RESUMES

• Written communication that clearly demonstrates your ability to produce results in an area of concern to potential employers in a way that motivates them to meet you.

Much preparation goes into an excellent resume.  First, establish clear goals for your job search.  Then identify your skills that match these goals.  Gather supporting materials and summarize your past employment-related experience.   Always have someone proofread your resume.

The greatest challenge will not be what to include on your resume, but what to leave out.  An attention-getting resume must be targeted, to the point and must clearly identify your qualifications.

GOAL SETTING/SKILLS

An important element in resume preparation is establishing clear goals and objectives.  It is critical that you target your resume to a specific occupational goal.  The content of your resume should point to that goal.  Great resumes are ones in which every piece of information points to a clear occupational objective.

Employers want to know what you can do, not just where you have worked.  Whenever possible, state your specific skills.  As an example, if you have word processing skills, state which software packages you have used.  Resumes today need to be skill based.  Whatever style or format you use, your resume must clearly communicate the skills you bring to the job for which you are applying.

The resume must have impact and flair.  What you say is important, but how you say it is just as important.  Use action verbs to highlight qualifications.

Notice the use of measures to complement your resume.  Resumes are not literary, they are promotional.  Complete sentences are not necessary.  Avoid the use of "I," as the subject of the resume is assumed to be the person named in the heading of the resume.  Life experiences can be used.

RESUME FORMATS

1.  Chronological

Characteristic – Presents information in reverse order, most recent experience listed first.  

Advantage – Easy to write, emphasizes steady employment record, and is a familiar format for employers as this is the most common resume format.

Disadvantage – Calls attention to gaps in employment or job-hopping or career changing.  

Use – To emphasize career growth and development.

Click here to view a sample chronological resume.

2.  Functional

Characteristic – Focuses on specific strengths and skills.

Advantage – Focuses on skills and not your work history.  

Disadvantage – Content may appear to lack depth if you don’t have a strong work history or the education to back it up.

Use – When first entering the job market, or when primarily consulting or doing freelance work.

Click here to view a sample functional resume.

Characteristic – Combines both the chronological and functional resume types.

Advantage – Shows relevant skills and abilities and supportive employment record.  

Disadvantage – This resume may get too long with lots of repetition without careful editing.

Use – To offer a complete picture of abilities and work history.

Click here to view a sample combination resume.

Some employers use electronic resume scanning systems to screen resumes, a trend that will increase in the future.

• Give priority to the skills on your resume.
• Place your name, address, and phone number in block format below the top margin.
• Use vertical and horizontal lines sparingly and include a quarter inch of white space around them.  (Scanning systems can confuse lines and characters.)
• Don’t use script, italic, or underlining.  Highlight information using bold or CAPITAL letters.
• Avoid graphics and shading.  Shading makes text harder to read.  Graphics do not make sense to scanning systems.  You can use asterisks rather than bullets.
• Avoid using tabs.
• Stapling or folding affects scannability.  Avoid fasteners and consider sending your resume flat in a large white envelope.
• This type of resume can also be cut and pasted to send electronically on websites.

Click here to view a sample scannable resume.

RESUME CONTENT

Employment or Career Objective – This could change with every resume you send, but if you do not include this on your resume – be sure it is in your cover letter.  With the use of word processors, it is very easy to change objectives so you might consider including one on your resume.

Summary Statements/Skills – These can also change with each job you apply for.  Focus on the skills you possess which are most pertinent to the job for which you are applying.  To be effective, the summary or qualification statement must indicate that you are qualified for the position you are seeking.

Employment History – List your most recent employment first.  A general rule of thumb is to list the last three jobs, or the last 10 years, whichever comes first.  Focus on the skills you used and accomplishments in the position.   Don’t just write a job description.

Organizations – List memberships that pertain to your job goal.  Do not list controversial organizations unless they are directly related to your goal.

Education – You will not need to list high school graduation if you have completed a college degree.  If you are currently taking classes or pursuing a degree related to your job goal, include that information.  Include relevant employer-sponsored training.  

Military – "Civilianize" military language, but be sure to include military experience.  

Hobbies/Personal Interests - Include if they are employment related, show skill or experience, and are not controversial.

References – Do not include references on your resume.  You do not need to put "References available upon request" on your resume.  Employers will assume that if they ask for them you will provide them.  Be sure to ask your references for permission.  

Awards or Recognition – Include awards if they will help you prove skills that make you a better candidate for the position.  

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RESUME WRITING

Keep it brief!

A resume is an overview of your qualifications – not your life story.  One to two pages is the standard for a resume read by the human eye.

Don’t try to be everything to everyone.  Target your job search.

Multiple Resumes

If you have more than one objective, additional resumes may be required.

Visual Impact

Resume must attract employer even before it is read.

Advertising techniques apply:

• White space – Use generous margins (at least 1") and plenty of white space.  
• Bullets
• Indentation
• Varied type styles – Choose a typeface (font) that is easily readable rather than decorative.  Times New Roman, Arial, Courier New, Garamond, or Bookman Old Style are readable.  
• Font size – Use a font size of 11 or 12 points.  
• Quality Paper

Use a laser printer.  Never hand write your resume.

Insure Integrity

Place emphasis on the positive, not the negative.  Resume should hold up under scrutiny.

Overqualified

If you consistently hear that you are overqualified or are concerned that you will be perceived as such, then you have not effectively targeted your resume.

OTHER…

What about capitalization and punctuation as you list your degree on a resume or a cover letter?

Avoid use of abbreviations.

You should capitalize your degree(s) on a resume, but the word "degree" is not capitalized.

Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration

Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Technology

Associate of Science degree in General Education Studies

Do not capitalize generic forms (bachelor's degree, master's degree).

...my bachelor’s degree in accounting

...my associate degree in veterinary technology