INTRODUCTION
Goals of a Resume
Can you pass the 10 second
test. In about 10 seconds the employer will quickly scan your resume. If
your resume makes a positive first impression, s/he will read the rest
of your resume. You must:
Answer the question, "Why should I hire
you?"
Communicate who you are and where you want to go.
Show that you are a well rounded individual.
Give the employer a desire to meet you.
As you would read a resume from the top of the page, we detail each section you would use in top to bottom order.
Think of the resume as an advertisement to sell you. Keep in mind that there is no one right way to write a resume; keep it original, and let it express everything original about you.
MAIN BODY
Every resume should have, as a minimum, three essential components: the heading, skills and experience, and finally education and training. To set your resume apart from the pack, you should also add an objective or a qualifications summary. Other accessories can also help. However, that is all far down the road; let's start with something easier first.
Heading
There are two basic methods of
formatting the heading: the traditional method and the creative method.
The traditional form is to centre all of this information, while the
creative method is usually not centered. Using a creative method may
convey some aspects of your personality and help differentiate you from
other job seekers. However, do not get too carried away with being
creative - ensure that the heading looks professional.
Keep in mind that if the resume is to be electronically scanned or
transferred via email, your creative efforts may be distorted or go
unrecognized. Regardless of whatever format you use, place this
information at the top of the resume. Ensure that all the information is
correct. Often, people forget to update this information when they move,
and it prevents an employer from being able to contact you.
Include the following items: full name, street address, city, province, postal code, home phone number, and email address. Unless specifically requested, we recommend that you do not include a work number. Employers generally do not look favourably on disclosing a work number. It indicates that you would use an employer’s resources and time for personal matters.
John Smith
123 Bear Street •T1L 2G7
Banff • Alberta
(403)123-4567 •
jsmith@banfflife.com
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A career objective is best used to focus a resume when you know what position you are interested in. This section appears at the beginning of a resume after the name and contact information. If you are sending your resume to a company in the hopes of landing any job, a qualifications summary would be better for you. It's a good idea to have one or the other, before leaping into the heart of your resume. The purpose of a career objective is to tell the employer what it is that you want to do. The rest of the resume focuses on supporting this objective and convincing the employer of your ability to do it. If you do decide to use an objective, do not use vague words and phrases. They will not add value to your application. Do not write: "To obtain a position in a progressive company where I can use my skills to increase sales and contribute to the overall success of the organization". Rather, be specific in outlining exactly what you are looking for: "To direct a sales organization at a consumer products company." Keep your objective focused and precise. As a guide, make it 12 words or less; don't go over this limit unless you feel it will really help you land your job. Ensure that the rest of your resume supports your objective. After you have it written, ask yourself:
Remember that if you do use an objective in your resume, be sure to adjust your resume for the different types of jobs that you apply for. |
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Objective Examples
Seeking a position in sales where five years of customer service experience will add value. Position where three years of management experience will contribute. Corporate trainer, where a thorough understanding of English will be useful. Skilled in public speaking and instructing. Should I include a career objective in my resume? Well, that really depends on your objectives. The table below may help you decide.
If you're still not sure, as a general rule of thumb, use an objective if you know what job you want. If you're not sure, you're better off with a summary of your qualifications. It's best to have either one or the other; do not omit both. |
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An objective can be a great way to start your resume if you know exactly what you are applying for. However, if you aren't sure (or you want to apply for a range of jobs) a qualifications summary can be a great way to start. It is generally two or three phrases in length and used to highlight specific skills that are relevant to the potential job. A qualifications summary appears near the beginning of a resume, after the header. If you choose to use both an objective and a qualifications summary, the objective appears second; however, it is usually best just to use one or the other. Examples of Summaries: "Completing a degree in journalism with a minor in marketing. Interned as assistant account executive with copywriting responsibilities at local advertising agency. Sold advertising space for college newspaper." "Sixteen years of editing and writing experience. Three years of experience managing advertising sales, promotion, production, and circulation. Winner of the Frank O'Hara Award for Journalistic Excellence." |
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Can I make a resume with neither a qualifications summary nor a career objective? This is probably a bad idea. The qualifications summary and career objective are fast, effective ways to hook the reader into looking at the rest of your resume. Employers will have to sift through your resume otherwise to find out what you are good for. Additionally, both methods give your resume focus. |
This information is generally considered the most important section of the resume. Your task is to show that you have the skills and experience that the employer needs. If you do not have much work experience, then including volunteer experience will enhance your resume. Focus on including experiences that demonstrate your accomplishments and indicate that you have the required skills for the position.
Once you have your information down, you should decide on what type of format to use. There are three basic types of resumes:
1. Chronological
This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order (i.e. from most to least recent). Employers tend to prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.
2.
Functional
A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas.
3. Combination (Uses a
Career Profile)
A combination resume uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the above two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section.
NOTE: Unless a functional resume conveys your suitability significantly better than the other types, a chronological or combination format is suggested for entry-level positions. We recommend that you avoid using a functional resume unless an employer specifically requests that format.
What goes first – education or
experience?
In general educational information follows the job experience section.
However there are three situations in which education should precede work experience:
1. You are currently in school or a recent graduate.
2. You are changing careers and your education is more pertinent to the
new career than your job experience.
3. You are seeking a position where specialized education is a
prerequisite for employment.
Remember that whatever information is first will be what catches the employer’s attention. This is why we suggest that you put your greatest asset first – whether that is education or experience.
Your education can also be listed in a chronological or functional format, so we recommend you read these sections first before typing up your education section. Even if education is your biggest asset, it should still come after the career profile section, if you are using one (but before the work experience section).
How long should my resume be?
Usually most resumes are one page long. Your employer is going to be reading a lot of resumes so a long resume will not be greeted with enthusiasm. However, sometimes you will have more information that will help you land a job that simply cannot fit on one page. In those situations, by all means go to two pages. You do not need to completely fill the second page if you use one.
Whatever you do, do not go to three pages or more. The employer will feel that you lack communication skills and will most likely start reading your resume with exasperation.
The combination resume has the advantages of both the chronological and functional formats rolled into one. One way to do this is to create a career profile (the functional section) that is placed before your work experiences (the chronological section). The career profile also appears before the education section. If you do not want to create a combination resume, you may still find some of the tips here useful.
Sometimes a section labelled professional or career profile, or simply profile, is used. This section is different from the Career Objective or Summary. It conveys much more detail and contains selected highlights from your work, education, and volunteer-related experiences. You should place it directly underneath your Objective or Summary.
This section tells the employer about your best accomplishments and the benefits you offer an employer. You do not need to list the company you worked for or the dates (though for emphasis you may wish to); these details should be placed instead in your work experience section. Generally speaking, listing more than six items is too much.
This section, in combination with your work experience, is the most important part of your resume, so tell the employer the best things about yourself here. Whenever describing accomplishments, be precise. If possible, quantify your results. For example, you could write "Reorganized order processing procedures to reduce time required by 30%."
BACK TO THE TOP
Sample Phrases
Here are some things you may want to include somewhere in your career profile and work experience sections:
added value to the company by...
awards & recognitions
contributions made
exceeding goals
expense savings
improving sales
increasing productivity
inventory reductions
mergers & acquisitions
new policies & procedures
new technology/product introduction
problems identified & resolved
productivity improvements
profit improvements
quality improvements
reducing employee turnover
reengineering successes
revenue increases
start-ups & turnarounds
Example:
Here is an example career profile of someone applying for an office position.
Career Profile
Experienced in administrative duties; scheduled meetings, handled travel arrangements and purchasing.
Computer skills include Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint.
Excellent problem solving.and communication skills. Accustomed to long work hours.
Winner: Employee of the Month 2002 for October and December at Awesome Inc.
As stated in the
overview, in general educational information follows the job experience
section. However, put your greatest asset first – whether that be
education or experience.
Unless education is your only selling point, only include the basic details:
name and location of school, graduation date, degree and major area of
study, and relevant/noteworthy awards and accomplishments. The order in
which you present this material depends upon what you want to emphasize the
most. If you graduated from a well known school, place that first, followed
by the degree that you attained.
If you didn’t graduate from the program, and aren’t planning on completing it, you can still include what you did complete. Simply state the school and program, duration of attendance, and the total number of credits you completed. However, if you have attended several institutions without completing a program at any of them, then listing all of these will suggest that you do not finish what you start and will work against you.
Include high school only if you haven’t attended a post secondary institution. Include your GPA if it is greater than a B+ average. If you ranked in the top 10% of your class or better or received honours then it may be useful to include that. However, you can also mention awards in a separate "Awards & Honours" section, as detailed in the Accessories section. If you have had unique educational experiences such as a foreign exchange, a seminar with a famous professor, a research assistant position, etc., include them to demonstrate that you go beyond the ordinary and welcome challenges.
You should also include any licenses, special training, or certifications you have received. If you have several of these to list, you may wish to include a separate section called "Training & Certification", "Special Training", or "Professional Licenses", etc. Licenses should include the name and type of license, where it is valid (if appropriate), and date acquired. Special training should include the name of the course, name & location of institution, and completion date.
Your resume can stand out if you
go beyond your skills and experiences. Remember however, that skills and
experiences are still the meat of your resume, so don't overdo it with these
extras.
Awards and Honors
Honors and recognitions can be written in the body of a resume, along with a professional history. Include only those awards and honors that will show the appropriate character for the job you are applying towards. It is tempting to include awards from only the most prestigious donors. It is more important to include awards that relate to the job opening. A position in sales will be complimented by awards with public involvement rather than academic awards.
Professional and Social Affiliations
Often when you have been working in your field for several years you may belong to a professional association. Membership in professional associations conveys to the employer that not only that you are currently a contributing member of your profession, but also that you have a desire to enhance your knowledge and skills for your own future, and that you are committed to the future of your vocation. Its good to list the associations which you have contributed your time and effort. Avoid including associations in which you have had very little involvement as this will take away from your other associations
Avoid mentioning controversial causes that you are involved with unless you only want to work with people who sympathize with your beliefs. Outlier social groups are not often looked upon favorably by employers and should be included with due consideration.
Technical
Expertise/Computer Skills
It is especially useful to include computer skills when applying for
positions that require such knowledge. If you have technical skills that
haven't been used in a job yet, you might wish to place them here.
Hobbies
& Outside Interests
This section is often combined with other sections such as Memberships and
Activities. If you include this section, keep it short. One or two lines
should be sufficient. Include items that complement the position you are
applying for. For instance if you are applying to be a physical education
instructor, listing that you enjoy sports is a good idea. Be careful not to
tell everything about yourself - save something for the interview.
Teaching Assignments
If you have conducted, facilitated, or taught any courses, seminars,
workshops, etc, you should include them on your resume. These experiences
illustrate leadership, confidence and interpersonal skills.
Military
Unless Military service or other activities are directly related to the
position, you should keep them brief (one or two lines at the most). Ensure
that you translate experience related jargon to plain English so that the
prospective employer can understand it.
If you've read this far, congratulations! Your resume is well on its way to helping you in your job search. We have more tips for you in the following sections to tidy up your resume, as well as sample resumes that you can compare your own resume to.
| Tips On Content - Including the Right Information |
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Employers need to have skills summarized in a uniform fashion so resumes can be read very easily. To make your resume stand out remember these points:
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Never lie. Aside from the moral implications, if you are hired and your fabrications are found out, you can be dismissed. Depending on how large the business community is in your area, this could ruin all your local career prospects. |
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Don't use the word "resume" on your resume. |
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Don't include salary information. |
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Don’t attach job references & testimonials. |
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Don’t include personal statistics & photographs. |
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Don’t include personality profiles. |
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7. |
Don’t copy someone else’s resume. Be original and creative. |
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Most importantly, this will ensure you are familiar with your resume. You don't want to be struggling to explain to an employer what you meant by a neat - sounding phrase that you copied. |
| Five questions to ask yourself before submitting your resume: |
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Who should you select for a reference?
Unless otherwise specified by the employer, it is a good idea to provide an employer with a range of references so that they can get a feel for who you are. Some people you might use include superiors, subordinates, professors, peers, and major clients or customers. Select people to validate and reinforce what you have stated in your resume. For instance, if your resume states that you "expanded the product line leading to a 23% sales increase," your supervisor should be provided as a reference to confirm this.
Most employers require at least 3 references. If possible it would be good to provide 4 or 5 (eg. 2 previous supervisors, 1 subordinate, 1 peer/volunteer coordinator, and 1 client).
The most important references are generally your superiors. If possible, include at least two previous employers as references. In contacting previous supervisors, potential employers are looking for information about the contribution you made to that firm. Subordinates and peers should emphasize your ability to be a team player. Clients should highlight your customer service skills and interpersonal communication skills.
If you have not had work experience, then you can use professors as references.
What information should you provide?
Include all the information that a potential employer may wish to know. You should provide the following information: full name, title, organization name, address & phone number (make sure this information is correct), best time to call, and relationship to you. Provide a reference’s work address and phone number unless the reference wishes to be contacted at home.
Where should you include these references?
Your references should not be part of your resume. If employers specifically request that references be provided as part of your application then you should attach them as a separate sheet behind your resume.
Questions that references are commonly asked
What is your relationship with the applicant? How long have you known them?
Would you hire them again?
Describe how s/he works with other people.
Was s/he usually on time? Would s/he ever work late?
Tell me about his/her performance on the job.
Is s/he a fast learner?
Is there anything else that I should know before I hire this person?
Who else would you recommend that I speak to about the applicant?
Maintaining Control Over What Your References Say
Talk to your references before you forward their names to a prospective employer. If they are aware that they will be receiving a call from an employer they will be more prepared to give an appropriate appraisal of you. Give each reference a copy of your job application, job description, and a list of the specific features in your background that you would like for him/her to mention to the employer.
Some employers will actually skip formal reference checking when they have a letter of recommendation from your listed reference. If you are asked to provide reference letters, and if the references do not oppose, write the letters yourself. This way you have control over what is said. Send the letter to the reference for approval and signing. Ensure reference letters are current and written on the organization’s letterhead. When you are obtaining someone's consent to be used as a reference, ask for a letter of recommendation. This way you will have a good idea of what they will say and the letters can be presented to the interviewer in addition to your list.
Check out your references before you list them for a potential employer. Having a friend call them will help you to choose the best references.
Thanking Your References
During your career search, take the time to send a letter of thanks to your references, along with an update of how your search is going.
Introduction
Where to Begin
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