Job Skills
Top 10 Skills in Demand Resume Writing Cover Letters Interviewing	Applications Follow Up and Thank You Letter Email Etiquette Dressing for Success

Resume Writing

What is a resume?

Your resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself! You have to get the job yourself. A resume is simply a summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your resume's purpose is to get your foot in the door. A resume is successful if it does not exclude you from consideration for a job.

To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have years of experience, you do not need more than one page. Keep that in mind as you briefly and concisely outline your achievements.

Resumes are all about the image that you want to project to your future employer. It is critical in controlling the image that you present to employers. The stronger the skill and experience descriptions are in your resume, the higher the number of interviews and salary offers you will receive.

What a Resume Does

Your resume is a custom-designed, self-marketing tool tailored to your career objectives. In other words, it is advertising for you in your job hunt! It is also the first link between you and your potential employer. A resume functions in the following four ways:

1. Focuses the interviewer's attention on your strongest points;
2. Gives you full credit for all your achievements, whether you were paid or not;
3. Guides the interviewer towards positive things to talk about with you; and
4. Most importantly, lets you see yourself in a more focused and positive manner.

Many job applications live or die in the first 30 seconds of the screening process. It is in that 30-second glance that interviewers decide to forward your resume to the next step or to reject it. There are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting the all-important interview.

Before You Begin

Before you write your resume you should complete a self-assessment. What kind of person are you? Why should someone hire you? Do you have any work experience? What skills do you have that might be useful in the workplace? It is helpful to begin to take a personal inventory of everything that would make employers hire you to represent their company.

Start by taking out a piece of paper and follow along in this simple exercise. Whatever you write down is for your benefit only. You should not send this paper out as your resume. By completing this exercise, you will be able to more easily create your own resume.

1) Write down 15 words or phrases that you would use to describe yourself to a future employer. Begin by asking yourself what kind of person you are. Are you responsible? Do you work well with people? Are you energetic? Do you communicate well?

Some words and phrases that you might use are as follows: quick, highly organized, eager to learn, responsible, excellent communication skills, dependable, dedicated, enthusiastic, energetic, positive attitude, amiable, problem-solver, team-player, self-motivated and good leadership qualities.

2) Next, outline your skills and abilities. Do you know how to use the Internet? Are you proficient with a keyboard? Can you repair cars or simple machinery, build or assemble things, use a computer or computer software, or organize large amounts of information easily? Can you plan things out easily?

You may write several things, such as:

• I can use the Internet and email.
• I can type 40 words per minute.
• I am very organized.
• I am a natural leader.
• I can use Microsoft Word™.
• I can write professional letters and correspondence.
• I repair cars quickly and efficiently.

3) Now try the same with your work experience and extracurricular activities. Be sure you do not count out any work that you have done in the past. Even baby-sitting, lawn mowing, and memberships in such organizations as Boy Scouts and volunteer work are valid work experiences. Why? Because work experience (even unpaid work experience) shows that you have taken on responsibility in the past. Be sure to include such information as the dates of employment, the company name, your position or title as well as your responsibilities. Write down all special achievements or activities for which you may take credit. Write down anything that comes to mind; you will edit it later.

The Content of Your Resume

Now it is time to actually write your resume. The resume is an advertising tool serving a single purpose-to solicit interviews with prospective employers. It should be a brief and direct advertisement of your abilities, knowledge and experience. Remember, it is the first impression you will make, so make it a good one!

Contact Information

All your contact information should be placed at the top of your resume, aligned to the left of the page, or centered on the page. Start with your name at the very top of the resume, then your mailing street address, city, state, and zip code. On the next line, type your area code and phone number. Finally, on the last line, include your email address or website address. Here is an example.

Ms. Cathy Magee
101 Eagles Trace Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 555-1212
cathy_magee@website.com

Objective or Summary

The next section of your resume is usually titled "Objective" or "Summary." This section tells what you want. It is vital to be specific about the job you want. The objective is the first part of your resume that your potential employer will read.

Writing the objective is very easy. The objective should be one clear, concise sentence. Start by saying to yourself, "My objective is ..." or "I am ... " and simply fill in the blank. Here are three examples:

My Objective is…

• To obtain an entry-level position as a personal assistant in an organization requiring strong analytical and organizational skills.
• To acquire an apprentice position as an automotive mechanic.

I am…

• Seeking a progressive company offering an excellent training program leading to a challenging sales career.

If you have prior work experience related to the position you are applying for, you may want to include it. For instance, you might write, "To obtain an Administrative Assistant position that expands my current duties as a successful part-time administrative assistant." If you are applying for a specific job that you found in an advertisement, it is acceptable to include the name of the job. For instance, your objective might be "Management Trainee."

Work Experience

If you are just leaving or have recently left school, you may not have much work experience. Many people just entering the workplace do not have any paid employment that ties into their job objective. So how do you obtain experience if no one will hire you?

Think back over your school years. Perhaps you worked on school projects related to your job objectives. Do not forget any volunteer work you have performed, perhaps through the church, school, or local civic group? Also include any special achievements or awards you have received over the past several years. By pinpointing your projects and volunteer work, you can demonstrate to employers and to yourself that you do have what it takes to get that first major job.

If you do have prior work experience, briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order. Put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include the following:

• Education
• Work Experience
• Title of position
• Name of organization
• Location of work (town, state)
• Dates of employment
• Description of your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements

Other information

Staff members at a career services office can advise you on other information to add to your resume. You may want to include the following:

• Special skills or competencies
• Leadership experience in volunteer organizations
• Participation in extracurricular activities
• Honors, Awards

References

In order for employers to trust you, they may want to talk to people that know you well, such as former employers, teachers, or mentors. These are your "References." Before you send out any resumes, ask people if they are willing to serve as your reference. Do not use a friend or relative as a reference. Your references should have some professional significance to your job search.

Do not include your reference information on your resume. Instead, note at the bottom of your resume "References furnished on request." If a potential employer requests references with your resume, include a separate sheet in the following format:

Your Name

References

Mr. Joe Smith
Manager, ABC Foods
123 Mockingbird Lane
Greenville, SC 29305
(864) 555-1212

Ms. Susan Jones
Owner, Jiffy Consulting
444 Hampton St.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 555-1212

Ms. Ann Hamilton
District Supervisor, City Packaging
411 Kensington Way
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 555-1212

The Do's and Don't for Applications

Do:

• Fill out the application form neatly.
• Check all spelling and if possible have a reliable person check over your application before turning it in.
• Use a word processor to complete an application if possible. If it is not an option, use a typewriter to fill it out. If you must fill out the application at the place of employment, use a blue or black ink pen.
• Answer every question. If a question does not apply to you, write "NA" (meaning Not Applicable).
• Use your full name on the form as well as your complete address including zip code.
• Fill in a specific job title if you are asked to list the job applied for. Do not write in "Anything."
• Fill in the names of all the schools you have attended and the dates you attended them in reverse chronological order in the "Education" section. It may be helpful to write this information down ahead of time and have the list with you for reference.
• Fill in any relevant work or volunteer experience in reverse chronological order under "Job Experience." You may also have this written out ahead of time.
• Be prepared to provide the perspective employer with a list of references. Keep your references varied-a teacher, an ex-employer, a clergyperson or mentor.
• Sign your name with a blue or black ink pen, even if you used a word processor or typewriter to fill out the form.
Do Not:
• Cross out or scribble out mistakes. Ask for another form and start over slowly.
• Use colored pens other than blue or black.
• Use words you do not know how to spell if filling out the form at the place of employment.
• Use nicknames.
• List a salary requirement. Always fill in "Negotiable" if a salary requirement is asked.
• Leave any blank spaces.
• List friends or family members as references.