Our words of wisdom for your job search: (1) Preparing your resume

Welcome to our newest blog series— Our words of wisdom for your job search. This opening blog will cover the all-important “Resume”. What is it? Do you need it? and How do you write a good one? Find out!

Most jobs nowadays require that you submit a resume. A resume is a one page document that gives employers a snapshot of your education, work experience and skills. It’s important that your resume is well-organized so that employers can easily gather information from it. So, how do you write one?

 

Basic information:

The first piece of information on your resume is your name. Write it in a larger font than the rest of the resume. Generally, it’s a good idea to include your middle initial because it makes the document look more formal. But that’s entirely optional.

Below your name, include your phone number, email address, and street address. One way to separate these pieces of information is with this symbol |, located above the enter key on most keyboards (hold down shift).

Summary:

Some people recommend including a summary that states who you are based on your experience. This is optional, but can be a helpful way for the employer to quickly understand why you’re applying for the job.

Education:

Below your name, you should include your most recent education, and your graduation date. If you haven’t yet graduated, you can put the date you expect to graduate as long as you write “expected graduation date” so that you communicate correct information to the employer. Include the name of your school (Franklin High School), the location (Franklin, MA) and the graduation date (Graduated May, 2010).  If you have graduated from college, you can take out your high school, and instead include your university. You do not need to include both. You may also consider listing your major and your GPA.

Experience:

Below this category, you should list your experience. In this section, you should place the name of the company, your job title, a brief description of your tasks, and the dates you worked the job. The description of your tasks is most effective if you include specific measurements. For example, a salesclerk might write that he “attended to approximately 50 customers per day by ringing up each customer, and cleaning the dressing rooms after they left.” Using the number 50 helps the employer understand the scope of your tasks.

You should separate each experience with a line break and order them by date. At the top, write your most recent experience, followed by the next most recent, and then the third.

Skills:

After this category, you should include a “Skills” section. Skills can vary dramatically and should be relevant to the job you’re seeking. If you’re in the warehouse industry, you might include how many pounds you can lift. You can also write down that you have your drivers license, and that you speak English and Spanish. In an accounting role, your skills would be different. You might list that you are experienced in Microsoft Word and Excel, and that you communicate well. In this section, you can also include any certifications that you have. Accountants would include that they have their CPA.

Remember, every resume is different and there is no single correct way to fill out the resume. But, there are certain general tips that you should keep in mind:

  • Limit your resume to one page
  • Use key words that are common in your industry
    • Check out job postings and see what skills the jobs require. Then think about how you can include these keys words in the Education, Experience, or Skills section of your resume
  • Use standard font
    • Times New Roman is a good one
  • Organize everything chronologically
  • Don’t forget your contact info!

Follow along with the sample resume above as you create your own. If you’re looking for a sample resume that is more specific to your industry, “Indeed” has it. Go to this link to find it: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resume-samples

Best of luck on the job search. If you need additional resume support, don’t hesitate to contact recruiter@boltstaffing.com or call us at (707) 939-2800. We would be happy to provide you with more personal support!

|

One thought on “Our words of wisdom for your job search: (1) Preparing your resume

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *