What Are Some Good Things to Have on a Resume?

Whether you have been working in the same field for 20 years, you're looking for your first job or you want a career change, you need a resume. Resumes are a potential employer's first and possibly only opportunity to evaluate your potential fit in a workplace. It is essential that you are able to provide a prospective employer with the necessary information to show them your skills and land an interview.

Never Use a Template

Don't get trapped in a box! Create your own resume.

Rule No. 1 with creating a resume is never actually use a template. Many word processing programs and websites provide resume templates. These are only useful as style guides. Look at them to find out what sorts of headings and fonts best fit your personal style and the job you are applying for, but then create your own version on your word processing program. This gives you the flexibility to order the information in a way that will best highlight your skills.

Your Name and Contact Information is the Most Important Thing on Your Resume

Your name needs to be the biggest and most obvious piece of information on the page. Your contact information is placed near your name in the heading. There are many styles of headings and no one style is inherently better than another. Look for an easy-to-read style that fits your personality and the type of job that you are applying for.

Be Sure the Information on Your Resume Matches the Job Description

Make it easy for them to match you with the job description

Job announcements always have a specific list of skills and qualifications for the position to which you are applying. Be sure that the information on your resume matches these as close to verbatim as possible. Most resumes these days are going first to HR departments, where people with possibly limited knowledge of your dream job are scanning your resume to see if you are a fit. Many HR departments also use word matching programs that are search for exact words and phrases from the job announcement. The more you match the more likely your resume will be handed to the person doing the hiring.

Use Lots and Lots of Action Words

You want every skill bullet point to start with its own verb (note: keep all verbs in the same tense). This shows that you are person of action, a mover, a thinker and a doer. The employer needs to see that you are going to enter their workplace and immediately get things done. Adding lots of verbs to your resume shows them that you have taken action before, and are therefore most likely to do it again.

Use Numbers and Specific Examples

Prove to them that you have the skills you have listed with numbers and specific examples. "Increased sales for Johnson's Plumbing by 35%" is a million times more convincing than "Excellent abilities to obtain sales." The second line is good, but does not prove your point. Specific examples could be phrases like "Rated 100% by secret shopper" or "Implemented a new office program for employee rewards."

List Your Education

Recent graduates should capitalize on listing any and all education information

For recent graduates, this is probably the most important part of the resume, and you should list everything you can from your degree that will help you. Create a section for relevant coursework, list any any awards or certificates you have earned and if your GPA is 3.5 or above, then mark it down as well. If you have been in the job field for a while, then this section should be present, but listing too much college coursework can give the impression that you do not have much experience.

Share any Specialized Training or Certifications

If you have gone through a done a training program, have a specialized driver's license, or hold a certification, then list this on your resume. Especially, if the job announcement asks for any specific certification. For example, when applying for any sort of job driving a semi-truck, list your driver's license class and any endorsements you have earned. If you are applying for any job in the health care field, then you should note if you are CPR certified, the type of certification and if you are also first aid or AED certified.

List Previous Work Experience

You can list your previous work experience in different ways. If you just title the section "work experience," then list your employment history starting with the most recent and move backwards in time. A rule of thumb is to have three past jobs. You can also title this section as "relevant experience" then only list past work that relates to the job that you are applying to. List all relevant skills or duties that you learned/performed at each place of work.

Volunteer Work

Volunteering can be an excellent way to fill in gaps in employment on your resume

If you don't have a lot of experience, or you volunteered with an organization doing similar work to what you will be doing at your desired job, then list volunteer work. This is also helpful if you have been out of work for any length of time. This shows that you have been doing something and helps you look more employable than if you have a large gap in time since you have worked last.

References

Generally we just write the phrase "references available upon request" at the bottom of the resume, but there are cases where you would want to actually list references. For example, if you have a reference who is well known in your field, you have a lot of room to fill up or the job announcement specifically requests them. If you choose to list references, then pick two to three people who know that they might be contacted on your behalf. List their names, places of work, relationship to you and their contact information.

References

• Online Magazine; "What HR People Won't Tell You About Your Resume"; Reader's Digest; April 2011
• Resume Blog; "7 Ways to Prove Your Worth on Your Resume"; By Louise Fletcher; www.blueskyresumes,com; 8/16/2010

Resources

• Resume Writng Examples
• Resume Help