How do I write a resume?
A resume should be easy to read and created for the type of employment you want.
Resume Content
- Print 10 to 20 job advertisements and create a list of the skills, education and experience that were mentioned.
- Make sure that your resume includes the skills and experience listed most often.
- Your resume should be different for each position you are applying for, because resumes that don’t have a clear goal may not be considered.
- Make sure that your most important skills and experience are summarized and listed near the top of the page.
- Use verbs to describe your accomplishments.
- Present specific achievements such as how much money you saved the company or how many parts you completed per day.
- Only list jobs from the last 10-15 years, because they are often the most relevant and may minimize age discrimination.
- Leave out the word “I” and avoid using “Responsible for…” or “Duties included…” and describe the skills you used for the job instead.
- Always ensure that the information in the resume is accurate.
Appearance of the Resume
- Put your contact information at the top of your resume and use this same contract information for your cover letter, references and thank you letters. This creates a professional image with employers.
- Most resumes should be 1 to 2 pages in length.
- Use a list with bullets to describe your experience and accomplishments – bullets are clear and easy to read.
- Choose Arial or Times New Roman for the font.
- Font size should be size 11 to 12 except for your name, which should be bold and larger than the other text.
- Do not include the names of your references on your resume.
- It is optional to use the phrase “References available upon request” at the bottom.
- Make sure your resume is free of spelling and grammar mistakes. It is best to have another person proofread it.
- Use a laser printer to print your resume and use good quality white paper.