Below are some basic tips on how you can easily and effectively format your resume to showcase yourself and your skills, and some key things to remember when updating your resume.
Image provided on Flickr by rtjobfolk @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordresumetemplate/
Image provided on Flickr by rtjobfolk @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordresumetemplate/
1) Pick a simple format. Your resume should be separated into clear sections including but not limited to:
a) Name and Contact information.
INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS!!!
(Email addresses should be professional. Remember
this is your professional or formal form of contact
with the business world. If your email is
NastySue@whocares.com you aren't going
to be taken seriously.)
*List your email and cell on each page of your resume
and try to keep it under 2 pages.
b) Job History including: Company, Job Title, Location and dates of employment and responsibilities. I like to format it like this:
Job Title
Company Name, Location 01/2000-06/2005
And if you have worked several positions with the same employer, simply list the company name and location first with the overall dates of employment. You should list your most recent positions first and chronicle job titles, dates of position held and specific job responsibilities.
Image provided on Flickr by ResumeWay @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/101147979@N03/
Company Name, Location 01/2000-06/2005
Job Title 01/2003-06/2005
*bullets
Job Title 01/2000-01/2003
*bullets
c) Education including: Degree type(s), area(s) of study, name of institution(s), year of completion.
ex.: B.S. in Accounting and Finance, Fordham University,
Bronx, New York - 1990
d) List of software programs you have worked with and level of proficiency.
ex.: Intermediate Experience with Windows XP/Vista, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Dreamweaver.
a) Name and Contact information.
INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS!!!
(Email addresses should be professional. Remember
this is your professional or formal form of contact
with the business world. If your email is
NastySue@whocares.com you aren't going
to be taken seriously.)
*List your email and cell on each page of your resume
and try to keep it under 2 pages.
b) Job History including: Company, Job Title, Location and dates of employment and responsibilities. I like to format it like this:
Job Title
Company Name, Location 01/2000-06/2005
And if you have worked several positions with the same employer, simply list the company name and location first with the overall dates of employment. You should list your most recent positions first and chronicle job titles, dates of position held and specific job responsibilities.
Image provided on Flickr by ResumeWay @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/101147979@N03/
Company Name, Location 01/2000-06/2005
Job Title 01/2003-06/2005
*bullets
Job Title 01/2000-01/2003
*bullets
c) Education including: Degree type(s), area(s) of study, name of institution(s), year of completion.
ex.: B.S. in Accounting and Finance, Fordham University,
Bronx, New York - 1990
d) List of software programs you have worked with and level of proficiency.
ex.: Intermediate Experience with Windows XP/Vista, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Dreamweaver.
First and foremost:
*******BULLET YOUR RESUME!********
When you put resume content in paragraph format no one will read it. Make clear bullets with key points about what your job was and the important responsibilities you took care of. This can usually be easily remedied by turning each sentence of your paragraph into a bullet.
Remember that your resume is intended to be quickly read so it
needs to be accessible and simplicity is key. Don't get hung up on
trying to make it look fancy or make yourself sound good. Let your
skills and experience speak for itself.
*****Avoid making responsibilities plural.*****
ex.:
'Collaborates with upper management to ensure all deadlines are met.'
Should be...
'Collaborate with upper management to ensure all deadlines are met.'
******Put past jobs in past tense!!******
When you update your resume it is very easy to forget to go back to your
previous position(s) and put the description of your responsibilities in
past tense. Failing to do this automatically gives potential employers the
impression that you lack attention to detail. Super simple and very necessary.
*******BULLET YOUR RESUME!********
When you put resume content in paragraph format no one will read it. Make clear bullets with key points about what your job was and the important responsibilities you took care of. This can usually be easily remedied by turning each sentence of your paragraph into a bullet.
Remember that your resume is intended to be quickly read so it
needs to be accessible and simplicity is key. Don't get hung up on
trying to make it look fancy or make yourself sound good. Let your
skills and experience speak for itself.
*****Avoid making responsibilities plural.*****
ex.:
'Collaborates with upper management to ensure all deadlines are met.'
Should be...
'Collaborate with upper management to ensure all deadlines are met.'
******Put past jobs in past tense!!******
When you update your resume it is very easy to forget to go back to your
previous position(s) and put the description of your responsibilities in
past tense. Failing to do this automatically gives potential employers the
impression that you lack attention to detail. Super simple and very necessary.
Please feel free to submit your resume questions to townecareers@townecareers.com