Resume guide - Page 1/2
By: Kristi Hagenbach

Who cares?

Resumes are important for a variety of reasons. The main reason it is important to have a good resume is that your resume is a crucial first impression for your potential employers. As we all know, first impressions are important in life… they can make or break a blind date, they can influence your decision on whether or not to eat at a certain restaurant, and they can either open or close a door for you to get into the company of your choice. It is true that a resume cannot get you a job, but it can prevent you from getting an interview… which in turn leads to the impossibility of getting a job. Your resume may very well be the primary tool you need to find a better job or to move up the corporate ladder in your current company.

Keep it current

It is important to keep a permanent file of your achievements (i.e. certifications, awards, thank you notes, grade reports) because these are helpful for future resume-building. Even if you don’t want to change jobs in the foreseeable future, keeping your resume up-to-date is helpful because it reminds you of your personal accomplishments. An up-to-date resume is helpful when you want to request a salary increase or a promotion within your present company— in this case, your resume becomes not only a personal reminder of what you’ve done, but it also reminds your employer of your skills and your contributions to the company.

Cover Letter

A critical first impression

    • introduce yourself to your reader (it’s like announcing yourself before you show up at a friend’s house for dinner)
    • express interest in position—show why you are an excellent fit for the job

Personalize it

    • tailor the letter specifically to the job opening and company
    • state what makes you different from other possible applicants
    • brag a little—highlight your major strengths, relevant skills, impressive accomplishments… but don’t rehash your resume

Proactive Steps

    • state the fact that you are available for a personal interview—give appropriate phone numbers/email address where they can reach you
    • note that you will follow up by phone to provide additional information required
    • if pertinent, include date you will be available to begin

Resume Format

Which style is right for you?

  • Chronological – This is the preferred style of resume which places emphasis on employment experience. The chronological style resume has your past employments listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent jobs placed at the top of the list.
    • This style is good if:
      • Your experience applies to the desired position
      • You feel comfortable listing your previous jobs
      • You have a history of long-standing employment at places
    • This style is not good if:
      • You have no related experience
      • You are re-entering the work force after an extended absence
      • You have held several jobs for only a limited time

see Examples @ http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/sample1/index.html,

http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/sample5/index.html (links from careerbuilder.com/gh_res.html)
  • Functional – This style of resume, though not preferred by most employers, places an emphasis on skills and achievements. In the functional style resume, employment history is either summarized or avoided altogether while skills and previous relevant experience (including educational experience) are presented at the beginning of the resume.
    • This style is good if:
      • You have held several similar positions and you want to highlight your skills
      • You are fresh out of college and have been holding jobs unrelated to your field of major or expertise
      • You have been at one company for an extended time (i.e. twenty years) and you do not want to reveal your age or lack of mobility
    • This style is not good because:
      • It may raise concerns as to whether or not you are withholding information
      • It can be a frustrating "read" for your potential employer

see Examples @ http://www.unl.edu/careers/tips/resumes/fr1.html,

http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume/exfuncti.htm
  • Combination of Chronological and Functional – This is a functional resume with a brief employment history added. Your skills and accomplishments are listed first, then your employment history (when/where you worked, job position description).
    • This style is good if:
      • You want to draw the reader’s attention away from your lack of related experience
      • You don’t want to raise suspicions regarding whether or not you are withholding information
    • This style is not good if:
      • You have a lot of related experience (in which case you should use the preferred Chronological style resume)
      • You want to keep your resume simple and "normal" (in which case you should (again) use the preferred Chronological style resume)

see Examples @ http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/sample2/index.html,

http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/sample3/index.html, http://www.distinctiveweb.com/samples/sample4/index.html
Next Page: Presentation, Content, more..