A resume is one of the tools you will need to introduce yourself and your experience to employers. It provides prospective employers with their first impression of you-it is an advertisement about you. Your resume is your chief marketing tool in the job search process. Therefore, your resume should be well-organized and highlight your background by emphasizing your skills and qualifications. Learning to write an effective resume is a skill you can develop while at JMU and utilize throughout your career. Follow these 5 easy steps to develop your resume writing skills.

STEP 1
Visit the How to Write a Resume Information Located on the Career and Academic Planning Website

Career and Academic Planning has resume writing guidelines, tips, samples and additional websites, which will help you learn the basics of resume writing and enable you to write a rough draft.

Compile your information and begin to put together a first draft of your resume. Information you have learned about resumes from the Career and Academic Planning website, classes, related articles, or other knowledgeable sources will guide you through this first attempt. As you work on the first draft, you begin to see your resume take shape, and you will develop many questions on how to best present your unique information.

Writing your resume draft will be an important starting point, but is likely to raise many questions on how to adapt basic content and format ideas to best represent your unique qualifications. What works for your roommate may not work best for you. Resume Clinics, taught by Career and Academic Planning staff members, will introduce you to effective ways in compiling information and provide you with samples to illustrate different resumes. Each Resume Clinic will last 45-60 minutes. Bring your resume draft and questions to this interactive session. (You are not required to have a rough draft to attend a Resume Clinic).

All sessions held in Wilson 306. Check the Career and Academic Planning Event Calendar for dates and times.

After you have attended a Resume Clinic and fine-tuned your resume, your last step in developing a final draft is to gain an objective perspective on the effectiveness of your resume and how potential employers may perceive your resume. Career and Academic Planning offers several during the semester to help you get the feedback you need to finalize your resume.

Resume Clinics, Resume Express, a Resume Appointment, or Resume Round-Up:
Which one is for me?

Employer-In-Residence Program
Take advantage of this opportunity to gain insight into your resume from an employer's point of view. Employers in Residence can conduct an informational interview, ask for a resume review, conduct a mock interview, or answer general questions regarding job search and their career focus. Sign up for a half-hour session with an employer on MadisonTRAK no later than two days before the scheduled date (the company name is: Employer in Residence Program).

See for dates and employers: http://www.jmu.edu/cap/interviewing/

Register with MadisonTRAK and upload your resume to connect with employers who want to hire JMU students for full-time jobs and internships. Visit http://www.jmu.edu/cap/interviewing/ to learn more about MadisonTRAK and how to get started.

Wondering how MadisonTRAK works or how you can take advantage of it?
Here are some of the benefits to students who are registered:

• You are eligible to participate in the Recruiting Services Program which offers full-time jobs and internships
• You are eligible to participate in Mock Interview program and Employer In Residence Program to gain valuable information and feedback directly from employers
• You receive a weekly update highlighting new employers and additional job and internship postings which have been sent into the office
• You are part of a Resume Referral Service which is available to employers who want to fill jobs with JMU candidates but cannot visit campus. **Many employers who hire liberal arts students use this service!
  

QUESTIONS? Contact Career and Academic Planning
for more information: (540) 568-6555