Instructions for Using the iMentor Resume Template

What is the iMentor Resume Template?

The iMentor Resume Template has been designed to make it easy for you to produce a high-quality resume. It has been set up to include all of the important information that future employers will be looking for, in a format that will make it easy for them to read.

How do I use the iMentor Resume Template?

The template already includes all of the necessary sections and formatting needed to make your resume look complete and professional. All you need to do is REPLACE the existing text with your own personal information! As you type in your own information, be sure to keep the font formatting (bold, italics, underlines, etc.) that appears in the template. If you are unsure of how something should look, check out the Sample Mentee Resume.

What if I’ve never had a job before?

Even if you do not yet have a lot of employment experience, your resume can demonstrate your qualifications for the job you’re applying for by listing information about extracurricular activities you participate in, awards you have received, or special skills you possess. Here are some examples of the types of information that you should feel free to include on your resume:

HONORS

Honor Roll or other school awards (attendance, achievement, etc.)

Community awards (leadership, community service, etc.)

Sports team captain, or any league awards (sportsmanship, most valuable or improved player, etc.)

ACTIVITIES

iMentor -- EVERY MENTEE SHOULD INCLUDE THIS!!!

Sports teams (basketball, football, softball, volleyball, etc.)

School clubs or committees (band, yearbook committee, volunteer organizations, leadership groups, student government, etc.)

Clubs or organizations outside of school (church groups, YMCA, activist groups, etc.)

Volunteer work

Internships

Hobbies

SKILLS

Microsoft Office applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, etc.)

Any other computer programs that you are able to use

Internet research skills

Excellent phone manners or interpersonal communication skills

Typing – include number of words per minute (WPM) if you know it.

General office skills (mailing, filing, faxing, etc.)

What if I have fewer than two job experiences, honors, or activities?

The resume template is set up to include two job experiences, two honors, and two activities, including your participation in iMentor. If you have fewer than two items to list in any of these categories, just delete the extra rows, and the rest of the resume will move up automatically. If you have more than two, just insert an extra row in the table, and the rest of the resume will move down automatically.

What is the best way to describe my work responsibilities and accomplishments?

The important thing to focus on is making it as easy as possible for the person reading your resume to understand how your past experience makes you a good candidate for the job in question. To do this, you should use the following guidelines for each employment experience or activity you include on your resume:

List at least three responsibilities that you had and/or achievements you accomplished! They should be listed in order of their importance or relevance for the job you’re applying for.

Use phrases instead of complete sentences! Each description should relate as directly as possible to the job you are applying for, and each phrase should begin with an “action verb” (“managed,” “coordinated,” “assisted,” etc.) to describe the specific skills involved in each job responsibility. See the page entitled Action Verbs for Resumes for a list of action verbs that are useful in resumes.

Try to make each item sound as interesting and impressive as possible! For example, instead of simply writing “Filed papers,” you could say “Responsible for managing client files.” For more examples of different ways to “dress up” the descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements, please see the page entitled Making the Words in Your Resume Work for You.

Use numbers (where possible) to quantify your responsibilities and achievements! For example, you should include information about how many clients you worked with, how many people you supervised, etc.

Avoid spelling and grammatical errors! If your resume includes ANY errors, it will convey the message that you do not pay attention to details, which is likely to make a potential employer reject your application immediately. Be sure to DOUBLE-CHECK your resume, and also ask a friend or your mentor to check it for you as well.

Keep your tenses correct! Remember to use the present tense (e.g., “coordinate” or “assist”) to describe jobs or activities in which you are currently involved, and past tense (e.g., “coordinated” or “assisted”) for old jobs and activities. This is an easy mistake to make, so be careful.

Keep your formatting consistent! This means that if you use one kind of formatting (e.g., bold text) to list employer names and another kind (e.g., underlined text) to list job titles, you should be sure to use the same formatting consistently throughout your entire resume. The iMentor Resume Template has been designed to make this easy for you -- as long as you delete the existing text and replace it with your own information, the formatting should be consistent.

Focus on the positive! Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience or the highest GPA in the world, your resume is your chance to highlight the skills and strengths that you DO have. Put some thought into how you can present yourself in the best light to potential employers by focusing on as many relevant accomplishments and interests as you can.

Be honest! It is NEVER acceptable to include any false information on your resume! Remember, when you get an interview, you will be expected to be able to talk about every item on your resume, so everything you include must be true. Lying on your resume will only hurt your chances of getting the job, so it’s never a good idea to mislead a perspective employer.

Be clear and keep it simple! Above all, the most important thing you can do when writing your resume is to be sure all the information you include is accurate, clear, and concise. Most employers do not have time to spend more than a few minutes (at most) looking at a resume, so you need to be sure that yours makes it easy for them to find the information they are looking for.

Remember, the main purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, where you will have the opportunity to fill in more details about your qualifications and experience, so you shouldn’t try to include too much information in the resume -- just enough to demonstrate that you are a good candidate for the position you’re applying for.

Writing a good resume takes time, so don’t expect the first draft of your resume to be “perfect.” You should focus first on getting the basic information entered on the template, and then you can work with your mentor on revising and improving it over time.

To get started working on the iMentor Resume Template, click here!