FOSTER CAREER SERVICES: RESUME QUICK GUIDE
GUIDELINES
• The purpose of a resume is to show skills, experiences and attributes that make you the
best candidate for a particular position. A resume needs to concisely and eciently convey
all of your relevant information.
• Resumes should be no longer than one page. Margins should not be less than 0.5 inches.
• The purpose of formatting a resume is three-fold: (1) to make it easy to read; (2) to make
specic items stand out (i.e. name, headers); and (3) to dierentiate aspects of a resume
(e.g. employer vs. title vs. accomplishments).
• If you are asked to submit your resume online, you should convert your Word document
to a PDF (unless otherwise noted by the employer). A PDF ensures the formatting of a
document remains intact, regardless of the type of software the employer is using.
AVOID
• Pronouns (I, you, they)
• Helping verbs (have, had, may, might) say
“managed” instead of “have managed”
• Being verbs (am, is, are, was, were)
• Exaggerations or lies
• Older experiences with little transferable
skills
• Run-on sentences
• Personal statistics (age, sex, race, etc.)
• Graphics, photos or logos
• Any salary information
• Relying on only one person to edit your
resume and/or relying on only computer
editing
• Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
MAGNIFY YOUR EXPERIENCE
• Experiences include: work, internships,
volunteer experienc, class work/
projects, student clubs/activities, case
competitions (Freshmen Direct case
competition, capstone case competition
etc) and class presentations
• Be sure to focus on accomplishments,
skills gained/utilized and results for each
bullet point
• A typical format for building a bullet
point is starting with an action verb, then
stating your responsibility/role/type of
event or document you worked with,
and nishing by explaining the outcome,
quantifying your experience, describing
how your task added value, or who you
were completing the task for
Below are examples of ways to enhance a resume. By following this format or adding details
you can show the extent of your experience.
EXAMPLE 1
BEFORE: Answered phone calls at front desk
AFTER: Answered 50-100 phone calls per shift,
while maintaining hotel’s new membership
database
EXAMPLE 2
BEFORE: Led a team to revamp an internal
customer satisfaction data website
AFTER: Led a 4 person IT contractor team
in upgrading a $200,000 internal customer
satisfaction data website, aecting over
1,500 employees
RESUME SECTIONS
Contact Information
Name, Phone Number, E-mail, Customized LinkedIn address
Objective
Objectives are often used by professionals with decades of experience to help focus their
search. Because of this, Foster Career Services does not recommend using an objective for a
one page, undergraduate student resume.
Education
The name of the school is the "Michael G. Foster School of Business, not “Foster School of
Business.”
• The concept of an “Option” is not widely
understood, use “Major” instead.
• GPA: Include if 3.0 or above, or if requested
by the employer. You can report your
Foster GPA, major GPA, cumulative GPA or
combination.
• You may list relevant coursework if
applicable to the position or if you have no
work/internship experience.
• You may want to include SAT/ACT scores
only if requested specically by an
employer.
• Include graduation month and year
Content entries are the most important part of a resume. Entries show what you can do and
show employers the skills you could bring to their company. Focus on accomplishments and
results. Typically, the listings should be in reverse chronological order, listing most recent
activity rst.
Leadership Experience, Extracurricular Activities or Volunteer Experience
This section should mirror your work experience (i.e. listed in reverse chronological order
starting with your most recent activity). If your leadership and extracurricular activities are
more substantial than your work experience, you’ll want to include this section before “Work
Experience.”
Honors & Awards
• If you have little work/internship experience,
this section can be critical to show
employers your past achievements, skills,
knowledge and abilities gained through
academic or extracurricular activities.
• Outstanding scholarship recognition
or multiple academic awards can be
moved under the “Education” section
of a resume.
Additional (Languages, Computer Programs, Interests)
• Language Prociency: Fluent implies written
and oral language skills. You know exactly
the right word to use in any situation.
Conversant implies you could get along in
a conversation, but need to improve oral
and/or written skills.
• If listing interests, be specic. While these
may not be pertinent to the job, they are
a great opportunity to connect with your
interviewer about shared interests.
foster.uw.edu/careers/career-services/ • [email protected] • (206) 221-6858 • Dempsey 212
Clerical or Detailed
Skills
Approved
Catalogued
Collected
Executed
Generated
Implemented
Monitored
Operated
Organized
Prepared
Processed
Screened
Specied
Tabulated
Communication/
People Skills
Advertised
Arranged
Articulated
Authored
Collaborated
Communicated
Composed
Condensed
Consulted
Contacted
Debated
Developed
Directed
Discussed
Drafted
Expressed
Formulated
Incorporated
Interviewed
Involved
Joined
Lectured
Marketed
Mediated
Motivated
Negotiated
Participated
Presented
Promoted
Publicized
Recruited
Reported
Responded
Suggested
Summarized
Translated
Wrote
Creative Skills
Acted
Adapted
Combined
Composed
Conceptualized
Created
Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Entertained
Established
Formulated
Founded
Initiated
Integrated
Introduced
Invented
Modied
Originated
Performed
Planned
Revised
Solved
Data/ Financial Skills
Administered
Allocated
Analyzed
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Determined
Developed
Forecasted
Managed
Marketed
Measured
Planned
Prepared
Programmed
Projected
Qualied
Reduced
Set goals
Stimulated
Helping Skills
Advocated
Aided
Answered
Arranged
Assisted
Claried
Collaborated
Counseled
Devised
Diagnosed
Educated
Encouraged
Facilitated
Furthered
Guided
Motivated
Prevented
Provided
Represented
Resolved
Simplied
Supplied
Volunteered
Management/
Leadership Skills
Administered
Advised
Appointed
Chaired
Communicated
Consolidated
Converted
Coordinated
Delegated
Developed
Eliminated
Emphasized
Enabled
Encouraged
Enhanced
Executed
Facilitated
Generated
Handled
Headed
Incorporated
Increased
Initiated
Instituted
Led
Managed
Overhauled
Planned
Prioritized
Reorganized
Restored
Scheduled
Streamlined
Supervised
Organizational Skills
Arranged
Catalogued
Categorized
Coded
Devised
Executed
Generated
Incorporated
Maintained
Operated
Processed
Provided
Responded
Reviewed
Screened
Supplied
Standardized
Systematized
Validated
Research Skills
Analyzed
Collected
Compared
Critiqued
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Formulated
Identied
Investigated
Researched
Reviewed
Solved
Surveyed
Systematized
Teaching Skills
Adapted
Advised
Communicated
Coordinated
Critiqued
Enabled
Encouraged
Facilitated
Guided
Individualized
Informed
Instructed
Motivated
Stimulated
Taught
Tested
Technical Skills
Adapted
Applied
Assembled
Calculated
Constructed
Converted
Developed
Engineered
Fortied
Installed
Overhauled
Regulated
Remodeled
Replaced
Solved
Specialized
Standardized
ACTION VERBSSO WHERE DO I START?
STEP 1: LIST EDUCATION, HONORS/AWARDS & SKILLS
In addition to listing your Foster degree, your education section can include the following:
• Study Abroad: Exploration Seminar, Alternative Spring Break, Direct Exchange, etc.
• Class Projects: Include class name – i.e. "Business Communications 301, Strategic Management 430"
• Foster Excel Credential: Available on Canvas for all Foster students.
Honors & Awards can vary depending on your personal preference. This section can include:
• Honors Program, Foster Honors and/or Dean's List
• Scholarships: List scholarships and year awarded, exclude amount awarded
• Work-Related Awards: Associate of the Year, Employee of the Month, etc.
• Case Competitions: Winner or Participant
If relevant to a particular position, you can highlight certain skills including:
• Technical Skills: Microsoft Oce Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Access), QuickBooks, Tableau, etc.
• Language Skills: Remember to state your level of competency – beginner, conversational, uent
STEP 2: BRAINSTORM EXPERIENCES
Start by listing all of your past experiences that include:
• Paid work experience:
• Part-Time/Summer/Seasonal Jobs (Barista, Sales Associate, Oce Assistant, etc.)
• Note: If you worked to fund college, an example explanation is "Worked 20 hours/week nancing
50% of college expenses"
• Internships
• Mention parts of your internship that are beyond the job description!
• Note: Include any nal projects, presentations, or deliverable from your experience
• Volunteer Experience
• Unpaid Work and/or Community Involvement
• Note: Highlight dollars fundraised, hours volunteered, events participated in, etc.
• Clubs/Extracurricular Activities
• Examples: Business Related Clubs, Community Service, Fraternities/Sororities
• Note: All roles (member, volunteer, ocer) count as experience!
• Class Projects or Case Competitions
• Strategy, team, size, length of time, role and responsibility
• Note: Write about your specic contributions to the team project or case competition
STEP 3: DEVELOP BULLET POINTS
A good format to use when creating bullet points for your resume is:
ACTION VERB + WHAT YOU DID + VALUE-ADD
The value-add section can include the outcome, why the task was signicant, who the task was for, or a
quantied metric. See "Magnify Your Experience" for tips on making your bullet points stand out!
STEP 4: FORMAT, CATEGORIZE & ORGANIZE
Remember, a recruiter may take less than 30 seconds to look at your resume. Be sure to highlight
your most relevant experience FIRST.
An Easy Trick: Group your most relevant experiences to the job/internship you're applying to by
renaming your header sections. For example, by creating a section called "Relevant Experience" you
can move previous/current jobs, volunteer experience, internships, or leadership experience to the
top of your resume.
RESUME EXAMPLES: 12PT FONT, 0.5" MARGIN ALL AROUND
First Name (Preferred Name – optional) Last Name
Professional email | Phone number | Unique LinkedIn URL
EDUCATION:
University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Expected Graduation: June 2025
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Finance & Marketing), Minor in Informatics Cumulative GPA: 3.52
Freshman Direct Admit: 1 out of 300 accepted into the Foster School of Business early entrance program based on academic achievement
Coursework: Micro & Macro Economics ‧ Financial Accounting ‧ Quantitative Business Methods ‧ Calculus Series
Foster Microsoft Excel Credential Completed March 2021
Completed a 5-module online course, confirming Microsoft Excel skills in a variety of topics including PivotTables, advanced chart
types and mathematical functions with a cumulative score of 89%
Skyline High School Graduated: June 2021
Diploma with International Baccalaureate Career-related Program Certificate in Business Management Cumulative GPA: 3.8
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Core Consultant Seattle, Washington
Business Impact Group December 2021- February 2022
• Worked with bakery The SweetSide to drive up profit margins through job costing and pricing strategy analysis
• Developed excel models to compare supplier pricing in determining a potential supplier to pivot towards in cutting production costs
• Coordinated with supplier representatives to generate quotes for ingredients, and recommended future supplier implementation
Sales Associate Issaquah, Washington
The Home Depot June 2021- September 2021
• Exceeded company expectations with sales over $70,000, alongside multiple credit card leads
• Interacted with a range of clients from contractors to non-English speakers in selecting the proper appliance for their specific needs
• Delivered outstanding customer service whilst finding compatible solutions to client problems surrounding their current appliances
PROJECTS & EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE:
Information Systems 300 – Introduction to Information Systems Seattle, Washington
Project Owner January 2021 – March 2021
• Created a model in Excel to predict 2021 Super Bowl Champion using 10 years of Football Team statistics; Excel skills used
include VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, nested IF statements
• Programmed in basic HTML and C# in Microsoft Visual Studio to create a website that allows users to submit information and
browse services and prices for a plumbing company
Russell Investments International Case Competition (RIICC) Seattle, Washington
Freshman Track Champion October 2021
• Acted as a consulting group for Fintech company Wise, and their expansion of a service named Assets into a foreign country
• Developed marketing strategy centered on ads reflective of Indonesian culture/values and a predictive personalization engine
• Produced competitor analysis, summarized target market research through tools such as a SWOT analysis and TamSamSom,
illustrated short-term and long-term timelines for market penetration, and constructed future expansion plan
2021 DECA International Business Competition (ICDC) Virtual
International Qualifier November 2020 - April 2021
• Achieved 6th place across Washington State for the Business Solutions Project, which qualified for the international competition
• Wrote a 20-page project plan for uBreakiFix, restructuring the employee training program to increase yearly revenue sustainably
• Coordinated with 2 peers in developing an internal strategy to address uBreakiFix’s poor customer and employee retention rates
SKILLS & ACHIEVEMENTS:
Technical & Language Skills: Foster R Certification, Canva Mockups, Cantonese & Spanish (limited proficiency)
Volunteering: Eastridge Church (Volunteering Supervisor), distribution at community food bank, building mud run courses
Interests: Cooking, Badminton, Music (Violin, Viola, and Guitar)
First Name (Preferred Name – optional) Last Name
Professional email • Phone number • Custom LinkedIn URL
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Seattle, WA
Major: Operations & Supply Chain Management; Marketing Graduation: Aug. 2023
GPA: Cumulative GPA: 3.78, Major GPA: 3.83
Accolades/Societies: J.M. Owsley Endowed Scholarship, Dean’s List, UW American Marketing Association,
Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Summer Consulting Intern Seattle, WA
ABC Company (Marketing Consulting Firm) Jun. 2021 – Aug. 2021
• Executed deliverables directly for client including a PowerPoint with charts comparing $2.4M FY21 actual
spend to predicted budgets in order to better allocate FY22 amounts for various marketing projects.
• Created initiative tracker for Steering Committee meetings with 10 C-suite stakeholders to drive progress and
inform client decisions.
• Synthesized ~200 customer survey data points in Excel graph visualizations and drew key takeaways for client.
Marketing and Business Development Intern Doha, Qatar
City Reads (Non-profit Foundation) Jan. 2021 – Jul. 2021
• Consolidated 13 spreadsheets of user data into one (using Excel), streamlining the retrieval process by 15%.
• Conducted market research to identify/connect with 12+ organizations in the target audience of the programs.
• Created social media outreach strategies and content to channel marketing efforts through Instagram.
• Involved in the development of 3+ reading initiatives and programs, catered to various demographics.
Vice President of Marketing Seattle, WA
Phi Chi Theta (Professional Business Fraternity) May. 2021 – Jun. 2022
• Implemented social media tactics to generate content that had engagements of up to 70% of total followers.
• Develop brand image in a professional manner in order to increase membership and encourage corporate
sponsorship; membership increased by 40% as a result of newly implemented marketing efforts.
BUSINESS PROJECTS
Group Lead Analyst Seattle, WA
MKTG 462 (Customer Analytics) Jan. 2022 – Mar. 2022
• Conducted logistic regressions to identify the ideal group to target; would result in an 187% ROI.
• Created neural networks in R to summarize consumer behavior; used to forecast success of future products.
Project Co-Lead Seattle, WA
QMETH 450 (Spreadsheet Models for Managerial Decision Making)
Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2021
• Developed a model to assess how variables in Kobe Niku’s shipment logistics affects their total delay cost.
• Used the Monte-Carlo method/Crystal Ball to build the model, identifying delays as occurring 98% of the time.
• Managed scheduling and communication for group of 4; creating a project schedule to align on key deliverables.
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Board Member, Transfer Student Advisory Board (University of Washington) May 2021 – Jun. 2022
• Advised the Foster School of Business on best practices to promote transfer student success for 100 students.
• Organized 3+ community-wide events per quarter and liaised with 25+ prospective students quarterly.
• Executed 6 months of marketing campaigns on social media using Canva and Hootsuite to post on Instagram.
President, Collegiate DECA Inc. (Shoreline Community College) May 2019 – Aug. 2020
• Produced over 10 quarterly reports and budget applications to present before the college’s Executive Board.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Skills: Bahasa Indonesia (fluent), Spanish (conversational), Microsoft Office Suite, R, SQL, MS Project.
RESUME EXAMPLES: 12PT FONT, 0.5" MARGIN ALL AROUND
First Name (Preferred Name – optional) Last Name
Professional email address • Phone number • Unique LinkedIn URL
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Double Major: Finance & Entrepreneurship June 2024
Annual Dean’s List 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Major GPA: 3.58
/4.0
Sales Certificate - Jack and Ann Rhodes Professional Sales Program, 2023 Cohort
*Work 20 hours a week, financing 50% of college expenses
Edmonds Community College Lynnwood, WA
Associate in Business DTA; Honor Roll August 2022
Cumulative GPA: 3.92/4.0
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Husky Sales Club (HSC) Seattle, WA
Brand Ambassador September 2022 – Present
• Promoted HSC by sharing events and information with 20 other clubs, and organizing 5 recruitment events
• Networked with 10+ industry professionals and attended weekly meetings to improve professional development
• Developed relationships with 30+ potential HSC members at various events to recruit new members into the club
Finance Stock Portfolio Project Seattle, WA
Team Member October 2022 – November 2022
• Collaborated with 3 students to diversify stock portfolio based on risk, industry, and current economic trends
• Researched industry trends and risks associated with stock pickings using tools like Bloomberg Terminal
• Created 10-minute presentation on stock portfolio results, and spoke on evaluating the systemic risk for 4 stocks
WORK EXPERIENCE
Coffee Shop Seattle, WA
Store Manager June 2022 – Present
Promoted once while working part-time and attending school full-time to support financial needs
• Delivered excellent customer service with 50+ customers per shift by making conversation to build rapport
• Trained 10+ new baristas in-person on workflow procedures, drink preparation, and company values
• Processed transactions, and served 100+ beverages and pastry items for mobile and in-person orders
Barista June 2020 – June 2022
• Greeted and served 100+ customers daily, providing prompt and friendly service in a fast-paced environment
• Advised customers on coffee blends, roasts, teas, specialty espresso beverages, and artisanal pastries, offering
accurate, detailed information about origin and flavor
75
th
Corner Market Portland, OR
Assistant Store Manager April 2020 – June 2022
Supported family-owned small business & oversaw operations including inventory management and customer service
• Constructed opening/closing procedures and daily store operations that improved efficiency by 12%
• Tracked inventory for over 100 ingredients in an Excel spreadsheet to identify when and how much stock to order
• Collaborated with 5+ cashiers, assisting teammates in peak hours to ensure customers never waited over 5
minutes to checkout
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Language: Proficient in Spanish, Native in English
Technical Skills: Excel, Microsoft Suite, Python, R Studio, SQL, Tableau
Workshops & Certifications: Training the Street Financial Modeling Workshop, Foster Excel Credential
First Name (Preferred Name – optional) Last Name
Professional email • Phone number • Personalized LinkedIn URL • Marketing Portfolio URL
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Marketing) Anticipated Graduation: 06/2023
Bachelor of Arts in Law, Societies, and Justice
Copenhagen Business School Exchange Copenhagen, Denmark
Study Abroad 09/2021 – 12/2021
Gained a worldwide business perspective through courses on global marketing and international supply chains
MARKETING & SALES EXPERIENCE
Sports Team – Seattle, WA 03/2022 - Present
Sales Intern
• Expand book of clients for group sales department by 10% using public university group contact leads
• Assist in game-day operations such as following up with suite owners, corporate partners, and fan experiences
• Developed a survey to gage 50+ customer perspectives on new product development through Survey Planet
Company ABC – Remote, USA 09/2021 – 12/2021
Marketing Intern
• Contacted 30+ vendors to account for recent acquisition in fields of graphic design, office artwork, sales decks
• Researched various data board tools like Klipfolio and Databox to synthesize company data using multiple
sources: CRM, website touchpoints, sales team leads, social media management, specific marketing campaigns
• Facilitated 15 online webinars via Zoom using Marketo, Microsoft Office (Excel, Teams, Word) and Zoom Polls
Technology Company - Kirkland, WA 06/2021 – 09/2021
Sales & Marketing Intern
• Executed 6 months of marketing campaigns through email marketing (ZoomEngage), social media (Hootsuite,
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), blog writing (WordPress), and procuring podcast guests
• Created a Net Promoter Score survey via SurveyMonkey to send to all clients, followed up with direct sales calls
Nordstrom – Seattle, WA 01/2020 – 12/2020
Sales Associate
• Assisted customers in the buying process through suggestion selling and handling concerns and questions,
supported approximately 50 customers per shift
• Spearheaded efforts to streamline inventory counts after each shift using Excel to track figures for 70+ SKUs
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
UW Undergraduate Women in Business, President, former Director of Marketing 05/2020 – 06/2022
• Worked closely with executive team of 11 to advance UWiB’s mission of empowering female business leaders
• Planned weekly events for 100+ members—from professional development with speakers to philanthropy
• Facilitated all 2020 marketing campaigns: grew Instagram account by over 200 followers in span of 2 months,
sold 80 personally designed crew necks, co-led a Black Lives Matter and Holiday Project fundraiser $1,000
Liberated Voices Washington, Founding Member 01/2021 – 06/2022
• Founded UW student organization with 30 members dedicated to supporting the abolishment of private
prisons and uplifting those detained
• Designed the logo and other artwork to be centered in a crowdfunding campaign for local 501c3 organizations
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION _______
Honors: Freshman Direct Program, Finalist – 2021 International Case Competition
Hard Skills: Vietnamese, MS Office, G Suite, R, Hootsuite, MySQL, iMovie, Procreate, Canva, writing, Marketo
Interests: calligraphy, bowling, editing vlogs, playing tennis and soccer, playing piano, singing, civil rights work
