by Paula Delaney

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 16, 2008

What do you look for before you invest in something? Most of us do some research, read everything we can about our intended purchase, and sometimes rely on a brochure or two to fill us in on important details. Your resume is your personal brochure that a future employer will look at before hiring you! You'll notice that the best brochures are can be brief, but will contain important details about the product. When you write your resume, think of yourself as a "product" and convince the reader (future employer) why you are the best choice.

When you are compiling the information for your resume, think of it as writing the headlines of your adult life story. This will help you organize your experiences in the correct chronology. As with brochures, try to keep your resume to no more than two pages. Begin with personal information such as your name, address, telephone number. Under that information, make a statement about the type of work you are seeking. Sometimes this is listed as a goal. It's a good idea to have a few general goals ready for different resumes, since you may be applying for jobs that are similar, but require some different skills.

Begin the body of the resume by listing your educational background. Start with the high school you attended, the location, and the dates of attendance. Place your last educational experience last in the list. Don't include clubs you belonged to or activities you were involved in here. Just list the degree that you earned.

The next part of the resume is the most important and requires the most thought. Similar to this space in a brochure, this is where you will want to communicate your proven track record of success. Begin by listing your most recent or current job, and the company where you work. Include three statements about what your responsibilities are, as well as any areas where you exceeded, or received recognition. Make sure to communicate the skills that you have that the employer will be looking for. Don't exagerrate here! Above all, the employer is looking for someone who is honest.

Continue to list your other places of previous employment, including the company and the dates that you were employed. After each title, add just one statement that explains what your role was and what your responsibilities were.

Depending upon what type of job you are applying for, use the next section to state what additional trainings you have had, conferences that you have attended, or organizations that you belong to.

The last section of your resume should state some hobbies or interests that you engage in when you are not working. It is not necessary or wise to include too much personal information, such as marital status, or number of children. Remember that this is your brochure, and is a brief, but convincing snapshot of why you are an excellent investment because of your abilities.

The format and layout of your resume is where it will differ from a brochure. Don't include fancy fonts, pictures or symbols that can be distracting to the reader. Make sure you use a common font, organize your sections so that the resume is easy to read and be sure to check spelling.

Share your resume with close friends and relatives, who really know you and your abilities. Sometimes we overlook things we've done that other people see as very significant.

Finally, use a good quality paper and printer when you print your resume. Remember that as a brochure represents everything about a product, your resume represents everything about you.

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