The Nuts and Bolts of Resume Writing.
General Tips For Job Applicants in Resume Writing.
As you start your resume writing process, begin with your name and physical address. Place them at the top of the page. Next, place your phone number and e-mail address just below them. Somewhere just below and to the right of your personal information, place your position title. Use one that is most common with past employment.
Resumes come in several types:
• Most common is the chronilogical type. First list your name and other personal details. Directly across from your name I would place a well written skills summary. This could be in the form of bullets. Then list your technical skills below the summary. Next describe the types of equipment and software of which you are familiar. The next section would hold your employment history. Here you can describe your accomplishments followed by the education section.
• Second is the functional type. Personal data goes near the top. I find this type is used most often when targeting a particular position. Within reason, you can word your past work experiences and history section gearing it toward a particular job. Next, you can place your skills, categorized by job titles. I would follow that section by listing any management experience. Next, list what I call “Professional Experience” section. It is just a brief chronological history of employment. Resume writing should always include a section on achievements; you could call them “Professional Memberships / Certifications”.
• The third one is the combination type. Neatly place your persoanal data near the top. There are several variables to this type. You could arrange your document to show a profile of your accomplishments on one side of the page. The other side I would list your skills in short phrases. (“Risk Management” or “Budget Management” for examples.) Then you might list your professional background. The rest of this type would be arranged similar to the chronological type. You are not changing your past work history, just arranging it differently.
So, in creating a resume, follow one of the three above styles. Try to keep them to one page. This could provide you the opportunity to expand in person. Depending on the type of industry, it might take two pages to adequately describe your skills and work experiences. That is fine, just keep it concise, with less details. Most employers only spend a few seconds viewing each one.
It is a good idea to have a critical vita (CV) available in case it is requested. They are simply a brief one page summary of your work history covering the highlights in three or four paragraphs. Past experience for me has shown having it available is worth it.
One final thought, many people, myself included, keep several types prepared. As you might remember, each type contains the same data. Your past job title or position could be a fit in several different industries. I know of individuals who will play “resume writer” for a particular position. If one is honest and does not stretch the truth, your resume can be the key that opens that special employer’s door.
