Resume Central

Resume Basics

INTRODUCTION

Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever prepare. It is a statement of your “professional self.” The resume is, essentially, an advertisement, and YOU are the product. You will be letting potential employers know what are your abilities, skills, achievements and aspirations.

Keep in mind that the primary function of the resume in not to win a job, but to convince an employer to interview you. There is no consensus as to what constitutes the best resume. You should know, however, that the average employer spends less than 30 seconds scanning the paper. It is important to eliminate unnecessary information and keep to the point – selling yourself as an effective, competent employee.

This portion of the website is designed to help you in assembling this important personal selling tool.

RESUME FORMATS

There are two basic resume formats that are of interest to most students: chronological and functional.
A chronological resume is probably the easiest to prepare and the most frequently used. It provides a description of each job you have held, starting with the most recent and moving back in time. Also listed will be classes you have taken, interests, academic honors and special skills.

A functional resume is written with a focus on transferable skills, aptitudes, and qualities – those that were learned in one setting but can be used in a variety of situations. It is especially valuable for candidates with an educational or employment background that does not directly match the field to which they are applying.

This style of resume helps to accent skills that match job requirements. It can, however, be difficult to write in a clear, focused manner.

WRITING YOU RESUME

The resume should contain only information relevant to a potential employer. Therefore, before you begin your resume, it is essential that you do some honest, thorough self-assessment.For a quick review, use the space provided to write in your responses to the following questions. Remember that there are no right or wrong answers, only honest ones.

Questions helpful in resume preparation:

What are your career goals?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
What transferable skills have you developed through jobs or co-curricular activities?
What are you relevant technical skills?
Keep these thoughts in mind as you begin to write, using your resume to promote your skills and aspirations.