Heading
Include:
- Name (make big and bold). If you have a preferred name, place in parentheses –i.e., David (Allan) Smith
- Phone and email
- Web links to LinkedIn profile, portfolio, GitHub (if applicable)
Example:
Your Name
[your phone number] | [your email address] | [your LinkedIn URL]
Tailored Headings
- Be descriptive with category headings–this allows you to highlight specific experiences (e.i. Summary of Qualifications, Education, Skills, Experience, Projects)
- Additional headings might include Honors/Awards, Extracurricular, Volunteer, Other Experience
Summary of Qualifications
- Include 4-5 bullet points stating why you are the best candidate for the job.
- Based on what the company says they are looking for in the job announcement, what skills, abilities, passion, knowledge or awards do you bring to the job? In other words, how will you add value to the company?
Example:
Summary of Qualifications
- Mechanical Engineering major with a proven record of success working in management, on a team, and independently.
- Tireless work ethic, maintaining a 3.7 GPA while working as much as 30 hours a week
- Incorporated 5+ years of goal oriented work history with coursework and projects to bring productive, well founded insight to the company as an intern.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks, Matlab, and Mathematica; experience with metal fabrication.
Education
Include:
- Spell out Degree and Major (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science)
- Washington State University, You Campus Location
- Graduation date (Add “Expected” if in the future)
- Cumulative and/or major GPA if above 3.0
- Honors (if applicable) • Study abroad (if applicable)
- Other institutions only if you received a degree (i.e., A.A. degree)
Example:
Education
Coursework
Include classes that are relevant to the occupation/field you are seeking
- Consider class projects, research, group work, and industry knowledge/skills you gained
- List course title (not prefix and number)
Example:
- Relevant coursework: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis, SolidWorks, Linear Algebra, Heat Transfer, System Dynamics, Applied Aerodynamics, Material Science, Materials Laboratory, Mechanical Component Analysis
Skills and Abilities
- List in order of relevance for the job
Example:
Skills & Abilities
Programs and Software
- Certified SolidWorks Associate
- Matlab, Mathematica, EES, Python, Java
- Arduino Seminar
Metal Fabrication
- MIG and TIG welding
- Forging/Blacksmithing
- Misc. fabrication and machining tools
Experience/Projects Sections
Include relevant internships, jobs, class, club, or personal projects.
Include:
- Position title
- Company name, city, and state
- Dates of employment/involvement
- 2-5 bullet points describing your accomplishments
- Start all bullet points in past tense (even for current positions)
- Begin with an action verb (i.e., managed, assisted, planned)
- Use numbers to quantify information
- Tell what you did, why you did it and what was the result. Ex. “Developed X to do Y resulting in Z”
- Bullet points don’t require periods
- Place most recent experiences first within each section
Example:
Projects
- Designed dynamically accurate wings & generator in SolidWorks for 1.5 GW Wind Turbine to improve efficiancy
- Wrote the working code in EES for Parabolic Solar Plant Area Optimization project
Additional Activities/ Involvements
- List general membership in other campus/community organizations
- Can list bullet points if involvement is relevant to career goals
Example:
Honors & Awards
- NASA Scholarship recipient for Academic Achievement
- Fall 2016 President’s Honor Roll recipient at WSU
- Seattle Central Foundation Scholarship recipient
- Multiple Quarters on the Dean’s List at Seattle Central
Other Reminders
- You have 6-10 seconds to impress someone about your fit for the position
- Keep to 1 page in length
- Don’t use a template to format
- Place dates on the right of the page
- Stay consistent with format and layout
- Use 11-12 point traditional font
- Don’t state “References available upon request”
- Check for spelling and grammatical errors
- Only include high school information if you are a first-year student
- Tailor information to position sought and place most relevant experiences at the top
- Visit the Voiland College Internships & Career Center for a resume review
Sample Résumés
Check out these sample résumés to see the tips on this page in practice.
Contact the Internships and Career Services Office
- Location: Dana Hall 140, 305 NE Spokane St.
- Phone: 509-335-8726
- E-mail: vcea.internships@wsu.edu
Career Coaching Hours
- Drop-in: 3-4 pm, Monday through Friday
- By Appointment: Sandi Brabb and Maya Salsbury
- Interns: Skyllar Estill (CS), Tyler Kazen (ME), and Nihal Thomas (CS)
Social Media
Mailing Address
Voiland College Internships and Career Services
Washington State University
PO Box 642718
Pullman, WA 99164-2718
