Preparing Your First Professional Resume For A Part-time, Summer, Cooperative Education Or Internship Position

A resume constructed for a part-time, summer, cooperative education and/or internship position is constructed somewhat differently than a resume prepared for a full-time, permanent, professional position. Keep in mind that a resume is a summary or brief overview of appropriate work-related accomplishments and experiences, it is not an autobiography. Do not add extra "padding" to your resume just to enhance the impressiveness of your resume or hide minimal work-related experiences. Employers realize that you are just beginning to enter into the work force and will be impressed by your initiative to gain relevant work experience through a part-time, summer, cooperative education, or internship position.

When preparing your resume, be sure to include any information, special skills, training and/or education that would be helpful to obtain the position you want. Include relevant information from high school.

Style

In most cases, a reverse chronological format is most appropriate. This means information throughout your resume, will start from the most recent and work backwards.

Demographics

Starts at the top of the page and includes name, complete mailing address (both present and permanent, if different), telephone number, and e-mail address.

Objective

State the position for which you are applying.

Education

List the university/college you are attending, type of degree you are working toward, major, and dates of attendance. Include a time frame of attendance, such as 1997-present instead of an actual graduation date. Also, include your high school date of graduation.

Experience

Include volunteer work, paid full and/or part-time positions, fieldwork, and applicable projects.

For each experience, include:

• Job title, employer or organization, city, state, and time frame
• Describe your skills and what you accomplished while working there using short phrases that start with strong action verbs. DO NOT USE "RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED" AS A DESCRIPTION. DO NOT USE PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND DO NOT USE COMPLETE SENTENCES
• Use present tense for present activities and past tense for past activities
• Order phrases in each position by importance to the job desired or career objective so that a person reads the most important relevant skill first.

Activities

List in the following order: 1) professional, 2) leadership, 3) other. Make general references to religious and/or political activities rather than as a specific denomination or party. This is crucial because you do not know what stereotypes or biases others have.

Additional Information

Include interests, hobbies, computer skills, or special abilities not related to your education or career objective. Also include anything unique to you, e.g. travel to or living in a foreign country, foreign language ability, etc. (Language majors are the exception. They are expected to be fluent; this information then goes with the Education section.)

References

May say "Available upon request." Another alternative is to list three references if you think it will help you. Use academic and employer rather than personal references and references that know your abilities. Be sure to obtain permission from these people before you list them as references. When listing references include name, job title, complete address, phone number and e-mail.

Click here to view a sample resume.