I. HEADING - Name should be centered in large type with contact information flush left and right. (Same number of lines.)

II. EDUCATION - Reverse chronological order for multiple degrees (Note: Only list a Masters degree if it is completed or anticipated by date of employment availability). List significant accomplishments in bullet form. During college years these include:

A. Academics: List GPA if 3.0 or better (if undergrad below a 3.0, don't list either graduate or undergraduate GPA).
B. Self-Support: List percent expenses earned or number hours worked per week during school year, whichever has greater impact. (Note: Scholarships and loans do not count as earned expenses.)
C. Extra-Curriculars: List all leadership positions (military, social organizations, intramurals, etc.)
D. Varsity Athletics
E. Honors/Awards

III. SKILLS SUMMARY - Only those with specific skills in Information Technology, Information Systems, Engineering, Logistics, or Finance should have a skills summary section.  All others need not have this section and should skip to Section IV.  Section III should contain the following:

A. Specific systems/software/operating systems
B. Specific hardware/equipment
C. Experience summary
D. Specific supporting courses/certifications

IV. MILITARY EXPERIENCE

A. List Branch/Rank and total time in service; then list major military schools (be sure to note academic distinctions, honors, awards, rankings, etc.).
B. Job descriptions should be short, but complete (usually 6 - 8 lines), written in clearly understood, simple language. Avoid acronyms and military jargon. Specific unit designation and location are not important. Focus on (1) your duties and responsibilities, (2) the scope of the job (i.e., size of the unit, who it supports, or what the unit mission is, etc.), and (3) additional duties and responsibilities. Someone not in the military should be able to read this and understand what your job was.
C. Accomplishments & Achievements: This is the most important part of the resume. You need 2 - 4 per job. They should be listed in bullet format (as in the sample available for download). Acceptable types of accomplishments are:

1) Personal Accolades
Examples - Selected for position over 8 other candidates
- Personally selected to . . .
- Voted Junior Officer of the Quarter (over how many eligible)
2) Unit Accolades (implies this is due to you) Important to show this as an improvement or as competitive rankings.
Examples - Ranked #1 platoon out of 28 in battalion.
- Placed 1st of 7 in annual gunnery exercise.
- Passed annual inspection with commendable ratings (unit had failed previous two years).
3) Performance (Most Important!) - Must have an action and a result (in either order) and should be measurable.
Focus on impacts you have made using words like designed, developed, initiated, created, innovated, etc. Stay away from passive words like coordinated, maintained, managed, etc. What you are selling is your ability to impact things, so focus on:

a) Initiative - things you took on that no one told you to do
b) Improved productivity
c) Improved efficiency
d) Innovations (i.e., new ideas you developed)
e) Saved time, dollars, or man-hours
Examples - Redesigned maintenance procedures, resulting in a 20% increase in vehicle readiness.
- Innovated use of incentive-based training program, resulting in a 38% increase in skills qualification scores.
- Saved 400 man-hours annually by computerizing manual administrative functions.
- Decreased turnaround time for supply parts by 18%.

*AVOID:  Medals or military decorations and statements that imply you were just "doing your job" (such as "deployed to Bosnia as part of Operation Guardian Angel" or "Managed a $5 billion development program").

V. CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE - List summer, part-time, and full-time positions (dates, employer, and locations are not necessary).  Especially focus on jobs that relate to what career you want now or internships.

VI. OTHER - List hobbies, interests, professional affiliations and other applicable skills such as computer skills. Stay away from religious and family examples.