How to create a resume

Resumes are handed out, sent out by snail mail or ed: Cold contacting / Cold canvassing with a resume is commonplace.

Some employers might require resumes for your first job, but usually resumes are for professional positions

A resume is an ad selling you to a business It is a form of communication created in a logical fashion selling your attributes. In business, attributes are also known as selling points or features.

Resumes are not legal documents So show yourself in the best light.

There is no right or wrong way to: Create a resume. There are only guidelines and suggestions.

Resumes can be done in many ways, however For your first resume, you should probably create a formal balance resume. (see resume) Education/Martin/apt2.aspx

Because resumes are ads selling you, advertising principles should be applied to increase readability 1.Use a san-serif type face. Example: Ariel. Don’t use: Times New Roman

2. Use white space To separate headings and sections

3. Use Bold to signify headings

4. Do not underline! People tend not to read underlined words.

5. Don’t abbreviate California as CA is an acceptable abbreviation. But even well known professional organizations should not be abbreviated.

6. Dates are to be placed on one side of the page or the other Dates are always month and year, not specific days.

7. There are no first person “I”s on a resume You are the only person that the resume describes “I” is redundant. Start a written portion of your resume with an action verb

8. Resumes must fill up an entire page (8 ½ X 11inch paper) You don’t want to look like half a person.

9. Nor should anyone go over One full page.

10. Paper for resumes Should be thick stock, but not too thick. It should be an off-color white, but not white. Light blues, tans or even light grays are recommended. For this assignment, for this class, white is OK.

Your Name, Your address, Your phone # as well as Your is: The most important part of your resume. Make it big and easy to see.

The first section of a resume is The “Objective”. This is the job that you want. It can either be described or named.

Should I have a qualifications summary or a career objective? If you know what job you're applying for, the career objective is better. However, if you're not sure what positions a company has to offer or what you're applying for, the qualifications summary is better. Sometimes you should do both.

Advantages Clearly outlines the fit between your expertise and the employer’s needs. - Adds up the sum of all experiences. For instance, stating that you have 5 years of budget planning experience may be more impressive than listing it individually under each job, and hoping that the employer realizes that you are an expert in this area. - Provides the employer with a clear indication of what you have achieved and where you have been.

- Disadvantages For new entrants into the workplace, you likely have not had enough experience to warrant a summary. - Stating a summary will only be useful if you indeed have something relevant to the position requirements. - Some employers find these summaries redundant.

The last section is “References” No one puts references on resumes anymore. References should state: “Available upon request”

Sections in-between the “Objective” and “References” depend on the Importance to the Objective. The most important section relevant to the job should be put first.

Therefore hobbies are usually Are at the bottom of a resume, if mentioned at all.

Personal information should be kept to a minimum

Other sections are: Education: Schools attended Curricular: Classes taken Extra-curricular: Sports, Clubs and school activities while attending school Experience: Work History

Other sections are: Skills: (List talents) Abilities: (What are you able to do?) Qualifications: (What are you qualified to do?) Community Service: (What you have done in your community)

You must fill an entire paper with information. The Objective must be the first sub-title and References must be the last. References are not put on resumes any longer. You should type: “Available Upon Request’ (SAMPLE) Name Address City, State, Zip Phone # Objective: (Seeking a position as a ____________) Education: (School, City and State) (Completed when? (Month & year) Major or concentration of learning School, City and State Completed when? (Month & year) Major or concentration of learning) Curricular: (Courses taken that are related to the objective) Extra Curricular: ( Clubs, Sports, ASB & School Activities Where? What was learned? Completed when?) (Month & year) Skills: (List talents) Abilities: (What are you able to do?) Qualifications: (What are you qualified to do?) Experience: (Work History, Where have you worked before? You must have worked there at least six months (legally) and (When to When) was paid position.) (Month & year) Community Service: (What have you done to make your (Month & year) community a better place to live?) (Where? and How long?) Hobbies: (What do you do for fun?) References: Available Upon Request