Resume Writing
The
purpose of your resume is to make the reader want to interview you.
Resumes should be informative, concise, consistent, and should highlight
intriguing skills and experience. They should grab attention early
and provide a concentrated, convincing argument that you perfectly
match the position at hand.
The
basics
Those who have been in the workforce for several years would customarily
list professional experience first, followed by education and other
elements such as publications or skills. Most resumes use reverse
chronological order, listing the most recent experience first
with the rest following chronologically. This type of resume gives
a prospective employer a sense of where your career is headed and
how it evolved into what it is today.
For
entrepreneurs, sales personnel, recent graduates, and others with
less-than-standard experience, an alternative format called the
functional approach might make more sense. This format puts
an emphasis on your abilities and achievements, categorizing your
experience by industry, type of position, skill, and what you did
rather than when you did it.
There
is no right or wrong way to write a resume. Whatever sets you apart
from the masses while requiring a minimum of effort for the recruiter
will probably be your best bet. Here are some general guidelines
to follow.
- Be
concise. Unless you have been working for a long time, stick
to one page. Even with extensive experience, a resume should rarely
exceed two pages.
- Use
vivid language. Include hard facts showing your impact on
the company. Employers want to know what you did and how closely
that experience matches their needs. Use action verbs and eliminate
pronouns. Be grammatically consistent and proofread rigorously
for mistakes.
- Go
easy on the eye. Graphics in a resume should make it easy
to read. Use topic headings and lots of space. Forget clip art.
Use one typeface. Pull the reader in from the top. Be creative,
but clean with the layout.
Tell
them what they need to know
Resumes should start with your name, address, e-mail, and phone
numbers. Include your education, accomplishments, and related experience.
List unique talents or specialized skills in hot demand, like those
related to computers.
- Objective.
Write one line stating your career direction and the job title
you seek. It will direct your resume to the proper department
and provide a key to interpreting the contents. This statement
will be of greater strategic value if you have a specific focus
or are in the midst of a career change rather than if you are
just starting out and unsure of your career path.
- Education.
List schools, years attended, graduation dates, degrees, majors
or concentrations, and awards. Highlight a master's thesis topic
or academic honors. Put your most recent or most impressive educational
achievement first. If it is not your highest degree, leave out
high school unless it's extraordinary.
- Experience.
List
your employers, job location, employment dates, job titles, and
descriptions of your tasks, accomplishments and skills. Use statistics.
- Skills.
Highlight your computer, language, or other technical skills.
List software you have worked with including any unique programs
or expertise. For an Internet job, list any certifications or
Web programs and computer languages you are familiar with.
Title
the sections of your resume as you prefer, but remain consistent
grammatically.
The
order of the resume should reflect the position being sought. If
your computer experience is more relevant to the job than your work
history, put your computer skills first. If your educational achievements
outweigh your actual experience, put them up higher. List other
personal information at the bottom.
Use
discretion beyond the basics
Include a personal summary to provide a concise rundown of
your career, particularly if you are an established executive or
have an array of job experiences. Highlight volunteer work
or memberships in nonprofits if you are applying for a related position.
Include a brief section on your hobbies to present a more complete
and interesting picture, although you run a risk that the information
could prejudice your resume.
Leave
out overtly personal data, salary information, or negatives like
health or legal problems.
Customize
as needed
When you are ready to apply for a position, tailor your resume to
that job. Highlight your qualities by addressing the specific needs
listed in a classified ad or employer's description. If you have
no direct experience in the field, pay special attention to related
skills. Even with experience, show how your talents suit the position.
Update
constantly
Update your resume every time you accomplish something new to capture
what's important and remain ready for new opportunities, without
struggling to get something together under a tight deadline or stressful
circumstance.
Check
resources
The following references provide solid examples of objectives, layouts,
and other aspects of resumes, as well as further commentary.
Check your references
Author - Leslie Tebbe, Salary.com contributor
- content provided and republished with written consent by Salary.com
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