BEL499

This is the best method to use when: You can show steady progress in your education and employment The name of your last employer is important You want to find a job in the same area as your previous one Don’t use this format if: You want to emphasize skills you haven’t used in other jobs You’re looking for a job you’ve never done before You’ve changed jobs a lot

Starts off with a job objective or a personal profile Groups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological order May include a section on awards and accomplishments Provides information on interests Provides references

This is the best format to use when:  You have little or no actual work experience in the area in which you’re looking for work  You haven’t worked before  You want to emphasize talents and skills you rather than past employment  You’ve had a variety of jobs in the past which aren’t connected  You’ve done mostly temporary work in the past Don’t use this format when:  You have a steady pattern of jobs and education  Your past employers are important in relation to your job objective

Functional Résumé Structure Starts off with a job objective List of skills and/or achievements that support the objective Groups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological order (most recent first) Provides information on interests Provides references

This is the best format to use when:  Your education is an important part of your skills and your practical skills are limited  Your background shows a wide range of unrelated skills  Your work history isn’t reflective of you as a stable worker—you’ve held a lot of different jobs  Your work history shows more time in other work areas

PARTS OF A RÉSUMÉ NAME: Do not use nicknames Highlight so it stands out: bold, larger font ADDRESS Use your complete address Don’t use abbreviations except for the 2-letter abbreviations for provinces (i.e.NS, NB, PE) Put the postal code on a line by itself TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS Include area code. 2 acceptable styles are: (902) or 902/ ADDRESS Include it if you have one, giving the message you are computer literate Do not use an address that is inappropriate (i.e. OBJECTIVE OR PROFILE (in response to the advertisement) An objective gives focus, direction and support to the body of the résumé It is an attention grabber If you are “shopping for work”, you might use a Career Profile focusing on skills, achievements and character attributes EDUCATION List your most recent education first Include the name of the school and dates (years) of attendance Include courses studied, particularly if your résumé is short Additional training courses and certificates should be included It is not necessary to include your junior high

WORK EXPERIENCE List your most recent work experience first Include job title (in bold), dates, job responsibilities Use action verbs (present tense) to tell what you have done AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES List academic honours (Dean’s list)or certificates you received Stress extra-curricular activities and special achievements in sports, clubs, or other school/university activities These offer employers evidence of leadership, dedication and initiative SPECIAL SKILLS AND ATTITUDES Highlight the skills you have that relate directly to the position for which you are Applying (technical/management/communication skills) Ex: specific computer applications, fluency in a foreign language, or special abilities you possess that are not necessarily part of your formal education Highlight attributes such as honesty, enthusiasm, and maturity—qualities that make you indispensable in the work place REFERENCES Think carefully about who can act as your references. Type the name, title, company, address, and phone/fax number of three to four references. Prior permission to use any individual’s name as a reference is a must and as a courtesy, inform your references that they may be contacted.

 Someone from your school (teacher, guidance counsellor, coach, administrator).  Someone you've worked for (summer, part- time or full-time employer).  Someone you've worked for on a casual basis (babysitting, shovelling snow, delivering papers).  Someone you've helped (as a volunteer or as a friend).  Someone whose opinion is respected (elder, minister, community leader).  You cannot use a relative!!