The Art and Science of Resume Writing
What It Is…
A resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win a job interview. A great resume doesn't just tell prospective employers what you have done, it presents you in the best light and convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career.
…And Is Not
A resume is not a history of our past, a personal statement or a form of self expression. And while most of the content of any resume is focused on your job history, your goal is to write a resume that creates interest and persuades the employer to call you. Most people write a resume because everyone knows you have to have one to get a job.
It's Just a Resume - How Important Can It Be?
Research shows that only one interview is granted for every 200 resumes received by the average employer, and that your resume will be quickly scanned, not read. Ten to 20 seconds is all the time you'll have to persuade a prospective employer to read further, so the top half of your resume can make or break you.
Writing a good resume is like writing good advertising copy, except that your "product" is you.
Put yourself in the place of the person hiring…what would make someone the perfect candidate for this job? What does the employer really want? What would set a truly exceptional candidate apart from a merely good one?
Types of Resume Formats:
Chronological Format: This format demonstrates continuing upward career growth by emphasizing employment history. A chronological resume lists the jobs you've held in a progressive sequence, starting from your most recent and working back.
Functional Format: The functional format emphasizes skills, abilities, credentials, qualifications, and accomplishments at the beginning of the document, but does not associate these characteristics with a specific employer. Titles, dates of employment and employment track records are deemphasized.
Combination Format: The combination format offers a quick synopsis of your key abilities and qualifications followed by your employment history.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV is common among certain professions such as medicine or law, and in other countries.
Elements of an Effective Resume
- Heading: Include your name, home address, phone number where you can be reached easily and e-mail address.
- Objective and/or Keyword Section: This statement helps employers to see if your goal(s) match with their company's. If you're planning to use this resume online, you'll definitely want to include a keyword in your objective. The keyword is needed if you think your resume will be scanned; employers will search hundreds of resumes looking for a specific skill set or objective. The keyword should be "what's hot" in your particular field at the time.
- Work Experience: Work experience is the most important part of your resume - make sure that all information is accurate. The most common way to list work experience is in reverse chronological order.
- Education: Education is usually the second most important element on your resume, as your educational background is often a deciding factor in an employer's decision to interview you. Include all degrees or certificates you have received; honors you earned; and your major areas of concentration and study.
- Honors: Include an honors section on your resume to highlight any awards, honors, or memberships in honorary societies.
- Activities: Avoid listing any organization whose name indicates the race, creed, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation or nation of origin of its members, as this could possibly expose you to discrimination. Recent graduates can include school clubs and organizations; older workers can list neighborhood and community activities or volunteer positions.
- Certificates and Licenses: List these if the job requires and you possess them.
- Publications: Some professions strongly encourage or even require that you publish. If you've written, coauthored or edited any books, articles, or professional papers pertinent to your field, list them.
- Special Skills
- References: These usually aren't listed on the resume, but you will want the employer to know that you have them and they are available.
Action Words
Use action words on your resume to display your strengths and demonstrate your initiative.
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Writing Your Resume
Now that you have basic information on preparing a resume, it's time to get ready to write. One of the best ways to get started is to use one of the many resume-writing books that are currently out. They offer samples of different resume types and formats for all different types of jobs.
Find these great books at Broward County Library. Click on any of the links to place a hold and have the material sent to a Broward County Library location of your choice.
National Business Employment Weekly Premier Guide Series - Resumes
Taunee Besson
Resumes that Knock 'em Dead
Martin John Yate
How To Write A Winning Resume
Deborah Perlmutter Bloch
101 Great Resumes
Career Press, Inc.
Writing Your Cover Letter
Here are a few great books that will help you write an excellent cover letter.
National Business Employment Weekly Premier Guide Series - Cover Letters
Taunee Besson
7 Minute Cover Letters
Dana Morgan
