The Art of
Writing a
Resume
Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle
Administration
Tel: 410-787-7719
Education
Phone: 410-787-7719
Fax: 410-768-7168
MVA Website - www.mva.maryland.gov
Jobs - https://jobs.mdot.state.md.us
List the school attended and any
degrees awarded, including major
field of study.
If you completed college credits but
did not complete a degree, clearly
indicate this fact (for example,
completed 90 credits toward a BA in
political science, 1997 to 2000).
Detailed information about intern-
ships, coursework, academic honors
and extracurricular activities can be
important for recent graduates, but
applicants with four or more years of
work experience in their target
profession should omit or greatly
condense this information.
If you do not have formal education beyond
high school, consider adding a Professional
Development section to highlight job
training, professional conferences or
seminars attended.
If you are a recent graduate, list your educa-
tion first. Otherwise, education should
follow your employment history.
Skills Section:
Motor Vehicle Administration
6601 Ritchie Highway NE
Human Resources—Room 101
Glen Burnie , MD 21062
List only those job skills relevant to the
position you are seeking. This section can
include job specific technical skills,
computer skills, and languages spoken.
Your resume should:
Speak to your target audience – the
employer. Focus on what you can bring
to the company and not what you are
looking for in a job.
Showcase your job accomplishments,
contributions and results – not routine
daily tasks.
Avoid company specific jargon and acro-
nyms – if you are not sure, spell it out.
Include a concise qualification summary –
your education, experience and most
recent job related accomplishments.
Verify your employment and training dates.
Your information should be easy to
follow and consistent.
Edit references to outdated technologies
and job skills.
Limit your resume's focus or create more
than one version if you have multiple
target jobs.
Use a tailored cover letter to apply for
specific positions.
PURPOSE OF THE
RESUME
Your resume is your intro-
duction to a potential
employer. The goal of your
resume is to get you to the
next step – the interview.
The employer’s goal is to
determine if you look like a
good fit for their organiza-
tion. Your resume must
represent you in the best possible light as a
potential match to the job. Out of a sea of
competing resumes, you want yours to rise to
the top.
WHERE TO START
Research Your Target Job:
Search current job listings in your desired
career field. Decide what types of positions
interest you. Become familiar with the qualifi-
cations, experience and job skills employers
are seeking.
Evaluate Your Qualifications:
Assess your own skills, abilities, experience
and education as they relate to available op-
portunities in your field. Narrow your focus
to those organizations and positions that
meet your goals and for which you are well
qualified.
What education and experience are
employers in this field looking for?
What are the key words or descriptors you
should be using to present your qualifica-
tions?
How does your past training and experience
prepare you for this career?
What training, experience or skills do you
have that separate you from the crowd?
Gather Your Information:
Review your records for previous employment
dates, company names, position titles, etc. If you
have college credits, review a copy of your tran-
scripts. Make a list of job related training courses
or seminars you have attended and the dates.
PREPARING YOUR RESUME
Format:
Your resume should be no
more than two pages long.
The font used should be easy
to read and consistent
throughout. Use a font size of
10 to 14 points.
Contact Information: Your name and contact
information should be listed first. Include:
mailing address
phone numbers
email
Make sure you can be contacted easily.
Qualification Summary: Include a concise
qualification summary listing your target job,
work history and recent job accomplishments.
The summary should provide a snapshot of
your career so far.
Employment History: Your employment
history should be listed in chronological order
with your most recent position first. Check your
dates to make sure your presentation is clear
and consistent.
Use action words to describe your experience
(e.g., ―compiled‖, ―developed‖, ―increased‖).
List your most important responsibilities or
successes first, and list similar tasks together.
If you earned promotions or had multiple job
assignments with a single employer, describe
your current or most recent responsibilities
then list the titles and
dates for your previ-
ous positions. Make
sure any career
progression is clear.
Do not exaggerate
your experience or
accomplishments.
The Resume
Your resume must
represent you in
the best possible
light
The goal of your
resume is to get you
to the interview.
