The Resume
Category Writing Rules
NAME:
State your full professional name.
Avoid the coldness of abbreviations, such as "I. T. Snell." Do not
use more than one abbreviated initial. If you use titles such as Mr., Mrs.,
Ms., Dr., or Ph.D., you may appear pompous and distant. It is best to
capitalize all letters in your name.
ADDRESS:
Use your home mailing address - avoid P.O. Box numbers. Do not
forget to include your postal code. If you are at a temporary location, include
both permanent and temporary addresses. The purpose of your address is to get
the mail to you as quickly as possible - and not to indicate where you are
"from."
CONTACT:
List telephone, cell phone, fax, and pager numbers where you
NUMBERS can be reached during the day and evening or a number where a message
can be left for you. The long distance area code should be included. If you are
highly mobile, use a pager, enlist a telephone answering service, or use a
telephone answering machine. Be sure you record a\
message that sounds professional
- no humorous messages or lots of bells and whistles. If you have e-mail,
include your e-mail address.
FORMATS:
Your contact information can appear in several alternative forms.
Take for example the following resume headings - all of which are acceptable:
JOHN C. TALBORT
2261 Gateway Dr.
, Richmond, VA 23612
823-467-9042
JOHN C. TALBORT
2261 Gateway Dr, Richmond, VA 23612 823-467
-9042
E-mail:
talbortj@aol.com
JOHN C. TALBORT
2261
Gateway Dr.
Richmond, VA 23612
823-467-9042
Make sure your contact information is uncluttered and
pleasing to the eye. Since it will be the very first piece of information the
reader sees on your resume, it should invite him to read further.
State an Employer-Oriented Objective
The job objective normally appears immediately following
your contact information. However, some resume advisers recommend starting with
a "Summary of Experience," "Summary of Qualifications,"
"Career Highlights," or "Career Profile" section in lieu of
an objective statement. Many of them consider an objective statement to be an
unnecessary, pretentious, and optional item. Nonetheless, we see an objective
statement to be necessary, professional, and thoughtful. Following it with
these other types of summary statements is excellent idea.
The objective should be the central focal point around which
all other elements in the resume relate.
You have two options here:
(1) place an objective on the resume or
(2) leave it off but include it in your accompanying cover
letter.
The reason many people prefer putting an objective in a
cover letter rather than on the resume is that they don't want to re-type their
resume every time they want to reword their objective for a particular position.
This is especially prudent if they plan to have their resume professionally
printed. Since most people word-process their resume, changing the objective on
the resume is relatively easy. In so doing, you can literally custom design
your resume around specific jobs.
However, changing your objective for each employer is a sign
of trying to fit into a job rather than finding a job fit for yourself. It
indicates a lack of clear purpose and direction.
We still prefer the objective at the top of the resume,
because it should be the central focal point around which all other elements in
the resume relate. If you know what you want to do and can state your objective
in general terms, it can be used repeatedly for different positions and
audiences. At the same time, the use of word processors to create resumes
enables you to easily target your objective for each employer. An objective
appearing at the top of your resume makes your resume more complete and
balanced.
It may not make much
difference in the end. But be sure you communicate, in some manner, your career
direction. Otherwise, you may conduct a traditionally disorganized search with
a weak chronological resume.
Using Objectives
Your objective should be a concise statement of what you
want to do and what you have to offer to an employer. The position you seek is
"what you want to do"; your qualifications are "what you have to
offer." Your objective should state your strongest qualifications for
meeting employers' needs. It should communicate what you have to offer an
employer without emphasizing what you expect the employer to do for you. In
words, your objective should be work-centered not self centered; it should not
contain trite terms which emphasize what you want, such as give me an "opportunity
for advancement," "position working with people,"
"progressive company," or creative position." Such terms are
viewed as "canned" resume language which says little of value about
you. Above all, your objective should reflect your honesty and integrity; it
should not be "hyped."
Identifying what it is you want to do can be one of the most
difficult job search tasks. Indeed, most job hunters lack clear objectives.
Many engage in a random and somewhat mindless search for jobs by identifying
available job opportunities and then adjusting their skills and objectives to
"fit" specific job openings. While you will get a job using this
approach, you may be misplaced and unhappy with what you find. You will fit
into a job rather than find a job that is fit for you.
Knowing what you want to do can have numerous benefits.
First, you define the job market rather than let it define you. Organize job
opportunities around your specific objectives and skills employers look for in
the job market. Second, since your resume will focus on an objective, you will
communicate professionalism to prospective employers. They will receive a
precise indication of your interests, qualifications, and purposes, which
places you ahead of most other applicants. Third, being purposeful means being
able to communicate to employers what you want to do. Employers are not
interested in hiring indecisive and confused individuals. They want to know
what it is you can do for them. With a clear objective - based on a thorough
understanding of your abilities and skills - you can take control of the
situation and demonstrate your value to employers.
Finally, few employers really know what they want in a
candidate. Like most job seekers, many employers lack clear employment
objectives and knowledge about how the job market operates. Thus, if you know
what you want and can help the employer define his or her "needs" as
your objective, you will have achieved a tremendously advantageous position in
the job market.
Transferable Skills
The first step in developing your objective is to understand
your transferable skills. Some writers also refer to these as "functional
skills." Transferable skills are skills which can be used in different job
settings. Most people possess hundreds of such skills. Once you become aware of
them, you will be better able to use a functional skills vocabulary throughout
your resume.
Take, for example, the case of educators seeking career
changes. While educators tend to view their qualifications as mastery of specific
disciplines and subject matters, they also possess functional skills which are
transferable to jobs and careers in business, industry, and government. These
skills first develop in childhood and subsequently expand through other life
experiences, such as schools, universities, and community organizations. In the
case of graduate students in the humanities, studies show that the most
important transferable skills acquired in graduate training, in order of
importance, are:
1. Critical thinking
2. Research techniques
3. Perseverance
4. Self-discipline
5. Insight
6. Writing
7. General knowledge
8. Cultural perspective
9. Teaching ability
10. Self-confidence
11. Imagination
12. Leadership ability
Weak Objectives
1)A position in social services which will allow me to work with people in a helping capacity
2)Sales Representative with opportunity for advancement
Strong Objectives
1)A public relations position which will maximize opportunities to develop and implement programs, to organize people
and events, and to communicate positive ideas and images Effective in public
speaking and in managing a publicity/promotional campaign
2)General Sales Representative position
with a pharmaceutical house which will use chemistry background and ability to
work on a self-directed basis in managing a marketing territory
It is important to relate your objective to your audience.
While you definitely want a good job, your audience wants to know what you can
do for them. Remember, your objective should be work-centered, not
self-centered.
Summarize Qualifications
A "Summary of Qualifications,"
"Qualifications Profile," "Executive Qualifications," or
"Professional Qualifications" section should appear immediately
following your objective. This section can provide a powerful summary of your
key skills and accomplishments for focusing the reader's attention. It usually
consists of three to five bulleted items or a two- or three-sentence paragraph
summarizing your key qualifications. It might appear as follows:
Summary of Qualifications
Fifteen years experience in office supervision
and personnel
management
Highly motivated self-starter with aptitude for
solving system problems
Proficient in the use of major software
programs, including Microsoft
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access
Skilled in linking performance evaluation
systems to career
development programs
Alternatively, you might want to summarize your major
experience and qualifications as an expert in a particular position relevant to
the employer:
Senior Personnel Manager
Turn-around Specialist and Senior Manager
Dynamic, creative, and results-oriented professional
successful in developing model supervisory and personnel management systems for
small businesses involved in restructuring their core manufacturing operations.
Talented in custom-designing performance evaluation systems that dramatically
increase employee satisfaction and retention as well as minimizing recruitment
and training costs
Describe Experience using the following forms Employment Experience
Worksheet, Community/ Civic / Volunteer Experience:
Employment Experience Worksheet
1. Name of employer:
2. Address:
3. Dates of employment:
4. Type of organization: (info for resume and interview)
5. Size of organization/approximate number of employees:
(info for resume and interview)
6. Approximate annual sales volume or annual budget: (info
for resume and interview)
7. Position held:
8. Earnings per month/year: (for interview and cover letter
if requested)
9. Responsibilities/duties:
10. Achievements or significant contributions:
11. Demonstrated skills and abilities:
12. Reason(s) for leaving: (info for interview only)
Community/Civic/Volunteer Experience Worksheet
1. Name and address of organization/group:
2. Dates of employment:
3. Offices held/nature of involvement:
4. Significant contributions/achievements/projects:
5. Demonstrated skills and abilities:
Educational Data
1. Institution:
2. Address:
3. Inclusive dates of enrollment:
4. Inclusive dates of internship or co-op experience:
5. Degree or years completed:
6. Major:
Minor(s):
7. Education highlights:
8. Student activities:
9. Demonstrated abilities and skills:
10. Significant contributions/achievements:
11. Special training courses:
12. G.P.A.:
Begin by collecting your past experiences using the above
forms. Include paid employment, full
time part time, summer employment, internships, and significant volunteer work.
Use one form for each experience.
Transform this data onto your resume as experience
statements; avoid listing formal duties and responsibilities. Describe your
experience in functional terms. Always stress your accomplishments. Use action
verbs to emphasize the skill-oriented nature of your experience and
qualifications, such as "managed," "created,"
"supervised," "coordinated," "planned,"
"analyzed," and "initiated." Be sure everything you outline
relates to your objective.
Your experience statements will vary depending on the type
of resume format you use.
For example in a chronological resume your experience may be
stated as follows:
Professional Experience
Job
Title, Name of the Employer, Dates from / to
1 or 2 points describing skills and
accomplishments, supervisory ability, systems used, specialized training and
equipment used, what was produced, designed, developed on the job.
For example, in a chronological resume, your experience may
be stated as follows:
Professional Experience
Engineering
Draftsman, Naval Electronics Systems Engineering Command 1998 to Present
Worked with engineers and technicians in
developing electrical diagrams and schematics
In a functional resume you may choose terms such as: Relevant
Experience, Areas of Effectiveness instead of Employment or Work History.
Notice that the discussion focuses on specific skills and accomplishments
rather than on duties and responsibilities related to any particular jobs that
would normally be listed by employer name, job title, and inclusive employment
dates on a chronological resume. Heres an example:
Experience Statement - Functional Resume
Areas of Effectiveness
Planning/Organizing
Planned, organized, and delegated responsibility
for several successful
fund raising projects
Established objectives and planned yearly budget
which involved
balancing club objectives and community needs.
Coordinated and planned summer camps for
handicapped children
which gained favourable recognition.
Managing/ Directing
Coordinated and scheduled individuals for
activities such as the
Bloodmobile and the Community Health Center
Solicited and evaluated applicants for club
scholarship award
Interpersonal/ Communication
Developed Liaison relationship between city
officials and people in the
community
Established support of the local business
community for club projects
The combination resume will include both functional
categories and work history.
However, "EXPERIENCE" or "AREAS OF
EFFECTIVENESS" should appear first and "EMPLOYMENT HISTORY", see the example which follows:
How and Where to present your Educational Background:
A statement in reference to your educational background can
appear anywhere after your objective, depending on how much you wish to
emphasize it in relationship to your objective and experience. If you appear
over- or under-educated for a job, you may wish to de-emphasize your training
by placing the education category near the end. Again, where you place this
item depends on your purpose.
The same is true for deciding what to include in the
education statement. If you are a recent graduate with little work-related
experience, you may want to highlight those educational achievements which
indicate your ability to achieve results, such as "edited conference
papers," 'financed 80% of personal expenses," "held leadership
positions in various organizations, and "maintained a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0
index." Whatever you choose to include, begin by compiling as much
information on your education and training as possible and then condense it in
relationship to your objective. The education statement can appear in different
forms. But remember, you are trying to get everything on one page. Unless you
are a recent graduate, your objective and experience categories will be more
important to readers than your education statement. So plan accordingly by not making
this category excessively large. Examples of education statements are as
follows:
EDUCATION
B.S. in Business
Administration Accounting, University
of Guelph 1998
Highlights: G.P.A.:
3.6 (4.0 index)
Earned 75% of education
and personal expenses
Member, Accounting Club
EDUCATION
If you have training and certification other than formal
degrees and diplomas, and it is pertinent to your objective, you may wish to
include it in a section immediately following
"EDUCATION" and label it "ADDITIONAL
TRAINING" or "CERTIFICATION":
Personal Statements
You may want to disregard this section altogether. If you
include it, keep it brief and to the point. Avoid extraneous information, such
as your height, weight, hair color, age, marital status and other personal
characteristics. In some cases this information merely raises negative
questions. If you are single, divorced, or separated, so what? Your sex and
marital life are not your employer's business - unless you or they make it so.
Leave your age off altogether.
Personal Statement
Write a personal statement about yourself so that the reader
might remember you in particular. For example:
Special Interests Statement
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Love the challenge of solving problems, taking initiative,
and achieving results such as developing new marketing strategies, programming
a computer, climbing a mountain, white water rafting, or modifying a
motorcycle.
Such statements can give hobbies and special talents and
interests new meaning in relationship to the resume objective. Whatever you do,
avoid trite statements.
Assess and Screen References
Never list your references on your resume. Always control
this yourself. Be sure to inform your references of your job search activities.
Give them a copy of your resume so they understand your objective and
qualifications.
When deciding whether to include a reference section on your
resume, you essentially have two choices: leave this section off altogether,
since it is an empty category without names, or use the following statement:
REFERENCES: Available upon request
We see no useful purpose served by stating this. It merely
takes up valuable space that can be allocated to a more thorough presentation
of your qualifications. If you drop this category completely, most readers will
assume you will make your references available upon request. Employers will ask
you for references when the time is right - which usually is during the
interview. Sometimes they don't ask for references or don't contact the
individuals on your list. However, it is good practice to list the names of
your professional references on a separate sheet of paper; and carry the list
with you to interviews.
The list should be typed and include the full name, title,
business, address, and telephone number of each person.
Combination Resume
Format
NAME
Address, Telephone
number, E-mail
Objective:
AREAS OF EFFECTIVENESS:
Planning/Organizing
Managing/Directing
Interpersonal/Communication
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Mathematics
Teacher,
Peoria Junior High School 1998
to Present
Administrative
Assistant,
Canadian Government 1993-1997
EDUCATION
Degree, Specialization, University/College Dates:from / to
Highlights G.P.A., Awards, Special Recognition
Additional Course/Certification Dates:from / to
Training/ Certification, School or Training Institute
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