Resumes:
a) If you do not have a resume and have no idea how to build one, start by filling out this form which helps you gather information together:  Resume Handout Content Gathering Worksheet
b) Then follow the Sample Resume for Career Prep* and plug in your information. Make sure you use an action verb at the beginning of each bullet when you are describing your work and/or volunteer experiences  Use this handy dandy list of Transferable Skills and Verbs to help you.  You do not have to use this format.  Here are some examples of other formats:
Sample Resume Format A
Sample Resume Format B
Sample Resume Format C
Sample Resume Format D

*Note that for Career Prep ONLY, your resume should include relevant courses which demonstrate your areas of particular skill and knowledge.  See the Sample Resume for Career Prep to see where this goes. If you are applying for a “real” job, you would not include course work on your resume – this is for Career Prep only.

DOs and DON’Ts
– make sure there are NO spelling errors
– use a professional email address (remove hyperlink)
– use a reliable phone number
– ensure margins are even and bullets/sections are aligned
– ensure consistency of line spacing (e.g., if you double space before and after the “Education” section, do the same spacing for the “Volunteer Experience” section, etc.)
– keep it to one page
– use size 12 font and choose a style that is easy to read
– if you do not have a lot of volunteer or work experience, fill up your resume with skills, achievements, interests, etc.  It should be close to one full page.

References
Here’s a sample of what your references sheet might look like: Sample References
Hint:  However you format the top of your resume, simply copy and paste for the top of your references sheet.
DOs and DON’Ts
– make sure you ASK your references before putting them on your list
– make sure you are careful about who you ask to be your reference – ask someone who knows you well
– make sure the information and formatting is consistent on your references.  For example, if you format your telephone number in your heading like this: Ph: 604.123.4567 then do the same format for all the telephone numbers of your references, NOT ph: (604) 123-4567.
– each time you apply for something and are asked to provide references, email or phone your references to let them know what you have applied for and that they might get a call