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Help with resumes

What is a Resume?

A resume is a self promotional document containing relevant job experience and education. Often a resume is the first item a employer looks at when hiring a new employee. Sometimes an employee may also request a cover letter


What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a letter sent out with other documents to give additional information. It is always good practice sending a cover letter with your resume while applying to a job. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to the employer clearly outlining your skills, and highlighting specific parts of your resume.


The Resume

A resume is a summary of your education, employment history, volunteer activities, extra-curricular activities, and individual achievements. Resumes can be either 1 or 2 pages long. A 1 page resume should be filled from top to bottom. There is nothing wrong with having a 2 page resume, but a resume should never be more than two pages long.

Note: The first page of the resume is the first thats seen so the most relevant information should be on the first page.

There are many key components of a resume. Some of the key components include identifying information, educational information, work experience information, skills information, interest and hobbies, references, and objective statement.

Identifying information

This simply refers to including your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number at the top of the resume.

Example:

Note: Your resume is the tool you will use to present yourself professionally to employers. If you are going to put your e-mail address at the top of your resume, you might want to think about the user-name part of your address and be sure it is appropriate and professional.

Education Information

Educational information should include any university, coolege, or secondary school degrees and diplomas you have received or are working on receiving. Make sure that you name the degree, the institution and the location (city and province). For your current schooling, include the time period in which you are attending (e.g 2002 - present).

Example:


Work Experience Information

Your work experience information can include full-time, part-time or temporary employment and volunteer work. For each experience list the job title, organization's name, location (city and province), and start and end date. Also, describe the skills gained, responsibilities, accomplishments and duties that were part of each experience. These should be described in point form using bulleted lists rather than in paragraphs.

References

Don't include references directly on your resume. If the employer wants to see them in the application package, the employer will specifically ask for references. Normally a statement such as "references available upon request" placed at the end of the resume provides the most flexibility.