Creating a Better Resume

Think about your experiences and unique skills and abilities
Review the position and industry to learn the associated keywords and tailor your resume to the opportunity
Consider these questions when writing resume bullet points to demonstrate your relevant experience
- What impact did you/your project have on the organization?
- What technology did you use when completing the project?
- What did you learn from the experience?
- What was the volume and duration of your work?

Microsoft Word is the best platform to create your resume.
Be consistent in your formatting and style.
Remove all graphics.
Proofread regularly, as spelling and formatting errors can get your resume rejected.
Undergraduate resumes should be one page.
List content in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experiences listed first.
Use an easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, and use no more than two font types and styles.
Keep font sizes between 10-12 pt., but your name can be larger than 12 pt.
Format margins to .75” on all sides if possible, but they should be no smaller than 0.5”.
Verb tense should match the time frame of the activity with current experiences written in present tense and past experiences in past tense.
Avoid first-person pronouns (I, me, my) or articles (a, an, the).

Use an appropriate email address, preferably your Penn State email.
Include your cell phone number and ensure your voice mailbox is set up with a professional message.
Do not include photos.

List your Penn State education first as "Penn State University" or "The Pennsylvania State University".
Make sure your campus name is listed accurately (i.e. University Park not State College).
Include your graduation date or expected graduation date.
Specify your major and option, if applicable.
Include any certificates you will earn.
Include your cumulative GPA, and add your major GPA if it is higher than your cumulative GPA.
If you choose not to include your GPA, be prepared to discuss it with potential employers.

Highlight technical skills relevant to the position.
Show through work experiences and activities (rather than list) your soft skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and project management.

Share work experiences, course projects, personal projects, and experiences like education abroad.
Include quantifiable information to show the scope of your work.
Use bullet points rather than paragraphs.

List volunteer experiences and any student organizations you were an active participant in.
Include any leadership roles you held.
Include you dates of involvement for each activity.

For usability and formatting purposes, always send your resume as a PDF to ensure the formatting remains consistent.
Choose an easily identifiable name, such as "FirstnameLastname_Resume.pdf".

Resume Best Practices