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ResumeWriting:ABasicGuide

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ResumeWritingABasicGuide
...forthepersonwithlittleornoresumewritingexperience.
CONTENTS
Whendoyouusearesume?
Tipsforgoodresumes
Selectinginformationforyourresume
Astandardresumeshouldinclude...
Resume:Outlinesandexamples

Coverletter:Outlineandexample
Applicationletter:Outlineandexample
Resumechecklist
Resumeworksheet
10tipsfortheeffectiveresume
ElectronicresumesandAmericasTalentBank

Resumesandapplicationformsaretwowaystoprovideemployerswithwrittenevidenceofyourqualificationsandskills.
Generally,thesameinformationappearsonbotharesumeandanapplicationform.Thewayitispresenteddiffers.
Someemployerspreferaresumeandothersrequireanapplicationform.Thisbookletpresentsthebasicinformationtoincludein
yourresume.
Youwanttoapplyforajob.Doyouneedaresume?Thatdependsonthekindofjobyoureapplyingfor.
RESUMEREQUIRED
Professional,technical,administrativeandmanagerialjobs.
Salespositions.
Secretarial,clerical,andotherofficejobs.
RESUMESOMETIMESREQUIRED
Skilledjobs
(Examples:Baker,HotelClerk,Electrician,Drafter,Welder)
RESUMENOTREQUIRED
Unskilled,quickturnoverjobs
(Examples:FastFoodServer,Laborers,MachineLoader,CanneryWorker,etc.)
Therearemanywaysoforganizingagoodresume.Dependingonthejob,youshouldchoosetheformatthatbesthighlightsyour
skills,training,andexperience.
Aresumemustbeveryeasytoreadsothatanemployercanseeataglancewhoyouare,whereyoucanbereached,whatkindof
workyoucando,andwhyyourequalifiedforthatkindofwork.
Aresumeshouldbeshort,preferableonepagetypewritten.Itmustbeerrorfree.Itincludeshonest,positiveinformationthatis
relatedtoyourjobgoal.
Agoodresumewillopenthedoorforaninterview.

Whendoyouusearesume?
Torespondtoawantad
Togiveanemployermoreinformationaboutyouthanthejobapplicationgives
Tosendtoacompanyyoudliketoworkfor
Togivetoaninterviewersoheorshewillaskyouaboutthepositivethingsonyourresumeyouwanttotalkabout
Toleavewithanemployerafteraninterviewasareminderofyourskillsandabilities

Tipsforgoodresumes
Youneedtwotypesofinformationtoprepareyourresume:
1. Selfinformation.Completingabackgroundandexperiencelistwillgiveyoutheselfinformationrequiredtoprepareyour
resume.
Ifyouveworkedbefore,listyourjobs.Next,writedowntheworkdutiesforthejobsyouvelisted.Now,thinkaboutthe
skillsortalentsittooktodoeachworkduty.Writethemdown.

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Listyourhobbies,clubsyoubelongto,sportsyouvebeeninvolvedin,churchandschoolactivities,andthingsthatinterest
you.Lookatthefirstitemonyourlist.Thinkabouttheskillsortalentsittakestodothatitem.Writethemalldown.
Lookattheabilities(talents)identifiedonyourbackgroundandexperiencelist.Youhavetalentsthatyouuseeveryday.
Now,findoutwhatJOBScanuseyourtalents.
Dontlimityourself.Theimportantthingisnotthejobtitle,buttheskillsandabilitiesofthejob.
2. Jobinformation.Gatherspecificinformationonthejobyoureapplyingfor.Hereswhatyouneed:
Jobduties(tomatchyourskillstotheskillsneededtodothejob).Getyourjobdutiesfromthejobannouncement.Ifthejob
announcementoradisvague,calltheemployerandaskforadescriptionofjobduties.
Educationandexperiencerequired(again,soyoucanmatchyoureducationandexperiencewiththatrequiredforthejob).
Hoursandshiftsusuallyworked.
Payrange(maketheirtopoffertheminimumacceptable!).

Selectinginformationforyourresume
Thebestwaytoselectinformationthatbelongsonyourresumeistothinklikeanemployer.Askyourself,"IfIwerehiringa
personforthisposition,whattrainingandexperiencewouldberelated?"Givebrief,specific,positiveinformationthatwouldbeof
interesttoyournextemployer.Donotgiveunrelatedornegativeinformation.

Astandardresumeshouldinclude...
Contactinformation
Telltheemployeryourfullname,streetaddress,apartmentnumber,city,state,zipcodeandtelephonenumber(includingarea
code).
Employmentgoalorjobobjective
Telltheemployerthespecificjobyouareinterestedin.Goodexamplesare,"Anentrylevelclericalposition","Acustomerservice
positionintheretailindustry",or,"Amanufacturingpositionutilizingmyfiveyearsofqualitycontrolexperience."
Avoidvaguestatementslike,"Apositionwithgrowthpotential",or,"Achallengingpositionwithastablecompany."Remember,
keepitsimpleandtothepoint.
SummaryofQualifications
Telltheemployeryourmajorsellingpointsin35lines.Bebrief,summarize,givefactsnotopinions.(Thissectionisoptional)
WorkExperienceorWorkHistory
Telltheemployeraboutyourworkexperienceinoneoftwowayseitherbyjobtitlesanddates,orbyfunctionsandskills.Later
inthepublicationyouwillseeoutlinesandsampleresumeswhichwillhelpyoudecidewhichwaywouldworkbestforyou.
Education
Telltheemployeraboutanyjobrelatedtrainingoreducation.Listyourmostrecenttrainingfirst.
Ifyouarearecentgraduatewithlittleworkexperience,youmightwanttolistthefollowinginformationbeforeyourworkhistory:
thenameoftheschool,thedegreeorcertificatereceived,dates,coursetitlesrelatedtoyourjobgoal,scholarships,honors,
grades,andextracurricularactivities.
Ifyouhavebeenworkingforoverfiveyears,youdontneedtogiveasmuchinformationaboutyoureducation.Nametheschool,
city,state,degreeorcertificate,orcourseworkanddates(datesareoptional).
Includeyourhighschoolunlessyouhaveahigherdegree.Neverincludeyourgradeschoolormiddleschool.
MilitaryExperience
Telltheemployerthebranchofservice,yourhighestrank,typeofdischarge,anddateofseparation.Listanyspecialassignments,
duties,clearances,collateralduties,anddecorationsthatrelatetothejobthatyouareseeking.Technicalmilitarytrainingcanbe
listedundertheEducationheadingonyourresume.(AMilitaryheadingisonlylistedifyouhavemilitaryexperience.)
SpecialSkillsandAbilities
Telltheemployeranyotherinformationyoufeelmighthelpyou.(Thissectionisoptional.)Youmightwanttoincludeinformation
aboutknowledgeofforeignlanguages,volunteerorleisureactivities,membershipsinprofessionalorganizations,specialskillssuch
astyping,computers,machinesyoucanoperate,licensesorcertificatesyoupossess.Donotprovidepersonalinformationsuchas
yourage,sex,maritalstatus,orhandicaps.
References
Telltheemployersimplythat,"Referencesareavailableuponrequest,"or,"Referencesgladlyfurnisheduponrequest."Donotlist
referencesonyourresume.Instead,havethemtypedonaseparatesheetofpaperandhavethemavailableiftheemployerasks
forthem.Youshouldhavethreetofivereferenceslisted.Theyshouldbepeoplewhoknowyouandyourworknotyour
relatives.Besuretogeteachpersonspermissiontousehimorherasareference.

ResumeOutlinesandExamples
Thefollowingpageshaveoutlinesandexamplesoftwoofthemostcommonlyusedbasicresumes.

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Example1listseachjobseparately,startingwithyourmostrecentjobandworkingbackward.Specificinformationisgivenabout
eachjob.
Example1:Outlineandresume
Example2liststhe35skillareasorfunctionsyouperformedthatarerelatedtoyourpresentjobgoal,brieflydescribingthework
youvedonewithineacharea.Verylittleattentionisgiventowhenandwhere.
Example2:Outlineandresume

CoverLetter
Mostemployerspreferthataresumebemailedwithaletterofintroduction.Thisletteriscalledacoverletter.Acoverletter
shouldtelltheemployerwhichpositionyouareinterestedinandwhyyouarequalifiedfortheposition.
Itshouldcover1/3to2/3ofan81/2"x11"sheetofpaperandshouldbeonthesamesize,grade,andcolorofpaperasyour
resume.Itisbesttouseapersonalcomputer,wordprocessorortypewritertowriteyourcoverletter.Someinformationinyour
coverlettermayalsobeonyourresumeitisallrighttohavesomeoverlappinginformation.Besureyourletterdoesnothave
spelling,grammaticalorpunctuationerrors.Haveanotherpersonproofreaditbeforeyoumailit.
Example3:Coverletter

ApplicationLetter:AnAlternativetoaResume
Insomesituations,atraditionalresumemightnotbethebestwaytocontactanemployer.Dependingontheemployers
preference,thefieldofworkandyourqualifications,youmaywanttouseaLetterofApplication.
Thisisapersonalletteryouwritetoanemployerthattellswhichpositionyouareinterestedinandwhyyouarequalifiedforthat
position.Itshouldfill1/2to2/3ofan81/2"x11"sheetofwhiteorlightcoloredbondpaper.Itmustbeerrorfree.Haveanother
personlookitovertomakesureitisperfectbeforeyoumailit.
AnoutlineandasampleforaLetterofApplicationfollow.
Example4:Applicationletter

ResumeChecklist

Use81/2"x11"paper,12pages

Chooseivory,white,cream,bufforlightgraypaper

Usepersonalcomputer,wordprocessor,typewriterortypesetting

Keepmargins1"wideatsidesandbottom

Checkforandcorrectanyspelling,punctuation,typingorgrammaticalerrors

Writeshortandtothepointstatements

Keepitbriefwriteasummary,notalifehistory!

Useshortphrasesbeginningwithactionwordstodemonstrateaccomplishmentsandresults

Providepositiveandhonestinformation

Useasimple,professional,easytoreadstyle

Haveotherslookitovertomakesureitsperfect

Leaveoffpersonalinformationsuchasheight,weight,age,sex,maritalstatus

Emphasizeimportantinformationbyunderliningorusingcapitalletterswhenappropriate,butdontoverdoit

Dontlistwages,companystreetaddresses,references,salaryrequirements,personalproblems

Provideexamplesofyourqualifications

Lookatyourresumethroughtheeyesofanemployerandaskyourself,"IfIwereanemployer,wouldIwanttointerviewthis
person?"
Applicationforms
Resumesarerequiredforsomejobs,andaresometimesrequiredforotherjobs.Anemployermayhaveyoucompletean
applicationforminsteadofsubmittingaresume.Onsomeoccasions,anemployermayaskyoutocompleteanapplicationin
additiontoyourresume.
Whenyoufilloutanapplicationform,makesureyoufillitoutcompletelyandfollowallinstructions.Donotomitanyrequested
informationandmakesurethattheinformationyouprovideiscorrect.

ResumeWorksheet
Step1:Readthisbrochure.

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Step2:Reviewthesamplesprovidedinthisbrochure.
Step3:Tearoutandcompletethisworksheet
Step4:Writeyourresumeusingtheinformationfromyourworksheet.
Step5:Checkitforerrors.Haveotherscheckit,too.
Step6:Haveyourresumewordprocessed,typed,ortypeset.
Step7:Youreready!NowUSEYOURRESUME!
Name
Address
City/State/ZipCode
Telephone(withAreaCode)

EMPLOYMENTOBJECTIVE(optional)
SUMMARYOFQUALIFICATIONS

WORKEXPERIENCE:Listmostrecentjobsfirst.
1.JobTitle:
JobDuties/Accomplishments:

CompanyName:
City,State:
DatesofEmployment(yeartoyear):
2.JobTitle:
JobDuties/Accomplishments:

CompanyName:
City,State:
DatesofEmployment(yeartoyear):
3.JobTitle:
JobDuties/Accomplishments:

CompanyName:
City,State:
DatesofEmployment(yeartoyear):
SPECIALSKILLSANDABILITIES:

EDUCATION:
TechnicalSchooland/orCollege:
City,State:DatesAttended:
Degree/Certificateorcoursestaken:
HighSchool:
City,State:DatesAttended:
Diplomaorcoursestaken:

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MILTARYEXPERIENCE:(optionalandifnotusedelsewhereonthisresume)
BranchofService:
HighestRank:
TypeofDischarge:YearofSeparation:
Duties:

OTHERWORKEXPERIENCE:Listjobtitles/positionsyouwanttoshowbutdonotwanttogointodetailabout,i.e.shortterm
jobs,parttimejobs,volunteerwork,etc.

10TipsfortheEffectiveResume
1. Ifpossible,useacomputertoprepareyourresume.Therearecomputerprogramsthatmakeiteasytoproducea
professionallookingresume.YourWisconsinJobCenter,school,library,orquickprintshopcanhelp.
2. Donotincludeirrelevantpersonalinformation(age,weight,height,maritalstatus,etc.).
3. Donotincludesalaryandwages.
4. Centerorjustifyallheadings.Dontuseabbreviations.
5. Bepositive.Identifyaccomplishments.
6. Useactionverbs.Formoreinformation,readthepublication,"TheRightWordstoUseinYourJobSearch"(DETJ9463P).
7. Bespecific.Useconcisesentences,Keepitshort(onepageisbest).
8. Makesureyourresume"looksgood"(neatandreadable).
9. Proofreadthemastercopycarefully.Havesomeoneelseproofreadthemastercopycarefully.
10. Inspectphotocopiesforclarity,smudgesandmarks.

ElectronicResumesinWisconsinandnationwide
Theinformationforyourresumecanbefedintodatabasesasanelectronicresume.
Electronicresumesaresearchablebypotentialemployerswhoaimtoselectresumesforfurtherscrutiny.
InWisconsin,youmaypostyourresumeonJobCenterofWisconsin,aninternetbasedservice.
Visithttp://www.JobCenterOfWisconsin.com
FromtheJobSeekerToolsmenuonthetoolbar,youwillfirstneedtoestablishanaccountOnceyouhaveyourpassword
protectedaccount,returntotheJobSeekerToolsmenuandchoose,Create/UpdateRsum.Completeinstructions,andhelp
textisavailableonthewebsite.
Whenpostingasearchableresumes,itisimportanttoaccuratelyrepresentyourworkexperience,educationandtraining,skills,
andavailability.Besuretousekeywordsandphrasesspecifictoyoureducation,skillsandworkexperience.
JobCenterofWisconsinpermitssearchesonthefollowingfieldsforyourmatchingkeywords:
EmploymentProfile
WorkExperience
Education
Youareincontroloftheinformationyouprovide.Nopersonallyidentifiableinformationwillbedisplayedtotheemployer.Ifthe
employerdecidestocontactyou,itwillbebyemail.

EOE::TermsofUse::LegalInformation::ContactUs::WisconsinDWD
PrivacyNotice::Mobile::SupportedBrowsers::Accessibility

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