How to Write a Resume

Steps

1. Tailor your resume to the position you"re applying for (this may require a bit of research). You may end up with many different versions of your resume, each one emphasizing a different set of skills.
2. State your objective. Again, keep this short and to the point. Personalize it to the position. Make sure your objective doesn"t contradict the position you are applying for.
3. Highlight your work experience. Again, keep in mind that you should tailor your qualifications to the the position you are seeking. Whenever possible, list your experience in terms of accomplishments and achievements rather than tasks and responsibilities. Show your success.
4. Add information about your educational background.
5. Mind the look and feel of your resume. It should have clean lines and be easy to read. Make it 1-2 pages max - if you have more to share, save it for the interview. The font should be 8-12, no smaller, no bigger. Black and white is best, but occasional color is okay if not overdone.
6. Keep the format neat and organized. Include relevant information only. Don"t list every little job you"ve ever held if it isn"t relevant. Decide between listing by experience or chronologically (use whichever one works best for your resume).
7. Include an address, phone number and email address. But, do not include an email that shows you shouldn"t be taken seriously, like beerandboys@email.com. Dont use your current employer"s name, number or email, either. If necessary, get an extra email address with a professional name that you can use for job searches.
8. Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Have a friend proofread. Have an enemy proofread. Have a stranger proofread. Then proof again! Don"t boast about verbal communication skills with a typo. (Example: I possess excellent communication (verbal and written) skills (has received A grade in my MBA in bot communication and public speaking).) Don"t let this be you!
9. Toot your own horn, but be careful. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. Try not to cross that line.
10. Follow directions. This is a huge indicator of responsibility to a hiring manager. If the ad says "no calls please," then don"t call! If the job description asks you to provide your salary history, then include that information in your resume.

Tips

• Be consistent! Format each entry in your resume in the same way.
• You might not need to list your whole name if it takes up two full lines (James Michael Allan Hoffman III; James Hoffman is fine or even Jim Hoffman if that"s the way you like to be addressed.
• Don"t overqualify yourself for a position. Give enough information for interest and save the "wow" factor for the interview. Write the resume for the position you are applying for without altering the truth.
• Don"t attach 6 letters of recommendation, your diploma, your birth certificate, and your CPR and fitness certifications. Indicate your current certifications and be prepared to give references upon request. Do not waste space on your resume by saying "References available".
• Although in some cultures, it"s customary to list your age, marital status, and family status, it isn"t common in the United States. If you think age is important, you can allude to it with the year you graduated college or high school. Otherwise, these dates aren"t necessary.
• In some countries (like Germany) you have to include a photograph with your application. In others, like the US and Canada, including a photo will immediatedly disqualify you. This just goes to show how important it is to reseach the local culture if you apply for a job in another country.
• Put your educational details in before your employment details, with the most recent first on both of them.
• Detail your duties within each position but don"t go overboard.
• Highlight your expertise in software programmes and/or any other particular skills that will impress the interviewer.
• Listing personal hobbies is optional, but make sure they are sending the right impression. In other words, you might want to mention your stamp collection if you"re applying for a job at a delivery company, but don"t include Monday night football at Hooters.
• Be careful about listing volunteer activities. When you start listing things that tie you to political and other emotionally charged organizations, you might get put in a bucket of preconceived notions. It"s not right, but everyone has biases and it is better to avoid them if possible.
• Quantify your accomplishments, if possible, by applying specific numbers to your successes. For instance, if you streamlined the flow of work for your department, define how much time it saved the company over a period of, say, 4 months. Time is money.
• Try to keep your resume to one page, and two at most.
• Get a friend or business advisor to check it for mistakes. It is easy to miss typing errors and grammatical mistakes in your haste to produce the perfect resume.
• If possible, keep the resume for a day or two before reading it again. You may think of something else you want to add before submitting it to prospective employers.
• Write a cover letter that is short, sweet and to the point. If at all possible, do not write more than a page-long cover letter. Try and remember that the person reading it is probably looking at hundreds of resumes. Address logical questions in your cover letter. If you"re applying for a position in California but your resume has a New York address, explain why. If you don"t, the reader will probably trash the resume (unless the company is ready and willing to pay for a relocation package).

Warnings

• Make sure your resume uses white space effectively. The resume layout should be professional, crisp and well-defined. If you have too much information on the page, the prospective employer will not want to read it all.