Stating your Objective

• Once you have listed your personal information at the top of the page, your objective comes next. Your objective is one or two sentences that clearly depict your career goals. Your prospective employer should not have to guess your objective. Although an objective is not an absolute necessity, it gives the employer insight as to what you are looking for in a job.
  
  Refrain from using generic objectives such as "I would like to obtain a well paying job." Instead, your objective should convey exactly what you are seeking in the particular job you are applying for. For example, "A recent college graduate with a B.A. in accounting, I seek an accounting position that challenges me and allows me growth in this field." Keep in mind that your objective heading is the next heading after your contact information, therefore, it must grab the prospective employer from the onset of reading.
  
  

Choosing your Format

• The two most common resume formats are chronological and functional (skills). Before you choose a format, determine which one works the best for your situation.
  
  Use the chronological format if you have a stable job history with no noticeable gaps in employment. Here is a layout of the general chronological format:
  
  Header--Personal Information (name, address, phone and email)
  Objective (optional)
  Skills summary (optional)
  Career listing, most recent first (employer name, dates, location and achievements)
  Education (school, location and GPA)
  
  Keep your career achievements concise and use action verbs and figures. For example, "Supervised and closed daily sales deals for 20 salespeople." List only employments that pertain to the position you are applying for. If you are a recent graduate, you can put your education before your career listing.
  
  Use the functional (skills) format if you have gaps in your employment history, are making a career change, are new to the workforce or have no experience relating to the position for which you are applying. You can state a career summary if you are changing careers. Focus on your skills instead of employment dates and places. Generally, the functional resume reflects the following:
  
  Personal information
  Objective (optional)
  Career overview (optional)
  Groupings of skills
  Employment (employer names, location and dates)
  Education (school, location and GPA)
  
  

Critical Reminders

• Restrict your resume to one page, except if your work experience spans more than 10 years and has information that must be included. Do not use first-person referencing such as "I" or "Me." Refrain from using italics and underlines. Use Arial or Times New Roman 12-point font printed on white or cream paper. Only include the last education past high school. Proofread your resume more than once and ask a capable individual to critique it for you.