A resume is a one-page summary of your work and school experiences. Employers match your resume against their job openings to evaluate if you’d be a good fit. As such, it’s important to make your resume a good representation of yourself.
1. Decide Which Type Of Resume You Want.
There are three types of resumes; chronological, functional and combination. You might want to consider more than one format of resume if you’re applying for multiple jobs.
▪ Chronological
is the most traditional format and lists experiences according to the order in which they took place. These resumes generally appeal to older readers and may be best suited for a conservative field.
▪ Functional
is a type of resume that lists your experiences according to skill. This is the format to use if you’re changing career direction (and lack direct work experience). Because it displays your skills first, your work experience, or lack thereof, is not the main focus.
▪ Combination
combines the best aspects of the chronological and functional styles. Be careful with length for this format; the resume can quickly get long.
2. Create A Header.
A header should include your name, phone number and email address. You can also include your mailing address, but leave it out if you plan to post your resume online.
▪ Use a phone number that you plan to answer and change your voicemail to a more professional message if necessary.
▪ Make sure your email address is professional. If your current email address.
3. Write A Summary.
In one or two sentences, summarize your work experience and relevant skills. Keep this strong and simple.
▪ The summary can be useful to explain why you’re applying for a role that is a departure from your career path.
▪ You don’t have to include a summary, especially if your experience speaks for itself and is relevant to the jobs you’re applying for.
4. List Your Experiences Or Skills.
Starting with your most recent or current job, list your previous work experiences.
▪ This section shows where you have worked and when. It also states specific accomplishments for each position or job.
▪ Pick experiences that seem most relevant to the position you seek. For inspiration, think of your full-time or part-time work, summer jobs, occasional jobs, internships, fieldwork and special projects.
▪ Don’t worry whether your experiences are “good enough.” Employers admire people who have worked hard in a variety of positions.
▪ Don’t worry if there are gaps in the timeline, but keep everything in chronological order, with most recent jobs at the top.
The “skills” section of your resume is a place where you can show your strengths and individuality. Start by stating each skill. Then back it up with a two- to three-line explanation of how you learned that skill or why you believe you have it. Make these entries short, clear and to the point.
▪ List skills that are most relevant to the job you seek. Think about what the employer is looking for in relation to what you’ve done and who you are as a person.
▪ Don’t forget to list computer programs you’ve had experience with; proficiency can be seen as added value.
5. List Your Activities.
List activities in which you have participated and include what your specific role was in each.
▪ This is the place to note membership or leadership positions in clubs, organizations of any kind, athletic teams, community organizations and so on.
▪ If you’ve had an interesting job unrelated to the field you’re pursuing—such as reading to blind children or teaching English as a second language add it here. Employers are always looking for people with diverse backgrounds to work for them.
6. List Your Education.
▪ List the schools you’ve attended, starting with the most recent one. Include details such as GPA, class rank or special awards.
▪ Add any other educational experiences, such as training programs, community college or summer courses, seminars and so on.
7. List Any Awards You’ve Won And When You Won Them.
When you’ve been recognized by someone else, you should let potential employers know about it. But you shouldn’t worry if you haven’t received any awards; just skip this section.
8. List Your Personal Interests.
▪ This section shows you’re a well-rounded person who people would want to know and work with.
▪ Casual interests are better not to list (e.g., napping, watching reality TV, gossiping). This is really about highlighting hobbies that have helped you grow as a person.
▪ This resume step is considered optional. If you’re having trouble coming up with interests, or feel your resume is already too long, feel free to leave it off.
SUBMITTING YOUR RESUME
When it comes to applying for a job, there are several ways you can share your resume with an employer. Make sure you’re aware of these dos and don’ts to ensure your hard work is represented clearly.
Saving Your Resume As A PDF
Most employers prefer to receive resumes in the Portable Document Format (PDF). To create yours, look for the “Save as PDF” or “Print to PDF” option in your word processor. Review the file carefully to make sure your formatting is preserved.
Emailing A Resume
When emailing a resume, you will likely be asked to send it as an attachment. Review the job listing carefully to see if there is a preferred format; most likely, employers will ask for a PDF.
Posting A Resume
When submitting your resume to a human resources website, review the upload instructions; the PDF is the most common format here as well.
Another consideration when submitting your resume online is using job-specific keywords. Employers often search resume banks for special words or requirements specific to a job description. Including keywords in the summary, experience, skills and awards sections of your resume will increase your chances of being flagged as a potential match. You should also use such keywords in the title and brief description of yourself that most job sites request.
And lastly, if you’re posting your resume or portfolio to a job website, be sure to conceal your contact information by activating the privacy settings offered on most job sites or by providing only an email address. Posting personal information on the web could attract unwanted attention.
PRINTING YOUR RESUME
It’s a good idea to have printed copies of your resume on hand when you go on interviews. Start with a well-formatted document and make sure it has been proofread. You also want to make sure it’s the same version that you submitted as part of your application. Use high-quality paper rather than regular copy paper; it will make a much better impression. Make sure your printer has fresh ink and then print a test run to check for any errors or inconsistencies.