A resume is an advertisement for a very special product—you! This is your first opportunity to present your skills to an employer, and hopefully, it will lead to an interview. It is one of the keys you will use in trying to open the door to that all-important interview. THERE IS NO SINGLE CORRECT FORMAT FOR A RESUME . While it is true there is no single correct format for a resume, it is important that every resume follow three rules. The best resumes always follow the “Golden Rules of C—Clear, Consistent and Concise.” CLEAR — The resume must be precise and easy to read and understand. The reader should not be asking, “What does that statement mean?” This means avoiding abbreviations and jargon related to a specific job or career field. Also avoid acronyms as they are not always clear and may be misinterpreted. CONSISTENT — Do not mix formats, categories and dates. For example, if you are listing your dates as month and year for your education and employment history, they must be listed in the same format throughout the entire resume. CONCISE — Summarize and highlight your skills, education, experience and accomplishments. Recruiters spend very little time (usually less than 30 seconds) during an initial resume review. If your resume contains lengthy explanations in paragraph form, it may be eliminated from further consideration. Bullet points are a great way to give targeted and specific information in short phrases and are easy to read. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME IS TO GET YOU AN INTERVIEW . There are many resume formats, but the two most commonly used are the CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME and the FUNCTIONAL RESUME . Both chronological and functional resumes serve the same purpose—only the layout and style differ. Examine the chronological and the functional resumes in layout and style as they appear in this manual. DEVELOP RESUME
The chronological resume is the most widely used and accepted format and the one most familiar to employers. It is also the easiest to write. Jobs and education are listed in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER , starting with the most recent to the least recent. Dates, job titles
and names of the organizations, cities and states are included.
The functional resume is organized to highlight the qualifications of applicants separate from their employment history. Applicants who have had multiple positions in the same career area, applicants who are re-entering the job market after a period of unemployment, or applicants who are changing career direction without getting new training may consider using a functional format. Before you begin to write your resume, you need to answer the following question: “What position am I seeking?” Broad, general resumes with a wide variety of jobs, skills and fields can be confusing. Employers want to know that you can meet the requirements of their position. For example, if you are seeking an accounting position, elaborating on your prior welding experience does not help you to get called for an interview in the accounting field. Before you sit down to write your resume, it will be necessary for you to do a bit of self- evaluation. Examine your accomplishments, skills, experiences and education/training. (Refer to the Identify Your Skills worksheet on page 3 of this manual to help you get started.) Headings The first step to developing a resume is to decide which headings you will be using. Again, there are some variables when it comes to headings; some must be included, but others are optional. Which headings you include in your resume will depend on your targeted job/company and previous experience and education. Listed on the next page are some common headings found in resumes. REMEMBER—ALL information, regardless of resume format, is listed in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER , which means the most recent information is listed first and then goes back in time.
14 CCAC Job Search Manual
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