Think of your resume as a one-page, personal advertisement. Because it will most likely be read at the same time as a lot of others, it has to tell a story and create an image that will make you stand out from the rest. 

Focus on your skills and experiences, then think about how you want to present your information. The following will help you decide where to begin.

Gather Information

Don’t try to write the final version of your resume at the same time as you create it! Begin by brainstorming. Make a list of experiences you’ve had. Include skills, abilities, special talents and interests.

Assess Your Experience

Your resume should include any full or part-time jobs you’ve had. Don’t just focus on your duties. Think instead about the specific functions and roles you performed as well as the contributions you made.

If you don’t think you have enough work experience, remember that internships, volunteer work, community or school activities, and participation in organizations are all good "resume builders." Through these non-paid activities, you may have developed useful work-related skills and demonstrated qualities that employers look for, such as initiative, motivation, and leadership.

Choose a Style

There is no single best way to set up your resume but two styles, chronological and functional, are used most often. A third option would be a combination of the two.

Chronological

This style focuses on where and when you’ve worked, beginning with your most recent employment. It works well for individuals with consistent work histories whose experiences have increased in responsibility and are directly related to the jobs they seek. Many employers prefer this format.

Functional

This style focuses on the job functions you have performed rather than where and when you performed them. The functional resume is especially useful for those who are changing careers or re-entering the job market. Bear in mind, though, that some employers are suspicious of this form thinking the candidate may be trying to cover up employment gaps or something worse.

Writing the Resume

Experiment with different resume styles to see which works best for you. Then create a rough draft, rewriting information in short phrases.

Regardless of the format you choose, a resume should incorporate the following information.

Contact Data

Include your proper name, current address, and phone number. Don’t forget zip and area codes and avoid abbreviations.

Job Objective

For the objective to be effective, it needs to be realistic, concise, and targeted, but not restrictive. Reference to a specific position belongs in the cover letter. Experienced job seekers may prefer to use a "professional summary" instead of an objective.

Education

List the degree you are pursuing or have earned, the institution you are presently attending with city and state, and your graduation date. Include your GPA if it is higher than a 3.0, academic honors, and coursework related to your objective. Related training and additional certification can be identified here or under a separate heading. Rarely is any reference to high school needed.

Experience - Related and Unrelated

Address experiences that are directly related to your career path whether you were paid or not. Internships, volunteer work, and summer employment may offer the opportunity to highlight skills and to prove your abilities.

Paid experiences, even those unrelated to your job objective, help to create a more complete picture of you as an employee. Transferable job skills such as supervision, leadership, communication, and administrative responsibilities can offset the lack of direct career experience. List each experience starting with the most recent or relevant.

Be sure to identify the position you held, the employer or organization name (city and state), and starting and ending dates. Include a brief description of your duties starting each phrase with an action word and drawing attention to your accomplishments. Emphasize the positive.

Special Skills

Identify computer abilities, technical skills, knowledge of foreign languages, and special training that may add to your qualifications.

Honors and Achievements

Mention scholarships, community awards, Dean’s List, and any other special recognition you have received.

References

On your resume, indicate that "References are available upon request." Then prepare a separate list with names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of individuals who have agreed to provide reference information. Have this list ready to offer if it is requested during an interview. 

Resume Dos and Don'ts

• Write your own resume.
• Be clear, concise, specific, and honest.
• Be brief; a one-page resume is best.
• Use few abbreviations.
• Allow white space; resumes are skimmed, not read.
• Avoid changes in type size and font; use bold, caps, and italics for emphasis.
• Proofread, then proofread again.
• Print on quality paper using a laser printer.

• Include unnecessary personal information.
• Specify salary requirements.
• Use personal pronouns ("I" or "my").
• Exaggerate your accomplishments.
• Write long paragraphs or sentences.

• Misspelled words, poor grammar, wordiness.
• Too long.
• Poor appearance.
• Irrelevant information.
• Unclear objective.
• Gimmicky.
• Missing information.
• Skills not supportive of objective.

 The following "action" words can be used as the first word of sentence fragments in your resume. Always begin your statements with an action word that describes a certain skill or ability you possess. A thesaurus can be a helpful tool in this process! 

Tips on Preparing an Electronic Resume

As the use of technology in the job search expands, the way resumes are prepared will change. Most job seekers will need to have two versions of their resumes: one for on-line use and one to be used in the more traditional fashion. In order to make your resume more "computer-friendly," keep these tips in mind:

• Use standard typefaces such as Helvetica, Futura, Universal, Optima, Times Roman, New Century, Schoolbook, or Courier. These fonts are easier to read and recognize.
• Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.
• Avoid italics, script, and underlining. Substitute with all capital letters.
• Eliminate graphics, borders, boxes, and shading. Do not use horizontal or vertical lines.
• Use a traditional resume structure, not a two-column format.
• Your name should be the first text on the resume and on a line by itself.
• Omit parentheses around telephone area codes and list each phone number on a separate line.
• Minimize the use of abbreviations and industry jargon.
• Use white or ivory colored, standard-size 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Always prepare originals and use a laser printer. The sharper the resume — distinct edges, no dirty specks — the easier it is to read on a computer screen.
• If you know your resume is going to be read by a scanner, do not fold, staple, or wrinkle it.
• Consult additional reference material regarding employer use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software if you have reason to believe that your resume may be "read" in this fashion.

SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
E-mail Address

State briefly the type of position for which you are applying. (Zero in on a specific job title in your cover letter.)

Degree received, major, date awarded, name of college attended, city, state. (Say "pursuing" or "candidate" if you have not yet graduated.)

Grade Point Average (if 3.2 or higher), Dean’s List.

Related Courses.

Foreign language fluency, computer knowledge, technical or laboratory skills.

Include full and part-time work experience, volunteer work, co-op or internships. List your most recent employment first (position, dates employed, organization, city, state). Describe duties, skills, and roles performed, using brief phrases which begin with action words.

You may want to separate "related" experience from other non-related activities.

Organizations, positions held, dates of involvement.

State "Furnished upon request."

SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR FUNCTIONAL RESUME

Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
E-mail Address

State briefly the type of position for which you are applying.

List several transferable skills. Illustrate the development and application of those skills without specifying where or when they were developed.

List your most recent employer first and work back in time. Omit any description of duties.

Include full and part-time experiences, volunteer work, co-op or internships, student teaching.

Degree received, date awarded, major, name of college attended, city, state.

Grade Point Average (if 3.2 or higher), Dean’s List.

Related Courses.

Organizations, positions held, dates of involvement.

Academic, athletic, or civic recognition.

State "Furnished upon request."

The Cover Letter

You should send a cover letter along with each resume or application you are mailing. It gives you an opportunity to promote your abilities and qualifications in a more direct, less structured manner. Above all, it makes that important first impression.

As in any business letter, the cover letter contains three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the closing. A good cover letter will expand upon your resume by adding personal flavor to your approach.

The introductory paragraph establishes your intent to apply for a particular job opening. Use a strong opening sentence that will motivate the employer to read further. If you are responding to an ad, or if someone has referred you to the employer, put that contact point first!

The middle paragraph(s) sells your credentials to the employer. Establish a connection between what you have to offer and the employer’s needs by briefly describing some high points of your background. Don’t repeat everything on your resume but rather create a desire to read the resume to get the details.

The closing should be brief and direct. State a given time period when you would be available for an interview and specifically ask for an appointment. Add your phone number and, if you have an answering machine, assure the employer that you return calls promptly.

Some other important points:

• Addressing the letter to a specific person is best. Never use "To Whom It May Concern."
• Tailor each letter to a specific employer and job! Learn all you can about the employer before you write, and know why you want to work for that organization.
• Limit the letter to one page in length.
• Try to be "reader-oriented." Use "you" or "your organization" more than you use "I" and "my."
• Don’t attempt to flatter the employer.
• Be positive and direct. Avoid words that express doubt, such as "I hope ..." or "I think..." Also avoid conveying an inflated opinion of yourself.
• PROOFREAD!!! Any misspellings, poor grammar, or typing errors will eliminate you immediately.
• Don’t forget to sign the letter. Omitting something simple like this is a sign of carelessness.
• Use good bond paper and a high-quality printer.

MORE ON COVER LETTERS