Resume Basics

The keys to making your Co-op resume ROCK!

Promote yourself effectively
Provide insight about your skills and capabilities
Be organized


Important Information
There is information that is critical, optional, and not
necessary on your resume. Here are a few of each.
Critical
Contact Information: include your name, appropriate
addresses, email, and phone number(s)
Education: Include all degrees, name of the school, city,
state (no street address), month and year the degree
was/will be earned
Coursework: Include major specific courses or courses
that make you unique
Experience: This includes paid and volunteer
experiences
Computer Skills: Basic and career specific software
Optional
Awards & Honors: Any cool stuff you got for being you
Activities: Involved in something? Put it here
Interests: Not involved in much? Put interests that show
your passion for your career field
Not Necessary
Personal: Anything personal such as appearance or
political in nature
References Available Upon Request: Unless your
resume is really short!
DONT USE MICROSOFT RESUME TEMPLATES:
These look like everyone elses resume




Formatting Your Resume
Making your resume look nice is just as important as what is
on the page. Dont get left behind by not taking the time to be
the resume on the top of the pile instead of the bottom.
One page long
Use even margins (no smaller than .5)
Use a readable font such as Arial, MansSerif, Times
New Roman, or other simple font.
Use bold, ALL CAPS, underlining or italics to highlight job
titles, degrees, or other important facts

The Hardest Part
The hardest part of resume writing is turning your summer job as
a lifeguard into interesting sounding descriptions. Follow these
samples and tips to getting your descriptions right the first time!
From Burger Flipper to Sales Co-op
- Cooked hamburgers for customers
VS
- Prepared orders in a fast-paced environment with little supervision
From Babysitter to Research Engineer
- Watched children while parents were gone
VS
- Monitored activities, meals, and wellbeing for children ages 1 to 3

Both of these examples take the emphasis off the exact detail of
the job and put it on the transferable skills. Those are skills that
you can use in any job and field. When reviewing your
experiences consider what were the underlying skills that you
were using such as organizational, interpersonal, computer,
analytical, or other such basic skills. Dont forget examples like
these.
From Involved Student to Any Co-op
Alpha Beta Fraternity, Member
VS
Alpha Beta Fraternity, Membership Manager
- Promote membership in organization and maintain accurate
database of current and former members

When writing all these descriptions make sure the statement
begins with an action verb such as those listed below. Make sure
to use the proper tense of the verb as well. Old jobs need to be in
the past tense and current positions in the present tense.

Sample Action Verbs
Accomplished, Analyzed, Assisted, Audited, Balanced,
Communicated, Completed, Constructed, Coordinated,
Corrected, Developed, Enhanced, Established, Evaluated,
Facilitated, Handled, Implemented, Improved, Increased,
Initiated, Integrated, Managed, Marketed, Modified, Organized,
Oversaw, Performed, Planned, Presented, Programmed,
Reconciled, Repaired, Researched, Resolved, Reviewed,
Selected, Supervised, Trained, Translated, Updated
A GOOD RESUME ONLY GETS YOU AN
INTERVIEWBUT A BAD ONE WONT GIVE YOU
A CHANCE!


Mistakes to Avoid
Here are the top ten mistakes that students tend to
make on the first draft of a resume.
1. Forgetting critical pieces of information such as
Coursework
2. Being inconsistent with formatting and content
3. Not describing work experiences in a clear and
thorough manner
4. Not having someone look it over
5. Using a template from Word or other program
6. Using I in your descriptions
7. Forgetting to include relevant information from high
school such as volunteer or extracurricular activities
8. Misspelling words or using abbreviations when not
necessary
9. Making stuff up or lying
10. Forgetting to include courses that are currently being
taken or will be taken before co-op begins

Still Need Help?
CAPS &Co-op is available for walk-in appointments Monday
through Friday 1 PM to 4 PM
Co-op is located at 526 E. 14
th
Street, next to Pineapple House
Phone: 610-499-4045 Email: coop@widener.edu


Office of Cooperative Education
Michael B. Smith
mbsmith@mail.widener.edu
856-123-4567
Local Address: Permanent Address:
One University Place, Box 168 512 Green Hill Drive
Chester, Pennsylvania 19013 Cherry Hill, New J ersey 08367


EDUCATION:

Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, May 2014
Overall G.P.A- 3.4

George Washington High School, Cherry Hill, New J ersey
High School Diploma, J une 2010

RELATED COURSE WORK:

Engineering Techniques, Computer Aided Design, Statics, Electric Circuits/Lab, Fundamentals of
Engineering Materials & Design, Analysis of Linear Electric Systems/Lab, Dynamics, Mechanical
Measurements I, Thermodynamics, Mechanics of Deformable Bodies, Fluid Mechanics, Calculus I,
II, & III, Differential Equations, Physics I & II, Chemistry I & II

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Richardson Grocery, Vineland, New J ersey
Customer Service Representative, September 2010- present
- Assist customers with any questions or complaints
- Operate Register and prepare food in caf

Alvern Gardens Apartments, Bridgeton, New J ersey
Lifeguard, Summers 2008-2010
- Supervised up to 50 swimmers to ensure safety
- Maintained cleanliness and orderliness of pool and pool grounds

LEADERSHIP and ACTIVITIES:

Widener Student Government Association, September 2010-present
Widener J azz Ensemble, November 2010-present
Widener Soccer, September 2005-November 2005

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, C++



Use bold or all CAPS for
section headings and
make sure the headings
line up

Coursework is
REQUIRED for all co-
op students. List most
recent courses first

Spell out the entire degree.
Month and year only for
graduation

If you choose to write out the state
name, it must be consistent
throughout the resume

Make sure to check the email
address you list on a regular basis
and make sure employer emails
dont end up in the SPAM folder

Your name should
stand out- bold and 14
to 16 size font

Only list phone numbers
that you have professional
sounding voicemail

GPA can go on the
resume if it is above
a 2.8

Any experiences
that have
transferable skills
Start all descriptions
with an action verb
Never assume that employers
will know you have computer
skills. List important software
for your field.

Beyond the Basics!
Some important tips for making your resume ROCK!
If you are still working
the job, these verbs
should be in the present
tense
Be sure to remove the blue
underlined hyperlink from
the email address