What you include or leave out of your resume can hold a deciding difference between whether it gets completely read or quickly discarded.
There are no rules that dictate which resume format you use.
The style of your resume depends on your educational background, work experience, personality, and the type of job you are applying for.
However, within whichever format you choose (chronological, functional, or a combination of both), there are still certain sections that your information should be divided into in order to make the document easy to read.
If your resume quickly captures the attention of the reader and intrigues him or her that you might be an appropriate candidate for an interview, then you have taken a huge step toward success in your job search.
At the very top of your first page, you must put your name, address, telephone number and email address.
This information is best centred, using no less than three lines.
If you have an unprofessional or confusing email address, create a new one that is simple and not offensive to the employer.
Also it is not necessary to title your document as "Resume".
The format should be enough to identify what it is.
The next section has become somewhat contentious.
Some would suggest that you now include a one or two sentence statement called a "career objective" or "employment goal" which refers to the type of job you want to find and targeted to the specific employer wherever possible.
Personally I do not support this approach as it seems too patronizing to the reader.
Every resume has an accompanying cover letter which declares your interest in the job position and your career goals as they relate to the employer.
It seems unnecessary to put it here again in this manner.
I prefer a summary of the skills that you will bring to the job, skills acquired through your education, work experiences, volunteering, and personal achievements.
This is displayed as a bulleted list of the most important five or six skills and qualifications needed by the employer that you can bring to fulfill the position.
Focus on your strengths and be true, positive and accurate.
Depending on how much work experience you have, the next section would either be your education or work experience.
If you feel that you have sufficient work experience related to the position you are interested in, outline that next.
Remember that job related experience is not necessarily paid work.
All experience can go under this heading, but make sure you represent volunteer work as such.
Avoid misrepresenting yourself here.
Again use a bulleted list, using action verbs to begin each point.
If it is past experience, use the past tense.
If it is work you are currently doing, write your points in the present tense.
With these points as well, try to quantify what you did i.
e.
served 250 customers each day, or planted 500 trees on average every day for three consecutive months.
This gives the reader a clearer picture of what you accomplished.
You may wish to create sub-headings in this section for Leadership Experience, Volunteer Experience, or Counselling Experience so each type is stated together.
In any case, it is good in any employment history to provide proof of where these skills were gained.
Include the dates worked, the job title and the name of the employer.
Here especially, write your job title in bold.
When scanning a resume, the reader will easily see the types of jobs you have held first before they check to see who you did it for.
The next section should include your formal education and training for any degrees, diplomas, or certificates you have acquired or are in the process of completing.
Include the title of the degree, the name of the institution where it was earned, and the date it was completed (or will be completed).
If you have recently graduated, you may wish to include any relevant course content and how it is relevant to what the employer needs.
It is also possible to print out the course descriptions for those courses you have taken and attach this document to the back of your resume.
In this way, if the employer is unclear on what you studied under a certain course title, this brief summary statement for each course will help give better context.
To round out your resume, you should conclude with a section that highlights your personal hobbies, interests and activities.
Include items that are unique and will stand out so you individualize yourself.
Do not waste space with unimportant information.
As a final note, never put the names and contact information of your references on your resume.
Respect their right to privacy and confidentiality.
Make up your reference sheet and take it with you to the interview and present it with the employer before you leave.
There are no rules that dictate which resume format you use.
The style of your resume depends on your educational background, work experience, personality, and the type of job you are applying for.
However, within whichever format you choose (chronological, functional, or a combination of both), there are still certain sections that your information should be divided into in order to make the document easy to read.
If your resume quickly captures the attention of the reader and intrigues him or her that you might be an appropriate candidate for an interview, then you have taken a huge step toward success in your job search.
At the very top of your first page, you must put your name, address, telephone number and email address.
This information is best centred, using no less than three lines.
If you have an unprofessional or confusing email address, create a new one that is simple and not offensive to the employer.
Also it is not necessary to title your document as "Resume".
The format should be enough to identify what it is.
The next section has become somewhat contentious.
Some would suggest that you now include a one or two sentence statement called a "career objective" or "employment goal" which refers to the type of job you want to find and targeted to the specific employer wherever possible.
Personally I do not support this approach as it seems too patronizing to the reader.
Every resume has an accompanying cover letter which declares your interest in the job position and your career goals as they relate to the employer.
It seems unnecessary to put it here again in this manner.
I prefer a summary of the skills that you will bring to the job, skills acquired through your education, work experiences, volunteering, and personal achievements.
This is displayed as a bulleted list of the most important five or six skills and qualifications needed by the employer that you can bring to fulfill the position.
Focus on your strengths and be true, positive and accurate.
Depending on how much work experience you have, the next section would either be your education or work experience.
If you feel that you have sufficient work experience related to the position you are interested in, outline that next.
Remember that job related experience is not necessarily paid work.
All experience can go under this heading, but make sure you represent volunteer work as such.
Avoid misrepresenting yourself here.
Again use a bulleted list, using action verbs to begin each point.
If it is past experience, use the past tense.
If it is work you are currently doing, write your points in the present tense.
With these points as well, try to quantify what you did i.
e.
served 250 customers each day, or planted 500 trees on average every day for three consecutive months.
This gives the reader a clearer picture of what you accomplished.
You may wish to create sub-headings in this section for Leadership Experience, Volunteer Experience, or Counselling Experience so each type is stated together.
In any case, it is good in any employment history to provide proof of where these skills were gained.
Include the dates worked, the job title and the name of the employer.
Here especially, write your job title in bold.
When scanning a resume, the reader will easily see the types of jobs you have held first before they check to see who you did it for.
The next section should include your formal education and training for any degrees, diplomas, or certificates you have acquired or are in the process of completing.
Include the title of the degree, the name of the institution where it was earned, and the date it was completed (or will be completed).
If you have recently graduated, you may wish to include any relevant course content and how it is relevant to what the employer needs.
It is also possible to print out the course descriptions for those courses you have taken and attach this document to the back of your resume.
In this way, if the employer is unclear on what you studied under a certain course title, this brief summary statement for each course will help give better context.
To round out your resume, you should conclude with a section that highlights your personal hobbies, interests and activities.
Include items that are unique and will stand out so you individualize yourself.
Do not waste space with unimportant information.
As a final note, never put the names and contact information of your references on your resume.
Respect their right to privacy and confidentiality.
Make up your reference sheet and take it with you to the interview and present it with the employer before you leave.