SECTIONS OF A RESUME
JOE REDBERRY
CONTACT INFORMATION
 Use a professional
email/voicemail
OBJECTIVE
 What exactly do you want to do
for work?
 Be specific and show a job title,
industry, field, position level,
skills you will use
HIGHLIGHTS OF
QUALIFICATIONS
 In bullet form, list relevant
experience, education and skills,
computer and language skills
 Make sure your qualifications
are in order of importance and
relevant to the position
EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
 If education is recent, add
before work experience.
Include highlights of major
projects completed or the
skills, knowledge and
experience and/or major
accomplishments gained
from your course of study
 Include all education and
training relevant to the job
to which you are applying
 List education in reverse
chronological order (most
recent first)
WORK EXPERIENCE
 List work history in reverse
chronological order (most recent
first)
 Use action verbs to convey the
skill(s) used (i.e. processed,
calculated, developed, analyzed,
coordinated)
 Try to make each point
accomplishment oriented
123 Main Street Anywhere, ON V8S 5B1
(999) 999-9999 joe@mail.com
OBJECTIVE
Seeking an International Financial Analyst position where I can contribute my
accounting and financial knowledge, analytical skills and work experience.
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Top student in Bachelor of Applied Business – International Accounting and
Finance degree program at Seneca College. Awarded President’s Honour
List twice, and recommended for graduation. GPA 3.8 out of 4.0
 Eligible to write International Accounting Accreditation exam and become
accredited with an ACCA or CPA designation
 Knowledge of International Accounting Standards and Forensic Audit
Management
 Experience implementing an ERP system using MS Great Plains Dynamics
 Strong accounting skills developed through 3 years related work experience
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Applied Business January 2007 – April 2010
International Accounting and Finance degree
Seneca College, Toronto, ON
 Identified the similarities and differences among International accounting
standards and various country’s GAAP
 Completed a major project analyzing a company’s Sarbanes Oxley (SOX)
related internal control reviews
 In a team based environment, completed a case-study by identifying, analyzing
and solving fraud schemes such as forgery, confidence schemes and
embezzlement
WORK EXPERIENCE
Accounting Tutor (part-time) April 2007 – Dec 2009
The Learning Center - Seneca College, Toronto, ON
 Tutored two Fundamental Accounting courses and two Intermediate Accounting
courses. All are CGA credit courses
 Instructed financial plan case studies and audit case studies
 Demonstrated excellent customer service skills, and received the Certificate for
Customer Service Training from Seneca College
Accountant Assistant Aug 2004 – Jan 2006
Accounting Department - Beijing Transportation Bureau, China
 Completed internal cash control and bank reconciliation
 Performed A/R and A/P functions
 Prepared monthly payroll worksheet and financial statements
 Collected data from six departments for the development of budgets for senior
management
 ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL RESUME SECTIONS

Joe Redberry (999) 999-9999

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 List any special achievements,
including professional, personal
and/or academic achievements
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
 Include any recent volunteer
activities (within the last 5 years)
 Volunteer activities include
anything you have done of your
own free will without
compensation
INTERESTS or HOBBIES
 Include any hobbies, interests
and/or sports
 Interests can demonstrate
curiosity, ambition, discipline,
teamwork, creativity and
uniqueness
joe@mail.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Nominated for the Premier’s Award
 Upheld a grade point average of 3.8 throughout College
 High School Valedictorian
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Office Assistant
ABC Company, Toronto, ON Jan 2005-Aug 2007
 Accurately filed confidential information
 Politely answered a 100 employee multi-line telephone system and took
messages
 Scheduled over 10 meetings per month and booked rooms
 Operated general office equipment including photocopier, fax machine and
database updating
INTERESTS or HOBBIES
Gardening
 Landscaped an outdoor paradise complete with gazebo, raised perennial beds,
retaining wall, two fish ponds with foundations, interlocking brick design.

ASSOCIATIONS ASSOCIATIONS
 List any professional or personal  Student Member, ACCA Canada
associations where you possess
membership
 You may want to omit religious REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
or political associations

Creating a List of References…

 Do NOT include references or company contact information in your resume

 It is best to have your reference contact information typed out and prepared to give to the interviewer
 Try to have at least 3 references (employer, professor, etc.). Be sure to contact them prior to your interview to seek
permission
Example:
Name of Reference:
Title:
Company:
Phone Number:
Email:
Relationship: e.g. Previous Supervisor
 RESUME WRITING TIPS
DO
 Include your contact information: name,
address, phone number, cell number, email
address, etc. Always put your name and phone
number on the second page of your resume
 Have a plain text (ASCII) version of your
resume for emailing or applying on-line.
 Use quality paper – best to use white for
scanning, faxing etc.
 Ensure your resume is error free – spelling,
grammar, irregular spacing, verb tenses
 Save your resume in two separate places e.g.
on a USB Key and in your email
 Make it easy for the employer to see the match
between your skills and what the employer is
seeking. Always tailor your resume for the job
you are applying for
 Demonstrate accomplishments when possible
by using concrete examples, e.g.
“Communicated with customers on selection of
products, increasing sales by 10%”
 Use powerful action words to describe your
skills, particularly transferable skills
 When listing employment experience, include
your position title and the correct company
name
 Be brief and specific – no paragraphs. Break
down information using bullets. Ensure bullets
line up, all headings are the same font size and
indentations are consistent
DON’T
Specify your: age, height, weight, marital
status, gender, ethnicity, political/religious
affiliations, physical description, health
information, photograph or SIN
Include any salary expectations
Include your references in your resume
Oversell yourself or make false
misrepresentations about yourself
Use colons after headings
Put the word ‘Resume’ at the top of the page
Use personal pronouns (i.e. I, me, my)
Use abbreviations or acronyms unless the
acronyms are commonly used in the industry
Indicate your reasons for leaving your previous
employers, or include negative comments
about your previous work experience
Bold, Underline and CAPITALIZE the same
item
Use fonts that are difficult to read or that do not
scan or fax well. Test it yourself before you
make a final decision. Good fonts to use are
Arial and Times New Roman, size 11 or 12
Send your resume to every job you see.
Targeting a posting and customizing your
resume to each position is a much more
effective way to job search
COVER LETTER GUIDE

✓ Always have a cover le er, even if the ✓ Demonstrate how you will contribute to
posi on only asks for a resume. the company’s goals.

✓ Keep your le er short; one page, no ✓ Use terms and phrases that are meaningful
more than 3-5 paragraphs. to the employer.

✓ Be sure to have your address and contact ✓ Avoid vague and general statements. Be
informa on accurate and up to date. specific about your experiences.

✓ Address your le er to a specific person. ✓ Be posi ve and upbeat, focus on what you
can do for the employer.

✓ Be professional; use a formal tone with ✓ Proofread your le er for any mistakes
business le er format. (spelling, grammar, and tone). Have
someone proofread your le er.

✓ Open with an a en on grabber that ✓ Send original le ers; not general

generates interest immediately. photocopied le ers.

✓ Write a le er that reflects your ✓ When emailing your resume, put the cover
personality, skills and abili es–be honest. le er and resume in one file. This saves the
employer the trouble of opening two
separate files.

✓ Downplay “I” and emphasize “you.” ✓ Take the ini a ve by asking for an
Make the le er employer focused. interview.

✓ Customize your le er to fit the ✓ Close the le er by thanking the employer

requirements of the job. for their me.

✓ Lend the cover le er your personality. ✓ Keep it simple and clear.

Helpful Tips for Wri ng a Cover Le er

✓ Customize each cover le er to the posi on
✓ Le er should be no more than one page
being applied for.
in length.

✓ Highlight relevant experience. ✓ Do not send out generic le ers.

✓ Take your me – dra , revise and ✓ Show enthusiasm and sincerity.

rewrite.
✓ Be sure to spell the contact name and ✓ Do not use short form words.
tle correctly.

✓ Do not exaggerate your experience. ✓ Cover le er paper should be the same as

the resume paper.
✓ Where possible, personalize your cover ✓ Where applicable, include the posi on
le er. compe on number.
 RESUME ACTION WORDS

Management Verbs
administered contracted executed prioritized
analyzed coordinated improved produced
assigned delegated increased recommended
attained developed organized reviewed
chaired directed oversaw scheduled
consolidated evaluated planned strengthened
supervised
Communication Verbs
addressed developed interpreted publicized
arbitrated directed lectured reconciled
arranged drafted mediated recruited
authored edited moderated spoke
collaborated enlisted negotiated translated
convinced formulated persuaded wrote
corresponded influenced promoted

Research Verbs
clarified examined interpreted reviewed
collected extracted interviewed summarized
diagnosed identified investigated surveyed
evaluated inspected organized systematized

Technical Verbs
assembled computed maintained remodelled
built designed operated repaired
calculated engineered overhauled solved
fabricated programmed upgraded
cont’d on reverse
RESUME ACTION WORDS cont’d

Teaching Verbs
adapted communicated encouraged informed
advised coordinated evaluated instructed
clarified demystified explained persuaded
coached developed facilitated set goals
trained enabled guided stimulated

Helping Verbs
advocated coached educated guided
assessed counselled expedited motivated
assisted demonstrated facilitated referred
clarified diagnosed familiarized rehabilitated
represented

Clerical or Detail Verbs

approved dispatched operated retrieved
arranged executed organized screened
catalogued generated prepared specified
classified implemented processed systematized
collected inspected purchased tabulated
compiled monitored recorded validated

Accomplishment Verbs
achieved pioneered resolved spearheaded
(problems)
expanded reduced transformed
(losses) restored
improved