Did you notice the misspellings, the sloppy format, and the lack of information about skills? Pertinent information is omitted, while irrelevant data is readily apparent. The applicant's name is not especially noticeable, and here is no phone number or mention of references. The date at the top of the page is unnecessary. Also note the inconsistencies in the presentation of date and order of information.
This resume is clearly a first draft, and it will need many revisions before it is ready to be presented to an employer. In its current condition this resume makes a negative statement about the candidate.
Try your own revision of this resume. Practice with both chronological and functional formats and experiment with your layout. See what a difference you can make in T.J.'s chances of getting an interview, and then compare your revisions with the two other versions that follow here.
Resume Worksheet
This worksheet is the place for brainstorming. By completing it you will be sure to remember all your education, skills, and experience, and you will be better able to organize your thoughts. Thinking through your skills should prove helpful not only for writing your resume but also during the interview process.
As in any brainstorming exercise, there are no wrong answers; include everything you can think of under each category. It is best to complete items two through eleven only after you've let the information in item 1 sit for a few days. This way you'll be able to gain some "distance" from your work, and your revisions will be more effective.
1. Fill in the information requested in the six following sections.
- Job Objective.
- Education. Remember to list schooling in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
- Experience. As above, list experience in reverse chronological order. Include volunteer work and internships (list in parentheses after job title).
- Awards and Honors.
- Professional Affiliations.
- Interests and Activities. List all extracurricular activities, interests, hobbies, volunteer work, clubs to which you belong, etc.
3. Using the ideas generated in item 1(a), write several one-sentence versions of your job objective here. Then circle the one that is most clear and concise.
4. Review the previous sections. Cross out any mention of controversial, political, or religious activities.
5. Using the space to the left of each heading in item 1, number the headings in the order in which you'd like them to appear on your resume. Remember, place your strongest sections close to the top of the page If you have a strong career objective, it should appear second only to your name and address. References are usually stated last. The order of the rest of these elements is flexible. Mark an "X" by any sections you would not like to include.
6. Now try a draft of your resume. Lay out the rough information you have here. Where will the headings be placed? How will you present the employment information? Where will you use capital letters, bold print, white space, or underlining? By now you should have a rough draft of your resume.
7. Show your draft to at least one other person who has had experience working with resumes. A teacher, employer, or businessperson would be ideal. Have a brief conversation with him or her.
- What does the person notice first? Is this what you had intended to highlight?
- Is your career objective clear? Is it too vague or too narrow?
- Are all your strengths included?
- Are the descriptions of your skills thorough, and do they start with action verbs?
- Is the layout neat and eye-catching?
- What other comments does this person have about your resume? Would they hire you?
9. Have your resume typed or typeset on a piece of plain white paper. Typesetting will give your resume a more polished, professional look, but you will need to go to a printer or typesetter to have it done.
10. Proofread again.
11. Using the copy on white paper as a master, photocopy your resume on good quality paper, sold in stationery stores and print shops. You may also consider having your resume printed. Although this is an added expense, it will help to make your resume look more professional.
What to Do About Gaps in Your Job History
For a variety of reasons, many people have unexplained gaps in their job histories. Some were not employed outside the home after they had children; some may have taken time off for travel, medical reasons, or soul-searching. People who are re-entering the job market after retiring or after a long job search may also wonder how to appropriately express this time on a resume.
If you are concerned about how to explain the gaps in your job history, consider the following suggestions.
- Create a functional resume. Emphasize your objective, and then list three or four transferable skill areas. Describe all the ways in which you have demonstrated those skills. Place the dates of your employment in a section lower on the page.
- Write a chronological resume. Place the dates of your employment at the end of each job description.
- Minimize the gap. Give only the years of employment instead of the month and the year.
- Create a job title to explain the time gap. Many people actually have done productive, albeit unpaid, work during their "gap" time. Be honest but creative. Could you call yourself an independent consultant? Family manager? One woman who spent years entertaining her husband's international business clients for weeks at a time decided on a title of International Hostess/Party Planner. Be sure not to overlook volunteer work or internships. Create a job title and put the word volunteer or in-tern in parentheses following the title.
- Create new headings on your resume. If your work experience is limited or spotty, stress other strengths. Create categories for "Special Skills," "Awards and Honors," "Interests and Activities," "Relevant Courses," or "Additional Training."
- Don't lie. Explain any time gaps briefly but honestly in the interview. Remember, even a great resume does not get you the job. You get your-self the job during the interview. In minimizing time gaps in your resume, your intention is not to deceive the employer but to prevent yourself from being eliminated before the interview. Plan ahead about how to explain the time gap should the question arise.
