What is a Resume?
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A resume is a summary about you. It is a marketing tool to help you sell your skills, abilities, and personal qualities. It is your written advertisement.
You design your resume with one goal in mind and that is to get you an interview. The employer uses resumes as a screening tool. The average time that a resume gets looked at by an employer is seven seconds. The person whose resume is not screened out will be the one who gets the interview.
First, you need to understand that there are two major types of resumes. Some resumes are "functional." These resumes highlight your skills and abilities. Other resumes are "chronological" and focus on your work experience, starting with your most current job and working backward. |
See these web sites for a more in-depth description of functional and chronological resumes.
Functional: http://jobsmart.org/tools/resume/res-func.cfm
Chronological: http://jobsmart.org/tools/resume/res-chro.cfm
Here are some important words of advice, as you get started in designing that power resume:
Number 1: Resumes need to be RELEVANT to the job for which you are applying.
Number 2: Resumes must not be too long or too wordy.
Number 3: Resumes must list the best things that qualify you for the job at the top (and you should bullet or bold those things so that the employer cannot possibly miss them).
In summary, why do you need a resume? First, most employers require resumes in today's labor market. A resume can quickly tell an employer what skills and abilities you have that match their job description. Second, it gives the employer information by which they can contact you. Third, writing a resume builds your self-esteem. As you identify your skills and abilities, you will gain confidence. This process will better prepare you for your interview.
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