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Get your dream job with help from our resume editors
We explain how to write a resume and
offer some helpful
resume writing tips.
Your formal resume is a summary of
your education and job experience. It is the all-important document that will
be your first impression on a prospective employer. Usually created for the
purpose of seeking a job interview, your resume format should briefly highlight the
relevant points of your professional and academic profile, as well as emphasize
your accomplishments, to show how your qualifications fit the job description.
Think of your resume as a marketing tool—it's your personal advertisement to
potential employers.
Remember:
every job is different
As a rule, it is important to tailor
your resume to the specific job or career of your choice. This increases your
chances for gaining employment, but it also serves to indicate that you are
interested in a particular job and not simply looking for work in general (even
if this is the case). Regardless of how menial the prospective job may seem, we
recommend highlighting any personal experiences that relate directly to the
position. There is always some characteristic of your previous work experience
that will relate to the job in question; for example, if you were formerly a
DJ, but you are applying for a customer service or a sales position, you can
emphasize your talent for relating to people as a transferrable skill. The idea
is to be granted an interview. Once you have achieved this step, you have the
opportunity to expand on all of your skills as they relate to the advertised
position. Check out our example resume
as a guideline to follow when writing your resume.
Keep
your resume short and concise
Keep your resume length to no more
than two full pages. This will allow employers, whose time is at a premium, to
learn the most important aspects of your professional history as quickly and
efficiently as possible.
The requirements for the length and
content of a resume are slightly different for a curriculum vitae (CV). In some
countries, including those in North America, the terms "resume" and
"CV" are used interchangeably, but there are notable differences. A
resume is usually more elaborate in terms of your goals and attributes, using
descriptive and "action" words to profile your character and
professional history. A resume is also used mostly within the private sector,
having a more casual style and targeting a specific purpose and audience in
addition to listing accomplishments in order of significance. By comparison, a
curriculum vitae is most often used in medical fields, academia, and the art
world. A CV chronologically lists a complete and straightforward record of all
important information concerning professional and academic achievements. These
would include educational institutions attended, degrees received, a list of
works published, etc. For this reason, it is generally accepted that the CV
format will vary and the length will likely extend beyond two pages in length.
Take a look at our example CV to see the difference between a resume and a CV.
Select
the right style for your resume or CV
Technical information aside, how do
you now go about composing your resume? You will want to use an eye-catching,
reader-friendly format that will still allow you to fit in all of your relevant
information.
The most common styles are the
chronological resume, the functional resume, the combination resume, and the
targeted resume. The online resume is also becoming more common. Several
formats exist; we recommend choosing the one best suited to your personal
circumstances.
Chronological
resume
A chronological resume lists your work history in
reverse date order, starting with your most recent or present employer. Most
companies prefer this style, since it clearly shows where you have worked and
when. This is a solid choice for people with a steady work history. As can be
seen in our chronological resume example, we recommend
listing no more than ten years' experience on this type of resume.
Functional
resume
This format focuses primarily on
your skills and experience. A functional resume is used by people who have
limited work history or gaps of time within that history (a length of time
exceeding two weeks and not related to employment) or by those who are
considering changing careers. This type of resume is best for applications for
jobs requiring specific skills or character traits rather than specific work
experience. The first listing in this type of resume is an Objective heading,
under which you will summarize your goals and intentions as they relate to the
advertised position. To see an completed resume, refer to our example of a functional resume.
Combination
resume
The combination resume format first demonstrates your
skills and attributes, followed by your chronological work history, in reverse
date order. We recommend this style as it serves two purposes at once. First,
your most noteworthy qualifications, as they pertain to the job for which you
are applying, are clearly listed. Second, the employer gets an overview of your
work experience. This style also includes the Objective heading, as
mentioned above. To get a better understanding of this type of resume, check
out our combination resume example.
Targeted
resume
The targeted format is similar to
the combination resume in style. It lists your summary of qualifications first,
followed by any professional affiliations (such as societies or associations),
and then your work and educational history. However, this format requires that
you be more specific with respect to the particular job posting. More care and
attention are given to the skills, attributes, and work-related experiences
that will make you stand out from the crowd. This is the format to use for a
posting that you feel is a perfect match for you. It is definitely worth the
extra time and effort you put into it.
For all of these formats, your
educational history is listed last. Furthermore, it is always a wise idea to
list the phrase References available upon request as the final text on a
resume. This is beneficial since a) employers who are considering you for the
position will request names of references from you, and b) it demonstrates to
the employer that you are open to having them discuss your work history and/or
character traits with people who know you or have worked with you. We recommend
that you wait to give out these names until you are specifically asked for
them, since this protects the privacy of your contacts until such time that
their input is requested. Therefore, it is best not to add these names to the
resume document itself. Instead, prepare a separate sheet to hand to the
employer if these names are requested from you.
Be
sure your resume is error free
If you want your resume to stand out
from the pack, now's the time to submit it to one of our resume editing services. Our professional editing
staff can help you revamp your resume in less than 24 hours, bringing you one
step closer to your dream job.
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