Resume Format

1. Name

Name your document using this convention: First Name Last Name Resume. Use this file naming convention whenever you submit a resume for a job.

2. Spacing

Now set your document to Single spacing. The default may be 1.15, but change this to Single.

3. Font Style

Choose a professional font style that is easy to read. Avoid heavy or script style fonts. For example, avoid Impact and Lobster.

4. Name

Bold your name. Set the font size for your name between 18-22 points. This is the only font size that is different on your entire document. Everything else (including contact information) should be the same font size of 11 or 12 points. Set the font size back to 11 or 12 and continue.

5. Street Address

Type your mailing address on a new line. No need to list your permanent and local addresses. Just list your local mailing address.

6. Email

Add your email address (appstate or personal) to the third line. Remove the automatic hyperlink by left clicking the email address and clicking the Remove link icon. Add your phone number to the third line as well, separating it from your email address with a comma. Name and contact information can be left, center, or right aligned to your preference.

7. EDUCATION

On a new line, type EDUCATION in bold and all caps. Education is usually the most relevant information for a college student, so it is listed first.

On a new line, type: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC Month Year (of graduation | right aligned)

On a new line, type: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (In bold | Do not abbreviate)

On a new line, type: Major(s): Major 1, Major 2 (only if you are double majoring)

On a new line, type: Minor: Minor (if you do not have a minor, omit this line)

On a new line, type: GPA: 3.0 (Only include your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher)

Note: Transfer students may not have an established GPA. In that case, omit GPA for now.

8. Date Alignment

Right align all dates on your resume using right tab stops.

1. Place your cursor directly in front of the date range.

2. Left click in the ruler to expand the tab menu. (if you do not see the ruler, go to View > Show ruler)

3. Choose Add right tab-stop.

4. Drag the new blue triangle to the right page margin.

5. Hit Tab on the keyboard.

9. Two Year Colleges

If you earned an Associate's degree from another institution, you can list it below your AppState degree, separated with one blank line. If you attended a previous institution, but did not earn a degree there, you will not typically include that on your resume. Use the same formatting structure as the first item in your education section.

10. WORK EXPERIENCE

Have one blank line above each new section title that you create to separate sections.

On a new line, type WORK EXPERIENCE in bold and all caps. This section will contain your part-time work experience. List your current or most recent job first.

On a new line, type the name, city, and state abbreviation of the Company Start Month Year - Present (Right aligned)

On a new line, type the Name of your Position in bold

• Below your position title, add multiple bullet points as placeholders for phrases you will write later.

• Use "Power verb, Application, Result" as a text placeholder. That is the recipe for a resume phrase.

11. Reverse Chronological Order

Add additional work experience in Reverse Chronological Order, meaning you start with the most recent experience at the top and add older jobs as you go down the page. Most recent first. Least recent last.

12. Two Jobs at the Same Company

If you were promoted or hired into a new role at the same company, you don't need to list the organization name twice. You can simply include both job titles below the same organization name. If you do this, you will place your dates on the same line as your position titles. For consistency, make sure all dates on your resume are across from the position titles.

Simultaneous Jobs

If you held two jobs simultaneously, you can simply list the second job on the same line as the first, separated with a comma.

13. Seasonal Work

Many college students work a summer or winter job over multiple years. Here are 3 common ways to list dates for seasonal jobs.

1. Place the word Seasonal in front of your dates. Ex. Seasonal: August 2019 - Present

2. List the month range, then year range. Ex. May - August, 2018 - Present

3. List the month range, then specific years. Ex. May - August; 2018, 2019

You can also place the word Seasonal in front of your dates in options 2 or 3 if you like. Again, seasonal work is common for college students. So any of the above options are likely going to work fine.

14. INVOLVEMENT

Involvement sections typically contain roles in campus organizations. For this reason, it will not be necessary to use Appalachian State University when naming the organization. Note that even though campus involvement is a different kind of experience, it is formatted the same as a job and contains all the same information for consistency. * Not everyone will have an involvement section on their resume.

Have one blank line above each new section title that you create to separate sections.

On a new line, type INVOLVEMENT in bold and all caps.

On a new line, type the name, city, and state abbreviation of the club Start Month Year - Month Year (Right aligned)

On a new line, type the Name of your Position or Member in bold

• Below member or position title, add multiple bullet points as placeholders for phrases you will write later.

15. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Volunteer experience typically contains membership in or work with a community organization. Note that even though volunteer work is a different kind of experience, it is formatted the same as a job and contains all the same information for consistency. * Not everyone will have a Volunteer section on their resume.

Have one blank line above each new section title that you create to separate sections.

On a new line, type VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE in bold and all caps.

On a new line, type the name, city, and state abbreviation of the club Start Month Year - Month Year (Right aligned)

On a new line, type the Name of your Position or Volunteer in bold. This is optional, as your role as a volunteer is assumed.

• Add multiple bullet points as placeholders for phrases you will write later.

16. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE/Internships

Relevant experience typically refers to an internship or employment in the industry of your major. If you have a relevant internship, create a new section for it and move it above any part-time work experience. * Not everyone will have a section for relevant experience.

17. TECHNICAL SKILLS

A skills section is commonly found at the bottom of resumes. It is only for hard skills, not for soft skills. Excel is a common example. When creating a technical skills section, list the name of the software first: then list the most advanced functions you know how to perform. * Not everyone will have a skills section.

18. Page Margins

If you find that you are going over the 1 page recommendation, you may want to adjust your page margins. .5 inches is the minimum recommended page margin and 1 inch is the maximum. Go to File > Page Setup. Set top, bottom, left, and right margins equally.

* Only reduce your page margins if you go over 1 page with necessary content. If you do change your margins, remember to go back and adjust the right tab-stops for your dates. Changing page margins will throw off your date alignment. Just drag the blue arrows associated with your tab stops back to the right margin.