Career Development
Resume Writing Page 1 of 4
What is a Resume?
What is a Resume?What is a Resume?
What is a Resume?
The resume is a selling tool
The resume is a selling toolThe resume is a selling tool
The resume is a selling tool that outlines your skills and experiences so an employer can see, at a
glance, how you can contribute to the employer's workplace.
Your resume has to sell you in short order.
Your resume has to sell you in short order.Your resume has to sell you in short order.
Your resume has to sell you in short order. While you may have all the requirements for a particular
position, your resume is a failure if the employer does not instantly come to the conclusion that you
"have what it takes." The first hurdle your resume has to pass--whether it ends up in the "consider
file" or the "reject file"--may take less than thirty seconds.
The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job
The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job
The most effective resumes are clearly focused on a specific job
title and address the employer's stated requirements for the
title and address the employer's stated requirements for the title and address the employer's stated requirements for the
title and address the employer's stated requirements for the
position.
position.position.
position. The more you know about the duties and skills required for
the job--and organize your resume around these points--the more
effective the resume.
You will need information to write a good resume.
You will need information to write a good resume.You will need information to write a good resume.
You will need information to write a good resume. Not just information about jobs you've held in the
past but also information to select the most relevant accomplishments, skills and experience for
THIS position. The more you know about the employer and the position, the more you can tailor your
resume to fit the job.
What is the Right Resume for Me?
What is the Right Resume for Me?What is the Right Resume for Me?
What is the Right Resume for Me?
Choose a resume format that fits your job history and target position.
Choose a resume format that fits your job history and target position.Choose a resume format that fits your job history and target position.
Choose a resume format that fits your job history and target position.
• Chronological
ChronologicalChronological
Chronological
You easily meet all skill, experience and education requirements.
• Functional
FunctionalFunctional
Functional
You're a new graduate, changing fields or industries, or have special problems.
• Electronic Resume
Electronic ResumeElectronic Resume
Electronic Resume
For responding to Internet job postings or to large employers with automated applicant
tracking systems.
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
H
HH
H
H
HH
H
R
RR
R
R
RR
R
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
G
GG
G
G
GG
G
I
II
I
I
II
I
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
Definition:
Definition:Definition:
Definition:
The chronological resume is organized by job titles with the most recent position listed first.
Employer Rating:
Employer Rating: Employer Rating:
Employer Rating:
Employers tend to prefer the chronological resume because the format lists prior positions
beginning with the most current. Employers perceive this resume style as fact-based and easily
skimmed.
Career Development
Resume Writing Page 2 of 4
Works Best For:
Works Best For:Works Best For:
Works Best For:
For job seekers with solid experience and a logical job history, the chronological resume is the most
effective. Career changers and those who lack formal on-the-job experience (like new graduates) find
this resume the most difficult to write.
F
FF
F
F
FF
F
U
UU
U
U
UU
U
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
T
TT
T
T
TT
T
I
II
I
I
II
I
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
Definition:
Definition:Definition:
Definition:
The functional resume rearranges employment history into sections that highlight areas of skill and
accomplishment.
Employer Ratin
Employer RatinEmployer Ratin
Employer Rating:
g: g:
g:
Some employers dislike functional resumes IF they find it difficult to match up skills with actual job
titles, level of responsibility and dates of experience. If you want to take advantage of the benefits
of a functional resume, you MUST make it EASY for employers to visualize your overall chronological
work history and link your accomplishment statements to it.
Works Best For:
Works Best For:Works Best For:
Works Best For:
The functional resume might be thought of as a "problem solving" format. The functional resume
gives you latitude to "make sense" of your work history and match up skills and accomplishments
that might not be obvious to the employer in a traditional chronological format. If any of the
descriptions below apply to you, you may want to investigate the functional format:
•
You have a "mixed bag"
"mixed bag""mixed bag"
"mixed bag" work history: no clear thread uniting positions held.
•
You are a new graduate
new graduatenew graduate
new graduate or entering the workforce. You must show how the skills you
have used in the past (in volunteer or coursework) apply to the job you are seeking.
•
Your job titles, such as such as "Administrative Assistant" or "Marketing
Coordinator," do not clearly reflect the level of skills you used.
•
You are making a career change
career changecareer change
career change--either changing industry (from Hospitals to
Pharmaceuticals) or changing occupation (from Manufacturing Technician to Sales
Representative.)
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
T
TT
T
T
TT
T
R
RR
R
R
RR
R
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
I
II
I
I
II
I
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
Definition:
Definition:Definition:
Definition:
A resume (chronological or functional) formatted to read well when scanned and searched by optical
scanning systems.
Employer Rating:
Employer Rating: Employer Rating:
Employer Rating:
Some large employers use electronic resume processing systems (or "automated applicant tracking
systems") to handle large volumes of resumes. A smaller employer may subscribe to a scanning
service that offers them a way to automate this function for their small (or non-existent) human
resource department.
Career Development
Resume Writing Page 3 of 4
Electronic resumes are used by Resume Banks
Resume BanksResume Banks
Resume Banks to match applicant qualifications with employer
needs. The resume is scanned and entered in a database that the personnel department or the
hiring manager can search by keyword.
Works Best For:
Works Best For:Works Best For:
Works Best For:
??????? Your guest is as good as mine! This may be just a convenient way for companies to manage
a flood of paper
S
SS
S
S
SS
S
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
M
MM
M
M
MM
M
P
PP
P
P
PP
P
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
F
FF
F
F
FF
F
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
H
HH
H
H
HH
H
R
RR
R
R
RR
R
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
G
GG
G
G
GG
G
I
II
I
I
II
I
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
R
RR
R
R
RR
R
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
S
SS
S
S
SS
S
U
UU
U
U
UU
U
M
MM
M
M
MM
M
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
Career Development
Resume Writing Page 4 of 4
S
SS
S
S
SS
S
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
M
MM
M
M
MM
M
P
PP
P
P
PP
P
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
F
FF
F
F
FF
F
F
FF
F
F
FF
F
U
UU
U
U
UU
U
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
C
CC
C
C
CC
C
T
TT
T
T
TT
T
I
II
I
I
II
I
O
OO
O
O
OO
O
N
NN
N
N
NN
N
A
AA
A
A
AA
A
L
LL
L
L
LL
L
R
RR
R
R
RR
R
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
S
SS
S
S
SS
S
U
UU
U
U
UU
U
M
MM
M
M
MM
M
E
EE
E
E
EE
E
