Your resume is the one chance you have to make a good impression on a potential employer. Your personal presentation must be top notch for you to gain an interview; therefore, be sure you know which resume format to use and the basic information required on a resume.
The most commonly accepted resume formats are online, chronological, functional, and combination resumes. The specific differences in format are discussed on other pages on this site.
Personal information is always placed at the top of your resume, including your name, address, telephone number, cell phone, fax, and email address.
After the identifying information, you need to list the objective statement or summary statement, which describes the type of position you are seeking. This is not mandatory; regardless, the resume and cover letter should be focused on the position sought and the skills required. In this summary/objective statement, it is important to avoid clichés and meaningless sentences, such as “Challenging full-time position that will be rewarding and offer room for advancement.”
The remainder of the document depends on the resume format you choose. The Education and Employment sections are placed in order of which is the most relevant to the job opening. You will need to use professional judgment to decide the most relevant. Various factors in background and experience determine the choice.
After Education and Employment, other information (e.g.; honors, affiliations, community work, languages) can be listed.
Delete unnecessary words and proofread your resume numerous times. Get someone else to proofread it as well; you don’t want any misspellings or grammatical errors.
Don’t let the wrong resume format cost you your dream job. Read our pages on specific resumes to find out more about each format.
We look forward to partnering with you in the future,
Candace Davies ACCC, CRW, CIC, CPRW, CEIP, CECC
Review Candace’s credentials here.