Helpful hints
· Gather all the information before you begin to write your resume
- Organize your resume in an easy-to-read format
- List work experience starting with the most recent
- A resume should be one to two pages in length
- Your resume should be completely free of errors
You resume is an important part of any job search because it is the basis from which prospective employers will decide if they will invite you for a job interview. Your resume should show the skills you have and what work experience you are able to draw upon. A good resume can open doors for you. A poorly-written resume will get barely a glance before ending up in the trash bin. Your resume is an important document and deserves to be thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written.
Writing a good resume takes time – it shouldn’t be hastily written in an hour, or even in one sitting. Once you have spent the time to get your resume right, you will always be able to use that as a template, and will then be able to quickly make any updates.
Here are the basic steps to take when writing your resume:
· Gather information
· Analyze the information
· Outline your resume
· Write your resume
· Proofread your resume
Gather information
Work on each category one at a time and use a separate piece of paper for notes on each. Be specific and thorough when gathering the information. It’s important to have all the information down on paper so that you can later decide which parts are the most relevant to your resume.
Education and Training– This will be most important to those will little work experience, such as a recent graduate. For the seasoned worker, this category will be secondary to work experience, though it is still important. If you have a college degree you will only need to focus on your college education, not on high school. However, if you don’t have a college education then you will focus on your high school education and any additional training that you may have had. List out the following information:
1. Colleges (or high school) attended.
2. Degrees earned and the dates they were awarded (if you are currently working on that degree, list your expected graduation date).
3. Major and minor subjects.
4. Additional training or courses taken.
5. Grade Point Averages, Dean’s List, academic honors.
6. Scholarships and awards.
7. Extracurricular activities.
Work experience - Be sure to list out all your employment that may be relevant or applicable to the position you are applying for: full-time, part-time, temporary work, internships, freelance work, etc. Jobs you had years ago may not be directly relevant to today’s position, but they show your experience base and where you came from. Think about each job in detail and answer the following questions for each:
1. What was the company name?
2. What was your job title?
3. In detail, what tasks did you perform?
4. Why were you hired?
5. What skills did you learn from that job?
6. Were you given a promotion or more job responsibilities?
7. What specific results did you achieve (for instance, increased sales from $1 million to $2.5 million, saved company $25,000 by updating security system, etc.)?
8. When did you start that job and when did you leave?
9. Would your former employer give you a good reference?
10. What special traits were required for that job (leadership, creativity, ability to work on a team, etc.)?
11. Did you win any awards or receive any special bonuses?
Professional and personal skills and activities – Whether these are skills that you formally learned in a class or that you taught yourself, they are important – as long as you are adequately trained. List out, in detail, all the professional skills you have, including but not limited to:
1. Computer programs and software (such as Word, Excel, Photoshop, QuickBooks, etc.)
2. Computer languages and coding (Html, etc.)
3. Foreign languages
4. Published writings
5. Member of a professional group or association
6. Professional certifications
