Jessica T's Preparing an Effective Resume

Preparing an Effective Resume

A resume is to serve as an conservative, accurate and relevant document that shows the highlights of your qualifications that you could bring to the job you are applying for. Resumes are listings of experiences and training that you have experienced. Resumes should be professional and the smallest error will show your non-detailed professionalism.

There are different types of resumes; chronological, skill, entry-level resumes but the basic elements of a resume are as follows:

Your resume SHOULD:
-Highlights the academic and work experiences that you may have that would qualify you for the job.
-Should be organized so it will be easy to read (most employers don’t spend a lot of time reading your resume for the first time) and will be eye-catching.
-Show your ability to write and demonstrate your RELEVANT skills and achievements.
-Should use action words.

Your resume should NOT:
-Be a detailed biography
-“Be a document for all occasions, all jobs and all employers.” (Preparing an effective resume).

Explanation of each category:
Your resume should be a standard format with your education background coming first, then experiences, activities and then skills and interests. A resume should be 8 ½” x 11” white or off-white paper. A resume should be different throughout the document by using different fonts and styles for the typeface, but not to different to where the employer, reading the resume, gets confused or distracted.

Your resume should be one page but don’t sacrifice information of work experience. If your resume is for a public interest employer then your experience and activities should be more than one page since you want to show your commitment is genuine.

Your heading should have your name, telephone number (work or home numbers also) & e-mail address at the top. You can also include your school or permanent address.

Education should include your most current institution followed by reverse chronological order. Each institution should include the month and year of graduation or expected graduation year. List honors that you have received and if they are not self-explainable, then describe the honor.

Experience should list your volunteer work, clinic experience and internships you have been a part of. These should also be in reverse chronological order with the most recent first. Each job listing should include the name of the employer, location of job, your job title and dates of employment. Do NOT leave time gaps between job listings.

References:
Page 409-423 of Technical communication in the twenty- First Century class textbook.
Preparing an Effective Resume http://www.law.georgetown.edu/graduate/PreparinganEffectiveResume.htm