Resumes

Resume Format

One page
Reverse chronological
Most important/relevant information on top
Bold, italics, blank space strategically

Use one of our CBCC templates.

Resume Outline

Header

Name
Email address
Phone
City/State
Optional: LinkedIn profile and pronouns.

Below is an example header. You can also take a look at our resume samples for more examples.

Name

City, State ▪ Email ▪ Phone Number ▪ Custom LinkedIn Profile URL (optional) ▪ Preferred Pronouns (optional)

Tip - Name and Contact Information

Use your preferred name on your resume.
Other official application materials or HR documents will require your legal name.
List only one address and one email address
If you are looking for a position outside of Minnesota, you can note “willing to relocate” in the header of your resume or address it in a cover letter. If you are applying for a position where your family resides, such as your hometown in Wisconsin, you can use your family’s home address.

Reminder! Use a professional email address and outgoing voicemail message.

Education

Use the school’s full name: University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, Curtis L. Carlson School of Management.
State the degree you are pursuing, including major(s)and minor(s).
Include your expected degree completion date (Month, Year).
Include your cumulative GPA if it is above 3.0.
Consider including your study abroad information in this section.
Academic honors, scholarships, papers, and awards can be listed in this section or in a separate section.
If you transferred to the Carlson School from another
school, include that school only if:
- You earned a degree there
- You had significant experiences that are reflected in other sections of your resume (e.g., you were President of a student organization)
If you are earning a degree from the University of Minnesota in a different college, list the college, the degree you will receive, and the major (i.e., “College of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Economics”).

Experience

Include paid and unpaid experiences such as internships, volunteering, part-time jobs, student involvement, etc.
All experience is important, so do not discount any experience that you have had!
List experiences in reverse chronological order (current/most recent position first).
Include organization name with city and state, position title, specific description of skills used, accomplishments/results achieved, and dates of employment listed as “month year.”
Current position should be in the present tense; former positions in the past tense.
Begin each line with an action verb (see the action verbs list on page 6).
Use strong, results-oriented impact words when you write your descriptions.
Quantify your impact by adding metrics and numbers wherever possible.
Tailor your resume to a particular position by listing the most relevant accomplishments first under each position. Below is an example of this point.

EXPERIENCE

University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN

Front Desk Assistant, October 2023 - Present

- - - - Answer questions regarding accessing library services, finding materials, and media equipment rental to ensure University community has access to resources
      - Track media equipment rental requests to accurately manage access and rental processes

Starbucks Minnetonka, MN

Barista May 2023 - August 2023

- - - - Communicated with customers to accurately take 100+ orders per shift and ensure customer satisfaction
      - Managed register transactions of up to $2,000 per shift to track accurate and detailed cash flow
      - Trained 3 new team members on work policies and how to craft food and beverages

Activities/Leadership/Community Service

List organization and position/office held.
If desired and space permits, highlight key activities/accomplishments.
If desired and space permits, list dates of service (if dates are utilized, list activities from most recent to least recent). We also encourage students to add the name of the organization and office/position held.
Keep formatting consistent with the experience section.

Skills/Interests

Include hard skills like languages and technical skills that are relevant to the position. Exclude human or “soft” skills, such as problem solving, work ethic, or teamwork, as these are better communicated through your bullet points, where you can add context.
Indicate your proficiency level when listing language skills.

Visual Appeal

A visually appealing resume increases interest and creates maximum readability. Use the entire page, and balance the amount of text and blank space. Also, consider the following:

Format

A recruiter is scanning your document quickly for key information, and you want the formatting of your document to enhance their reading experience. Use a bullet point format, rather than writing paragraphs, to make your content easier to read. Use one of our CBCC templates.

Font

Set your font between 10-12 points, and choose font types such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica. To ensure your font remains formatted as designed when emailed or posted online, save your resume as a PDF.

Margins

In order to keep a resume from looking too crowded or as though it has too much blank space, margins between 0.5 and 1.0 inches are recommended.

Print

The quality of the printed copy of your resume sends a recruiter a message about your attention to detail. Make sure the ink did not bleed, and all lines are readable.

Tip

Make resume formatting easy by using a resume template from the CBCC! You can find a resume templates at z.umn.edu/CDexamples.

Describe Your Experience

Your resume is a strategic document that markets your key skills and experiences—it does not need to include every experience you have had. When describing experiences, write bullet statements that:

Show a key skill or accomplishment
Show results you have achieved, and quantify results whenever possible (use metrics)
Use high-impact phrases
Begin with strong action verbs
Are specific and detailed

Use the following equation to create your bullet points:

Action Verb + Details + Results = Strong Skills Statement

Ask Yourself:

What did I do?
How did I do it?
What did I learn?
What's the result/impact?

Here are some examples of experiences that may not be relevant or professional, and how you may have built these skills:

Academic work: You may have built collaborative, leadership, or communication skills while working on group projects.
Part-time work in customer service/retail: You may have built skills around communication and managing stressful situations when assisting unhappy customers.
Volunteering with children or vulnerable populations: You may have built leadership and advocacy skills while being trusted to care for people.

Results - Oriented Statements: Before and After

Before: Responsible for sales in the store

After: Increased sales by 10% by analyzing and meeting customers' personal needs

Before: Managed the club's social media accounts

After: Increased club awareness through targeted social media campaigns, adding 200+ followers in 1 month

Before: Provided quotes for clients

After: Reduced turnaround time of quoting process by 25% through streamlining cost estimating procedures

Before: Worked with other departments to improve project management

After: Partnered across departments to introduce Microsoft Solutions Framework methodology, resulting in a more consistent process for managing software projects

Before: Chaired the event promotional committee

After: Chaired the event promotional committee of 12 and presented budget plans to 50+ students at the University Senate meeting; successfully gained approval from the Senate

Tailoring your Resume

The first step to crafting an appealing resume is to read through the job description for the position to which you are applying. Take note of the required skills and experiences. Where you can, tailor your resume to fit these. When getting started, it is often helpful to review several job descriptions in your desired function in order to identify common skill themes that you can weave into your own resume.

The following are some transferable (general) skill categories that employers state are important to obtaining and succeeding in a job. Consider how your experiences might demonstrate these skill sets.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

Sorted through data and identified reasonable responses to complex problems
Synthesized large amounts of information and identified trends or issues
Identified a problem and took a proactive approach to solving it

Ability to Produce Results

Developed new programs or initiatives
Demonstrated the ability to prioritize and move quickly among different tasks
Set a challenging goal and achieved it
Took an innovative or efficient approach to getting something done

Teamwork

Worked effectively with people with differing work styles or cultural backgrounds
Inspired others to take action when you did not directly manage them
Took the role of a team leader or player as needed

Leadership

Facilitated meetings
Led teams in solving problems
Coordinated outside vendors
Held a leadership position in a school organization, team, and/or club
Organized or coordinated noteworthy events

Industry and Job Expertise

Volunteered in a particular field
Participated in conventions, conferences, symposiums, or associations in a specific field
Developed specialized skills - such as technical, industry based administrative, or in-depth knowledge

Tip

Create and keep a resume master list. This will include all your previous experience: old positions that no longer fit on your resume, bullets tailored for different jobs, projects, and honors that are only relevant for certain positions. This will come in handy when you are tailoring your resume to a specific opportunity.

Resume Key Words: Results-Orientation

Describe your experience by communicating skills and results. Read through each of your experiences and assess if there is a qualitative or quantitative result you can include.

Key phrases you can use to connect your descriptions with your accomplishments, impact, or results are:

... instrumental in ...
... resulted in ...
... increased or decreased ...
... to meet requirements of ...
... instituted ...
... reduced ...
... captured cost savings ...
... communicated ...
... realized savings of ...
... secured ...
... recognized ...
... consistently reduced or eliminated ...
... generated ...
... streamlined ... by ...
... enhanced ...
... with the goal of ...

Tip

Pay attention to verb tenses in your resume. Utilize the past tense to describe past experiences and the present tense to describe current experiences.

Action Verbs

Check out our document that has examples of different action verbs.

Leverage Your Academic Project Experience

Course projects are an excellent way to leverage your academic experience on your resume and show relevant technical skills and content knowledge. Format your course projects in a consistent manner with other experiences on your resume, including project name, course information, and date. Highlight technical and transferable skills.

Tip

See more examples of academic projects at z.umn.edu/CDexamples.

Creating a Results-Oriented Resume

Results-oriented statements demonstrate to an employer that you have the skills and strengths necessary to become an immediate contributor to their organization. They describe the impact of your efforts, not just your role, and are quantified where appropriate.

Tip

Swap resumes with several classmates and ask your friends to help you make your bullet points more results-focused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a two-page resume?

Typically only candidates who have been in the workforce before and have more extensive experience will use more than one page. Most recruiters don’t want a longer resume for an entry-level position. Talk with a career coach to see if two pages is the most effective way to communicate your professional identity.

Should I list my GPA on my resume?

List your cumulative GPA if above a 3.0 with one or two decimal places. Make sure the GPA on your resume matches the GPA on your transcripts, as employers often ask for them as well. Do not list a major GPA unless it’s significantly higher. Do not combine GPAs from previous schools attended.

I do not have much work experience and my resume is looking a little sparse - what can I do?

Expand other sections of your resume and build resume bullet points out of your community involvement, club leadership, athletic experience, and part-time positions. You can also highlight class projects where you are able to demonstrate the employer’s desired skills. Career coaches can help you with this.

Should I have an "objective" section at the top of my resume?

Objective statements are not recommended for most students as they take up valuable real estate on the page. Your objective is assumed to be landing your desired position at the organization to which you are sending your resume.

Should I include an "interests" section or have personal information on my resume?

While in most industries it is NOT common to include an “interests” section, this decision is up to you. If you have particularly interesting activities or hobbies that are relevant to your desired position and help bring you to life as a candidate, include them.

English is not my primary language, and I'm worried about grammar or spelling errors - what should I do?

Have your resume reviewed frequently by a variety of people. Visit the Center for Writing on campus. Attend resume reviews or meet with a CBCC career coach. Ask a friend to review your resume specifically for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

I have not declared my major. Should I still list a major on my resume?

If there are one or two majors you are considering, it’s helpful to list them on your resume to show possible career directions to employers. It is also one of the quickest and easiest ways to signal your desired career direction to a future employer.

How do I order things for greatest impact?

The first bullets should be the most powerful and relevant. Be intentional about the order of things — stating your most relevant and strongest information first.

I cannot quantify my results - what should I do?

Even if you don’t have hard numbers, it is a good idea to describe the outcome in terms of benefit gained, time saved, etc. You do not need to quantify every statement.

Resume Checklist

Before finalizing your resume, be sure to review our Resume Checklist.

Resume Examples

Find sample resumes at z.umn.edu/CDexamples.

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