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Writing Your Resumé

Purpose

• to get an interview
• to be an advertising tool to show how you can be of value to an employer
• to summarize your abilities, skills and experience

Your resume should be tailor-made for specific jobs.

Before You Write Your Resume:

1. Choose a job objective
for example: A position as a stock clerk in a large retail organization

• it tells the employer what kind of work you are looking for
• it focuses your resume for a specific job

2. Determine what skills, experience, and knowledge are needed for that type of work

• review the job posting for the specific job requirements (Le. forklift licence,. Quick Books computer knowledge, customer service skills)
• check Labour Market Information, National Occupational Classification and Job Futures for information about the occupation and the skills needed to do the job

3. Make a list of your.......

Skills and Accomplishments

• include technical skills, management skills, communication skills, clerical or detail skills
• describe accomplishments that were successful and beneficial to your past employer; think in terms of value
• go beyond just listing duties and responsibilities; explain how you have added value to the position (installed 25 electrical outlets on time and within budget)
• state how you saved money, improved morale, cared for customers, reduced costs, met deadlines, completed projects
• identify your transferable skills; these are skills that you take from one job to another even though the jobs are unrelated
• there are many skills that are common across different jobs
• for example, strong written communications, team player, ability to provide good customer service, willingness to work under pressure
• write down all the skills, knowledge and abilities that you carried through your different jobs

Education and Training

• include names of schools, the dates you attended, the area of study
• list diplomas, certificates, degrees obtained
• state on-the-job training, seminars and continuing education courses

Work History

• include paid and unpaid work (volunteer experience)
• list the name of your employer, the dates you worked there, your job title and what you did
• list jobs in chronological order starting with the most recent

4. Choose a resume format that fits your situation:

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination

5. Summarize your key points at or near the top of your resume