Writing A Resume

Writing a decent resume isn't about writing the Great American Novel. True, it is the first impression a potential employer will receive of you, and a resume can essentially be considered your calling card, so you want it to be the best it can be, to land the job you're applying for. Despite the formalities associated with writing a resume, the format can be broken down into a few simple elements that, when examined closely, will make you wonder why you were so apprehensive about the process in the first place.

The first thing you can do for your resume is limit the length to one page, so as to hold the attention of your potential employer. In our fast-past world, attention spans are short, and you don't want anyone growing bored with a resume that stretches on and on.

Start with the simplest part - the heading. At the top of your resume page, you should clearly indicate your name. Below your name should be your address and contact information, namely your telephone number and e-mail address. Make sure it's clear where an employer can reach you, otherwise you'll never get that call for an interview.

After the header, the task of writing a resume becomes a lot harder, as you've reached the point where you need to indicate your objective - namely the position you're applying for. Make sure you use the exact words that your potential employer used in his employment offer for the desired position, so that there's no mistake what you're aiming for. Never put your objective as being money or other such similar tactless things. You want to maintain your professional appearance at all times. Continuing onward from your objective and for the remainder of your resume, you'll want to present each bit of information in a bullet-point form; a short but concise sentence that imparts all the information you want to mention in one to three lines.

In the third section, list your work history and experience, including any volunteer jobs if you're a first-time job seeker. Since you're limited to a single page, it'll be important to know which jobs are the most relevant to the position you'd like to land, as you'll probably need to cut out older jobs or ones that have nothing to do with this particular employment opportunity. You may have to tailor your resume to each job you apply for, but consider custom resumes as pre-interview preparation. You'll be ready to answer questions about your work history without struggling to remember the specific duties at older jobs.

The fourth and final section of a resume is your education. As with work history, relevance to the position you want counts, if the one-page limit requires you to cut certain items from your resume. Focus on the most pertinent education you have that could relate to the position you'd like to land, or highlight special training you've received that makes you an attractive asset to the company.

Once you've completed your resume, you'll need to look it over carefully for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes. Typos and small mistakes do happen, but they can mean that a potential employer thinks you're sloppy or not conscientious. Go over your resume more than once and, if possible, have someone with good writing skills look it over. Some people even hire freelance writers to make sure their resume is absolutely perfect. After you're sure your resume is the best it can be, all that's left to do is distribute it!