Co-op Skills Based Resume Guideline

Name

Address
City, Province, Postal Code
Phone Number, Work Appropriate Email
Professional Website

SUMMARY (Optional)
The summary is your opportunity to highlight the contribution you can make to the employer. Use relevant
examples to explain why your academic background, employment experience, skills and personal goals make
you an excellent candidate. The summary should be customized for a particular position thus this
section may be inappropriate for a default resume. This section must be clear and well written; otherwise it
cannot assist you to market yourself. Use this section to demonstrate your written communication skills.
Avoid beginning each sentence with I. You can include positive feedback/comments from supervisors,
managers, etc. in this section.

EDUCATION
Title of Degree, Stream, Co-op Option

200x-Present

Carleton University
Current year standing, CGPA on a 12.0 scale, and the corresponding letter grade
Awards and scholarships
Graduation Date

AVAILABILITY

State if you are available for 4, 8, 12 or 16 months, beginning month, year

SKILLS AND ABILITIES/EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This section allows you to use subtitles to divide your experiences into skill sets, such as technical,
communication, analytical, management, etc. To determine what skills to highlight, consider what the
employer needs for the position you are seeking. Because this style of resume is tailored towards a specific
position a skills based resume may not be appropriate for a default resume. However, this section is very
important if you do not have a great deal of work experience allowing you to draw on your academic,
volunteer, life and work experiences. Use complete statements. Dont simply list the skills.
Technical Skills
Proficient in several computer languages including
Working knowledge of the following operating systems

To find what your specific technical skills are refer to your course descriptions (accounting skills,
designing skills, marketing skills, policy analysis skills, technical writing skills, etc.)

Communication Skills
Clearly presented
Successfully wrote a research paper on resulting in
Fluently bilingual (English and French), reading, writing and oral.
Leadership Skills
Co-ordinated an environmental summer camp for resulting in
Effectively mentored peers enabling them to
Active participant in English Conversation Circle leading groups in discussion

Your Name 2/3

WORK EXPERIENCE

List previous or current positions in reverse chronological order. The skills based resume does not list
specific duties below each employment experience, rather, take the relevant skills and accomplishments and
include them in the Skills and Abilities Section. Do include your job title, place of employment, geographic
location and related dates. Use complete statements, do not simply list your duties and skills.

Title of Position

200x-Present

Name of Company/Organization
City, Province

APPLIED PROJECTS/WORK RELATED EXPERIENCE (Optional)

In this section you can highlight any work related projects you may have completed during your studies that
have provided you with some practical experience. Discuss the problem or challenge, the technology and
technical skills involved, methods used and results obtained. This section should only be included if you
have no work experience.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE (Optional)

This section may be omitted, or you may include your volunteer work under your Work Experience or
Extra-curricular Activities heading. Follow the guidelines above and include the title of your position, the
name of the organization and the dates you were associated with this organization. The specific skills
obtained should be highlighted in you skills section.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Can include current volunteer work, sports activities, hobbies, club/group memberships. This is an important
section. Extra-curricular activities can demonstrate: team membership, leadership ability (Club
President/Team Captain), time management (balancing recreational activities and school work),
organizational skills (planning events) and dedication (commitment to your team/organization). Include your
student memberships in professional organizations such as CIPS, IEEE, and the Commerce Society. Try to
avoid listing activities from high school. Use a bulleted list.
Current Month, Year

Notes for Co-op Resumes

This is a skills based resume, appropriate for students who are applying for a specific position, yet
dont have a great deal of related work experience.
This style of resume is popular in industries that hire Arts students. More technical or conservative
industries (banking) may prefer the traditional Chronological style.
Try to keep your resume to two pages using 11.0 or 12.0 font, with 1.0 inch margins.
Save one default resume and label it with your name and the term for which you are seeking a
placement. When the Co-op Office sends your default resume to employers it is important to have
your resume identified by your name and term (DSmith January 05).
Create a third page titled Courses listing the courses you have completed, grades obtained, and the
courses you are currently taking. This information can be obtained from your audit using Carleton
Central. Do not scan an original transcript. Be sure to put your name at the top of the page.
Spelling and grammar are crucial, be sure to have your resume proof read.
A resume is your personal marketing tool. Use your own words and examples. You will be
expected to discuss all of your resume content in an interview, so be sure your resume is an accurate
reflection of your work and experience.