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A FUNCTIONAL RESUME can be used if you are a recent graduate with limited employment experience, someone changing career fields, or have gaps in employment.
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One page should be sufficient for most functional resumes.
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Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Tahoma, or Verdana in font size 11 or 12 for body text.
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Use at least a 5-inch margin on all sides.
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Use the same heading on the cover letter, resume, and references.
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Make your name stand out in the heading by using a larger font.
STUDENT A. NAME
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
(000) 000-0000
email@example.com LinkedIn Profile/Custom URL
1. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Your professional qualifications (also called key qualifications, qualifications summary, or core qualifications) is like a billboard for your greatest achievements and most relevant skills. Like all elements, it should be focused on the position you want and should explain in bulleted statements exactly what you have to offer and how your previous accomplishments will make you an asset. Ask yourself these questions:
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What are my major accomplishments?
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What skills do I possess that qualify me for the position and relate to the requirements in the job posting?
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What are some of my characteristics that set me apart from other candidates?
See the article Begin Your Resume With Professional Qualifications.
2. EDUCATION
Name of College/University/Trade School City, State 00/0000 – 00/0000
Title of Degree
3. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
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If you lack professional work experience, list other work experience here. Include the dates of employment, your role, and the name of the organization.
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If you lack professional (paid) experience, but have relevant experience as a volunteer, use the Volunteer Experience section (see Optional Sections).
5. Optional Sections
A. LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association Expires 00/0000
B. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Blood Services Team Member, American Red Cross City, State 00/0000 – 00/0000
C. AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
D. ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK
Emergency Management Institute 0000
Incident Command System (ICS-100)
Final Check!
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Be sure to check for grammar and spelling errors before submission! Have a second pair of eyes review your documents.
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Do not include tables, special characters, columns, or non-standard bullets when submitting via computer. These may confuse the applicant tracking system (ATS).
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Save your resume as a PDF or in plain text for electronic transmission.
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Do not include references on a resume nor phrases like “References available upon request.” A separate reference sheet formatted like your other documents should be created in case an employer requests it.

Revised 13 December 2022