A resume is a summary of your educational background, work and volunteer experience and your skills. It is designed to present and sell your skills and abilities to an employer. Your resume allows the employer to see at a glance how you can contribute to their workplace.

Resume preparation tips:

Do a self assessment before you start. This means to identify your skills and abilities. Prepare a personal inventory (an assessment of yourself and your past performances). Your personal inventory is based on your: education, work history/experience, achievements, volunteer experiences, hobbies or recreational interests, your skills like communication skills, time management skills, and your values.

By doing your personal self-inventory you will be forced to look carefully at your experience, qualifications and goals. This greatly increases your chance of finding a job that fits your plans and your future.

Select an occupation that fits your career path - have an objective.
Identify the basic qualifications of the job or occupation you are interested in.

Components of a Resume are:
Personal information: name, address, phone number
Statement explaining your employment/career goal/objective.
Skills and abilities
Education history
Employment history - dates, company, place, job title
Volunteer experience, interests, hobbies (optional)

Things not to include in your resume are:
Age and sex
Height and weight
Race/Religion
Salary requirements/previous salary
Your Social Insurance Number
The reasons for leaving any job
Memberships in sororities or fraternities

Points to Remember:

It takes an employer 10 to 40 seconds to get an impression of your resume.

Your resume should be clean, concise and clean, one to two pages.
Do a spell check. There should be no errors in spelling or grammar.
Use standard 8.5" x 11" paper. Do not fold.
Be honest. Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent yourself.
Don’t sign your resume.
Don’t hand write your resume unless the employer has asked for a hand written resume.
Target your resume to the type of position you are applying for. This shows you have done research on the position or organization.
Types of Resumes:

Types of Resumes:

1. Basic Resume
Used by those just entering the job market.
Should contain personal data, objective statement, education, skills and abilities, activities and hobbies

2. Chronological Resume (please click to view sample)
Often used by people who are well established in their careers.
Describes the sequence of job experience (usually the most recent to the least recent)
Demonstrates the development of the person through job titles/responsibilities
Gives a brief description of responsibilities and accomplishments

3. Functional Resume (please click to view sample)
Used mostly when you are submitting a resume to someone who knows you and your background.
Describes job objectives and emphasis is on skills.

4. Combined Format (please click to view sample)
Best used when you have extensive experience or varied and uninterrupted employment record and need to relate your array of skills to a specific objective.
Lists both skills and employment history
Similar to chronological but emphasizes the kinds of work you’ve done rather than the positions you have held.

5. Curriculum Vitae
This is used by professionals and is more like a book.


When your resume is complete do an evaluation. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Overall appearance. Does it look like something you would want to read?
2. Layout. Does it look professional? Is it well-typed? Are the margins even?
3. Length. Is it too long? Would it be more effective if it was shorter?
4. Writing Style. Is it easy to get the information needed?
5. Assertiveness. Do the sentences and paragraphs begin with action verbs?
6. Purposefulness: Does it provide specific information about projects, awards or experiences?
7. Accomplishments: Are your accomplishments emphasized?
8. Completeness: Is anything missing?

Cover Letters

Covering letters provide a professional introduction to your resume. It gives the employer brief information about your skills and abilities. The covering letter provides more "personal insight" into how you think, who you are and what you can do. The covering letter should be type written and not more than one page in length. It may be handwritten if requested by the employer. A successful cover letter should contain only three paragraphs:

First Paragraph: State your interest in the company and why you are writing. Identify where you heard about the job opening. If someone suggested you write, you can mention their name.

Second Paragraph: State the contributions you can make to the employer by identifying the skills you have which are relevant to the job. Refer to you resume and point out the skills that directly relate to what the employer is asking for.

Third Paragraph: This is a request for action - asking to obtain an interview. In addition, you should thank them for the consideration of your application. Ensure that you have included where and when and how you can be reached.