Skills.

• Almost every resume should include a skills section. The heading might simply read “Skills,” and include a list of various skills, including computer skills, laboratory skills, foreign language skills, etc.

• If all the skills you list are of one type, i.e., computer skills or foreign language skills, etc., head the section “Computer Skills,” or “Foreign Language Skills,” etc.

• If you have skills in several categories, head the section “Skills,” and include subheadings to organize your categories, such as “computer skills,” “laboratory skills,” “foreign language skills,” “organizational skills,” etc.

•Notice that in a “skills resume format”, skill headings are given, with bulleted lists of skills under each heading. This style works for job seekers who have the relevant skills for a job, usually from a wide variety of sources (activities, jobs, class projects, etc.), but for whom a chronological resume doesn’t look strong.

• In a “combination resume format“, skills can also be listed in more detail than in a standard chronological resume, but not to the same extent as in a “skills resume.” Use the approach that best showcases your background and qualifications for your career objective.

Certifications / Licensure.

• If you have a certification or licensure (i.e., teaching certification, Engineer in Training, etc.) which is relevant to your career objective, include a “Certifications” or “Licensure” heading and give this information.

• In ordering your resume, place this section higher on your resume than other less related information.

Coursework.

Whether or not to include a “coursework” or “relevant courses” section depends on several things:

• DON’T include courses that you would have obviously taken based on your major, minor, etc. That doesn’t add value to your resume or help you stand out from other candidates. Your space would be better spent on other relevant information.

• DO include courses that are relevant to your objective that the employer wouldn’t otherwise know you’ve taken. For example, if you’re an English major, and have taken four computer science classes (but don’t have a CS minor that you can mention), it probably can’t hurt to list those courses.

• DO include courses important to your career objective if it would not be assumed from your major (or minor, etc.) that you have completed those courses.

• You can list upper level electives in your major (or related to your career goal). DON’T list lower level courses or basic prerequisites to upper level courses.

Dealing with work authorization on your resume

You may wish to include a statement of your work authorization on your resume if:

• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you believe your name or some other aspect of your background may lead an employer to assume you might not be a U.S. citizen or might not be authorized to work in the U.S. on a permanent basis.

• You want employers to know that you have an H-1B visa.

• You expect a change in your work authorization to be effective by a specific time in the near future.

• If you are not authorized to work in the U.S. on a permanent basis, do not make any statement or indication that you are. Employers view this as dishonesty. Focus your job search on employers who are able to hire you based on your work authorization.

Availability.

• Students seeking a Cooperative Education position should state availability; i.e., August 2003 or January 2004. This is because co-op positions can potentially begin during any academic term and the employer will not know when are able to start unless you give this information.

• Students seeking internships or career-related summer employment should state this in the objective. Therefore it is not necessary to state an availability date — your availability is implied by your objective. However, if you are applying for a position for which an employer asks you to state specific available work dates, certainly do provide this to that employer, either on your resume or in your cover letter.

• Graduating bachelor’s level students do not need to state availability, unless your availability is not readily apparent from your degree completion date. For example, if you give “June 2003″ as your degree completion month, but you will not be available to begin work until September 2003, then do state your availability. (By the way, employers don’t care when you “walk,” so if you’re walking in May, but don’t complete your degree until June, then June is the completion month that should appear on your resume. To state otherwise appears dishonest.)

• Graduate students may wish to state an availability date, particularly if you have some flexibility in this. For example, if you expect to complete defense of a thesis or dissertation in February 2004, but could actually begin employment in January 2004, then do include a statement of availability. You might indicate that your availability is flexible between January to March 2004, for example.

References.

On a resume:

• On a resume, it is completely unnecessary to state “references available upon request.” Most employers assume this. DO, however, prepare a reference list, ON A SEPARATE PAGE FROM YOUR RESUME.

• See guidelines for employment references in your job search.

On curriculum vitae, references ARE typically listed.

• For some graduate students and in some career fields (positions in academia, for example), employers ask for your reference list at the time of application. If you are developing a curriculum vita, also commonly used for positions in academia, it is common to include references on curriculum vitae.

Interests.

• For graduate students pursuing positions in academia, and for some other career fields, your curriculum vita would include teaching and research interests. See Vitae (curriculum vitae) for more on this topic.

• DON’T include an Interests section listing hobbies and everything that personally interests you. This is usually unnecessary and irrelevant.

• If you have interests, activities or hobbies that are very important to you and that make a statement about who you are, DO list them in your Activities section. For example, if you are an avid rock climber, or you’ve rebuilt a car, list it as an activity, even if you don’t belong to a formal organization and even if it is unrelated to your objective. (It certainly reflects discipline and hard work, which are valuable characteristics.)

• If you have traveled abroad and/or have foreign language skills, put this information in your Skills section. The ability to function in other cultures and the maturity gained from extensive travel indicate characteristics and skills that are relevant to employers. If you have studied abroad, include this in your Education section.

• If you have musical or artistic talents that are not related to your career goals, DO include these in your Activities or Skills sections as appropriate. Again, these could reflect discipline and other positive qualities.

• It isn’t necessary however, to include a long list.