A resume is an essential marketing tool to highlight your capability and experience.
You should maximize the effectiveness of how you use a resume by prioritizing your content according to its relevance. Every person’s resume will be different.
It is best to begin with ‘text only’ and NOT a template resume generator.
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scrape and scan submitted documents. Elements like multiple columns, graphics, pictures, colored fonts and content, etc. can create complications or cause your document to be rejected by these programs.
The structure of a resume should be concise, and well-organized with highlights of your qualifications and accomplishments that are relevant to the position(s).
The most common format is Chronological where experience is arranged by date in reverse chronological order.
Much of the advice regarding essentials is to ensure your document remains easy for recruiters and hiring managers to read and navigate.
- Font Style and Size are important for spacing
- Use easy to read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri
- To make it easy to read use 10-point to 12-point font
- Your name at the top of the page can be a larger (usually no more than16-point bold)
- These are the basic components of Resume Name section:
- Name, professional email address, phone number, and LinkedIn
- You may add city and state or region, but for security purposes do not include your full address
- Margins are generally 1” – ½”
- Be consistent with fonts and bullet points and use black ink
- Third person language is used throughout a resume
- It is recommended for most students to have no more than a 1-page resume
- An exception would be someone with 10 or more years of work experience
Resume Sections
Choose whichever serves to provide the best possible advertisement for you.
- Objective Statement/Goal: A concise, position-centered statement describing the value you can add and the needs you can fulfill. An objective statement includes a brief, to the point, summary of skills and qualifications you will bring to a position.
Example (Urban and Regional Planning Resume):
Urban and Regional Planning student seeking a Planning Aide position to apply experience in zoning review, permit processing, public engagement, and community development. Eager to contribute planning knowledge, technical skills, and a commitment to equitable community growth in support of future planning initiatives.
- Summary: Is longer and provides more detail than an objective statement. It should highlight your qualifications (i.e. your selling points) for the job you’re targeting and mention your level of experience, achievements/value, industry (assuming this is relevant), and your current job goals.
Example (Urban and Regional Planning Resume):
Urban and Regional Planning student with two years of municipal planning internship experience supporting permit processing, zoning compliance reviews, public inquiries, and planning operations. Experienced in conducting site analyses, community outreach, and development research through both professional and academic projects. Skilled in ArcGIS, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite with a strong interest in community development and equitable planning solutions.
The key information in this section should include:
- Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts
- Emphasis: Your major
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- Anticipated graduation month and year
- Community College degrees can also be added beneath your current school information.
Example (Kinesiology Resume):
Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
This can include full-time and part-time jobs, internships, or seasonal work including paid or unpaid work. The goal is to focus on your outcomes/achievements, leadership, and items that show what you are capable of.
- This section should list your professional experiences in reverse chronological order.
- If you have specialized or relevant experience, you may choose to title this section “Related Experience” followed by Additional Experience.
- Each job experience should include the following:
- Job title
- Employer/company name
- Location (City, State or “remote”)
- Dates of employment
- Bullet-point details of your accomplishments and contributions
- A bullet-point list makes it easy for recruiters to quickly read through your content. Do not simply list the “responsibilities” or “daily tasks” of the job. Include details such as:
- Quantifiable examples of your outcomes/achievements
- Leadership and special projects
- Items that highlight your capability
- Word choice is critical and you should use action verbs
- A bullet-point list makes it easy for recruiters to quickly read through your content. Do not simply list the “responsibilities” or “daily tasks” of the job. Include details such as:
Example (Lodging Resume):
Marriott Hotel, Rooms Division Intern Los Angeles, CA May 2024 – August 2024
- Completed 12 week rotational training across front office, housekeeping, and guest services, gaining hands-on experience in core rooms division operations.
- Assisted with daily inspections of 30–50 guest rooms, ensuring compliance with brand standards and identifying areas for quality improvement.
Add important skills according to your Industry.
- To give context, you can describe how you have or are currently using the skill(s).
- Organize your skills in some way. (Ex. ABC order or order or priority to the job posting)
- Always be truthful with skill level.
Example of skills list (Sociology Resume):
Research & Analysis: Excel, SPSS, qualitative & quantitative research, data interpretation
Data Collection: Survey design, interviews, transcription
Communication: Report writing, documentation, presenting findings
Technical: Microsoft Office (Excel, Office 365, Word)
Example of descriptive skill list (Business Resume):
Created quarterly reports using Excel pivot tables.
Academic projects are often used to expand on industry experience or there is a very descriptive way to convey your capability. When using individual or team project(s) include:
- Your title/role in the project
- Class/Club the project was for
- Name of the project
- Bullet point similar to how you would for work experience highlighting the outcomes and your capability
- Timeframe that you worked on the project
- If it is an on-going project, describe it as such, and change it once the project has been completed
Example (Plant Science Resume):
Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA January 2025 – May 2025
Soil Health & Nutrient Analysis Project
- Collected and analyzed soil samples from up to 11 sites to evaluate nutrient composition, pH levels, and overall soil health.
- Conducted 35 lab tests and interpreted results to determine soil quality and recommend appropriate fertilization and management strategies.
- Applied findings to develop a soil improvement plan aimed at enhancing plant growth and sustainable land use practices.
Some common places of volunteer opportunities include:
- Non-profit
- Civic organizations
- Professional associations
- Educational institutions
- Emergency Services
Format similarly to work experience:
- Your title/role in the volunteering opportunity
- Name of the organization or event you volunteered for
- Month and year OR date range that you’ve volunteered
- Bullet point the tasks or activities performed.
Examples (Early Childhood Resume):
Youth Volunteer, Connect & Play Program, Pomona, CA January 2023 – August 2024
- Facilitated play-based learning activities for children ages 3–8 focused on social-emotional learning, language development, and cooperative play.
- Maintained safe and welcoming play environments in alignment with child supervision best practices by supporting positive behavior strategies by modeling conflict resolution and turn-taking skills
Resume Examples
