At entry level, strong verbs and descriptions are key

Jeffrey Look, who holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, is looking for a job or internship in human resources, botany or psychology before returning to school for a graduate degree. He's not sure what types of experiences to include on his résumé.

"First, try not to be too discouraged about your résumé or about not being contacted by companies. It is a very difficult job market, and many talented people are experiencing similar results," said Patti B. Yoder, human resources director for Ernst & Young/Mid-Atlantic, a global professional services firm. "I'd spruce up your résumé and get out more to connect with people because many job leads occur through people -- not just through the Internet."

Look's first step should be to reformat his résumé. "An Internet search will give many examples," Yoder said. "He should choose a business format that includes a business font, such as Times New Roman, and black type, not color." He should also use a consistent format for verb tenses, titles, dates and employer names -- and include his graduation date.

She also recommends quantifying the results of his activities. He could list the number of events he planned, or state that he made double the number of phone calls that were expected.

"Define job titles," Yoder said. "For example, instead of 'entry-level employee,' he should name the role, such as staff, assistant, or scanning clerk, and state what he was doing in that role."

Look also should replace weak verbs such as "helped" with stronger verbs and better describe his involvement in activities. "For example," she said, "instead of 'participated in planning dorm hall events,' replace that with 'participated in planning dorm hall events that led to a higher involvement of people,' or, better yet, 'led a dorm planning committee that raised x number of dollars for charity.' "

-- Elizabeth Razzi