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Tools & Resources
Create Your Resume
Tips
The purpose of a resume is to get an interview. Most people who read your resume will spend an average of about 30 seconds looking at it, so it has to catch their eye immediately. It should include a brief history of your accomplishments, an introduction of yourself to a prospective employer, a first impression of you.
An Effective Resume Is
- Neat -- its appearance is professional and has plenty of white space
- Concise -- it presents the facts in a clear, easy-to-read style and is one page in length
- Organized -- the reader can see your strong points immediately
- Accurate -- it is error free and the information included is completely honest
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Writing Your Resume
Resumes should be done on high-grade, letter-sized bond paper in a clean typeface such as Times Roman or Arial. Paper should be white or cream. Envelopes should match.
- Identification
Your name, full address (without abbreviations), phone and fax number (with area code first) and e-mail address (if applicable) should be the first items on your resume.
- Objective
This is a brief focused statement of the type position you desire. Avoid being too general yet do not be too specific. You do not want to seem vague or limit your opportunities. If you choose not to include an objective, be sure to emphasize the position desired in your cover letter.
- Highlights of Qualifications
This section should immediately make your resume stand out. It consists of several brief statements highlighting your strong points and qualifications. A typical group of highlights might include:
- How much relevant experience you have
- Summary of outstanding skills and abilities
- A significant accomplishment (briefly stated)
- One or two outstanding skills and abilities
- A reference to yourself (Something that tells them about the kind of worker you are: team player, goal oriented, etc.)
- Work experience
All experience related to the field of your current objective should receive important treatment and be mentioned. Include the following information:
- Name and location of employer
- What the organization does (if it is not clear)
- Your functional title
- The dates that you worked there
- Your duties and responsibilities
- Your significant achievements and contributions to this position
- Education
The names, locations, attendance dates and degrees from colleges, university, trade school, etc. should be listed from most recent in chronological order. This section should be given less emphasis if you have worked for a while.
- Activities and Achievements
(Optional) Include projects, volunteer activities, professional affiliations, special honors, foreign language proficiency, and computer expertise.
- References
(Optional) You may wish to let an employer know that you have contacts who will support your employment. You can include a statement on a resume such as "References will be furnished upon request."
Sign up for RochesterWorks! Resume Workshops
We offer all the help you need to create a resume that gets noticed. You'll find one-on-one assistance, a variety of resume workshops, easy-to-use templates, and a computer lab with support. Whether you've never done a resume or yours just needs to be updated, in one visit you could have a resume that is ready to work for you in your job search.
For additional assistance creating and printing your resume, visit a RochesterWorks! Career Center.
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