Résumé Components

We suggest you write your own résumé — your personal touch will show prospective employers a lot about you. Modify it to make it job-specific as you interview with different employers. The list below should help you as you begin composing.

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• Your name, address, phone number and e-mail address should be easy to read and to find, but do not make an elaborate graphic display out of them.
• Use your home phone number, not your current work number on the résumé.
  
  
• Objective
• Create a general objective if you're planning to send your résumé to a lot of different companies you have not researched.
• If you choose to do this, make sure that it covers a scope broad enough to make it applicable to all the companies to which you apply
• A general objective should not be used if you have spoken with someone at the prospective company about the position you're interested in, or if you know something about the position or have a personal contact there.
  
  
• Experience
• Previous work experience should be organized so that your most recent job is listed first and other jobs are listed afterwards.
• If you have had numerous jobs, do not list those that you only stayed at for a short while or those that do little to showcase the skills and experience you believe will help you excel in an accounting position.
• Do not leave out internships.
• When you describe your job, point out your accomplishments rather than listing your duties. 
• The purpose of this is to make sure prospective employers understand the skills you brought to past employers, and the positive qualities past employers cultivate in you.
  
  
• Education
• List any post-secondary degrees, such as an associate's or bachelor's degree, placing the most recent degree first on the list.
• Feel free to list any courses outside your area of concentration whose content would interest prospective employers.
• List your GPA in your major separately from your overall GPA, as employers expect it to be higher than your overall GPA.
  
  
• Activities
• Present all of the volunteer and professional organizations with which you are involved.
• List the dates and titles of offices or positions you have held.
•  Employers will look favorably on your choice to use free time to make a difference in your community and help others.
  
  
• Awards or Honors
• Showcase your academic honors, organization awards, community awards and any recognition received from previous jobs.
  
  
• References 
• Be sure to request permission from anyone you plan to list as a reference.
• Have a list of all your references with you at your interviews just in case an employer should request it.
  
  
• Overall Look
• Use an extra heavy stock of paper for your résumé, cover letter and sending envelope.
• A 20 pound weight paper in white, cream or light grey is the best choice.
• Use a uniform and easy-to-read font.
  
  
  TSCPA's "Career Planner" and the AICPA are the primary references for the above information.  

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