1. R ESUME
G UIDE
CAREERCENTER.ND.EDU | (574) 631-5200 | NDCPS@ND.EDU

2. WRITING YOUR RESUME
Your resume is often the only picture a recruiter has of you, your abilities, and your accomplishments. Studies show
that resumes receive about 20 seconds of a recruiter’s time. Remember, your resume is a piece of paper that
represents you. You should not try to include everything you’ve done during your time at Notre Dame – instead, think
of your resume as a document that markets your most applicable skills and experiences to an employer.
Skills
TYPES OF RESUMES Typically includes computer, language, and
science/laboratory skills when applicable.
Chronological
This is the most common resume format for college Activities
students. A chronological (or reverse chronological) Important to list quality over quantity - include
resume organizes information by jobs/experiences in experiences where you’ve developed skills necessary
reverse chronological order – with the most recent to the position.
experiences listed first. This format works well when:
Relevant courses
• You are seeking an entry-level position
• You have a steady history of employment
Honors
related to the position you are seeking
Service
Functional
A functional (or skills based) resume organizes
information into functional groupings of skills or OPTIMAL RESUME
accomplishments. This format works well when: Optimal Resume is a valuable tool to help students
create and design a resume that can be downloaded
to a Word or PDF document. To log-in to Optimal
• You want to demonstrate a clear relationship
Resume visit: https://careercenter2.nd.edu/library.
between your skills and the position you are
seeking
• Your experiences are not easily related to
TIPS FOR WRITING
the position you are seeking • One page
• You have gaps in your employment history • Brief but sufficient information
• Consistency and clarity are key
Combination • Tailor your resume to each position you
This type of resume organizes information with an apply to
emphasis on skills in reverse chronological order.
Experiences and skills can be tailored to fulfill the • Emphasize your unique skills
specific requirements of a position. This format works • Think of results and accomplishments
well when:
ADDITIONAL TIPS
• You want to highlight skills related to specific • Make your resume stand out – use a
jobs personalized heading, bold and italics, lines,
• You want to emphasize relevant skills and etc.
information that connect your experiences • Print your resume on high quality paper
• Keep your resume up-to-date with
COMMON RESUME SECTIONS experiences, accomplishments, GPA, etc.
• Have your resume reviewed by a career
Objective counselor
When possible the objective should be specific to the
industry or position, however, when utilizing a general
resume an objective is not needed.Education
Should degree, major, date of graduation, GPA, and
study abroad programs if applicable.
Experience
List most recent job/experiences first. Use strong
action verbs and quantify results when possible.

3. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL
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4. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL WITH ATHLETICS AND INTERNATIONAL
EXPERIENCE
2

5. COMBINATION RESUME
3

6. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL
4

7. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL WITH EMPHASIS ON INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
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8. COMBINATION RESUME
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9. SAMPLE RESUME FOR APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
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10. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL
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11. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL WITH EMPHASIS ON
LABORATORY/RESEARCH SKILLS
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12. REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL
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13. SAMPLE OBJECTIVES
4 Obtain a full-time position in the field of journalism that involves editing, reporting, or designing
publications
4 Seeking a government internship in public policy analysis
4 Obtain a position in business consulting applying analytical and leadership skills
4 Secure a position in the retail industry that utilizes a marketing and communications background
4 A management position in the area of corporate development with a major investment firm
4 Obtain international business experience in export/import trade
4 Seeking a position in alumni relations focusing on expanding donor relations and developing strategic
communication pieces
4 Seeking a project management position in an innovative engineering firm
4 Seeking a teaching position that requires a second language and cultural sensitivity
4 Obtain a summer internship with a major newspaper or magazine that requires creativity and strong
organizational and communication skills
4 A programmer or analyst position in the computer industry with emphasis on systems analysis and design
4 Obtain a full-time position in management information systems that involves consulting, testing, or
programming
4 Obtain a staff accountant or auditor position in a public accounting firm leading to attainment of CPA
certification
4 Seeking a sales position in the pharmaceutical industry utilizing strong communication and leadership skills
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14. ACTION VERBS
accelerated collaborated encouraged inspired planned sent
accommodated collected enlisted instructed prepared served
accomplished combined ensured interpreted presented set
accounted for compiled entered interviewed processed shipped
achieved completed established invented procured showed
acquainted computed estimated inventoried produced sold
acquired condensed evaluated invested profited solved
adapted conducted examined investigated programmed sought
added conferred executed projected specified
adjusted consolidated expanded joined promoted spoke
administered constructed expedited judged proofed sponsored
advertised consulted explained proposal stabilized
advised controlled explored keyed proved started
advocated converted extended provided stopped
aided convinced laminated publicized straightened
altered coordinated facilitated launched published streamlined
analyzed copied familiarized lectured purchased strengthened
anticipated corrected filed lead studied
applied counseled forecast learned qualified submitted
appraised counted foresaw led suggested
approved created formulated liaisoned rated summarized
arbitrated critiqued fostered logged recommended supervised
arranged found received supplemented
assembled debated founded maintained recognized surpassed
assessed decided managed recorded
assisted defined gained marketed recruited taught
assumed delegated gathered maximized reduced terminated
attached delivered generated measured referred tested
attained demonstrated governed medicated regulated trained
attended designed graded merged reorganized transferred
augmented detached greeted modified repaired
authored determined grouped monitored replaced unified
developed guaranteed motivated reported upgraded
balanced devised represented updated
bolstered directed handled negotiated researched utilized
briefed disclosed heightened notified resolved
budgeted discovered helped restored worked
built dispatched highlighted observed restructured
displayed obtained resulted in
calculated distributed identified opened returned
catalogued drafted illustrated operated revealed
caused dramatized implemented orchestrated reviewed
chaired improved ordered revised
changed earned incorporated organized
charted edited increased saved
checked educated informed participated scheduled
circulated elected initiated perceived screened
classified eliminated innovated performed scrutinized
cleared up employed inspected persuaded selected
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