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Now that I've picked a format for my resume...what should I put in it (and what should I leave out)?!?
In my last article, I looked at the two broad categories of resumes: the chronological and the qualitative. In this installment I will cover what one should include on a chronological resume. To quickly review, you should choose a chronological resume format if the job you are looking for is especially interested in your experience. It is the best choice for you if you have been steadily working in the field you are applying for.
I invite you to post your resume on TopBuildingJobs.com, the 'Quick Resume' and 'Resume Wizard' tools make it a snap! Use the Quick Resume tool to select your own format, or use the Wizard to have it automatically formated for you! Note that the Resume Wizard allows you to add additional information such as credentials, other interests, and references in the 'Additional' section. They also automatically format your personal information header to form a sharp-looking starting point for your resume.
Personal Information:
This should be put in the header of your resume. Precise placement of the elements is a stylistic choice, though your name should be displayed prominently, in a larger text than the rest of the resume, possibly in bold. Besides your name, include phone and fax numbers, as well as e-mail and “snail mail” addresses.
Objective: You should absolutely tailor your career/personal objective specifically to the job you are applying for. It is often the ‘first impression’ a company will get of you, and you want the person reviewing your resume to immediately think that you are a great potential candidate. Express your goals in powerful, active sentences, using keywords you have identified for the industry. Make yourself look as good as possible: research the industry and company before writing your resume so you are able to identify what kind of candidate the company is looking for.
Work and Education Experience: To review, you list your work and education experience in reverse chronological order: start with the most recent. Remember to include any unpaid or volunteer work in your work experience. In bold, list your former employer (ex. “Pulte Homes”) and the dates you were employed by them. On the next line, in plain typeface, list your position(s) for that company, and under each position a concise description of what you did and the qualities and knowledge it imparted upon you (remember to pick out the most relevant qualities…research!). In other words, explain what skills your former job gave you and how it did so. As for your educational experience, if you have a long work history in the industry, think about only including the highest degree you have obtained, the institution where you obtained it, and the date it was obtained. If you are not far out of school, it might be wise to include other degrees as well. For nearly all jobs, your high school degree has no place on your resume. People often use numbered or bulleted lists for either each job or each experience and quality under each job. I recommend using the most space-efficient format for your individual background.
Professional Credentials: In this section, list any professional credentials that relate to the job you are applying for, or those that develop your character. Resist the temptation to add things such as “voted best dresser on casual Fridays”. Although this is a rather extreme example, the point I am trying to convey is awards that neither establish your character nor illustrate why you are a good candidate for the position are wasted space, and may simply annoy the reviewer (what if they don't believe in this 'casual Fridays' nonsense? He shoots...and...BRICK!). List the award, the company/association/etc…that bestowed the award, and the date it was awarded. If you choose, add a short, one sentence description explaining how that award shows you to be a fit for the position.
Other Interests or Skills: By this, I do not mean for you to add “golf” as one of your interests. Everyone loves golf. Points won with reviewer: zero…more wasted space. Since space is a commodity on resumes, be sure to only include additional skills or interests if they actually relate to the company or, preferably, the specific position you are applying for. For example, if the new job you are applying for has some involvement with the internet, but your previous jobs did not, you may wish to include that you run your own personal website or blog, assuming you actually do run a website or blog. This brings up an extremely important point: never lie on your resume. First of all, it’s ethically wrong. If that doesn’t get you, try this: it is in your best interest to be honest; the costs of lying on your resume can be astronomical. People in very high positions have lost their careers and their peers’ respect more than a decade after submitting fallacious resumes. You never know how long someone will hold on to your resume, or when they might look over it again. It is simply not worth it. You want to enjoy chuckling at those stories, and you certainly will not be chuckling if the story is about you! Anyways, additional interests and skills come in every color of the rainbow, so be creative. Many people find it helpful to consult close friends and family for this.
References: For your references section, include contact information for your past jobs and for any people who wrote letters of recommendation. Additionally, you may know people in the industry or within the company you are applying for who you should list. Of course you should ask these people’s permission before doing so. Besides their name and contact information, be sure to include their company and position, as well as their relation to you if it is not clear (ex. supervisor). Under their name, you may wish to write a short, one sentence explanation justifying their inclusion on your resume. For example:
“Mr. Roberts has overseen the XYZ initiative I spearheaded and witnessed firsthand my leadership and organizational abilities”
A quick note on 'References': No matter what kind of resume you choose, the references section is not a necessary component. Half the resume experts suggest you have one, the other half say to never include it. Deciding not to include references can save you time and space on your resume. If you choose to do this, I recommend you compile a separate document simply titled "References", with all of your references and their contact information listed. Then, if an employer asks for your references after receiving your resume or during an interview, you will be prepared to supply them immediately, in a convenient and comprehensive manner.
Well, that's it. You're done...Easy breezy right? Doubt it. If you find yourself having a difficult time figuring out what to include on your resume, remember the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galexy: Don't Panic! Everyone does. Again, family members and friends can be a huge help when writing resumes. Also try some of these tactics:
- Make a list of all the qualities the company is searching for in their candidate. Then, list under each quality all the ways in which you have exhibited or developed it. Then, step back and look over your work. You should now know what areas you are strongest in and can focus on them
- If you are still on good terms with your former employer(s), try asking them in what ways you impressed them most. This is a good, object, outside opinion.
- If you are still stuck, you may invest in a professional resume writing service. I would hold back on this, however. Most likely you are able to express yourself better on your own resume than a complete stranger can.
Good Luck!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Adams, Douglas. New York : Harmony Books (©1979)
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at MWAvera@TopBuildingJobs.com
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