How to Build a Successful Resume
- 1). Decide the format for your resume. Choose a chronological resume if you already have job experience in the field you are searching. The chronological resume highlights work history by describing your experience job-by-job, beginning with the most recent or current job. Include achievement bullets under each job.
Choose a functional resume if you have little recent experience in the type of job you are seeking. Begin by identifying your achievements, skills, knowledge, and abilities which are relevant to the job you are seeking. List your job titles at the end, in a compressed format. - 2). Conduct research by searching for job descriptions and advertisements for the types of jobs you are seeking. Note how employers describe their needs and the job requirements and identify keywords and qualifications you possess to incorporate into your resume. Talk to people working in the field to find out what is most important to employers. Look for sample resumes online to get ideas on formatting and wording.
- 3). List your contact information, including email. Make sure your name appears on each page of the resume.
- 4). Write a brief summary of your career, no more than one paragraph. This should include the most important things you want the employer to know about you. Choose the information that best describes your qualifications for the type of job you are seeking. This is often easier to write after crafting the rest of the resume.
- 5). List relevant jobs, beginning with the most recent, providing the company name, location, years of employment, title, major responsibilities, and major accomplishments. You do not need to include every job, but account for any gaps.
- 6). Include accomplishments that are relevant to the needs of your target employers. Things to consider are improving processes, meeting or exceeding objectives, helping others to improve, saving money, increasing customer satisfaction, winning awards, increasing sales, getting product to market quickly, and so on. Write them as bullet points beginning with an action word (in past tense) and ending with the result that benefited the company. Include specific numbers if possible such as dollars saved, percent improvement, sales figures, and so on.
- 7). List your education (highest level first), certifications, technical skills, languages, and relevant volunteer activities.
- 8). Format your resume to make it easy to read, making sure it is not crowded and does not exceed one to two pages. Proofread repeatedly.