I was just wondering what you guys think of the different type of resume formats there are and if there is a "better" format (or it doesnt matter at all). My bschool uses the format in which the EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE etc headings go into a left column, along with the dates beneath them, while the description and name of position etc goes on the right. (i guess you guys know what its like) But I've also seen a lot of the format that people use which are the ones where you have a line below the heading with no column separations. What do you guys think? Also, I was wondering if it would be better to separate off the EXPERIENCE heading into WORK EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, RELATED EXPERIENCE, or just leave it as one? Also, i've heard some conflicted opinions on the use of Times New Roman, some says yes, some says no... what about this?
and one more question, is working for 15hrs a week as a computer consultant at the uni's computer lab worth mentioning on the resume?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Well first off I think you might be over thinking this a little, but for what its worth I didn't have columns and used Times New Roman. I would not break the "experience" category up, but perhaps someone who works in HR and sees thousands more resumes than I will be a better source on this stuff...
If your resume has more "paragraphs" (by which I basically mean complete sentences) rather than very short bullets, you will be able to fit much more with the "line" approach rather than the "column" approach. Contrarily, if you have a lot of short bullets, use the column approach, because you need the maximum number of lines devoted to bullets/content (rather than formatting) and you can sacrifice white space on the left hand side (because each bullet is short).
Google the Darden, Columbia, or Stern resumes, and use the same format. (I don't think the Wharton, Harvard, Stanford ones are available for free)
The format itself doesn't matter ALL that much as long as it's presented cleanly and conveys the information well.
The format I generally use and recommend to anyone who uses my resume review service is Education on top (assuming you're still in college/business school), followed by Work Experience with the dates to the left, firm names/titles in the middle and locations on the right, and then Activities/Interests/Skills (depending on the mix) at the bottom.
I generally like the column separation/bullet approach more than putting everything into paragraphs, but that's just me personally. I read so many resumes every day/week it's just easier to scan through like that.
On separating out experience - I would not do that unless you have a good reason to do so. If Leadership Experience is related to school activities, I would just put that under Activities unless it's something really monumental.
Times New Roman - doesn't really matter, just don't go crazy with fonts.
I would not mention a 15 hour a week part-time job unless you need to fill up space or don't have much work experience and need to make it look more significant.
To comment on the computer consultant question...
It all depends on what other experience you have. If this job is more impressive than other experience on your resume then replace it.
Thanks for the advice guys, would it make any difference with the computer consultant job if I am only gonna be a junior next year? The only real work experience I will be having is an internship at a BB doing corporate banking this summer. (though i did kinda volunteered as a sales assistant at a charity second hand shop last year for a few weeks, but the experience is minimal and seems irreleavent).
One more possibly stupid question, since things are suppose to be in chronological format, my biggest 'attraction' of working at a BB will be pushed down by other less stellar experiences (school activities) or even the consultant job since their dates willl all be '-PRESENT'.. is that normal?
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