How to Make a Simple Resume or Portfolio
In today's job market, regardless of your profession, having a good resume or portfolio can be the difference between getting a job or staying unemployed. The prospect of writing a good resume can be overwhelming, but there are some general guidelines that can help you create a simple, effective resume and portfolio.
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Instructions
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Resume
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Use a single sheet of high-quality resume paper, preferably in a neutral tone such as white, off-white or beige. Being too colorful or "creative" will be perceived as unprofessional. Choose standard, professional fonts such as Times New Roman, Verdana or Arial. The font size should be no smaller than 10 point and no larger than 12 point. Only use bold text for your name at the top of the resume and for section headings. Separate information using bullets, dashes and indentations to emphasize information under each category. This will help readers focus on specific elements in your resume. Leave 1-inch margins on all sides of your text.
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Begin the content of your resume with a centered heading. Type your name (in bold and a slightly larger font), address and contact information. Immediately below your heading, write a brief two- to four-sentence Career Overview or Career Objectives section. Highlight your experience and career goals and mention your interest in the particular position you are applying to.
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Split your qualification into three categories. First, create a Professional Experience section. List each position you have held for at least the last three to five years. Start with your most recent job and proceed in reverse chronology. For each listing, include the position title, company and dates of employment. Also have a section on Education, if applicable. Mention institutions attended, degrees attained and grade point average (if notable). Include technical training under this heading (welding, instrument design, etc.). Finally, add a section on Special Skills. This should include any additional qualities you have that would be useful to a potential employer: language abilities, computer proficiencies, certifications, licenses, etc.
Portfolio
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Use the resume you have written as the "cover" for your profession portfolio, followed by a letter of intent. The letter of intent should be less than a page and articulate your work/professional philosophy. If you are a teacher, for example, your statement would express your teaching philosophy; if you are a stock broker, then your letter would discuss the strategies and practices you use in your trade.
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Include items/documents in your portfolio that illustrate or support the information in your resume. For example, you may include college transcripts, a list of references or even full letters of recommendation. Photocopies of certificates and licenses would be relevant for many professions. The idea is to include whatever serves to support your resume.
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Place all your portfolio material into a binder or folder. Potential employers should be able to access the documents easily, and each document should be clearly labeled. You may also include a table of contents at the beginning of your portfolio and number the pages (this is particularly helpful for portfolios over 10 pages).
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Tips & Warnings
Use high-quality resume paper for all typed items in your portfolio---not just the resume itself.
The resume should only be a page long, if possible.
Since many employers do not initially want a portfolio, do not send one unless it is explicitly requested in the job advertisement or by the employer.
