How to Write a Professional Resume

The hardest part of writing is knowing where to start. This is especially true for writing a professional resume that spotlights who you are and shows employers what you can do. The resume is the first impression that a hiring manager gets of you and most recruiters spend less than two minutes reading a resume. A professional resume should be clear and easy to follow so that recruiters can quickly see that you're someone they should call for an interview.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer (optional)
• Plain stationary
• Access to the internet

Instructions

1. Write or type out a rough draft of your past jobs, education and special skills. Include volunteer work as well. Your rough draft should list all the tasks and duties performed at every job you held. Each position should contain a two-line summary describing your title and your main duties. It should be followed with three to four one-line descriptions of your accomplishments on the job in a bulleted format.

2. Tailor your resume to job description, Create a professional profile or summary at the top of the resume that highlights three or four of your top skills or accomplishments that relate to the job.

3. A professional resume is grammatically correct, free of typos and free of spelling errors. The resume should be impeccable. Any small mistake tells recruiters that you aren't conscientious or detail-oriented. Use the same size font throughout the text of your resume. The header with your name should be two font sizes larger. Supply your contact information with your physical address, email address and phone number.

4. Use plain white or beige stationary to print your resume. Do not use personal or flowery stationary. Avoid silly fonts, pictures or graphics. Your qualifications should be what stands out to the hiring manager and not a distracting picture.

5. If you have an extensive career history, it's okay if you're resume goes over a page. If you're just starting out in the work world, keep the resume to a page. You don't need to list everything you've ever done on your resume. Don't list your high school education and the year you graduated or clubs you belonged to as a kid.

6. Don't list references on the resume or write "References Available Upon Request." It's unnecessary to say and hiring managers will expect that you have references. Only supply references when the hiring manager specifically asks for them; this usually happens later in the interview process. Create a reference list on a separate sheet. Use the same format, font and style that you used for your resume for the most professional look.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a cover letter that highlights skills or experiences that are not necessarily listed on your resume.

References

• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Resume Workshop