Personal Data
Name, address, phone number, and email must be included. Be certain that the information is current. Any change of address (e.g. graduating students will lose use of the @mines.edu address), will warrant another chance to interact with the employer. Another option is to include a campus and permanent address on the resume (especially if seeking a position near “home.”)
Objective
An objective may or may not be included on your resume. If your resume will be used as a stand alone document (no cover letter) for Career Day, or for on-campus interview applications, you may want to include an objective or summary statement at the top.
An objective is an introductory statement which combines the type of position you want within the company with an indication of the skills you have which meet their requirements. It is very specific, permitting a company to quickly match you to their openings. It is not a wish list of what you want, nor should it be general enough to work for every employer to whom you apply. It should be immediate, not long term, and should emphasize what you can do for the company. It is a marketing statement such as: "Apply CAD/CAM skills to anticipate and solve manufacturing problems in mechanical design.”
You will likely have several resumes targeted toward different positions; therefore, you will want to tailor your objective to the requirements of these positions, and/or each specific company.
Education
1. Actual or anticipated dates of graduation from college(s) (list in reverse chronological order).
2. Degrees received (major and minor subjects). Explain the degree briefly - area of emphasis if appropriate. EG majors should include: "Engineering with a Specialty in ___."
3. Title of thesis (if applicable).
4. GPA – Most companies interviewing on-campus will expect you to include a GPA. If you choose not to include your GPA, please be aware recruiters may assume it is low. Major GPA can be listed alongside cumulative GPA if it helps to present you better. Find major GPA on Trailhead’s “degree audit,” or calculate using credits received and grades.
5. Scholarships, awards, and honors received.
6. Extracurricular activities (may be included as a separate section of your resume).
7. Freshmen: List CSM first with graduation date and then high school with more information.
Experience (Work Experience, Engineering Experience, Professional Experience)
1. Job experience - May use reverse chronological order or order of importance. Emphasize strong points and achievements. Be factual and use quantitative measures where possible.
2. List part-time, Co-op, or summer work. You may state how much (what percentage) of your college expenses you have earned.
3. Technical experience gained through academic work (projects) can be listed under experience or in a separate section.
4. Other, non-technical jobs shown with lesser emphasis at the bottom. Do not neglect to include these, as there are many transferable skills.