1. Personal Data: Name, address, city, state, zip code, day and evening telephone numbers (with area codes) and E-mail address. Avoid including marital status, height, weight, or health on your resume.

2. Objective: Employers want to know what your goals are, where you see yourself in the company or the agency, and where you want to be in the future. You can tailor your objective to include one sentence about your immediate goals (1-3 years) and one about your long-term aims. If you have more than one objective (for example, you are an education major who may want to teach or become a corporate trainer) then you should have different resumes tailored to each objective.

3. Education: For recent college graduates, it is best to list education at the beginning of your resume since you want to market your degree as opposed to your work experience. List your degrees in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recently earned. Include minors (if applicable) and grade point average, either overall, in your major only, or both.

4. Honors and Awards: Place any academic distinctions under education.

5. Course Work: This is optional. Use it creatively to fill out your resume if you don't have a full page, or it can be used if courses were directly related to the type of job you are seeking.

6. Work Experience: List in reverse chronological order. Include the name and address of your employer and your title (internship and volunteer experience can be listed as well). Describe your responsibilities and achievements as well as the skills required to perform your job. If you have little or no work experience, stress your interests, energy, enthusiasm, and ambition.

7. Extracurricular Activities: Include participation in groups or clubs that highlight your abilities and skills. List positions that indicate leadership ability, organizational skills, and responsibility (president, treasurer, founder, editor, etc.).

8. Special Skills and Hobbies: Experience with computers, facility with languages other than English and typing ability are all pluses with employers. Hobbies that indicate certain levels of skills, analytical abilities, or athletic achievement (chess, photography, tennis, etc.) may be included. Any hobby related to your career goals should also be listed.

9. References: The line "references will be furnished on request" is acceptable to most employers. If references are required, ask how many and what type (personal, employer, professional). Personal references are given by people who can attest to your character, integrity, and disposition. Employer references focus on job performance and skills. Professional references are from instructors who can make statements about your study habits, industriousness, and intellectual capability.

10. Other Data: Indicate your willingness to relocate, geographic preferences, or ability to travel.