Resume Basics - Putting it Together

Contact Information

What's the most important piece of information on your resume? Is it the degree you hold? Is it the last job you had? Is it all the great references you've included?

No. It's your contact information. Your name and how to reach you is the most important information on your resume. You could be the greatest candidate ever, but without a way to get a hold of you, you'll never hear from employers.

Not that hard is it? You already have the most important piece of information on your resume!


Objective Statement

Now that you have the most important information on your resume, you can include an objective statement. This is optional, but it's a great way to tell prospective employers the type of work you're looking for.

How do you know if you need one? Take a look at your employment history. Imagine you were looking at someone else's resume; what type of career path would you say they're on? Is this the one you want to be on? If it is, you might not need one. But, if you're looking for a new type of job or career, you might want to think about including an objective statement.

For example, if the past three jobs you've had have been a sales manager, and you want to get a new job as a sales manager, you probably don't need an objective statement. If you're looking to become a chef, you will probably want to include it!

• Objective statements are most useful when:
• When you're submitting a resume for a specific position
• When you're changing career paths
• You're a recent graduate without much or any experience
• Any time that the career history alone doesn't convey a 'fit' to the career you're looking for

When writing your resume, there is one person you should always keep in mind - the reader. You want to make this easy on the reader. Don't write a vague objective statement, or one that tells the reader what you want. The reader really doesn't care what you want - tell them what you can offer them.
Professional Summary, Profile, Qualifications or Synopsis

A summary isn't just a list of thing you've done; it's a list of things you know you can do, and skills you've acquired. These are the things you can offer a company. For example:

• Senior Sales Manager offering # years of experience in ___________
• Outstanding ______________, ______________, and _______________ skills...
• Proven record of improving/increasing/strengthening...
• Proficient in computer analytics...

All that experience you've had, all the skills you've learned, all the techniques you've acquired - you know this, and that is what you put in this section.

For example, if a job ad says that "communication skills" are important for the position, you had better make sure that "communication skills" are in your summary section as one of the skills you have. You can take this one step further and let your reader know how these communication skills can benefit the employer: "create motivated and productive teams, build long-term client trust, facilitate communications..."

The description of the job is very important. You need to tailor your resume to each job. If you don't know what the description is - find out. Call the company, or go to their website, and ask!

Employment History / Career Background

One of the biggest mistakes job-hunters make when writing a resume is telling a story. I don't mean writing fiction, but writing their history as if it were a conversation. Using lots of 'I' statements and 'In charge of' statements. The resume ends up reading like a boring list rather than a professional presentation.

If you had to bring your work history down to its most basic form it would be:

Problem --> Solution --> Results.

Every job has a problem that needs solving - that's why you got hired in the first place! You have to convey the steps to took to address the problem, the solution you devised, and the results of the solution. You may also want to include any follow-up actions taken.

Take out the 'I' statements and start each responsibility statement with a strong action word that best describes your role. Put some extra action words in to spruce up your resume a little.

Each job is important, and each person who holds that position provides value.

You have to first understand the value that you provide to a company - at any level - and then appreciate the results of this contribution. Once you do that, get it down on paper.

Education

If your education is the most important aspect of your career history, or the only part of your career history (e.g. you are a recent graduate) then list it first. If you have already held positions related to your career, or have much more experience, or do not have an education, list it after relevant work experience.

While your education is extremely important, and should definitely be highlighted, most employers will be far more interested in what relevant positions you have held than what your degree was in, or what your GPA was.

If you feel that your education is something that would make you really stand out, list it twice; once in the summary, and once again in the education section.

Educational achievements should be formatted to complement the rest of your resume's layout. Use the same format for your education section that you did for your work history section.

Include your GPA, if high, and if you want, include a list of courses that you took that are relevant to your career. If you have completed a portion of a degree or education, note this on your resume.

Other Information of Interest

Do list any associations or relevant organizations that you're a member of. If you aren't part of any associations related to your industry, it may worth joining. This is a great way to network with other professionals and leaders in your industry.

Do list hobbies and outside activities only if they are relevant to the position and company being targeted.

Do list all volunteer work that is directly relevant to the position or company being targeted, the same way you would list any other work on your document

Do Not list personal information, such as marital status, health, height, weight, number of children, gender, marital status, age, race or religion

Do Not attach a picture of yourself to your resume, unless you are in the modelling, or entertainment industries.