The average resume is scanned for about ten seconds. Since your resume may be the 35th one the selector looks at that day, you must think of resumes as an attention-getting device, not just as an objective story of your life. That means you need above all to think about your reader: what is she/he looking for? It's best to know plenty about the company and the job, but, short of that, you can assume employers hire people who can help them immediately, who won't require a lot of hand-holding and who have hands-on experience at similar jobs. They also of course want people with good academic records (which demonstrate consistency, predictability and responsibility), but translate your academic accomplishments into their terms. The keys are focus, relevance and brevity: focus on the job you want and how your education and experience qualify you for that job; relevance of your previous experience and coursework; and brevity, getting in all the key points on a single page, at least for entry-level professional Jobs.

• Objective:
  What job or type of job are you looking for? State the title of the position, if known. If you are using this resume for general purposes, be as specific as possible without limiting job possibilities. It's hard to say how specific to be: "Planner" is a little vague; "transportation planner" is better; "transportation planning, with an emphasis on trip analysis and ride demographics and trends" may be better yet, depending on the job. State the type of position, setting and skills and abilities you would like to be able to use: "GIS position with a private firm where my skills in cartographic software design can be used." If you are unfocused as to the type of position you seek, consider omitting this section from your resume.



• Education:
  Degree expected or earned and dates. List any Geography emphasis or related course work related to your objectives--courses in Computer Science, International Business, Urban Design and Planning, etc. Mention honors, scholarships and awards. State your GPA if it is above 3.0. Spell everything out: "Bachelor of Arts in Geography, University of Washington. Expected date of completion: June l9xx. Cumulative grade point average: 3.5. Economic development emphasis in geography, with additional course work in economics, marketing and urban planning." Use the GPA that is to your best advantage: GPA in major, last two years' GPA, etc.



• Experience:
  List all relevant experience, paid or voluntary and even if it was only for a short time. If a number of jobs were for short periods, omit dates in this section. Emphasize skills and abilities you have learned, responsibilities you have had, and accomplishments you have made. You can pull "transferable" related skills from unrelated positions: in the example, the applicant was a secretary at a real estate company, but emphasized the knowledge and technical skills she learned and used there: software, zoning information, etc.



• Technical Skills:
  This is the section to demonstrate the applicability of your major. Without misrepresenting your ability to walk into a job and start using these skills, don't hesitate to mention such analytical skills as input-ouput analysis, mathematical modeling, cost-benefit analysis, network modeling and demographic analysis. Also important: expertise in word processing, spreadsheet, data base, and graphics software; statistical skills (especially SPSS); comfort with mainframes; cartographic and GIS skills (e.g., use of MAP, MAP-II, Intergraph, Arc/lnfo software); and survey design and other research skills (e.g., familiarity with census data and other government documents and data tapes). If you've written a lot of papers, and especially if you've done a senior thesis, list writing as a skill. Most employers are desperate for good writers.



• References:
  Available upon request, Have a nicely-printed list ready to go--and make sure you alert your references, and supply them with a copy of your resume.



• Helpful Hints:
  Get your resume either professionally printed or done on a laser printer. Leave as much white space as possible. Don't include personal information (age, weight, marital status, etc.). Make two or three resumes if your job search leads you in different directions. Use action verbs and short phrases. Complete sentences not necessary.