Prepare Your Resume

A resume lets employers know your work and education experience. It also shows them your current work goals and other experiences, like volunteering. A resume should show employers that you are capable, and it should convince them to call you for an interview.
Learn how and why to create a resume as you prepare to search for a job.

Gather Information to Create Your Resume

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

Information to match your resume to the job:

Job description – Highlight the required skills and keywords used in the job description.
Skills list – Use the Personal Skills Checklist and highlight the skills that you have that match the job description.
Word choice – Use Power Words/Action Verbs and Key Words.

Select the Type of Resume and Start Writing

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.

Proofread Your Resume Before You Apply

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:

Be sure to use words in the proper context by using a dictionary to check meaning.
Vary your word usage by usine a thesaurus.
If you are going to post your resume online, read these essential tips to avoid disaster.

Share and Distribute Your Resume

It's 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 the 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!

Learn How to Effectively Update a Resume

Once you have written your resume, keep it updated. Review your resume to 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.

Are You Submitting Resumes but Not Getting Interviews?

If you are sending out lots of resumes and do not receive interview calls, there may be a problem with your resume. 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.

Please note: As of July 1, 2011 the Resume Builder is no longer available. Use one or more of the following tools to create and save your resume.

External Address (Url)
Flash Animation1
To control the size of the flash movie, you can use the property window and replace the description with the width and height in parenthesis. For ex (300, 400)

Tool	Description	Rating
	Emurse.com – Discover what other users think about Emurse’s resume creation, storage and distribution. Already use it? Rate it yourself! Free to build, post, print, save and share resume Connected to social media (and free resume URL) Can invite employers and friends to your network Easy to use, with guidance and “email now” features Resumes can be downloaded as PDF or Word doc	34 rates / 4.2 average.
	Indeed.com - Get ratings for the Indeed Resume uploader on one of the top Job Serch Sites! Create an account, try it out and then rate it yourself! Upload a Resume Import your LinkedIn Profile Create a blank resume and then fill in your information Free to post, import, and create You can keep your resume private or make it public for Employers to find	2 rates / 4.5 average.
	Jobspice.com – Get ratings for the customizable Jobspice resume creation tool. Give it a try, and then give it your own rating! Completely customizable – can rename, remove, or replace sections Good selection of free layouts (and a few that cost) Easy to use, simple navigation Registration is quick Has live help feature	11 rates / 3.6 average.
	LinkedIn.com – If you’ve thought about using this huge social network to share your skills, see what other people think. Like it? Rate it! Large online community of professionals, job seekers Free to create resume profile - not for printing, downloading etc. Can connect with employers or businesses in your field Employers can search for you by keywords Has job search option	27 rates / 4.4 average.
	ReadWriteThink.com - Try a simple resume generator that produces clean PDFs in a matter of minutes. Try it out yourself here. Easy to create new resumes 3 templates to choose from (clean style) Generates only PDF file type No registration required Can save and print	4 rates / 4.3 average.
	ResumeBucket.com – Look at ratings and details for the online portfolio community ResumeBucket, and see if your resume belongs there. Free to build, post, print, save and share resume Connected to social media (and free resume URL) Can track who is looking at your resume and when Can invite employers and friends to your network Can edit sample resumes from different professions.	15 rates / 2.9 average.

Local and Statewide Information

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Statewide Interest

Spell Check Your Work Online

SpellChecker.net allows you to paste in your work and then run a spell check or type your work directly into the spell checker for potential corrections as you write. This tool is useful for creating resumes, proofing emails or blogs, and any other work which may be presented to a potential employer.

Need assistance in polishing your resume, brushing up on your interviewing skills, or preparing for a job?

Then check out the state-wide listing of Job Seeker Workshops provided through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
To find a workshop in your area, visit the Job Seekers Workshop web site and get the information you need to become more competitive in your employment goals!

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