How to Write a Resume?
Resumes have different components and each component has its own purpose. This is good news because when you break it down to its components, it is easy to build a resume and to target each component to the specific requirements of a particular job.
All resumes require the following sections: personal information, past work experience and education. Together, these sections show that the candidate has what it takes to succeed in the advertised position. Several optional sections can be included. Whether to include additional sections depends on the essential qualifications and assets of the job description. It can also depend on what is expected in a particular career field.
Personal Information
The recruiter wants to be able to contact the prospective candidate quickly. It needs to be clear who you are and what is the best way to contact you. Also, it needs to be up-to-date.
Elements to include:
• Your name
• Your address
• Your phone number (including area code)
• Your cell phone number (including area code)
• Your email address
• Optional: Linkedin URL
• Optional: Citizenship depending if you are applying for a job abroad
Work Experience
Your work experience or professional experience shows a prospective employer your ability to succeed in the advertised position. Much of the space on a resume is devoted to this section. Therefore, it is necessary to target the descriptions of previous employment to the job’s assets and requirements. How you show your work experience depends on whether you are using a Chronological Style resume, a Functional Style resume, or a Combination Resume. Regardless of whichever style you use, there are crucial elements to keep in mind:
• Your job title, place of employment and location should be included.
• You should include your years of employment. Include months only if you have been in a particular position for less than one year.
• Do not include all jobs that you have worked. Stick to those where you can show the required skills, as detailed in the job description.
• You can split up work experience into relevant work experience and additional or other work experience.
• If you are in secondary school or have just finished school, include your summer and part-time employment. Also, it may be beneficial to include a volunteer section.
• Your one-liners should start with an action verb and should show accomplishments. Try not to describe the job. The focus is on what you have done and how that translates to you showing the desired skills.
• Quantify, Qualify and Remember to Show not Tell! Consider using the SAR method.
Education History
The education part of your resume briefly lists your degrees and/or diplomas, the institution or institutions you attended and the year the degrees and/or diplomas were completed. It is unnecessary to include the name of courses taken or of academic awards that you won; however, if those courses or awards are relevant to the position, you could consider listing that information. You could also consider placing your awards in the award section. If you have little work experience, you can also include significant coursework or special projects, which shows a prospective employer your commitment to deliver results.
Organizing educational history
• If you have post-secondary education, do not list your high school information.
• If you have multiple degrees or diplomas, list the most recently attained credential first.
• If you have an advanced degree, that degree is listed first.
• If you have work experience, this section follows the work experience section. If you have little work experience, this section follows the personal information section and precedes the work experience section.
• It may be important to explain unfamiliar educational systems, such as converting grades or putting equivalent degree titles.
Resume Summary or Profile
A summary of qualifications (sometimes called a resume summary, summary of skills or key qualifications) is a short paragraph that allows prospective candidates to highlight their most important and relevant skills and abilities. It also summarizes significant accomplishments, particularly those applicable to the particular job for which you are applying. A resume summary is not necessary as a resume is a summary of skills and experience. If you wish to include a summary, this section immediately follows the personal information section.
Strategy One: What would a reference say?
When writing this section, it might help reflect on what someone who knows you well would say are your strengths and target those strengths to the required qualifications of a job description.
Strategy Two: The Elevator Pitch
You are in an elevator with a potential hiring manager. You have thirty seconds to sell your skills and abilities. What do you say? Look to the job description to focus your pitch.
Elements that could be included:
• How many years of relevant experience you have in that field or a similar position
• One of your significant accomplishments
• Any appropriate training or credentials
• A character statement about your values or philosophy
Professional Objective Statement
Generally, an objective statement is found in the cover letter, where applicants have more space to address their interest in applying for a position. However, some applicants can choose to include an objective statement in a resume. An objective statement in a resume is found at the beginning, right after the personal information section. Wherever possible, it is best to be specific in your purpose, signaling your interest in working in a particular field or for a particular firm. Therefore, try to avoid creating generic statements that sound like the resume is being used to apply to many jobs. For someone who is just starting to gain work or volunteer experience, an objective statement can help focus the resume.
Volunteer Experience/Community Involvement
Volunteer experience can be a great way to show your skills and your values. While this section will allow you to start a conversation, this section does not make up for paid work experience.
You may consider including this section if:
• You have minimal paid experience
• It is relevant to the position for which you are applying
• If you have gaps in your resume because of a leave from a job or a period of unemployment.
Information in this section is shown in the same way that information in the work experience section is shown.
Languages / Special Abilities / Required Skills
Some job descriptions list a specific language as an asset. You may consider including spoken and written languages (including your level of competency) if the position you are applying requires a particular language. Likewise, a job description might also include a required skill, such as experience with professional camera gear or knowledge of a particular program, such as AutoCAD. These abilities can also be included in this section.
Awards
Awards can be used to highlight your strengths and show your commitment to a task. If you have little work experience, consider including an award section. Also, if you are applying for a job in academia or a research position, it may be useful to highlight awards, particularly if those awards are relevant to the job. Conversely, you can also include awards under the educational history section.
Publications
A list of your published work shows your prospective employer your involvement in a particular learning community and your up-to-date knowledge of a specific field. Listing your published works is required on resumes when applying for jobs in academia or when applying for a research position. When listing publications, ensure that you use consistent formatting. You may also include blogs or news articles that you published, but ensure that those items are targeted to the job description requirements.
Professional Affiliations or Memberships
If these memberships are relevant to the position, then consider listing these affiliations on your resume. This may be an excellent opportunity to tell your employer your involvement with a professional body and your commitment to that organization. Don’t forget to target it to the job description.
Hobbies and Interests
Listing hobbies or interests can be a way to tell your employers about your achievements, your strengths and your unique qualities. When including your hobbies and interests, you must target them to what is requested in the job description. It would also be useful to remember to show don’t tell.
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