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This step-by-step process breaks each section down to a level that is easy to manage. Try not to skip ahead to Step 3 without truly working through Step 2 and so on. Each step exists for a reason.
How to Make a Resume – Step 1
The first thing you need to do is something that most job candidates fail to do. They fail to think ahead. Before you even begin to write or start tapping on a keyboard, you need to spend some time reflecting on what it is that you want to accomplish with the resume.Yes, of course, you want to get a job. But, will just any job satisfy you or are you looking for a particular type of position? Get specific. Drill down your career choices until you know exactly what you are interested in pursuing.
How to Make a Resume – Step 2
Write your Objective Statement. Employers are not mind readers. Unless you identify the type of work you are seeking, you may not find what you are looking for. This is especially true if you are changing careers.When you focus on this portion of your resume, be sure to keep the statement positive, concise and centered around the needs of the employer. The best resumes subtly sell their skills as a mean of benefiting the organization they are targeting.
How to Make a Resume – Step 3
The next area to spotlight is your work experience. One of the easiest ways to tackle this task is to write down the following things for each of your employers for the past 10 years (or past 3 employers – whichever you reach first):- Name of Company
- Dates Worked
- Responsibilities
- Accomplishments
How to Make a Resume – Step 4
Your education is also important to employers, so you will want to present this information in the best way possible. Whether you received good grades or not, it is vital to show the employer that you believe in the power of learning. If you do not have the best of grades, omit a reference to them. If you do have good grades, reflect it on your resume.List the highest level of education you have received. Include the name of the institution, the dates you attended and the school's location. Regardless of your educational background, be it a high school education or a master's degree, direct the employer's attention to the course of study you pursued and especially highlight it if it is related to the position you are seeking.
How to Make a Resume – Step 5
This section covers everything else. This can include any or all of the following:- Professional Affiliations
- Volunteer Work
- Activities
- Publications
- Awards/Honors
- Foreign Languages
If you want to list a "references" section, feel free to do so, but actually listing your references on your resume is rarely ever done by anyone in today's current job market. Simply put "available upon request" if you list this section at all.
How to Make a Resume – Step 6
It is time to pull it all together. You will need to decide which resume format to use. Your choices are: The way in which you list your personal information is dependent upon the format you choose. Use the examples provided on this site to better understand how to create the format that best fits with your situation and preference.In all cases, you will list your personal "contact" information at the top of the page. Bolding your name is certainly advisable as you want to be remembered. Everything else can be aligned as you would like. That is not nearly as important as making certain that your name, address and phone number are typed correctly. Make a mistake in this area and it may cost you dearly. (The employer can't contact you if you don't list your phone number correctly).
When transferring the information you have already jotted down to your word processing software, be sure to do the following:
- Use Action Keywords
- Check for mistakes
- Compare your resume to this valuable checklist
You can create an amazing resume. Use these steps to guide you and success will be yours.
For more details about this step by step approach to "How to Make a Resume", click on this picture:
You will have an opportunity to see how one person goes from a blank piece of paper to a professional resume - every step of the way. It is based on the steps listed above, but is more detailed and provides concrete examples of every aspect of the process.
One of the more important benefits is that it will show you how one person's information fits into the three main resume formats - something that no other resume book does. When you pull a resume book off the shelf at your local bookstore, it will show you an accountant's resume in one format and then a mechanical engineer's resume in another format. That does not show you how each resume should look using the same information.
This book will show you exactly how to make a resume - and do it professionally and quickly.
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