•  Laboratory Skills; Technical Skills; Computer Skills

Once you have your material grouped together, the next step is to rewrite the information in a resume format. As stated earlier, there is no one correct format. Be creative. You must at this point, however, ask yourself a second question: “Have I conveyed the information to the reader in the most concise terms possible?” Resumes should not ramble on. The information should be short, sweet and to the point, as the old saying goes.

Now, you've written your resume. Congratulations! And it wasn't that bad, was it? The final step, and perhaps the most critical, is to review or proofread what you've written - and this should be done by more people than just yourself. It is difficult to proof one's own writing. The more eyes the better. If you are still in school, it is a good idea to have your professor's critique and review your resume, because of their unique perspective within your chosen career field.

Although we have been saying that there is no absolute right or wrong way to construct your resume, it is still possible to give you some general guidelines from a Career Services perspective. The following suggestions are things you may want to do or not do. But, remember these are only suggestions. Ultimately it's your biography, so it's up to you.

· Do not write in the passive tense. Use language that demonstrates action.

· You should not list references on your resume. You should have a separate reference page and include it only upon request. Always ask your references for their permission prior to listing them and ask them if they will give you a strong reference (you'd be surprised how often people who agree to be a reference give bad ones). Be sure to ask them where and how they would prefer to be contacted, i.e. at work or at home. Then list their preferred address, phone number, and e-mail (if applicable) along with their name and position title on a separate sheet of paper with the heading “References”. Companies commonly ask for three professional references. This means someone who can speak to your abilities within your chosen career field, e.g. a current or ex-supervisor or co-worker or one of your professors. Companies will sometimes also ask for personal references. This means someone who can speak to your personal character. People often use friends and/or family friends who hold respectable positions within the community, e.g. doctors, lawyers, political officials, clergy.

· You may or may not want to include an objective. Some potential employers like them and some do not. If you do include an objective, make it specific. Do not say: “To gain a rewarding job in the field of biology” for instance. This says nothing, insults the reader's intelligence and takes up valuable space. An example of a specific well-written objective would be: “To obtain the position of assistant research specialist with Merck Laboratories, Inc.” However, as this information will already be in your cover letter, this may be considered redundant.

· In terms of length, you should ask yourself two questions. First, “Is the information I've included relevant; does it communicate to the reader an important and unique aspect of my background that will make me a more attractive candidate for this particular position?” If the answer is no, delete the information from your resume. If the answer is yes, ask yourself this second question, “Have I communicated this information in the most concise, yet clear and complete manner possible?” If the answer to this question is also yes, then you have determined the length of your resume. Resumes do not have to be limited to one page (unless the potential employer specifically requests a 1 page resume)!!! Your resume is a marketing tool for selling yourself. If you were selling a product, would you eliminate important information or present your advertisements in a cramped and hard to read format? Of course not. The same is true for your resume. Don't sell yourself short in order to fit onto 1 page. As long as the information you've included meets the two guidelines listed above, the length is appropriate.

 

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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