Resumes

Creating an effective resume is essential to securing an interview. An employer will scrutinize your resume for less than one minute basing the decision whether to interview you on what your resume tells them. There are many ways to create a resume to grab the employer's attention. Because each of us has a variety of work and educational experiences, it is important to assess a number of options.

Three Basic Types of Resumes

The chronological resume is the most often used resume. It stresses dates and places of employment. It begins with the most recent employment and education and moves backwards in time.

The functional resume presents credentials under skill headings. It is storytelling in nature, thus illustrating skills with attached accomplishments. The functional resume is most useful to eliminate monotonous repetition of similar jobs, to show how past career skills are relevant, and to apply for non-legal corporate positions. This resume is great for a candidate who is highly advanced in a career.

The corporate/composite resume is a mixture of the chronological and functional resumes. It emphasizes dates of employment, title of positions, and skills acquired.

Basic Information to Include in Your Resume

Name: You should place your name at the top of the resume. Nicknames are not acceptable. If you prefer to be called by your middle name, use an initial for your first name. For example, Christopher Scott Jones may list C. Scott Jones or Scott Jones.

Contact Information: Your contact information should include your address, phone number with area code, and email address. (It is important that you provide a telephone with an answering machine, and be sure to create a professional message). Street names, etc. are spelled out, not abbreviated. Use the address where you wish to be contacted. Additionally, an e-mail address makes you easy to reach. Include an e-mail address only if you check your account at least once daily.

Professional Profile/Summary of Qualifications: This section is typically recommended only for individuals with extensive pre-law school experience. This is essentially your three to five sentence commercial explaining your strengths and how your previous career skills translate to the career you are seeking. This section is located at the top of your resume.

Bar Admissions/Licensure: It is important that you list your professional licenses when applicable. For example, if you are a member of the bar in a particular state, you should list accordingly (e.g. State of Ohio Bar, May 1990). It is also equally important to list other licenses here such as a medical, accountling, real estate, etc.

Education: This may be one of the most important items on your resume. This area should include all post high school education. The information should be presented in reverse chronological order (starting with the most current) and should include names of institutions, locations, degrees awarded, dates of graduation, (dates attended, if appropriate), and college major and minor. In addition, this topic can include "honors and activities," grades/averages and class rank. The Education section may also include any scholarships, book awards, law review, and moot court.

Experience: If you have career-related experience, you may wish to include that information in a separate category titled, "Legal Experience." All other work can then follow under "Other" or "Additional" Experience. This information should also be in reverse chronological order. Descriptions should begin with active verbs. Be concise and truthful, highlighting achievements when possible. Be sure to include dates of employment, although summer employment can be indicated as "Summer 1997." Jobs such as Server, Bartender, and Painter can be listed together with a collective employment date. "Other summer positions included server and self-employed painter, 1991-1994" or "Summer and part-time jobs helped defray college and law school expenses."

Military: Indicate the branch of service, organization, rank at the time of discharge, duty station, etc. Military service can be a separate topic or included under employment.

Publications: If you have published any law and/or law related articles, list them on your resume. Also, include any significant research paper published or accepted for publication.

Skills: This is an excellent spot to indicate fluency in language, special licenses or certifications, expertise in another educational area, etc. Include skills a legal employer can utilize. Computer literacy is useful to a firm that utilizes computerized legal research systems. For example, a CPA certification is of interest to tax practitioners. If not related to law, list special skills that are interesting and can differentiate you from other candidates.

Interests or Community Service: This is an optional category. Do not include personal data such as marital status, height or weight. Think about including serious, ongoing hobbies or interests (have played piano since the age of four) that provide insight into the non-academic side of you. In an interview, the employer may ask you about your interests as a means of building rapport. Interests may include published poet, avid fly fisherman, marathon runner, etc. This is one place on the resume to show your individuality.

Appearance and Formatting Suggestions

Appearance is the key to a good resume. If upon first glance, it appears wordy, cluttered and tough to read, it will probably not be read. The following mechanics enhance readability:

Avoid a cluttered appearance by leaving equal right, left, top, and bottom margins.
Use action verbs and phrases instead of sentences. For example, drafted memoranda, supervised staff of two, organized mailings, proofed text.
Do not use personal pronouns on your resume (i.e., "I, me, my," etc.)
Do not abbreviate.
White space is good on a resume. It improves the overall appearance and readability of a resume.
At a minimum, a resume should be done on a letter-quality printer, with individual copies reproduced by a laser printer or a good quick print establishment. Use good quality white, cream or beige paper.
Make sure you have no typographical errors or misspelled words.
Use italics, boldface or underlining for emphasis.
Select a layout that makes the resume easy to read and highlights important content.
Be sure that all information on your resume is correct.
Have the resume reviewed by the Career Services Office.

Resources

Resume Almanac (1996).
James C. Gonyea and Wayne M. Gonyea, Electronic Resumes: A Complete Guide to Putting Your Resume On-Line (1996).
Peggy Schmidt, The 90 Minute Resume (1992).
Peggy Schmidt, The Advanced 90 Minute Resume (1992).
Resumes That Knock 'Em Dead (2004 6th Ed.).
Bob Weinstein, Resumes for Hard Times: How to Make Yourself a Hot Property in a Cold Market (1982).
J. Murray Elwood, The Perfect Legal Resume (2000).
Carl McDaniels, Developing a Professional Vita or Resume (1990 Revised Ed.).