Creating Your Co-op Resume

A resume is a marketing tool written to persuade a specific employer that you have the experience, skills, abilities, education, personal qualities or potential to fill a particular position. An effective resume displays your achievements, experience, and attributes to the best advantage while minimizing any possible weaknesses.

The average first reading of a resume is 30 seconds, so your resume must be brief, targeted and easy to skim, while highlighting your skills. Co-op resumes are different from post graduate resumes as employers are willing to be informed of your high school experience and honors. While there are many strategies to employ in order to create a successful resume, co-op has compiled several key points to aid you in your quest.

Resume Guidelines

For the purposes of submitting a co-op resume to the Cooperative Education Office at UAHuntsville, it is recommended that the following format be followed, in this order:

Contact Information
Name, Address, Phone Number, Alternate Phone Number, E-mail (UAH e-mail preferred)

Objective
Mention specifically, ”Co-op position” (i.e. "To obtain a co-op position in Poultry Seasoning Sciences")

Education
UAHuntsville listed first, followed by previously attended colleges and universities, then high school

Employment Experience
Current job listed first

Special Skills

Awards and Honors

Activities

NOTE: References are to be uploaded as a separate document, and are not to be included on resume.

Additional Tips:

• Use spell and grammar check
• Choose easily readable type fonts and sizes
• Make sentences short and to the point
• Avoid clichés and slang
• Use adjectives sparingly
• Stick to the facts
• Limit to one page if possible