Cox Career Management Center

Tips for Targeted Resumes

Target your resume for a specific job.   After all, most readers will spend less than 30 seconds scanning your resume.  In that short time, you must get the reader’s attention and create interest and a desire to learn more about your qualifications. The resume is your ticket into an interview. 

  1. The visual presentation must be appealing. Choose an appropriate format. Be consistent with headings so the eye can follow a pattern. Allow sufficient white space. Balance the material on your page. Use bold type, italics, varying font sizes, and upper-case lettering for emphasis and to control the reader’s eye. Bulleted lists are extremely reader-friendly. Type should be between 10 & 12 pt. Do not use more than two different fonts on a single document.
  2. The content must spotlight qualifications so they stand out even in a quick scan of your document.   AND, those accomplishments and qualifications must align with the needs of the employer. Write your content from the employer's perspective, clearly demonstrating the value you can bring to the organization. Take your cue from the job description and make a note of all the keywords included.  Use these keywords to define skills. 
  3.  Make your resume results-oriented. Instead of just listing duties, present accomplishments that are concrete and measurable.  Give short but specific examples of how you added value.  Arrange these in order of relevance to the position you are seeking.

Use the Optimal Resume Builder

This online resource guides you through the resume process from content creation to online publication.  Examples of the “Cox approved format” for resumes are available in the sample library.  Once a resume has been composed and formatted, it is immediately generated in four formats: Rich Text, PDF, Plain Text, and HTML (an interactive website).  You can even send your draft to the career counselors for critique through a unique Review Center.  We’ll provide feedback to ensure resume quality.

Approved Cox Resume Format

Campus recruiters have requested that Cox students use a consistent format.  This creates a more efficient screening process for employers.  Refer to the samples below.  You may also view approved sample formats in OptimalResume.  Your resume must be reviewed and approved by a career counselor before you submit it on MustangTrak.