How to Create a Business Resume

A good resume contains a lot of important information about you.

A good resume is the most important tool for someone looking for a new job. It tells potential employers about your interests, your career history, and lets them know why you think you are perfect for the job vacancy being advertised. An effective resume needs to contain a number of pieces of information to attract the attention of the interviewer and prompt them to offer you an interview.

Things You'll Need

• Word processor
• Printer
• Employment history information
• Job vacancy details

Instructions

1. 

   Write in a clear and legible font.

   Decide on a format and layout for your resume. You want something that is clear and easy to read, yet attractive to look at. Avoid overuse of bold, underline and colors.

2. 

   State your name at the top of the resume to identify you.

   Begin by heading the resume with your name, with the word 'Resume' underneath. This will allow potential employers to quickly locate your resume if required.

3. 

   Employers should never discriminate against the elderly when reviewing resumes.

   List your personal details, such as full name (including middle names), date of birth, address and contact details.

4. 

   Write about your career aspirations.

   Write a short sentence or two about your immediate career objectives; essentially, that you are looking for a position similar to the one being offered. E.g. "Looking for a Senior Quantity Surveyor role in a thriving business where I can showcase my range of skills and experience".

5. 

   State your previous employers.

   List your previous employment, starting with the most recent first. If you have several previous employers, and listing them all would take up valuable space, then list the first three and then summarize the remaining job placements.

6. 

   Write about your previous responsibilities.

   For these top three previous places of employment, list the employer, the dates you worked there and your job title. Write a short paragraph about your job roles and responsibilities.

7. 

   List all of your relevant qualifications.

   Next, list your qualifications, detailing the college or university attended, what was read, and the mark you obtained. Employers may wish to see copies of certificates as verification during the interview.

8. 

   State your previous achievements.

   Summarize your career achievements so far, detailing the input you had into that achievement and the skills you brought to the project.

9. 

   Write a paragraph about your personal interests.

   Write a short paragraph about your personal interests and hobbies, so that employers can find out more about you as a person.

10. 

    List a couple of referees who will provide a glowing reference.

    List a couple of employers or associates who can provide references for you if required. Stating that "references are available upon request" is acceptable, but potential employers may prefer to have the details already to hand.

11. 

    Check your resume for errors.

    Thoroughly read through your resume to ensure that all grammatical or spelling errors are removed, and that it is informative and correct.

Tips & Warnings

• Potential employers do not have much time to review all resumes; therefore, limit your resume to two pages as a maximum.

• Emphasize your achievements and personal skills wherever possible.

• Always be truthful on a resume. Lies, however small, can ruin your reputation and destroy your chances of landing the job.

• Do not use coloured paper; this is likely only to deter potential employers.

References

• How to Write a Resume
• How to Write a Resume: Effective Resume Writing