Your professional resume is a vital component of an effective co-op employment search. The resume highlights your strengths, interests and potential. Please use the attached sample resume as it will help guide you in preparing your own.

Personal Data: Begin with your name, home address and telephone number. You should not include information regarding your sex, race, age, marital status or health, since none of this information is relevant to your suitability as a candidate for co-op employment with a company.

Education: Start with the most recent school(s) you attended. You may choose to indicate the types of classes you completed and any honors and/or awards you received. Including your grade point average is optional.

Work Experience: Starting with the most recent, briefly describe jobs you have held lately. These may be paid or voluntary, part-time, summer or self-employment. Emphasize major responsibilities and indicate progressive increases in responsibility whenever possible. If appropriate, indicate achievements for which you were responsible.

Extracurricular Activities: This is your opportunity to indicate that you are a well-rounded individual with the energy and interest to become involved in more than just schoolwork. Describe your school and community activities and accomplishments. Include your personal hobbies and interests and indicate any recognition you have achieved.

In the sample resume you can see the use of certain action verbs in the work experience area. Below is a list of action verbs to assist in writing about your work experience(s):

• Communications:
  advised, advocated, commented, consulted, displayed, guided, informed, interpreted, recommended, promoted, referred, negotiated, sold, trained, presented
• Administration:
  administered, distributed, managed, motivated, arranged, obtained, represented, completed, reviewed, organized, selected, controlled, implemented, supervised, directed
• Analysis:
  improved, prepared, created, produced, designed, drafted, modified, proposed, researched, planned
• Financial/Records Management:
  allocated, collected, purchased, audited, balanced, expedited, invested, monitored, updated, processed
• General Terms:
  accomplished, originated, strengthened, achieved, expanded, assisted, handled, provided, utilized, initiated