A resume is your potential employer's first look at your qualifications and experience. There are three common types of resumes: functional, chronological and combination. A chronological is the most familiar type of resume, but the functional resume is an excellent choice if you have frequently changed jobs, have gaps in employment or do not have a long work history. A functional resume lets you break your experience into specialties rather than listing your work experience in a chronological fashion with detailed descriptions under each job.
Step 1
Put your name at the top center or right justified on your resume. If you have a permanent address, type your address, phone number and e-mail address centered under your name. If you are in the process of moving or are a student, put both your permanent and current address under your name one line space down and on either side of your name. Make sure your contact information is current so a prospective employer can reach you.
Under your name and contact information, write a brief objective statement outlining what type of job you are seeking. Use third person when writing your objective statement.
Step 2
Think back on your accomplishments, experience, skills and strengths. Because your resume will focus on what you have accomplished rather than just your work experience, do not leave anything out. Write down everything you have done in the past, even if not directly work related. Include volunteer work, board memberships, second languages you speak, familiarity with computer programs and leadership strengths. If you have been out of the workforce for a time but have been responsible for a family budget, for example, include budgeting as one of your skills.
Step 3
Organize the skills into categories such as experience, leadership, organizational and supervisory abilities. List the categories in order of importance on your resume using bold type. Under each category, write a descriptive sentence for each skill. Start each sentence with an action verb to add strength to your resume. Use words such as "used," "created," "managed" and "assisted." Be detailed in your descriptions. If you oversaw a budget of $500,000 dollars, include the dollar amount. Include the number of people you supervised and any promotions you received.
Step 4
Include a brief chronological history of your work experience after the skills categories. List the name of the company you worked for, how long you worked for the company and your last title. Begin with the most recent job and work in backwards chronological order.
Step 5
List your education degrees beginning with the highest degree you have received. Place a four-year degree before an associate degree and an associate degree before a high school diploma. If you graduated with honors, include the honor under the appropriate degree. List your degree type and major.
State any licenses, certifications or memberships you hold under your education section. Include any specialized training classes you attended.
Tips and Warnings
- Change your objective so its specific to each job. Target your skills to the particular job. Use a high quality paper when sending your resume in the mail. Always include a cover letter introducing yourself to the potential employer. Make your resume one or two pages.
- Do not include dates on your educational degrees.
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