What is a Resume?

Some people think of a resume as their “life on a page,” but how could anyone put everything important about herself on a single piece of paper (or two)? Actually, resumes are much more specific, including only relevant information about yourself for specific employers.

Like a life, however, a resume is always growing and changing. As your career goals shift or the job market changes–as you grow personally and professionally–chances are you will need to re-write your resume or at least create new versions. Writing a resume is a lifelong process.

How do you know what in your life–past, present, and future–is most relevant to prospective employers? How do you select which information to include? The quick answer to both these questions is “it depends.” It depends on your individual career goals as well as on the professional goals of the companies hiring in your area or field of interest. In the end, only you, through research, planning, questioning and self-reflection, can determine the shape and content of your resume, but the strategies below along with those on the job search, can help you ask the right questions and begin exploring your options.

Why write a Resume?

A silly question–to get a job of course! But why else?

* to persuade your readers you are the best person for the job
* to construct a professional image of yourself and establish your credibility
* to provide a sample of your written communication skills
* to convince prospective employers you deserve an interview

What kind of resume should you write?

There are many ways to write a resume. When choosing the format for your resume, consider the type of jobs and employers you are most likely to apply to. For example The Chronological and Combined formats are best suited to high school students, unemployed youth or recent university graduates as they commonly have a limited work history.

For writing the Resume follow one of these three approaches

A Generic approach to writing a resume involves creating one version for a broad range of readers.

A Tailored approach to writing a resume involves creating multiple versions, each one customized for a single company or position.

A Combined approach to writing a resume integrates the above two approaches, creating tailored resumes for “top choices” and creating a generic resume for all others.

How to write a Resume?

Although your academic record and work experience are typical ways to show you are best suited to a particular job but these are not the only things you should include. There are other ways to demonstrate that you are the right person for the job. For example:

* Personal traits - you’re an honest worker, you enjoy being part of a big team
* Strengths - things you’re good at or enjoy
* Experiences - volunteering or extracurricular activities
* Key responsibilities and achievements - any awards or recognition that you’ve received