Use a
Personal Information Worksheet 
to record:
Education:
- Copies of diplomas
- Certificates
- Transcripts
- Licenses
Experience:
- Previous job information
- Copies of awards
- Certificates
- Recognitions for your work experience
Match your resume information to the desired job:
Pick the type of resume you will create:
- Functional - Highlights skills and accomplishments. This is best for individuals with little work experience, or those with gaps in employment.
- Chronological - Outlines educational and work experience in a time line.
- Combination - Combines some of the functional and chronological resume. It highlights skills and experiences as well as a brief job history.
Review the Resume Checklist to help you prepare a good resume.
Write your resume to match each position you apply for:
- Identify your skills and experience that show you are a good match for the job.
- Use the same key words and skills that are in the job description.
- Never lie about your experience or skills.
Have at least two other people review your completed resume. Always use a spell check. (If you do not have Microsoft Word on your computer, you can copy and paste your resume text into an online spell checker.) Correct all mistakes before sending a resume.
Increase the odds that your resume gets noticed! Read more about writing a good
cover letter .
More tips:
- Use a dictionary to ensure words have proper context meaning
- Vary your word usage by using a thesaurus.
- If you are going to post your resume online, read these essential tips to avoid disaster.
It is important to share your skills with more than one person and in more than one way. While bringing your resume directly to an employer can get you an interview, it's not the only (or most effective) method.
You might want to:
- Build an online resume (for printing and/or storing)
- Get on networking sites like LinkedIn.com
- Use online resume profiles available through job search engines like Indeed or Monster
- Scan newspaper ads, email your resume, mail a hard copy, and attach a resume URL
All of these are good ways to share your resume and your skills. Just remember: the more variety you use, the more employers you will reach - and the more likely you will be to get an interview!
Once you have written your resume, keep it updated. Be sure that:
- Information is accurate and up-to-date.
- Action words and a positive tone are used.
- Your technical and soft skills are listed.
- Your resume is free from errors.
If you have sent out a lot of resumes but are not receiving call backs, there may be a problem with your resume.
If this is the case, follow these tips:
- Review your resume using the resume checklist.
- Have a business professional review your resume.
- Correct all mistakes and typos.
- Learn more about the job to make sure you are qualified.
- Call the employer to find out if they have selected people to interview.
If you were not selected by the employer, ask if they have any comments on how you can improve your resume.