Employment Spot

Perfect Your Resume – Write the resume that lands the job

The resume is an essential part of the job search process. Once you find the perfect employer, you must send them a resume that makes you look like the perfect employee. Online resources can help, whether you have 20 years of experience or are just entering the workforce.

Keep It Simple

The process of submitting a resume has evolved over time. Job seekers once spent hours selecting the perfect font and buying fancy paper with matching envelopes. Today, many employers prefer to receive resumes by fax or e-mail. Companies also invest in resume scanning programs, such as Resumix, which scan paper resumes for keywords and extract data into a searchable database. This means that fancy fonts, colored paper and special formatting can sometimes hurt your resume rather than help it. Current trends encourage resumes that are professional, but simple and easy to read.

If you plan to e-mail your resume, it should be saved in ASCII text format. Rebecca Smith of Eresumes.com outlines what features you can and cannot use in text-based resumes and offers helpful step-by-step instructions.

Pick Your Format

The first step in resume writing is selecting from three basic formats: chronological, functional or combination. Chronological resumes, the most common type, are for people with a solid work history and consistent professional growth. Functional resumes emphasize skills and responsibilities and are good for people who have had periods of unemployment or switch careers often. A combination resume can be useful if you have a consistent work history, but want to change careers or emphasize particular skills and experiences. For samples and more information on each, visit ResumeTutor.

The Main Objective

Every resume should have a well-defined objective. This objective, as well as the content of your resume, can change depending upon what position you are applying for. Use your objective to determine which skills and interests you should emphasize and which you should downplay. Each objective should demonstrate how the position you are applying for would fit in with your immediate career goals.

In the "Education" section of your resume, include higher education degrees, academic awards or honors (Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude, etc.), relevant coursework and professional credentials. If you feel it would benefit you, include your grade point average and/or class rank as well.

Your resume will also need a section describing current and past work experience. Always include the name of the company, location (city and state), your job title and dates of employment. When describing previous jobs, be as specific as possible. Mention goals you met and skills you acquired or perfected. Use active verbs like "analyzed" or "negotiated."

Some applicants include a section that highlights specific skills. Skills may include computer programs you are familiar with, languages you speak or special equipment you can operate. This can be a great way to emphasize your qualifications for a particular position.

Reference Your References

Most career advisors agree that it is now inappropriate to include references on your resume. Many choose to end with the line "References available upon request." This is fine, but make sure you have them ready to go.

Once you’ve completed your resume, proofread carefully for typos and spelling errors. If you’re sending your resume electronically or by fax, it may be helpful to e-mail or fax a copy to a friend to make sure the process runs smoothly.

Check out our Resumes and Cover Letters section for more helpful tools and expert resume services.

With all of these suggestions at your fingertips, you should have no problem building and maintaining the perfect resume. Now go out and find that perfect job!