Writing a Resume

By Michael Ellis

Director of Career & Life Education

Delaware Valley College

A well-written resume is one of the most critical aspects of an effective job search. In many cases, your resume is your first means of introduction to a potential employer. Don't forget the importance of first impressions! There is no right or wrong way to write a resume. This is to say, there is no exact formula. There are as many resume styles as there are individuals who write them. Your resume should be a unique reflection of your individuality. It should document in the most efficient and effective manner possible those skills, abilities, and experiences that make you uniquely qualified for a particular position. Writing your resume is like painting a self-portrait! There are only 4 steadfast rules:

•  Your resume should flow and be easy to read, i.e. events should be placed in some sort of logical order (usually reverse chronological) and information should be easily extractable (readers should not have to search through paragraphs of narrative to find significant information).

•  Your resume should contain specific contact information (i.e., name, address(es), phone/fax numbers and e-mail address), and information regarding your work history and education/training.

•  Use proper English. Have several people proofread your draft to ensure it is free of all typographical, spelling and/or grammatical errors.

•  BE HONEST. Never list untrue or deceitful information.

Aside from the above, how you design your resume is up to you. The following information is, therefore, only intended to give you general ideas as to conventional formats and techniques. The best way to begin writing your resume is to brainstorm. Sit down (or stand-up, however you think best) and write down, in no particular order, everything you've done, participated in or attended in your adult life. This should include things such as: schools attended, jobs held, experiences, accomplishments, honors/awards, conferences etc. Include everything - don't leave out the smallest of details. Then ask yourself this question for each of the bits of information you've written down: “Is this something that a potential employer needs to know about me?” If the answer is yes, keep it. If the answer is no, cross it out.

Once you've eliminated the irrelevant information, your next step is to begin to organize the remaining information into similar groupings. These will become the subgroups or headings, if you will, for the various sections that will make up your resume. Again, there may be as many different subgroups/sections as there are resume writers. The general rule of thumb is, if you have three or more pieces of related information, you should probably create a separate section for this information in your resume. The following are some examples to help get you started:

•  Experience; Professional Experience; Related Experience; Other Experience; Work Experience; Work History

•  Education; Training

•  Certifications; Certificates Held

•  Extra-Curricular Activities

•  Community Service/Involvement

•  Interests; Hobbies (if you think it will somehow make you a more attractive candidate for a particular position)

•  Associations; Organizations; Affiliations

•  Awards; Honors

•  Presentations

•  Military Experience

•  Publications

•  Research Interests/Experience

 

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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