How to Write a Rough Draft Resume

Resumes: jump in with both feet to build good rough draft.

Resumes have evolved from simple lists of past jobs to full-blown marketing documents designed to emphasize skills, experience, and potential benefits to future employers. Creating a rough draft is the first step to a strong resume. Gathering an accurate history of past experiences and synthesizing them into a useful text can be overwhelming. Focusing on the first draft rather than the completed project will allow you the freedom to explore your abilities and present yourself in the best light.

Things You'll Need

• Word processor
• Pen and paper

Instructions

Rough Draft Resume

1. Make a list of the skills you need to get the job you want. Most employers feature these skills prominently in job descriptions.

2. Include three basic sections in the rough draft: your contact information, experience/skills, and education. Name and contact information appear first, usually centered on the page. Give your e-mail address, physical address, and phone number.

3. Create a list of employers for whom you have worked. This should include the name of the company, the city and state, your position and the dates of your employment. Use chronological style, listing the most recent jobs first.

4. Build a list of skills you have learned through employment, education and real-world experience. Computer programs, specialized equipment, vehicle operation, and customer service are examples of skills to list. Use bullet lists, paragraphs, or a combination for displaying skills.

5. Combine your skills and experience into one section, matching skills to employer. Title the section "Experience." If this approach minimizes your accomplishments, create separate sections for skills and experience, listing experience first and giving each section a heading.

6. Make the last section "Education." List schools attended, locations, and degrees or certificates earned. If you are still attending school, list your anticipated graduation date. Awards and honors can be listed here, plus other school experiences that relate to the skills section.

7. Pick a professional font that is easy to read. Experiment with font size to enhance readability and create a professional look. Use two fonts to differentiate sections, but not more. Use boldface sparingly. Be consistent with formatting choices.

Tips & Warnings

• An ideal resume is one page long, but let the rough draft be longer. Edit in future drafts.

• Do not exaggerate skills or experience. An honest assessment keeps you out of situations that could be embarrassing or dangerous.

References

• "Expert Resumes for Career Changers, Second Edition"; Wendy S. Enelow, et al.; 2010
• "The Only Resume and Cover Letter Book You'll Ever Need"; Richard Walsh, Editor; 2007