So, you’ve seen an advertisement for the job you always wanted, and it says “fax, mail or e-mail your resume to…” A Resume! That’s a scary word and an even scarier idea if you think about sitting down and writing one! What is a resume anyway? What do you put in one? What do you leave out? Do you talk about the job you only had for two months about six years ago? You wonder if the resume you had ten years ago would work if you just put the new jobs on it? If not, how can you get a resume done in time to apply for this position?

Sound familiar? If it does, you’re probably in the majority of people looking for a job today!

The truth is, a resume is not an overwhelming effort that requires mind-bending attention and detail. A simple resume is straightforward, basic information about you, placed on a piece of paper.

First things first:

Everything you ever learned about writing resumes has most likely changed. The rules for writing resumes continue to change. It is now an art form! What has not changed is that a good resume should be designed to make you shine!

Today’s best resumes are very clear and concise. State the facts, and utilize strong action verbs. Gone are the days when you include personal interests like “enjoys horseback riding, gourmet cooking and reading historical novels.”

Before you even try to write or update your resume:

Do your homework!
Often people want to design one resume that will fit all career opportunities- a “general resume”. When this happens, the resume becomes vague and unfocused. An employer may get only a “general” interest. It’s important to create a resume that meets the specific needs of the job and company involved. When the general resume is placed against a resume written with that particular job and that particular company in mind, the general doesn’t have a chance.

Understandably, many of us have had a variety of jobs and have gained a wealth of experience and skills. We ARE qualified for many different careers. Therefore, you may want to have 2 or 3 templates, each designed with specific career focus. This allows you to individualize each resume with less change in format. However, if you are truly interested in a position, you must do your homework first!

Homework? But I’ve been out of school for many, many years!

Have you gotten a copy of the job description you are interested in? Have you talked to people who work for that department? Do you know anyone who works for the company? Have you talked to the Human Resources Department? Checked the Internet for a website? The Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce…? To be seriously considered for a position, your resume must seriously address your KSA’s (knowledge, skills and abilities) related to that particular job.

Once you have done your homework you are ready to begin gathering your pertinent information. Remember, a resume is a brief snapshot of who you are and what you have done. It should contain relevant information. Employers are not looking for the American novel here! List the information you think would be important for the employer to know. This will include work history, education and professional training and other pertinent information. Remember, a resume is designed to get that interview only. Your interview will get you the job!

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe!

Now that you have all your information together, how do you highlight the experience and skills that will attract the employer’s attention? Remember, you only have about 7-15 seconds to do this!

The key to this is to match up your KSA’s with what the employer is looking for. Is it your education that most attracts their attention? Your experience? Your innovative ways? By analyzing your homework information about the employer you can determine not only what to put in your resume, but in what order. This makes you a better match to the company and the job.

What resume format is best?

As we mentioned before, the best format is the one that is going to make you shine! There are many formats, styles and layouts that you can use. Find one that will accentuate your strong points and minimize any negatives. Some of the more popular resume formats are:

Reversed chronological- in the “employment history” section, list your most recent or current job first and then go backwards. This shows off a strong work history and stability in the workforce.

Functional- This will highlight your skills and build on your strong qualities. This emphasizes those skills and qualities over work history. However, beware that most screeners prefer work history details.

Combination- combines the best qualities of the first two resume formats. It highlights your skills while still listing your work experience in a reverse chronological order. The combination format tends to be the most preferred by interviewers and employers.

Recent Graduate/First Job- By focusing on the skills gained academically and relating experience to the position, you can highlight your recent degree and still show relevant experience. Show what you can contribute. List pertinent lab work or practicums. Show how the internship was related to experience. Relate positions held in other jobs or activities.

What does your resume look like?

Is your resume pleasing to the eye? Does it look readable? If it looks like it would take too long to read, it probably won’t get read! And don’t forget to use good quality paper- at least 25% linen when submitting a hard copy. It really does make a difference! Match the resume to the job. The more creative the job; the more creative your resume can be. The more formal the job; the more formal your resume should be.

Dos and Don’ts in Resume Writing:

Do:

One Page (two if you absolutely must!)
One Font Style
Font Size 12 and Up
Action Verbs

Don’t:
Any reference to references
Font size smaller than 10
Personal Comments
Bad Grammar
Personalized Lifestyle E-mail Addresses

Once have your resume finished, have several people check it for style, grammar, spelling and overall presentation. Spell check will only find groups of letters that are not words. You don’t want your resume to say that you were wholly responsible for “ruining” an entire department when you really meant “running” it!

Your resume is often your first representation of you to the company. Make it Count!

Coming soon…. Did you remember your Cover Letter?