MBA Career Services Center

Resume Tutorial

This power point presentation will:

•Define a MBA-competitive resume

•Describe good formatting
•Describe good content
•Provide additional resources
•Answer Frequently Asked Questions (this section will outline WHY and the
rationalization for our recommendations)

Updated September 2006

Purpose of a Resume

Your resume is…

a critical step at the beginning of a job search process
an advertisement/marketing tool
a written pitch
a screening tool
an assessment of your value
a document that leads to an interview (not a job, yet!)
a first impression
a stand alone document
 Good Resume FORMATTING

• One full page (unless more than 10 years of work experience)

• Sections, in this order (heading names may vary):
Name and Contact Information (top)
1. Education
2. Experience
3. Activities
• Easily scanned for skills, results, job titles and company names in 30
seconds.
• Organized in reverse chronological order (most recent experiences on top)
• Bullet points, not paragraphs
• Appropriate amount of white space Vs. text
• No graphics
• Standard fonts
Good Resume CONTENT

• Current and previous job responsibilities represent your skills

and results (in addition to general duties and responsibilities).
• Shows the impact your performance has/had on the department,
project, organization or company.
• Quantify information/results, where possible. For example,
“Achieved 80% reduction of lost-time accidents, saving company
$1.2 million….”
• Prioritize bullet points beginning with the most relevant or most
impactful on the top.
• Use action verbs descriptive of your skills to start each bullet
point
• Show promotion or advancement (via titles, dates)
• No outdated or irrelevant activities—unless it is a significant
accomplishment, skills or unusual talking point.
Helpful Resources

• Wetfeet.com: http://msumba.erecruiting.com/er/security/login.jsp
• Vault.com: http://msumba.erecruiting.com/er/security/login.jsp
• List of action verbs: http://
www.mba.msu.edu/newsletter/ActionVerbs.doc
• Your functional portfolio with keywords (and sample resumes):
http://www.mba.msu.edu/careers/students/links.cfm?category=163
• MS Office templates:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT061993551033.aspx
• Resume Writing Worksheet:
http://www.mba.msu.edu/newsletter/restutorial/resumetutorialexercise.doc
FAQ’s: FORMAT-related questions
Why should my resume be only one page?
It is a highlight of your unique differentiators and does not list everything. In a tough job market when recruiters get
100’s of resumes, a 2 or larger-page resume might not be viewed. Exception: Candidates with more than 10 years of
experience.
What are standard fonts and sizes?
Times New Roman, Verdana, Ariel and between 10 – 14 points
Why is the section on education at the top of the resume?
You are currently a student, so chronologically this fits at the top.
What is the proper way to list the MSU MBA degree?
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
Master of Business Administration, Finance, May, 2007
OR
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Master of Business Administration, Finance, May, 2007
OR
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
MBA, Finance, May, 2007
Why use bullet points and not paragraph formatting?
It is easier to read and is more succinct.
FAQ’s continued: FORMAT-related questions

What are some examples of succinct bullet points?

Example A
“Provided direction for the Strategies for Advancing the Internationalization of Learning Program, (SAIL), a U.S. Department of Education grant-
funded program which enhanced cultural sensitivity within all areas of the university and surrounding community; assisted with monitoring
budget expenditures.”
OR
“Directed a U.S. Department of Education funded program designed to enhance cultural sensitivity within the university and community.’
Example B
“Developed very strong presentation skills developing and implementing inter-cultural communication workshops for faculty and staff.”
OR
“Developed and implemented inter-cultural communication workshops for private industry and university staff.”

Why shouldn’t I use shading and boxes on my resume?

Boxes may be interpreted as graphic objects and not be converted by different systems. Shading will eventually
obscure the text as the resume is photocopied and faxed from office to office within a company. Additionally, you
don’t want the reader caught up in graphics.
Most of all of my work experience and/or education has been outside the U.S., but I am a U.S. citizen or have a
green card. I’m afraid that a potential employer might think I don’t have automatic work authorization. Do I
list it and where?
YES, place the information at the top of your resume under your name or near your contact information.
FAQ’s continued: FORMAT-related questions:
How much white space is appropriate on my resume?
The content of the resume is the real focus for the recruiter. Keeping the resume visually pleasing is important, but
there are other ways than white space to achieve a pleasing look.
Why should I not use tabs or spaces to line everything up?
Various systems where you will upload your resume will interpret those differently. Use the ruler
bar or tables to line things up. Tabs and spaces make your resume initially look like everything is
linked up, but when sent electronically or when printed on a variety of printers, the alignment is lost.
What is the proper way to abbreviate months?
January = Jan. July = July (not Jul.)
February = Feb. August = Aug.
March = Mar. September = Sept. (not Sep.)
April = Apr. October = Oct.
May = May November = Nov.
June = June (not Jun.) December = Dec.
Where do I put my current Graduate Assistantship and how?
If your GA assignment gives you relevant work experience in your desired field, it may be a good addition under
your professional work experience section. If your GA assignment does not offer relevant work experience in your
desired field, it may fit better under your educational section, since it is part of your MBA degree program. Listing it
would typically not take up much space– a line or two.
FAQ’s: CONTENT-related questions
Why can’t I put the word “RESUME” at the very top?
Put your full name in larger size instead. It identifies the document as being about YOU.
Save the document with your name in the filename.
You should only use your msu email address. Why?
Many yahoo or hotmail email accounts go to recruiters SPAM accounts. You will be
working with MBA CSC and campus recruiters so there is an automatic affiliation with the
campus.
Why can’t I use an objective statement or summary of qualifications at the top of my
resume?
Your resume IS your summary of qualifications and your career objective (a reader may
not read down any farther). Also, your cover letter which often accompanies your resume
will communicate your summary of qualifications for the specific job, as well as your
objective.
When should I include or not include past or current GPA’s?
Always include your GPA from the MBA degree when it is over a 3.0. Only include
average or major GPA’s from undergraduate or other graduate degrees if they are over at
least a 3.3.
I have academic grades reflecting a scale other than 4.0. Do I need to convert?
Yes, especially if you have degrees from outside the U.S. and plan to work in the U.S.,
where most educational systems use a 4.0 scale.
FAQ’s continued: CONTENT-related questions
Why is a skilled or functional-based resume not recommended?
Recruiters are clear that they want to see where you worked and when in a reverse chronological order. A
resume that is organized by skills or function make it harder for recruiters to find what they are looking for.
Sometimes you might be encouraged to do a functional resume if you are making a drastic career change,
but it is rare.
Do I need to include months with the years of each employment experience?
YES! Especially if you worked somewhere for less than a year. And, 12 months is much different than 20
months. Additionally, recruiters are likely to assume you are hiding something (i.e., gaps in employment)
I know that it is important to be consistent with grammar and punctuation. What are examples of ways I
can do this?
ending all bullet points with a period (sentence) OR NOT
either writing out one, two, three or 1,2, 3
using “and” OR “&”
use past tense verbs when you have stopped working for an employer
How do I list multiple positions with one employer?
It depends…if the accomplishments and responsibilities varied greatly, if you want to show promotion
quickly, or if you want to be accurate in your representation with the organization. Sometimes bullet points
under each position work well, other times, listing all positions one after each other at the top of the section
work well.
Is there a difference between listing “Broad Scholar” and “Broad Scholarship Recipient”?
If you are a “Broad Scholar” you are receiving almost a full-ride scholarship and were selected based on
your leadership potential and academic and work success. A “Broad Scholarship Recipient” received some
level of financial aid, often in the form of a Graduate Assistantship. You’ll want to describe these briefly on
your resume, as someone from outside MSU will not know this information.
FAQ’s continued: CONTENT-related questions

Should I list military or missions experience?

Most likely you should if you need to show skills representing leadership, global exposure, or
languages other than English. Typically, recruiters like to see these types of experiences, if
it fits well with where you are trying to go
Which activities are considered out-of-date?
Anything that is not relevant to what you want to do, or anything that is over 8 years ago.
Often, most extra-curricular activities from undergraduate studies are not as relevant at this
point in your career. You do not need to list undergraduate internships or part-time jobs
while in school, unless they contribute something to your resume that other experiences do
not.
Why is it recommended that technical skills not be listed at the bottom of the resume?
Readers want to see HOW you used the technical programs—the impact they had and how
they helped you accomplish your responsibilities. So, note them within the bullet points of
your experiences.
How do I list language proficiency?
Use the terms--Native, Fluent, Conversant or Basic, based on the level you think you are.
Clarifying written, spoken or both.
How often should I update my resume?
As often is necessary, such as: GA assignment details, placement at case competition,
drop bullet points on former jobs that are not relevant, student organization
involvement/leadership, GPA at end of fall semester
FAQ’s continued: CONTENT-related questions

.
Resumes are not written in first-person or the subjective voice. How do I write in the third-person or objective
voice?
Avoid sentences that have the pronoun’s “I” or “we” (i.e., “Our team took first-place in the competition.” Vs. “Team
placed first in the competition.”
Avoid items on your resume like:
Date of Birth
Person Photos
Place of Birth
Current Age
Nationality or Country of Origin
Marital Status
Visa Status
Gender
TOEFEL score
individual company salaries or any salary history
passport #, I-20 #
“Reason for leaving the job…”
Permanent address (parent’s, family overseas, etc.)
signature
high school education information or equivalent
How do I put academic honors or scholarships in context?
You want to state how/why you received the award (for academic success, or for outstanding leadership ability)
and if there was an amount of money awarded, what percentage of it covered your education?