Part two (2) of this resume writing section I wanted to provide you with actual samples of resumes you can use in building your credentials. I’ve helped many people with writing their resumes, and I gathered all that knowledge to put together here.
Resume writing is an art. An art of seduction to getting that job you need or hope to get. What’s interesting is that it is really NOT that difficult, if you focus on your specifics skills set, experience and the job you’re applying for.
Everyday I get questions from a variety of people (mainly first-time potential employees) about the correct format of a resume or how can they make it so that they get the job. I think that’s the basic sentiment across the board with people who are currently searching, or those of you that are going to be soon. A lot of people think of spending money and stressing about how their resume looks because that’s what will get them the job…the resume.
Really?
No, not really. The resume does not get you the job. It gets you the attention you deserve for someone to look it over (very briefly) before considering inviting you for an interview.
A one page profile of your life…
A resume is a 1 (sometimes 2) page profile of you. You are expected to cram information about yourself, your experience, past and present and other items of interest on a piece of paper and expect someone to understand you fully. Sounds pretty crappy right? Yes it does, but it has to be that way.
A resume should be simple to do, because it needs to be simple to read. Take a look at a piece of paper and hold it in front of you. Most of you will probably first focus on the top half of the page, more specifically the bottom portion of that top half. That is the most frequently viewed spot on a piece of paper and a resume is no different. So, what’s this tell you? Put the good stuff in that part. The best thing you have to show off to potential employers should go in that spot.
300 resumes at a time…
People that hire whether they are in retail, corporate management, human resources, or any area responsible for filling positions will have literally hundreds of resumes sen to them for 1 job. you heard about this and may have unfortunately experienced this first-hand. Well unfortunately it might be a needle-in-the-haystack kind of thing here when it comes to resumes and yours being the one. But the more specific your resume can be, the quicker it’ll take for these hiring people to notice you and your qualifications quicker.
People that generally review resumes may receive 100-500 at a time depending on the job opening. There is really not a lot of time they dedicate to each and every resume, so chances are that you have to make yours as intriguing, simple and informative as possible. I really believe most human resources people, or hiring managers take about 30 seconds to look at a typical resume. they’re looking for key features, job titles, descriptions. Something to “wet their palette” and look further and deeper into your credentials and experiences and then hopefully call you in for an interview! But they do not take a lot of time on resumes. It certainly depends on the job as well, but most general positions consider so many applicants that the screening process might be stringent.
That’s why I’m here with a few samples of resumes that can guide you as to what and how to write your own resume. Below I’ve colored-coded three (3) separate resumes for you to view. Copy and paste any of them and add your own information in. Remember those “trigger words” I wrote about a couple of days ago. If you need help, let me know.
Your Contact Information
The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you.
First Last Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone (Landline or Cell)
Email Address
Education
In the education section of your resume, list the school you attend and any awards or honors (like the National Honor Society) you have earned.
High School
Awards, Honors
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history. If you have had a job before, list the company you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities. If you haven’t had a regular job before, it’s fine to include positions like baby sitting or pet sitting and any volunteer experiences you might have.
Company #1
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Company #2
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Skills
Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills.
References available upon request
Contact Information
The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you.
First Last Name
Street Address (Home or School)
City, State, Zip
Phone (Landline or Cell)
Email Address
Education
In the education section of your resume, list the college you attend or graduated from, the degrees you attained, and awards and honors you have earned.
College, Degree
Awards, Honors
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements. If you have completed internships, it’s fine to include them in the experience section of your resume. You can also list summer jobs.
Company #1
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Company #2
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Activities
Include athletics, clubs, organizations, and other college activities.
Skills
Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills.
Contact Information
The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you.
First Last Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone (Landline or Cell)
Email Address
Education
In the education section of your resume, list the colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned.
College, Degree
Awards, Honors
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements. If you have completed internships, it’s fine to include them in the experience section of your resume. You can also list summer jobs.
Company #1
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Company #2
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Skills
Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills.
References available upon request
Try these samples out and let me know if you need any further advice on how or what to write in your resume.
Your Success is my Success,
Keith Lipke
Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college.
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