Resume writing basics

Purpose

Your Resume is your #1 marketing tool. A well written resume will form an initial impression that leads to an interview.

Types of Resume

Chronological

  • Follows your Experience and career in a chronological order
  • The "Traditional" style of resume
  • Ideal if career is progressing in scale & scope

The emphasis is on a chronological listing of employment and employment-related experiences. The chronological resume is a good format for those with a consistent employment history, no gaps in employment, and whoís past employment experiences are related to their current employment goals. It effectively showcases a steady work record with increasing upward responsibilities. This may not be the best for new graduates, individuals with job gaps, or persons changing careers.

Functional

  • Based on your Skills
  • Identifies skill categories and examples of accomplishments
  • Ideal for those changing career paths or those returning to the workforce after a long absence
  • Not readily accepted

The functional resume highlights skills, experience, and accomplishments without identifying specific dates, names and places. This format is organized by functions or skills, advertising the specific qualifications needed for the occupation. This resume works well for people changing careers. It is also effective for those re-entering the workforce, first-time job seekers and when highlighting experiences that occurred in the distant past. There is no chronological listing of employment, consequently many employers do not like this format; it creates suspicion that the person may be trying to hide something.

Combination

  • The modern alternative
  • Highlights transferable skills & career progression
  • Used when career progression may not appear logical, when changing career focus, when your resume lacks experience that is being identified on the job posting

The combination resume brings together the best of both the chronological and functional resumes. It features a functional section that highlights skills, accomplishments, and experiences. It also includes a chronological listing of employment, education, and employment-related experiences. This is a very effective format for many job seekers. The best chronological resume is enhanced with a section highlighting skills, accomplishments, and experience. The best functional resume is strengthened with a chronological listing of employment experiences.

Writing Your Resume

No rules, just guidelines. Everyone has an opinion but remember the resume is yours. The key is that it is short, to the point, and highlights the scope & scale of your skills, experience and accomplishments. When you have completed your resume have friends and family review it and provide feedback. Take advice and criticism, but you must decide what changes to make, everyone has their own preferences on wording, format, etc. but in the end you have to decide what is in YOUR best interests. Use the Resume Worksheet as a template to identify accomplishments

5 STEPS TO RESUME WRITING

  • Gathering Facts
  • List Accomplishments
  • Resume Format
  • The Draft Resume
  • Editing

RESUME WRITING IN DETAIL

Personal Information Include:
  • Name Address Phone Home / Cell / Other
  • Email address. Having an email address with a personalized domain name is preferred but not required
  • Do Not Include: Marital status, Age, gender, ethnic background, S.I.N., Family (children)
  • Do not include anything that does not contribute to the job
  • Career Objective: Short objective - Often just the Job Title
  • Skills summary, including a list of transferable skills.
  • Defined scope & scale of experience, skills & accomplishments
  • Work Experience
  • Accomplishments!!!!!
  • Education and certifications

    • Most people list their responsibilities, but these do not identify how well you did your job or your contribution to the company's success. List your accomplishments but include the skills and methods you used to produce those results. Do not leave any gaps in employment dates; identify what you were doing or where you were employed.

    FORMATTING YOUR RESUME

    Use your judgement to ensure the resume is attractive to the eyes and has enough white space. Highlight your accomplishments using bullet points and avoid using tables as many systems will remove these and destroy the formatting.