Career Guide 17-18

CAREER GUIDE 2017–2018

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

clemson.edu/career

CENTER FOR CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

/ClemsonCCPD

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.

Résumés should be tailored to each position to which you apply.

You need to show the employer that you are the best fit for the

position based on your previous experience and knowledge.

Print the position description and read it carefully for keywords

and responsibilities. Highlight terms that are repeated and/or

emphasized. Consider including these keywords on your resume

and include specific examples of your experience related to those

keywords and responsibilities. On average, employers spend

less than 10 seconds reviewing a résumé so make sure your

experience aligns with the position description.

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.

Accounting

Record

Assess

Audit

Prepare

Maintain

Forecast

Calculate

Estimate

Figure

Appraise

Examine

Measure

Verify

Administration

Monitor

Track

Assess

Coordinate

Organize

Requisition

Access

Receive

Process

Serve

Furnish

Analysis

Assess

Observe

Review

Dissect

Interpret

Discern

Conceptualize

Discover

Infer

Illuminate

Clarify

Quantify

Qualify

Conclude

VERBS TO USE IN RESUME WRITING

The following words are those that best describe the duties

and functions executed in summer, part-time and full-time

jobs, internships, co-ops and while involved in co-curricular

activities.

Counseling/Healing

Listen

Sense

Intuit

Assess

Analyze

Assist

Align

Coordinate

Understand

Inform

Facilitate

Help

Consulting

Troubleshoot

Problem solve

Assess

Assist

Arrange

Guide

Counsel

Survey

Serve

Contribute

Motivate

Train

Craft/Artisan

Design

Create

Build

Entertain

Perform

Draw

Render

Illustrate

Compose

Construct

Conceive

Choreograph

Design/Organize

Explore

Formulate

Sketch

Draw

Draft

Layout

Create

Plan

Style

Pattern

Build

Display

Editing

Review

Analyze

Compare

Comment

Correct

Revise

Amend

Improve

Initiate

Investigate

Advise

Finance

Analyze

Invest

Budget

Inventory

Evaluate

Appraise

Construct

Develop

Acquire

Deploy

Manage

Project

Fundraising

Research

Analyze

Strategize

Program

Develop

Contact

Inquire

Inform

Motivate

Direct

Persuade

Monitor

Coordinate

Human Resources

Assess

Analyze

Recruit

Survey

Screen

Interview

Select

Train

Mediate

Appraise

Coordinate

Align

Information

Appraise

Analyze

Inventory

Structure

Design

Categorize

Document

Process

Manage

Program

Link

Coordinate

Organize

Innovating

Create

Modify

Change

Upgrade

Improve

Design

Activate

Restructure

Establish

Stimulate

Implement

Transform