Resume Writing - Things to Consider

You are looking for a job and you are out to land the job of a lifetime. It can happen! Before you consider want ads, job websites, or making inquiries of companies you are interested in, you will need a resume. Your resume writing can either make or break a job opportunity.

The first thing your resume must be is functional. It is to give the employer the most information possible in one page. Resumes that are longer than one page are often put aside. Employers just don't have the time to read every page. At best many just scan your resume and count on your cover letter and maybe an interview to glean anything else about you before you are considered for hire.

In order for your resume to be functional you group your skills into different sections and your titles at the bottom. This is the format people who are changing careers typically use. They don't want to draw attention to gaps in employment or their lack of direct experience.

The chronological resume is well organized listing of skills, education, and employment in order from the most current experience backward or reverse order. The categories of your resume should be concise and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

If you are fresh out of college and unemployed put your education first, directly below the letterhead. You will list your school, your degree, your major and your graduation date. If space allows you can list your relevant course work, related academic awards, and/or your grade point average.

Other categories include relevant work experience, volunteer experiences and other skills such as computer skills, any publications you may have written or contributed to, and language skills as they might apply to the position.

Finally, you will list your references or make the statement "References will be furnished upon request. Let me give you important advice about references. Do not list someone as a reference unless you have obtained his or her consent to do so. You will want the person you ask for a reference to be a former boss, teacher, long time friend who is familiar with your abilities, and possibly your clergyman.

The appearance of your resume is very important. The font you use should be clear and easy to read. The suggested font for a resume is a Sans Serif font like Arial or Verdana. These fonts come out more clearly in faxes.

The format of your resume should be simple and plain. It should showcase your accomplishments. The prospective employer should be able to scan the page and get a good grasp on whether or not you would be good for the position.

Another important consideration for your resume is the type of paper you use. The most acceptable colors are white, cream, off white, and gray. They are easiest to read and the font will stand out nicely. You should use the same type of paper for your resume, your cover letter, and your envelope. Many stationery stores have sets of paper and envelopes for your resume. Go in and consult with a sales person to find out what they have to offer. You could always put it on a disk and bring the disk to a printer and have it professionally done.

When describing you're skills, your education, or your experience. Use action words. Instead of starting a sentence with a noun use a strong verb. When you need to put in numbers use percentages, and dollar amounts. List the number of people you supervised as well.

Keep the length of your resume to one page. As has been stated employers do not have the luxury of spending a lot of time on the resumes they receive. Some companies can get a great number of resumes and most of the time they scan the resumes. Include only the most relevant information. You can fill in information in a cover letter or an interview.

An important piece of your resume is the job objective. Are you going for a teaching position? Your resume should reflect your teacher training, your scores on specialty tests. If you were applying for a job in a department store you would list your babysitting experience. It's all relative.

While the cover letter is not a resume, it does give you the opportunity to expand somewhat on the information you put forth in the resume. Here again use strong action words and strong descriptions. Be sure all information in the resume and the cover letter is as accurate as it can be.

There are numerous resources available for you such as pre-employment counselors, the career office at your college, and a number of books on resume writing and how to get a job. Search online, the sources on the Internet are almost limitless. If necessary go to the human resources department of a business that is similar to the one you are interested in.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects, Visit his website Resume Writing for more tips and advice.

---

Employment Screening Today ? Are Online Database Searches Enough?

In today's employment environment, HR managers are faced with the... Read More

Resume Writing Service Website

Promote Your Resume Business Website!While we make our websites to... Read More

Learn How To Network for HIDDEN Jobs

I'll quickly cover the following:A) Why Network With People? B)... Read More

Do More than Expected to Get Ahead

One of the best things you can do to increase... Read More

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance

Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Taking Care of Yourself

Looking for work is generally a miserable undertaking. No matter... Read More

How To Power Negotiate Your Next Bonus

A raise in your base salary is a permanent source... Read More

Powerful Phone Interviews

Phone interviews are de rigueur with many organizations.Companies conduct phone... Read More

What Your Guidance Counselor, Career Counselor, and Own Mother Probably Never Told You...

The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely... Read More

The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting - As Seen Through The Eyes of a Seasoned Telecommuter

Janelle Delacorte has been happily answering calls for the Home... Read More

How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times

That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More

The Ripple Effect of Fear

Unemployment carries a lot of emotional baggage for most of... Read More

Tips for Terrific Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews don't just happen; they are the result of... Read More

Writing Resumes

Use a resume as a foot in the doorWhen you... Read More

How to Prepare for A Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal should be treated as an ongoing developmental process... Read More

Managing Emotions During Career Change and Job Search, Part One

How can you manage your emotions during your career change... Read More

Believe And Get Hired

Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a... Read More

Mastering The Lunch Interview

Interviews can be nerve-racking, brain-draining, headache-inducing experiences. These days, recruiters... Read More

When and How to Say I Just Cant Do It!

We naturally hesitate to tell our boss when we can't... Read More

Marketing You and Your Career

Imagine if a business invested years into the research, design,... Read More

About Your Work

I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol.... Read More

Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?

Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent... Read More

Building Your Army of Supporters: How to Build Strategic Relationships in the Work Place!

Once you have accomplished your task of getting in the... Read More

Formal Business Attire is Making a Comeback

The dot com boom of 1990s brought with it a... Read More

Using Recruiters: How To Get A Step Ahead Of The Crowd

When there is an opening to fill, a company has... Read More

Dress For Success

You have heard the phrase, "Dress for Success." This is... Read More

How Long Does It Take To Write A Resume?

Many people can easily write a resume in just a... Read More

The Best Business And Economy Solutions

In todays Business and economy, starting any business service requires... Read More

De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth

Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty... Read More

Can You Tell Me Something About Yourself!

Interview Question, "Tell Me Something About Yourself?""Tell me about yourself"... Read More

Do I Have to Provide a Salary History?

Often you see job postings with a request such as... Read More

Career Change: From Suits & Sales to Boots & Rails

Peter Humleker had it made. As the general manager of... Read More

Practice Speaking

For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any... Read More