Seven Things to Know Before Writing Your First Resume!

From Kate Lorenz of CareerBuilder.com:

There are many rites of passage in every young person’s life. Getting your driver’s license, graduation day and turning 21 are just a few. But another rite of passage can be even more important to your future — writing your first resume. While it’s not as exciting as learning to drive, creating your first resume is a vital step in launching your career. The process may seem daunting. You have to put all of your best qualities on paper, make yourself look more attractive than the next person and completely sell yourself, all on one sheet of paper. “You have only a few seconds to snag the employer’s attention,” writes Seattle-based career coach Robin Ryan in Winning Resumes, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003). “You must sell the employer within 15 seconds of looking at your resume, or you’ll lose the job.” Here are seven tips to help you catch an employer’s attention.

1. Start with the basics.

It sounds obvious, but your resume must include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Be mindful of the address you include. College students, in particular, tend to move often, so include a permanent address, such as your parent’s address. Take care with your e-mail address too. “Make your user ID related to your name, not any nickname attributions,” Ryan says. If you want to appear professional to an employer, a user ID like “sexylegs2000″ will not work. If your personal e-mail address is not appropriate, set up a new account just for job searches.

2. Include an objective and summary of skills.

These sections come right after your personal information and, for a first-time job seeker, should be concise.

For example:

Objective: Editing Position

Summary of Skills: Excellent writer proficient in copy editing and familiar with AP style. Extremely organized, with ample experience meeting deadlines and working in high-pressure situations.

Your “summary of skills” should highlight experiences and qualifications that the employer is seeking. Remember, Ryan says, “a resume is not about what you want. It’s about what you offer an employer.”

To read more of Kate’s great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.