All your hard work has paid off and you are ready to find your dream job. You start to freak out because you quickly learn that all the positions you want to apply for require you fax a resume and a cover letter to the human resource manger!
Don’t panic, help is here. This page is dedicated to giving you tips and resources on resume building. These are only suggestions and it's ultimately up to you how you put together your resume. There is a great deal of resources available online to help you. So, start reading and shop around.
What is a resume anyway?
With only one position open, the company has to weed out all unqualified candidates. They have 100 applicants and only one position. So, consider your resume your chance to show off, you to your possible, future employers.
The style and body of information will depend on your unique situation. A student who has recently graduated and is looking for a job for the first time(in their major) would use a different format Vs. someone who has 10 years of experience in a certain field.
There are many templates available and you can often find them free online.
Your resume should be no more than one page long. If you find its too long, weed it out. You should only include the most relevant information to the position you are applying for. When you complete an application you can then included a more detailed listing.
There are a variety of resume formats and the one you use is up to you, however some job advertisements tell you exactly how they want your work history listed.
Here are few resume formats:
Chronological resume (most popular)- A chronological resume list job experiences in reverse chronological order
Functional resume-Functional resume lists work experience by skills and job functions.
Combination resume- Is a combination of a chronological and functional resume.
Areas of focus:
-Objective
-Education
-Related experience
-Contact information
-Honors, Awards, Activates
Keywords:
Picking just the right word is often very difficult however, when it comes to resume writing it is a necessity. Below are some powerful keywords you should try to incorporate in your resume as often as possible. Keep in mind, the words should flow normally, so basically this means don’t use a bunch of words if your not sure of their meanings. If you are unsure of any meaning, you can use an online dictionary to learn their definitions.
Therefore; thus; in conclusion; believes; so; consequently; it can be seen that; can conclude that; claims that
and; also; moreover; furthermore; plus; in addition; at the same time; as well as; equally; besides; what is more; both...and; equally important; not only...but also
think; above all; essentially; clearly; most of all; especially; primarily; particularly; in large measure; indeed;
but; despite; yet; however; alternatively; still; although; unless; otherwise; not; though; while; nevertheless; by contrast; notwithstanding; rather; conversely; in spite of; on the other hand; contrarily, for example; for instance; specifically; to illustrate; such as;
Don’t forget the Cover letter.
A cover letter is your chance to personally greet your future employer and set yourself apart from those other 100 applicants. Below is a sample of a basic cover letter.
Your name
Mailing address
City, state, and zip
Telephone number(s)
Email address
Today’s date
Jane Smith
Professional title
Organization name
Mailing address
City, state and zip
Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Smith,
I was so excited to lean about the (position you are applying for) opening in the Lexington Herald Leader (list the source of your learning about this position). Start your letter with a grabber—a statement that establishes a connection with your reader.
I have been seeking just such an opportunity as this, and I think my background and your requirements may be a good match.
Of particular note for you and the members of your team as you consider this management placement are my strong accomplishments in reducing outstanding and reorganizing accounting and collections functions to achieve improved operating efficiency internally and improved cash flow for the institution as a whole. The mid-section of your letter should be one or two short paragraphs that make relevant points about your qualifications. You should not summarize your resume! You may incorporate a column or bullet point format here.
If you are seeking a manager who stays abreast of her field, who understands technology, who earns 100% staff support, and who is as career-committed as it takes to achieve total success, then please consider what I have to offer. I would be happy to have a preliminary discussion with you or members of your committee to see if we can establish a mutual interest. I will call you within the week to answer any initial questions you may have, and to hear about your hiring process.
Thank you for your attention to these materials. I certainly look forward to exploring this further.
Your last paragraph should initiate action by explaining what you will do next (e.g., call the employer) or instigate the reader to contact you to set up an interview. Close by saying “thank you.”
Sincerely yours,
Your handwritten signature
Your name (typed)
Enclosure: resume
Keep in Mind
-No spelling errors-
-Address it to the person who will hire you.
- Change your wording around to fit the company you are sending your resume to.
-Show that you know something about the company and the industry.