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How to Create a Resume

In an ever growing competitive job market, the opportunity for job seekers to get a foot in the door for their dream job is consistently shrinking. The first step to getting the to meet a potential employer is to sell yourself in order to first get an interview. Unfortunately before you can even do that, you need to wow the recruiter with your own personally branded advertisement, your resume. Remember though, the resume is more of a tool for a recruiter to eliminate candidates than i is a tool for candidates to be considered for a job. Most people get stuck in the phase of How Do I Create a Resume. The following list of proven methods will allow you to get over the hump and present a resume that will help you knock the recruiter's socks off and will teach you how to sell yourself most effectively on paper. Starting with standard 8.5" by 11" paper (and no different), begin by identifying yourself. Place your personal information at the top and center. Underneath, show your phone number where you can be reached for follow up and also an email address. Make sure your name stands out and is at least 4 point sizes higher than the rest of your resume. Standard point size for the body of the resume should be 10-12 points where your name should be 14-16 points. There are three basic types of resumes. The chronological and functional resume formats are probably the best known. The chrono-functional resume is a more recent combination that combines the two basic formats. The chronological resume is actually a reverse chronological resume where items are listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job or education first. Names dates and places of employment are listed and education and work experience are bucketed separately. You should only use the chronological format if you do not have large gaps in employment history and if your previous jobs relate to your current job goals. This is a perfect choice if you are moving up the career ladder. The functional resume is less common but still used by certain trades. the functional resume focuses on skills and talents you have developed and puts less focus on job titles, employer names and dates. The main purpose of a functional resume is to give candidates better chances where their qualifications are not strong or even for those in the middle of a career change (e.g. an army officer, a homemaker seeking a position for a large firm etc). For recent graduates, you would probably prefer the chrono-functional resume. Like the chronological resume, it chronologically lists job history and education while allowing the job seeker to focus on the skills that make him/her marketable. The first thing you should list depends on your experience level. If you are a recent graduate you would place your education first with all related achievements, awards and honors if applicable. If you have been in the work force for several years and your education does not apply to your future job roles and responsibilities, then it is acceptable to place your education towards the bottom. As mentioned earlier, if using the chronological format, you should clearly state the date and locations of your previous employments next. List the dates of employment on the left side, put the names of the companies you worked for and the schools you attended a few spaces to the right of the dates. Finally, align the city and state where you studied or worked towards the right margin. For every job you list, make sure that each element lines up properly. Remember, recruiters potentially read hundreds of resumes a day. They will not be spending vast amounts of time studying your resume. It will be scanned, so make sure to keep it short and concise. Phrases are much more effective than long-winded sentences. Make sure that everything is easy to find. Do not go over 6 lines for each bullet of information. If you do, re-write the bullet. Your resume should be: * Factual - If you are inaccurate, it could mean dismissal if the company finds out. * Positive - Don't be shy to say you achieved something. * Brief - A concise, vigorous and exciting resume will be looked at more carefully. * Relevant - Do not put much emphasis on irrelevant positions you've held. * Results Focused - Elaborate on all your accomplishments. Make sure to skew your information towards the type of position you are going after and not what you have already been. Make sure to advertise yourself well, but do not overdo it. Always speak positively about your other places of employment and always relate your previous roles and experiences on the role you want to obtain. In certain industries it is imperative to have certain skill sets. Make sure to include your knowledge of certain programs, plans, systems etc as a separate work experience line item. You can call this "Professional Skills". Lastly, make sure to have references available. While it is optional to state "References are available upon request" I found it has been helpful to include just in case. If other important information needs to be sacrificed, then do not include this sentence. I hope this article brings you much success and I hope I answered your questions on How to Create a Resume.

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