Resume Writing Guide...

RESUME ESSENTIALS
Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

CONTACT INFORMATION
 All your contact information should be located at the top of your resume, including personal information and contact details - Name, address, telephone, and e-mail address.

  • Avoid nicknames. State your full name.
  • Use a permanent address.
  • Preferably, use a telephone number other than your present work phone number.
  • Always include your e-mail address. Many recruiters and employers use email as a primary means of contact.


OBJECTIVE OR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 An objective or executive summary clearly informs potential employers your career ambition.
  • Be specific about the job you want and keep it brief
  • Customize your objectives to each employer you target/every job you seek


WORK EXPERIENCE
 Briefly give the employer an overview of the work that has helped develop your skills. Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your most recent job first and then backwards. Include:
  • Title of position
  • Full Name of organization
  • Short description of the industry of previous employer(s)
  • Location of work & where company is based
  • Starting and finish dates of employment


EDUCATION
SKILLS AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
  • Office Skills
  • Computer Skills
  • Language Skills
  • Other Skills
  • You may want to add:
      New graduates without a lot of work experience should (maybe) list their educational information before the Work Experience section. Your most recent educational or professional qualification information is listed first.
      • Include your degree or qualification (B.Sc., B.A., MCSE, etc.), institution attended, institution location, major/minor concentration
      • Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0
      • Mention academic honors

    • Key or special skills or competencies
    • Leadership experience in volunteer organizations
    • Participation in sports
    • Extra curricullar activities/ clubs



REFERENCES
Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer. Do not include your reference information on your resume. It is recommended to add a note at the bottom of your resume indicating "References furnished upon request."


RESUME REVIEW
You have completed writing your resume. It is time to have it reviewed and critiqued by a peer, friend or any other third party. You can also take the following steps to ensure quality of the content:
  • Run a grammar and spell check on your computer
  • Get a friend to do a grammar and spelling review as the word processing software may not pick up common mistakes.
  • Ask another friend to proofread it. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be corrected.


RESUME FORMAT TIPS
 These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's database.
  • Use a word processing application like MS Word or Wordperfect to draft your resume
  • Use white or off-white A4 size paper
  • Print on one side of the paper only
  • Use a font size of 10 to 14 points
  • Use non-decorative typeface – Arial, Times New Roman, etc.
  • Choose one typeface and stick to it
  • Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading
  • Try to avoid using tables
  • Do not fold or staple your resume
  • If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope