Career Preparation Resources

What to include on your resume:

• Your contact information
• Education
• Work Experience
• Skills/Certifications

In addition to this, you may want to add items such as:

• Internship Experience
• Professional Associations or Memberships
• Volunteer Work

Format Guidelines

• Font Type: Times New Roman, Arial, or Garamond
• Font Size: 11pt or 12pt
• Employment should be in chronological order
• Tense: Current Job = Present tense , Past Job = Past Tense

Make it ATS-Friendly

• ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, and it is a piece of software that employers use in order to rank the online applications and resumes received.
• Remove unique headings and stick to common headings: Work Experience, Education, Certificates, etc
• Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities (i.e. led, delivered)
• Match your skills and keywords to the job description. NOTE: Do not copy the job description!
• Avoid excessive line separation, tables, or other special characters
• Do not include fancy borders, icons, or pictures

Note: if applying online, always submit your resume in word format. If submitted as a PDF, it may not scan properly and your resume will be rejected.

• The name is bolded and in a larger font.
• Accurate contact number and email.
• Email is professional and appropriate. AOL emails, for example, are “outdated” technology.
• No use of Mr., Miss., Mrs., or age to avoid discrimination.
• Note: Do not include your street address, only City and State.

• Name of college or institution
• Location (city and state)
• Month/Year of graduation, or anticipated
• Degree awards and major
• Minor is optional
• GPA if over 3.5
• Education should be listed in the most recent order

• For each place of employment that you'll be listing, include the following information:
• Name of the company, position title, location of the company (city and state) and dates of employment
• Describe your responsibilities in each role. Make sure your statements start with action verbs and ensure that your description is specific, measurable, and concise.

It seems like an easy question, but it must be strategically answered and directed towards the position. Do not give your entire employment history and do not give unnecessary “fun facts” about yourself. Instead, be focused, clear and concise. Start off with about 1-2 specific accomplishments or experiences that make you the perfect candidate for the position.

The hiring manager wants to know if their recruiting efforts are paying off or if you have a connection from someone within the company. Be honest! Hiring managers also want to know how much you have researched about the company and how passionate you are for this position. Talk about why this position seems interesting to you.

Research the company prior to submitting your resume and interview. Take the time to read the “About” section on the company’s website or you will be doing yourself a disservice. Talk about why you think you are a cultural fit.

Individuals that are passionate about the role are the individuals that get hired. You need to have a great answer. Start by identifying why you are a great fit and what you can offer the company. Then share why you want to work for the company.

This seems very forward and intimidating. Don’t be nervous. This is the perfect opportunity for you to sell yourself and your skills in an honest way. Talk about what separates you from the rest of the competition. Do not be modest. Be confident, but not arrogant with your answer.

For strengths, discuss your true strengths (not what you think they want to hear). Choose 3 and back them up with specific work or school examples.

For weaknesses, the hiring managers are looking for two things:

1. Obvious red flags
2. Your self-awareness. You’ve got to balance this answer. Discuss areas of yourself that you struggle with, but that you’re working to improve. For example, “I struggle with technology, but I have consistently challenged myself by choosing projects that allow me to practice and learn more about how it’s used effectively. Now I am confident I can always master what is needed in order to do a good job.”

Set up the situation and the task you were required to complete.

In my last role as a customer service representative, I was tasked with answering customer's concerns with empathy and exceptional customer service. Describe the action you took to overcome the obstacle. There was one time where I had an irate customer, I listened to their concern without judgment, empathized with them, and was able to correct the situation. Last, provide the result you achieved. The customer completed a survey that displayed my excellent customer service and renewed their contract for 3 more years.

Again, use that STAR Method. Choose an example that shows you can confidently lead a team. This is an answer you want to be memorable.

Conflict is inevitable. The hiring manager wants to see how you respond to conflict. Stick with the STAR Method. Focus on how you handled the situation in a professional and productive manner and how you reached a resolution or compromise.

Be honest and specific about your goals. Here, the hiring manager wants to know:

1. Are you realistic with the expectations of yourself?
2. Does this role align with those expectations?
3. Are you invested in the company, or will you leave within a year?

Think realistically about where this position could take you. It is also okay to say that you are not entirely sure, but this position plays an important role in determining where you will be.

• Burlington County Jobs
• Career Builder
• CollegeGrad - CollegeGrad.com is the #1 entry level job site, with extensive information on careers, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, salary information, employer research and entry level job postings.
• Dice - Targets technology-related jobs.
• Glass Door - Receive information about company salaries, as well as reviews and interview questions for 23,000+ companies. All posted anonymously by employees.
• Indeed - Top-rated search engine that pulls job postings from job/career web sites all over the country - search them all at once! Save time by setting up automatic updates to "feed" new jobs that are of interest to your email inbox.
• LinkedIn - This is the premier professional networking site. It is also great for conducting company research and job searches. Use it to target companies and people in a specific field of expertise.
• Monster - For entry-level and advanced jobs nationally.
• NJ.com - This is the site for New Jersey jobs. Local jobs are posted more often so you can locate a job in New Jersey here.
• NJ Hire - NJ Hire is the Recruitment Network for the State of New Jersey.
• Simply Hired - Top-rated search engine that pulls job postings from job/career web sites all over the country.
• Snag A Job
• Sources4Teachers - Substitute Teacher placement and educational staffing.
• ZipRecruiter - Find jobs - Any industry. Any location. Any experience level.

• Glass Door - Receive information about company salaries, as well as reviews and interview questions for 23,000+ companies. All posted anonymously by employees.
• Google Alerts - Follow companies for which you are interested in working. Read recent articles and pick up job-search leads.
• Idealist - Learn about jobs at non-profit and community organizations in 165 countries.
• Princeton Review - Includes internship announcements and articles on the career planning process, college preparation and selection.

• Chegg Internships
• Glass Door - Receive information about company salaries, as well as reviews and interview questions for 23,000+ companies. All posted anonymously by employees.
• Intern Jobs - Provides national listings and allows students to post their resume.
• Intern Web - Free, quick, and easy resource for students to find local internships and volunteer opportunities.

• Keep it brief in length (2-3 paragraphs, no more than a page overall).
• Use consistent branding – Use the same header and font as your resume.
• Use letter format with company name, company address, date, Dear: Hiring Manager, & closure.
• Showcase what YOU can offer the company, not what the company will do for you.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread, for misspellings and/or grammatical errors.

• If you are a student/recent graduate, mention your university/major and how it applies to the job.
• If you have direct work experience, mention those roles.
• If you are changing careers, state why you want this position and the transferrable skills that make you qualified for the role.
• Highlight only the skills that are relevant to the position.
• Give the reader an understanding of your strengths.
• Request an appointment or phone call.