Creating a Resume

A resume is a selling document. Its sole purpose is to persuade the employer to grant you an interview or to request your formal job application. It should leave the employer with a good first impression of you.

Content:

1. Name, Address; Etc.-Present yourself with the name you typically use in your business and personal life. Be sure to use area codes with phone numbers, and by all means, give your zip code. Present and permanent addresses are a must. E-mail addresses are optional, but can be very helpful.

2. Career/job objective-State the position you desire in concise terms in as few words as possible. Include the type of business/industry/service area in which you wish to work.

3. Education-In reverse order of attendance, list college(s) attended with dates of attendance, the location(s) and the degree(s) earned (if applicable). Note that technical degrees from Northeast will be Associate of Applied Science; vocational programs will be Certificates.

4. Work experience-This is a very important section of the resume. Write this information in terms of the employer’s interests. The name of the job, the name of the employer and the dates of employment should be instantly, clearly visible. Use action verbs. Job descriptions should be brief. Volunteer work can be listed here. Try to show how your experience, abilities and accomplishments can contribute to the employer’s needs. Place your work experiences in reverse, chronological order. Include the name of the employer, location, dates of employment and, possibly, the job title. Do not overplay your responsibilities.

5. Career-Related Experience-If you do not have sufficient work experience, but if you feel like you have obtained employable skills through volunteer work, campus activities, internships, class projects; etc., include those under “Work Experience”.

6. Extracurricular Activities-This can be titled “Awards and Honors”, “Hobbies Interests”, “Activities”, etc. Employers are interested in hiring people who have been, or presently are active in a variety of activities, especially if those are related to your career objective.

7. Personal Items-These are optional due to Federal Laws. Most human resource officers contend that personal items should never appear on a resume. It has the potential for causing employer discrimination Personal items would include such information as the following: date of birth, marital status, place of birth, race, physical statistics; etc.

8. Further Information-This section directs employers to additional information such as transcripts and references. Most employers are satisfied with the phrase “References available upon request”. Some employers are very pleased for you to go ahead and list two or three references if you have room. This saves them time in calling you in order to get the references. You should always contact your references in advance in order to get their permission to use them. It also gives them time to prepare something positive to say about you before they get the contact from your prospective employer.

9. Format:

· Length-Try for one or two full pages, not one and a fraction of a page.

· Lay-out-The best resumes are simple, consistent and uncluttered. Remember, your resume has about 45 seconds to make a favorable impression on the employer, therefore, it must have “graphics appeal”.

· Reproducing-An 8 ½” x 11” sheet of high quality white paper is easy to handle and usually a good choice. Avoid any duplication method that appears that the resume has been mass produced. A good quality rag bond or 25% to 50% cotton content paper produces a nice, professional appearance.

10. Cover Letter- Never send a resume to an employer without a cover letter. The cover letter should complement, not duplicate, resume information and it should also add to your focus. It should be an individually typed, one-page letter sent directly to the person (name and title) who will make the employment decision. It is suggested that the cover letter paper be the same quality as the resume paper.