The purpose of a resume is to summarize your educational and work-related background succinctly to acquaint a potential employer with your qualifications to assume a position. This is normally accomplished in a page and should be structured to bring out your strongest points first – to catch the eye of the employer who may only have thirty seconds to review your qualifications. A resume should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for; it is not a good idea to write just one resume for all purposes. And for emphasis, certain aspects of your background can be mentioned in a cover letter.
Types of Resumes
Chronological
The Chronological Résumé is by far the most common résumé used today. It's actually reversed chronological, listing all your experience from most recent job to least recent job.
**Click Here for Sample Chronological Resume **
Functional
Functional Résumés organize your work experience by functions, experience or competencies, rather than by calendar dates. They focus on what you can do rather than where you worked. Functional Résumés can also help cover some embarrassing gaps between jobs if you were caught up in the downsize debacle. The key to a good functional résumé is making it quick and easy for the reader to understand what your looking to do and what experience you have to offer that's relevant without the reader having to spend much time and effort trying to figure it out.
**Click Here for Sample Functional Resume **
Tips for creating resumes
Have more than one style of resume to highlight your different skills or interests. Keep well supplied in copies so you won’t procrastinate sending them out.
Tailor the resume to fit a specific job or career field. Use words found in the want ads, and the jargon of that career field.
Never use words you don’t understand; avoid being cute or using creative over-kill; don’t exaggerate; be able to back up verbally what you write down.
Be sure the typing and layout is done well, correct spelling and grammar errors. It is a good idea to let others proof read your resume for clarity and correctness of form.
Do not send out messy copies. Neatness counts!
Keep records of where and to whom you have sent resumes, including dates and addresses. Follow up with phone calls.
It is not necessary to identify work you list specifically as full-time, part-time, paid or unpaid, or courses as credit or non-credit. However, do not lie if you are asked about it.
Avoid abbreviations and/or slang expressions.
Be able to inventory your job titles by skills or duties such as: administrative, public speaking, training, research, editing, management, etc.
In addition to duties and skills, try to cite accomplishments or results of your work.
Where do I start? Utilize the following Resume Writing Activity to help you gather the information needed for a successful resume.
