The purpose of a resume is to summarize your qualifications to a prospective employer. A resume also communicates information about your organizational abilities. The document displays your skill in organizing information and tests your ability to present that information in a brief and clear format. You can set yourself apart from many of your competitors by assembling a well-organized resume.

II. Writing Style

Follow these guidelines to write an effective resume:

• Write briefly and clearly.
  An employer will only scan your resume for 30 seconds or less. Make sure that your strengths and skills will register with the reader during those 30 seconds.

• Do not use full sentences.
  This saves space and makes for faster, easier reading by the employer.

• Use reverse chronological order:
  In any list, show your most recent job, activity, or accomplishment first. Avoid extraneous date information. Usually, the month and year of the activity are sufficient.

• Write in a serious, professional tone.
  Avoid using sarcasm, or humor.

III. Components

Resumes can be written in different styles and formats. Here are some common components:

• Name, address, and telephone numbers:
  Names are generally written with a middle initial to make the document seem more formal. Licensed individuals should follow their name with the initials "P.E."

  List your contact address and telephone number. It is also wise to list an e-mail address if you have one. Although employers will usually prefer to contact you by phone, the address will demonstrate that you are connected to the "information superhighway" and underscore your computer literacy. However, be sure to check your e-mail every day if you list your e-mail address.

  Telephone numbers should include area codes. Also include country codes if you are applying for a job in a foreign country. Most employers will attempt to contact you during normal business hours, so it is recommended that you set up an answering machine to take messages if you are not available during the day.

• Objective:
  Briefly describe the position for which you are applying.

• Education:
  If you are seeking an entry level position, this section should be listed immediately after the "Objective" section, since your education is likely to be more relevant than your work experience.

  List degrees, certificates, majors, and institutions attended. Include your graduation date, and the institution's city and state. List any awards or honors received. If you are a recent graduate, you should also list your Grade Point Average (GPA).

• Related coursework:
  This section should only be used if you are a recent graduate. List the descriptive course names of upper-division engineering courses that you have taken (i.e., list Structural Steel Design & Water Resources Quality, but omit Statics & Introductory Physics). Generally, you can copy course names from your college's course catalog, although you should feel free to shorten or alter names to save space. Avoid listing course numbers, since they are meaningless to employers.

• Work experience:
  If you have been in the work force for a while, this section should be listed immediately after the "Objective" section, since your work experience is more relevant than your education. List related work, including full-time, part-time, internships or unpaid work. State your title, the company name, city, and state. Also, write a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments using "action" verbs (see the table below) to give your statements added impact. For example:

  1. Implemented company quality assurance procedures.
  2. Updated software to meet new building code requirements.
  3. Developed computer software resulting in 30 percent reduction in engineering time.
  4. Approved structural steel shop drawings.
  5. Reviewed construction drawings for constructability.
  6. Designed sample warehouse in accordance with 1994 Uniform Building Code.
  7. Prepared calculations for review by regulatory authorities.
  8. Resolved construction difficulties at job site.

  You can write multiple entries for a single company if you held significantly different positions or levels of responsibility. For example if you were promoted from a "staff engineer" to a "project manager", each position probably warrants a separate listing and description.

  ACTION VERBS

  Accomplished Achieved Adopted Adapted Administered Advised Aligned Allocated Analyzed Applied Approved Arranged Assembled Assessed Authenticated Authorized Balanced Billed Budgeted Built Calculated Carried out Catalogued Certified Collected Compiled Completed Composed Communicated Conceived Conceptualized Conducted Confirmed Consolidated Contacted Contracted

  Controlled Constructed Coordinated Created Customized Decreased Demonstrated Designed Developed Devised Diagnosed Directed Distributed Documented Drafted Edited Eliminated Encoded Erected Established Estimated Evaluated Executed Forecasted Gathered Generated Guided Handled Hired Implemented Improved Improvised Identified Increased Initiated Installed

  Instigated Instituted Interpreted Introduced Invented Judged Led Maintained Managed Marketed Mastered Measured Met with Modified Monitored Motivated Negotiated Operated Ordered Organized Originated Overhauled Oversaw Performed Planned Prepared Presented Processed Produced Programmed Promoted Proposed Published Purchased Recommended

  Recorded Reduced Regulated Reorganized Repaired Represented Researched Resolved Restored Reviewed Saved Screened Selected Serviced Simulated Sold Standardized Streamlined Structured Suggested Supervised Supplied Surveyed Systematized Taught Tested Trained Transcribed Translated Typed Unified Utilized Wrote

• Registrations and licenses:
  List job-related licenses such as Engineer-In-Training or Professional Engineer registrations. If applicable, specify in which state or jurisdiction you hold your license. Omit license numbers--your employer will ask for them if needed.

• Project experience:
  List the title, city, and state of projects in which you have played a substantial role, and give a brief description of that role. Often job seekers with substantial work experience attach this as a "stand-alone" second page to their resume.

• Special Skills:
  List job-related skills such as computer and software skills. Be sure to mention knowledge of non-Windows operating systems such as DOS or UNIX. Many engineering companies use software that run on these operating systems.

• Other Miscellaneous Items:
  These items are generally only listed when a job seeker is trying to fill space on his resume. They are not essential components of a resume, but can serve to help you stand out from your competitors:

  List memberships in organizations, especially if they are in professional engineering societies or if you hold or held a leadership position.

  List foreign languages read or spoken.

  Mention a hobby if it is unique or unusual, but projects a positive image of you. Especially mention a hobby that somehow relates to engineering.

  Write "references available upon request" at the very bottom of your resume.

IV. The Document

• Paper:
  Use a good quality, heavy, 8.5" x 11" paper. Light-weight paper will cheapen the effect of your resume. White or off-white paper is safest, but if you wish to use colored paper, make sure it is tasteful, and that it photocopies well.
• White space:
  Use plenty of white space within your resume. Do not overcrowd the resume. Do not be afraid to play with margins, but make sure that they are not too narrow!
• Emphasis:
  Avoid excessive use of bullets, underlining, italicizing, or bolding.
• Length:
  Entry-level resumes should almost never exceed one page. Resumes for more experienced job seekers may require more than one page, but should not exeed two pages. It is usually best to convey the most important information on the first page and to assume that the second page may not be read.
• Font:
  Select a font that is clean and readable. Avoid using extremely small fonts or any of the "artistic" fonts that come with modern software.
• Printing:
  Use a laser printer to print your resume. Make sure photocopies are without streaks, blots, or smudges.

V. Final Thoughts

Everyone tries to make their resume stand out from those of their competitors. Make sure that it does so for the right reasons. Avoid violating these rules:

• Do not send a photo with your cover letter.
• Do not list anything related to high school. Your high school achievements became irrelevant the moment you attended college.
• Make extra sure that your resume is free of typos. Do not solely rely on spell-check programs. Have several people review your resume.
• Avoid listing extraneous numbers. Don't list your student ID number, driver's license number, green card number, P.E. number, etc.
• Double check all dates; typos in dates are very common and easy to miss.

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