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CAREER GUIDE 2016–2017
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
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EXPERIENCE – DEVELOPING CONTENT
Now that you know what kinds of experience to list in a résumé,
you need to know how each experience should be described.
Again, the employer’s point of view is your guide. Most employers
look for common strengths in their candidates. Therefore, the
descriptions of any jobs or activities should reflect both the
results you have achieved and your potential.
Where possible, quantify the work you have done. For example:
How much money did you raise? How many books did you
sell? Did you lead a 10-member or 100-member tour? Did you
graduate number five in a class of 10 or in a class of 100? Put
some objective scope on your work that can be judged positively
by potential employers.
Keep in mind that you must always be truthful. You are trying to
create a document that sells your virtues, but do not get carried
away. If you worked on just part of a project, do not take full
credit. If you waited tables, do not say you were the maitre d’.
Truth in advertising is a must.
It goes without saying that your résumé should be proofread
meticulously. Although one spelling error or typo rarely eliminates
you from consideration for a position, keep in mind that along
with your cover letter, your résumé is one of your writing samples.
It is a clear indicator of how well you communicate. If you miss
a typo, the employer will think, “Maybe this person will miss
important details while on the job, too.” Therefore, in addition to
reviewing the résumé yourself, ask a friend, professor or career
counselor to read your résumé. A new eye often picks up the
obvious typo that you have not seen for weeks.
WHAT ABOUT REFERENCES?
It is not necessary to include the phrase “References Available
upon Request” on your résumé. It is always a good idea, however,
to have a list of your references with their names, addresses,
email addresses and phone numbers on a separate sheet to hand
to the interviewer. Remember to always obtain permission from
your references before using them.
An example of a reference:
Mr. Harry Winston
Chief Financial Officer
Wachovia Bank
Charlotte, NC 26751
704-555-1212
winston
@
wachovia.org
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS…
In addition to perfecting the content of your résumé, you will
want to take a critical look at the format. Your résumé should be
appealing to the eye and utilize consistent formatting. Stay away
from résumé templates; those programs seem easy at first but
result in a résumé that will look too similar to other applicants.
Typically, your résumé should be printed on quality bond paper
produced by a high-quality photocopier, laser printer or offset
printing service. These processes ensure a consistent quality
from résumé to résumé.
Be conservative when it comes to the color of your résumé.
Acceptable colors include white, beige and gray. You take a
chance by using other colors. Also avoid using grainy textured
papers. Keep the size of the paper to the standard 8½ x 11 page.
A legal size résumé may stick out in a pile and does not fit into
standard filing systems. Use a font size between 10 and 12 point
in a professional font style, such as Arial or Times New Roman.
In order to encourage potential employers to learn about your
qualifications, the résumé format must be attractive and easy
to read.