May 2007 ISSUE
Be ResumE Ready
When you apply for work, employers usually expect you to bring a resumé—a short, typed summary of your qualifications. Your resumé should draw attention to your skills and accomplishments and motivate an employer to interview you.
Many books have been written about how to write a resumé. The advice given is not always consistent. Don’t let this lack of agreement trouble you. The bottom line is that there is no “perfect” resumé style or format. The best resumé for you is one that markets your skills effectively for the type of work you want.
Use a resumé format that brings your strongest qualifications to the employer’s attention first. In other words, use a format that puts your most impressive qualifications at the beginning.
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To emphasize how you have progressed to increasingly complex and responsible positions, use a chronological format that lists your work experience from most recent to least recent.
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To emphasize the skills you have developed, use a combination format that groups your experience according to skill categories, then provides a brief chronological account of your background.
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If you don’t have much work experience but your education is directly related to the work you are applying for, list your education first and use a functional format.
When you have a draft resumé prepared, ask yourself the following questions:
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Is it short and to the point (preferably one to two pages long)? Busy employers won’t take the time to sift through a lot of information.
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Is it printed on good quality white or off-white standard, business-size bond paper? Are the margins at least one inch?
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Does it look professional and inviting to read? Are items listed in point form? Is there a good balance of white space on the page?
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Is it well organized and readable? Do key points and headings stand out? Is your eye drawn immediately to the information you want employers to notice first—your most relevant accomplishments and achievements?
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Have you described how your work benefited your former employers?
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Is the language clear, simple and concise? Does every statement emphasize a skill or ability? Have you eliminated unnecessary words or sentences?
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Is all of the information relevant and positive? Never include anything negative! Does everything you say about your qualifications relate to the requirements of the type of work you are applying for?
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Does every item start with an action verb? Are your tenses consistent? Avoid the pronoun “I” and inexpressive phrases such as “I was responsible for . . .” or “My duties involved . . .”
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Is the information accurate? Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent yourself—most employers check. On the other hand, don’t sell yourself short by being too humble.
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Have you listed your name, address (including postal code), e-mail address and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day? (Don’t put the title Resumé at the top, or date or sign your resumé.)
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Did you check for spelling, grammar or typing errors? (If you are not absolutely sure, ask a friend to proofread your draft.)
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If you have listed your references, put them on a separate sheet of paper. Are they people who can verify the skills you have chosen to emphasize? Ensure beforehand that they are willing to give you a positive reference.
If you answered “no” even once, redo your draft. When you can confidently answer “yes” to all of the above questions, find out if other people agree with you. When you deliver or e-mail your resumé to an employer, always include a covering letter or message.
For more tips on career, learning and employment topics, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service website at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and click on the ALIS Tip Sheets. The ALIS site is provided through a partnership of Alberta Human Resources and Employment, Alberta Education and Alberta Advanced Education.