Career Development Program · Week 5
Resumes
You've built your plan. Now it's time to build your most important job search tool: your resume.
Download the workbook (PDF)A resume is more than a list of jobs. It's your personal marketing document. It tells your story, shows your strengths, and gives employers a reason to call you.
This week you'll learn what goes on a resume, how to describe your work so it stands out, and how to match your resume to a job posting. By the end, you'll have a draft you can share with your coach. This is part of Outcome 2.
This week you’ll learn
- The sections every resume needs
- How to write strong bullet points: action + what you did + result
- How to match your resume to a job description
This week’s lessons
Read each short lesson, then answer the questions in the worksheet below.
What goes on a resume
Employers often spend less than a minute on a resume. Make it easy for them to see who you are and why you fit.
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Header | Your full name, phone number, a professional email (like firstname.lastname@gmail.com), and your city and state. |
| Summary | One or two sentences: the job you want and what you bring. |
| Experience | Most recent job first. For each: job title, company, city, month and year you started and ended, and 2–4 bullet points. |
| Skills & certifications | Skills that match the job, plus certifications like ServSafe Food Handler, CPR or OSHA. |
| Education | High school, GED, trade training or college. List the school and what you completed. |
Best practices and common mistakes
Best practices
- Includes full name, phone number, email address
- Professional summary or objective statement
- Work experience in reverse chronological order (newest first)
- Each job includes action verbs and measurable results
- Skills section is relevant to the job
- Easy-to-read format with clear headings
- One page (unless 10+ years of experience)
- File saved as a PDF with a professional name
Common mistakes
- Missing contact information
- Spelling or grammar errors
- Too much text, no white space
- Responsibilities listed instead of accomplishments
- Generic or vague language
- Unprofessional email address
- Wrong or outdated file name (e.g., Resume2020.doc)
- No keywords from the job description
Gaps in your work history?
Short gaps are common. You don't need to explain them on your resume. Training counts too: add this program's certifications and any classes you've completed.
Write bullet points that stand out
Describe what you did in a way that shows results. Use this formula for every bullet:
Action verb + What you did + Result
Example: Operated the cash register during peak hours, handling 75+ transactions daily with 100% accuracy.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Worked at the register | Greeted and served hundreds of customers at the register |
| Cleaned tables | Maintained a clean, organized dining area during peak hours |
| Stocked supplies | Restocked inventory and managed weekly stock rotation |
| Helped customers | Resolved customer concerns quickly to keep guests satisfied |
Action verbs to start your bullets
Managed · Led · Coordinated · Delivered · Solved · Built · Created · Improved · Operated · Organized · Assisted · Prepared · Served · Trained · Maintained · Handled
Match your resume to the job
Employers (and their software) look for the words in their job posting. Read the posting, find 2–3 key tasks, and make sure your bullets use those words. Example posting for a Shift Leader at a cafe:
- Provide excellent customer service
- Operate POS system and manage transactions
- Ensure cleanliness and food safety compliance
Matching bullet: "Provided friendly service to 150+ customers per shift and processed payments on a Square POS system."
Worksheet: My resume
These questions match the Week 5 worksheet in the workbook. You can type your answers into the PDF, write them by hand, or submit this form. Your coach sees what you submit online.
Download the workbook (PDF)* Required
Thank you!
Thank you. Your Week 5 Resumes work is in. Come back to the CDP page next week for Cover Letters.