The resume is often the first contact a potential employer has with a job seeker. To be useful, it must make a good impression immediately. The current practice by corporate personnel is to give each resume a quick glance (10-20 seconds), discard those that appear disorganized or too wordy and file the rest. On the average, only one or two out of 100 resumes mailed will result in an interview. But employers still ask for resumes and a good resume continues to provide a competitive edge in the majority of professional, administrative and managerial occupations.

What Does a Resume Accomplish?

A resume tells the prospective employer what you have accomplished in the past and what you can do for their company in the future.The resume's primary function is to sell your talents and skills to an employer - clearly, forcefully and quickly. In a sense, you are selling yourself, and the resume is your advertisement. It serves as your advance contact to awaken an employer's interest and to generate an interview.

When is a Resume Used?

• Mass mailing campaigns. Resumes frequently have been used by job seekers to contact each and every potential employer in an industry or selected area. You may not know if the company has a job opening, but you want them to know that you are available and that your experience and talents can be an asset to the firm.

Mass mailings of this kind can be very expensive and the odds of promoting yourself for a position are slim. You can improve your chances of getting interviews by composing specific resumes for different companies. One suggestion is to sort your targeted companies into groups with similar characteristics and write a resume highlighting your appropriate strengths for each group.

• Responding to a want ad. The most effective resumes are tailored for a particular employer. If the job requirements listed in the ad are vague or unclear, call the employer for more information. Try to get a clear picture of the job duties, education and experience requirements. It’s a good idea to list your questions in advance. Find out at the outset to whom you are speaking. Also, try to find out the name and title of the individual who will review your resume. If you are speaking to someone in authority and the call is going well, try to schedule an interview. Remember to thank your information giver.

• Interviewing. The resume operates as a script for both you and the employer. When you compose your resume, keep in mind that it gives you a chance to choose those topics you wish to discuss during the interview. Be prepared to expand on all the accomplishments you listed. A rehearsal with friends and honest critics will help.

What to Include on Your Resume

Be prepared to spend some time and effort in writing an effective resume. You will need two types of information:

1. About yourself. You need a clear picture of your job talents, work history, education and career goals. It may be helpful to refer to the United States Employment Service's Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT for short) which contains generalized job descriptions of all the jobs you held or those you wish to pursue in the future.

2. About the job. Gather as much specific information as possible about the position for which you are applying. Your resume should show that your skills, education, work experience and past job achievements are related to the position requirements. The DOT may prove helpful here as well.

Where to Get Additional Help?

There are many sources of information on how to write the best resume:

• Books. There are as many variations in resume styles and formats as there are books on the market. Most books describe these variations in great detail and provide numerous examples. Some are specific to particular industries or to specific groups of job seekers. Check your local library or bookstore for them.

• Computer programs. There are several software programs that can inventory personal attributes and job history and format a resume in the style of your choice. Check software listings at bookstores and computer stores.

• Workshops. Many workshops run by public and non-profit agencies will help you write a resume. So will private, fee-charging firms.

You might want to refer to one of these additional sources to ensure that you write the best possible resume.

All of the resume styles described in books and computer programs are based on variations and combinations of two formats: reverse chronological and functional. The key to writing an effective resume is choosing the right style for you - one that emphasizes your strengths and de-emphasizes your weaknesses. Whichever resume style you choose, make sure to include examples of work that you produced that benefited your previous employer(s). Employers want to see measurable achievements. They want to know they are going to hire someone who can contribute to their organization's bottom line.

The Reverse Chronological Resume
Sample Reverse Chronological Resume

This format lists the jobs you've had by dates of employment, starting with your most recent job. The usual arrangement is: dates of employment, job title, name and address of company, a brief description of the duties performed, skills used and major ways you have benefited the company. Make sure you include all transferable skills. This format stresses what you accomplished in each of the positions you held.

Use if:

• You have progressed up a clearly defined career ladder and are looking for career advancement.
• You have recent experience in the field you are seeking.
• You have a continuous work history in your field.

Do not use if:

• You have had many different types of jobs.
• You have changed jobs frequently.
• You are trying to switch fields
• You are just starting out.

The Functional Resume
Sample Functional Resume

This format emphasizes your skills and accomplishments as they relate to the job for which you're applying. Like other resume formats, you should include all transferable skills. A functional resume presents a profile of your experience based on professional strengths or skill groupings. Your employment history usually follows, but in less detail than in a chronological resume.

Use if:

• You have worked for only one employer, but have performed a wide variety of jobs.
• You are applying for a job that is different from your present or most recent job.
• You have little or no job experience; for example, you have recently graduated from school. Emphasize activities that demonstrate qualities such as leadership and organizational skills at work or in organizations such as clubs or fraternities.
• You have gaps in your work history.
• You are re-entering the job market after several years of freelancing, consulting, homemaking or unemployment.

Do not use if:

• Your work history is stable and continuous, because employers sometimes assume that a functional resume hides a spotty, unstable work history.

Whichever resume format you use, keep in mind that the more unusual the appearance, the more likely it is to distract the employer from your accomplishments.

The following suggestions apply to any type of resume. The order below is recommended, but you can be flexible.

Format

Heading: Your name, address and phone number should be prominently displayed at the top of the page.

Summary or Objective: If you use a summary, highlight your experience and accomplishments in two or three sentences. Clearly communicate the type of job you want and what you can offer to an employer. If you prefer to state an objective, make it broad enough to embrace closely related jobs, but not so broad that you appear lacking in focus or willing to take anything. This should be done in one sentence.

Whether you choose a summary or an objective, indicate level, function and industry for the position you are seeking. Be concise but general. Use your cover letter to make your summary or objective specific to a particular employer.

Experience: Indicate your major responsibilities. Emphasize accomplishments and measurable benefits to your former employers, situations improved, savings/earnings, new concepts adopted by firm. Achievements should be consistent with career direction, with a concentration on recent successes.

Skills: List special skills such as word processing or an ability to operate special equipment.

Education: Start with the most advanced degree and give name and location of the institution, major and minor fields, and all career-oriented scholarships and academic awards. Include career related extra-curricular activities, workshops and seminars.

Licenses, Certifications, Publications: Include only those that are career-related, without elaboration.

Additional Personal Data: Include only if career-related, such as memberships in associations.

Content

DO:

• Be positive.
• Identify your relevant accomplishments. They should be quantitatively stated where appropriate. Describe how they benefited the employer.
• Have friends who know your professional accomplishments comment on your resume and suggest items you may have forgotten or perhaps dismissed as unimportant.
• Be specific. Choose words carefully; make every word count and eliminate unnecessary words.
• Use concise sentences. Use bullet entries for a clean, easy-to-read look.
• Use action verbs.

DON'T:

• Don't devote space to items not directly related to the job you are seeking, such as hobbies, personal data such as height, weight and marital status or descriptions of former career jobs.
• Don't use more than a few lines to describe your accomplishments. Keep it short. A one- or two-page resume is best. However, if you have a long work history, your resume might be longer.
• Don't explain employment gaps.
• Don't include references. However, a separate list of references should be prepared ahead of time and should be available for distribution to employers on request, especially at the interview. Individuals and firms listed as a reference should be informed that a contact may be made on your behalf. On your resume, your last section should read "REFERENCES: Available upon request." It will signal the end of your resume.
• Don't include salary requirements.

Appearance

DO:

• Type or word-process your resume or have it professionally printed. If you use a computer printer, make sure the print is "letter quality." Use 8 1/2" x 11" quality white or cream paper. If you can, use 20 lb. weight, 100% cotton bond paper.
• Use wide margins. Single space within sections; double space between sections.
• Center or left-justify and capitalize all headings.
• Make sure your resume "looks good" - is neat, readable, symmetrical and visually balanced. Stay away from needless, attention-getting visual effects.
• Proofread your resume carefully and then have someone else proof read it. Be sure your spelling, grammar and punctuation are flawless.
• Inspect your resume for clarity. Smudges and marks are unacceptable.

DON'T:

• Don't use abbreviations, except for names of states.

Action Verbs

Action verbs give your resume power and direction. All skill statements that begin with an action verb help demonstrate to the potential employer responsibilities and initiatives you undertook on prior jobs.

Each time you mail your resume you should always include a cover letter stating your interest in the firm. The letter, however, should not duplicate resume information. It should briefly highlight the skills or positions you held previously that are appropriate to the position you seek. It can also be used for additional information that you think is important to the potential employer.

Your cover letter should:

• Describe how your skills and abilities will benefit their company.
• Provoke the employer to read your resume.
• Request a job interview.

Sample Cover Letter

Elements of a Cover Letter

Opening. Explain why you are writing. State the position you are seeking and the source of the job opening (e.g., newspaper ad, professional organization, colleague).

Main body. Highlight your job qualifications and link them to the firm's needs. Show that you know something about the firm and are interested in the firm's products or services. Explain why you chose this company. For example, you know someone who works there, you use their products or you heard about their good reputation.

Closing. Request an interview. Suggest a specific date and time. For example: "I'll try to contact you on Monday morning to see when you might be able to meet with me."

Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number.

Always thank the employer for his or her time and effort.

Follow-Up

Keep a tickler file of the resumes you send out and follow up with a phone call. Surveys have shown that only two percent of resumes mailed to employers result in an interview. If you follow up with a phone call, the success rate jumps to 20 percent.

 

To Contact Us:
502 East College Avenue
State College, PA 16801
814-234-6662
800-773-6662 (PA only)
814-237-3486 (FAX)

EMail Us Now

 

---

* Source: Job Search Guide Strategies for Professionals. U.S. Dept. of Labor