How To Make A Resume

1. Decide Which Type Of Résumé You Want.

When it comes to résumés, there are three main formats: chronological, functional, and combination. If you're applying for various jobs, it's wise to consider using more than one format.

The chronological format is the traditional approach, listing experiences in the order they occurred. It's often preferred in conservative fields and appeals to more seasoned readers.

Functional résumés organize experiences by skill, making them ideal for career changers or those lacking direct work experience. By highlighting skills first, it shifts the focus away from chronological work history.

Combination résumés blend elements of both chronological and functional styles. While versatile, be mindful of length as they can become lengthy quickly.

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2. Create A Header.

A header should include your name, phone number and email address. You can also include your mailing address, but leave it out if you plan to post your résumé online.

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3. Write A Summary.

In one or two sentences, summarize your work experience and relevant skills. Keep this strong and simple.

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4. List Your Experiences Or Skills.

FOR CHRONOLOGICAL/COMBINATION RÉSUMÉS, LIST YOUR EXPERIENCES

Starting with your most recent or current job, list your previous work experiences.

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5. List Your Activities.

List activities in which you have participated and include what your specific role was in each.

This is the place to note membership or leadership positions in clubs, organizations of any kind, athletic teams, community organizations and so on.

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6. List Your Education.

List the schools you've attended, starting with the most recent one. Include details such as GPA, class rank or special awards.

Add any other educational experiences, such as training programs, community college or summer courses, seminars and so on.

Examples:

7. List Any Awards You've Won And When You Won Them.

When you've been recognized by someone else, you should let potential employers know about it. But you shouldn't worry if you haven't received any awards; just skip this section.

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8. List Your Personal Interests.

This section shows you're a well-rounded person who people would want to know and work with.

Employers often use this section at the start of an interview to break the ice.

Casual interests are better not to list (e.g., napping, watching reality TV, gossiping). This is really about highlighting hobbies that have helped you grow as a person.

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SUBMITTING YOUR RÉSUMÉ

When it comes to applying for a job, there are several ways you can share your résumé with an employer. Make sure you're aware of these dos and don'ts to ensure your hard work is represented clearly.

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Saving Your Résumé As A PDF

Most employers prefer to receive résumés in the Portable Document Format (PDF). To create yours, look for the "Save as PDF" or "Print to PDF" option in your word processor. Review the file carefully to make sure your formatting is preserved.

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