Laboratory Skills: running gels, western blot, PCR, qPCR, immunoassays, cell culture,
and use of common lab equipment/techniques
Proficient in use of GraphPad PRISM, ChemDraw, and Microsoft Office
Certified in American Heart Association Child/Adult CPR, First Aid, and AED
Trained in OSHA laboratory standards for laboratory safety
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Senior Thesis Research Project–York College of Pennsylvania May 2013–Present
Measured prevalence of chytridiomycosis in the amphibian community of Northwestern York
County, PA
Summer Undergraduate Research Project (SURP) – Arizona State University Summer 2014
Isolated wild chyrtid fungus cultures and studied intraspecific transmission
RELATED EXPERIENCE
York College of Pennsylvania–York, PA August 2013–Present
Laboratory Assistant for Biology
Prepare labs for freshman-level biology courses
Assist lab instructor and students by answering questions, locating items, calibrating
equipment, and preparing chemicals and reagents
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pennsylvania Academy of Science March 2014
Presented research poster related to senior thesis research project at annual meeting
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