2020 HBCU Careers Magazine

HBCU Careers Magazine

Here is an example of a poor resume objective: To obtain a position in an organization where I can utilize my experience and interpersonal skills to develop professionally with a growth-oriented company. Why is this example weak? It’s because it is way too general and doesn’t communicate anything to the employer but the candidate’s desires. This objective doesn’t do anything to set the candidate apart from others that are applying for the same position.

(NOTE: If in doubt about whether to include an objective statement or not, contact your Career Services Office for their recommendation.)

Educational Background List names and locations of educational institutions attended, degree(s) awarded with completion dates, majors and minors and anticipated or actual dates of graduation. Do not abbreviate the name of your degree. Also, if you received academic honors or were on the Dean’s List, be sure to include this information.

GPA Only include your GPA (or Major GPA) if it is a 3.0 or better.

Summary of Qualifications (Optional) This is a snapshot of the skills and attributes you possess that make you a good candidate for the position. It provides an excellent opportunity to draw attention to your most pertinent skills and experience in an attempt to persuade an employer to read the rest of your resume. This section is typically in bullet point format. Related Coursework (Optional) The purpose of this section is to relate the courses you have taken to the position for which you are applying. Relevant Experience There are several choices for titles for this section such as, “Experience”, “Professional Experience”, “Related Experience” or “Employment History”. If you selected a chronological resume style, list your employment experience in reverse chronological order including seasonal employment, part-time jobs and internships. Use bullet points and strong action verbs to describe your duties in terms of contributions you have made, results you have achieved and accomplishments you have attained. If you are using a functional resume style, you will also list your employment experience in reverse chronological order. However, the “Relevant Experience” section will appear after the “Relevant Skills” section and will only include: your title, name and location of organization where experience was gained and the dates of the experience.

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