by Conny Manero

Created on: August 03, 2008   Last Updated: September 02, 2009

You may think writing a resume after being fired is difficult, but it is not. In fact, writing a resume after being fired from a job is no different from writing any other resume.

A resume is a tool to get you noticed, to make you interesting to an interviewer, and should put you in the best light possible.

As such, it is not required to admit that you were fired from a job, and neither should you volunteer that information on a resume.

What a resume does need is your name and contact information.

Have you moved, changed your phone number or email address since you last looked at your resume? Be sure to update.

On the subject of contact information, having a professional looking email address is preferable to a playful call name. Your friends may know you as snowman123, but a potential employer will be more impressed by your legal name.

When listing a phone number, be sure to mention in your resume whether or not there is voicemail. Record a professional sounding voicemail greeting. A greeting that states "Hi, you know what to do and when to do it" is not going to score you any points.

Use bullet points to list your accomplishments and qualifications.

A resume reader does not have the time or the attention span to read over all your experience. What he is looking for is whether or not you are qualified to do the job.

Mention your education. Whether you have completed high school, college or university, list your diplomas and certificates. Have you taken any professional courses? Be sure to mention that.

Next you can list your experience in more detail.

State the name of any previous employers and their locations.

State your job title and the period of time you worked for that employer.

Follow this, preferably in the form of bullet points, with your responsibilities.

In this section of a resume, it is permitted, if not advisable, to go into as much detail as possible.

Listing your hobbies and special talents is optional but only if they pertain to the job. Telling a potential employer that you are a poet, when applying for the job of an accountant, is irrelevant.

Make sure to read over your resume for spelling and grammar. With one misspelled word you might lose credibility.

In general, avoid multiple fonts and font sizes. Only Times New Roman and Arial are considered professional fonts. Size should be 11 or 12.

Avoid bolding too much text. It is acceptable for your name, contact information and job titles to be bolded, but no more than that.

Italics should be avoided.

Your resume is the key that might open a career door, polish it to perfection.

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