A resume is a marketing tool used to promote a job seeker's skills to interested employers. Rather than simply a flat listing of work experience, the resume should proactively sell the candidate to companies with open positions. Thus, it is highly important that the job seeker write the resume according to proper resume type, structure, and formatting.
Selecting a Resume Type
Merely listing education, skills, work experience, and a one-sentence objective on a sheet of paper is not sufficient to qualify for a successful job search strategy. The job seeker must consider several types of resumes depending on the applicant's employment history. For example, an applicant who has lengthy gaps in employment (or is changing careers) will want to write the resume differently than the person who has just come out of eight years of steady employment. Resume types include:
* Reverse chronological. Reverse chronological is the most common resume type for applicants with a steady work history. This resume type orders work history in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent position first.
* Functional. The functional resume is more suited for candidates with a number of gaps in work history or those changing careers. This resume type emphasizes relevant skills over experience.
* Functional/Chronological Combination. This resume type is an alternative to the chronological resume. It places relevant skills first, then chronological work history.
* Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV is a specialized resume used by educators, researchers, and scientists that highlights academic accomplishments and post-graduate education.
Structuring the Resume
Once the job seeker has selected the appropriate resume type, he or she should begin writing the resume. Generally a resume is broken down into five main parts:
* Contact information which includes name, address, e-mail address, and phone number
* Objective which sets forth career goals and the type of position the applicant is seeking
* Work experience which contains a listing of previous employers, dates, and accomplishments
* Skills which highlights the applicant's position-specific computer or other skills
* Education which lists the college attended, city, degree, and date graduated
Things to Keep In Mind While Writing a Resume
* write the resume in a concise and professional manner
* provide a clear and focused objective statement
* use action verbs (e.g., managed, wrote, directed)
* include skills relevant to the position and eliminate unnecessary skills
* remember that the purpose of the resume is to market skills to interested employers
How a Resume Helps Job Seekers
The resume provides employers with a brief overview of the candidate's skills, career goals, work history, and education. This can either take the form of a traditional paper resume or an online multimedia resume such as VisualCV. For job seekers, writing and posting a resume online is essential to the job search and provides the opportunity for recruiters and companies to search the resume and contact the candidate for an interview.