Building a Powerful Resume
Did you know that hiring professionals spend ~ 7 seconds on your resume. That means, it’s important to create a resume that stands out! Your résumé is a strategic marketing tool that tells your professional story to employers. It differentiates you from other candidates by showcasing not just what you’ve done, but who you are as a professional and the distinct benefits you bring to an organization.
AUTUMN CHANNER ’26
Biochemistry Major
“PC has helped me discover my passion and career goals by just working with me. The professors here are very involved in their students and they want to see them succeed, helping me have a great understanding of what I want to do in the future.”
RÉSUMÉ ESSENTIALS
Your résumé is an advertisement of your story that highlights your most relevant background and skills. It’s an individually designed document strategically tailored to specific opportunities, giving employers a compelling first impression during their initial screening process.
Contact Information
Ensure employers can easily reach you, include:
- Name (in slightly larger font, 18-20pt)
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- City and abbreviated state
- LinkedIn profile URL (if applicable)
Pro Tips:
- If applying for positions near your hometown, include your home city and state to alleviate potential relocation concerns.
- Ensure your email address and voicemail greeting sound professional.
Education
Convey academic qualifications and training, include:
- Presbyterian College (should appear first)
- Degree, major(s)/minor(s)
- Expected graduation date (month/year)
- GPA if 3.0 or higher
- Notable coursework relevant to the position
- Study abroad experiences
- Academic honors or scholarships
Pro Tips:
- Include high school only if you’re a freshman/sophomore or if the school has notable recognition.
- Consider listing major GPA if higher than cumulative.
Experience
Convey academic qualifications and training, include:
- Past and present employment, internships, and significant volunteer work
- List in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
- For each entry: organization name, location, dates, position title, and accomplishment-focused descriptions
- Emphasize transferable skills and measurable achievements
Pro Tips:
- Group similar experiences together to create targeted sections that align with your career goals.
Community Involvement
Highlight leadership, service, and extracurricular activities, include:
- Student organizations, Greek life, athletics
- Community service and volunteer work
- Leadership positions and notable contributions
- Dates of participation
Skills
Highlight technical or specialized abilities not evident elsewhere, include:
- Technical skills and software proficiencies
- Language abilities (noting fluency level)
- Specialized certifications or training
Best Practices
Crafting Your Resume: Showcasing Your Academic and Professional Journey
- Proofread meticulously for grammar and spelling errors
- Get a second proofreader
- Maintain consistent formatting in punctuation, experience presentation, and text styling
- Position the most important information closest to the top and left margins
- Include content only once to avoid redundancy
- Never overstate qualifications or include experiences you couldn’t discuss comfortably in an interview
- Avoid objective statements; use a professional summary or profile section instead if needed
From Tasks to Triumphs:
Writing Resume Content That Gets Results
Writing effective resume content goes far beyond simply listing your job responsibilities. The key is transforming everyday tasks into compelling accomplishments that demonstrate your impact and value to potential employers. By focusing on results, quantifiable achievements, and the skills you developed, you’ll create a resume that tells the story of your professional growth and potential.
The Power Verb Approach
Crafting Powerful Bullet Points
The most effective way to describe your experiences is beginning each bullet point with a strong action verb that emphasizes results and impact.
- Start with a strong action verb appropriate to the skill category.
- Use present tense for current experiences and past tense for completed ones.
- Include details of major accomplishments and core responsibilities.
- Address the scope of your experience with facts/numerical figures when possible.
- Write in phrase format, not complete sentences (eliminate pronouns and unnecessary words).
- Include 2-6 bullets per experience, prioritizing the most relevant ones.
- Spell out numbers one through nine, use numerals for 10+.
- Partner with Career Development staff for guidance on challenging descriptions.
Turning Job Duties Into Accomplishments
- Basic Job Duty
Powerful Accomplishment Statement
- Organized recruitment activities
Developed new recruitment strategies which doubled number of prospective members
- Helped run classroom activities
Exposed students to meaningful musical experiences to enhance social and academic development
- Helped students with homework
Tutored five students in biology which increased test scores an average of 10 points
- Worked for campus ministry
Devoted over 100 hours to feeding the needy in Clinton community
- Answered phones
Efficiently responded to customer inquiries on software usage while maintaining 95% satisfaction rating
Power Verbs by Skills Category
Allocated, Determined, Directed, Elected, Enlisted, Formed, Founded, Governed, Hired, Initiated, Inspired, Instituted, Led, Managed, Moderated, Motivated, Operated, Oversaw, Pioneered, Presided, Produced, Recruited, Represented, Selected, Spearheaded, Sponsored, Staged, Started, Supervised, Trained
Arranged, Assembled, Collected, Centralized, Coordinated, Catalogued, Distributed, Disseminated, Enforced, Executed, Formalized, Implemented, Installed, Maintained, Organized, Planned, Prepared, Processed, Routed, Recorded, Reorganized, Scheduled, Updated
Acquainted, Apprised, Answered, Briefed, Conducted, Contacted, Demonstrated, Drafted, Educated, Explained, Familiarized, Informed, Instructed, Introduced, Lectured, Listened, Presented, Reported, Responded, Spoke, Summarized, Taught, Trained, Translated, Wrote
Analyzed, Assessed, Audited, Compiled, Consulted, Detected, Discovered, Documented, Edited, Evaluated, Examined, Gathered, Identified, Interpreted, Interviewed, Researched, Searched, Surveyed, Tested
Authored, Conceived, Conceptualized, Created, Composed, Designed, Devised, Established, Invented, Originated, Revolutionized
Adapted, Attained, Augmented, Awarded, Boosted, Broadened, Built, Calculated, Catered, Decreased, Developed, Ensured, Eliminated, Exceeded, Excelled, Expanded, Expedited, Fabricated, Financed, Gained, Generated, Improved, Increased, Launched, Mastered, Modernized, Published, Raised, Reconciled, Reduced, Revamped, Revitalized, Saved, Shopped, Strengthened, Supplemented, Tended, Utilized
Marketing Student Experiences
Peer Mentor
- Collaborated with Residence Life staff to resolve student conflicts and build community
- Assisted 20 first-year students in their transition to college by providing guidance on campus resources and involvement
- Created weekly programming to enhance academic success and social integration
Research
- Conducted a semester-long independent study on [Research Topic], using [Research Methods] to analyze [Key Findings], culminating in a comprehensive report and presentation to the department faculty.
- Collaborated with a faculty-led research team to investigate [Research Subject], contributing to data collection, analysis, and co-authoring a paper submitted to [Journal or Conference].
- Presented research findings on [Specific Topic] at the [Conference Name], highlighting the implications of [Key Results] in the field of [Discipline].
Internship
- Completed a [Duration]-month internship at [Company/Organization Name], assisting in [Specific Projects or Tasks], which enhanced skills in [Relevant Skills].
- Developed and implemented a [Specific Initiative or Program] during an internship at [Company Name], resulting in [Quantifiable Outcome, e.g., increased efficiency by X%].
- Shadowed professionals in the [Industry/Field] at [Organization Name], gaining hands-on experience in [Specific Processes or Tasks], and contributing to [Project or Outcome].
Campus Fellowship
- Selected for innovative leadership development program focused on personal growth and community engagement
- Developed leadership abilities through collaboration, guest speakers, and service projects
- Organized campus-wide events that increased student participation by 25%
Greek Life
- Represented chapter positively while developing relationships with other campus organizations
- Managed $5,000 annual budget for philanthropy events that benefited local children’s hospital
- Led weekly chapter meetings addressing organizational operations, event planning, and fundraising initiatives
Student Organization Member
- Planned and executed three campus events focused on community engagement, averaging 200+ attendees each
- Utilized social media platforms to increase organization visibility, resulting in 30% membership growth
- Completed 75+ community service hours per semester supporting local non-profit initiatives
Student-Athlete
- Committed 30+ hours weekly to training, practice, and competition while maintaining full academic course load
- Developed exceptional time management skills and resilience through balancing athletic and academic demands
- Demonstrated leadership and teamwork as team captain, coordinating practice schedules and team-building activities
Volunteer
- Provided 10 hours of service monthly to elderly residents at local retirement community
- Developed meaningful relationships with residents through regular engagement in recreational activities
- Assisted staff with daily operational tasks and resident support
Retail Sales Associate
- Developed strong customer service skills in high-volume retail environment
- Completed comprehensive training on effective communication and sales techniques
- Resolved customer concerns with 95% satisfaction rate
- Generated $2,000 in additional monthly revenue through product recommendations
Restaurant Service
- Served customers efficiently in fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail
- Processed financial transactions accurately using POS system
- Multi-tasked effectively to ensure superior customer satisfaction during peak business hours
Tutor
- Developed creative learning exercises to enhance comprehension of complex concepts
- Guided 10+ undergraduate students weekly in subject mastery
- Tracked student progress and provided constructive feedback that increased test scores by 15%
