How to make the perfect resume
A resume is a marketing document that serves to showcase what a person has to offer to potential employers. The top should
include basic contact information, including an email that is professional-sounding. It is recommended to have an email that
both encompasses either both your first and last name or the initial of your first name and a full last name. The resume should
also tailor to the specific position you are applying for. A resume should be roughly two pages, as this allows for all important
information to make it to your future employer and leaves nothing out. A one page resume might leave the employer searching
for too many answers about yourself. Bullet points are also key when trying to keep your qualifications, skills, education and
so on organized. For each statement, you will want to follow the Situation, Action, Result (STAR) model which starts with a
strong action verb.
Objective
This section is not necessarily used anymore, and rather a summary of qualifications is best to start with.
Summary of Qualifications
This section includes five to 10 points that reflect the most important qualifications you have that fit for the specific position you’re applying to.
You will also include some education and related training, as well as years of experience in the field and any key points to obtaining that position you want.
You can include relatable education here, though there will be an entire education section that follows.
Having your qualifications at the top is helpful, since employers tend to scan the top of your resume and decide from there whether to put it in the yes, no or read later pile. This lets employers see all your basic important information at a fist glance.
Experience
This is where you would want to include all profession experience related to the position you are applying for. If you have relatable experience, but from a different field or education, then you may have two separate sections. One labelled “related” experience and “other” experience.
You would list the experience you have by including the job title, location and years worked, including the month, since that helps to pinpoint the duration of your position.
Make sure your experience is bulleted in reverse chronological order
You can certainly include volunteer work, just under a separate section after your paid work experience.
Education
Finally, here you would include your schooling, training and any degrees, certificates you obtained. Include any academic achievements that will also demonstrates specific skills you’d like an employer to see for a specific job you’re applying for.
References
If you have the space, it is wise to include personal references upon request, though it is not mandatory. Keeping a list of references is always good, just in case the employer is interested in contacting them shortly after reading your resume and cover letter.
(This information was gathered with the help of Brigitte MacKinnon, resource and information officer at Fanshawe’s Community Employment Services, located at the corner of Clarke Road and Trafalgar. The centre is open during the week for those looking for further assistance in finding employment.)
Objective
This section is not necessarily used anymore, and rather a summary of qualifications is best to start with.
Summary of Qualifications
This section includes five to 10 points that reflect the most important qualifications you have that fit for the specific position you’re applying to.
You will also include some education and related training, as well as years of experience in the field and any key points to obtaining that position you want.
You can include relatable education here, though there will be an entire education section that follows.
Having your qualifications at the top is helpful, since employers tend to scan the top of your resume and decide from there whether to put it in the yes, no or read later pile. This lets employers see all your basic important information at a fist glance.
Experience
This is where you would want to include all profession experience related to the position you are applying for. If you have relatable experience, but from a different field or education, then you may have two separate sections. One labelled “related” experience and “other” experience.
You would list the experience you have by including the job title, location and years worked, including the month, since that helps to pinpoint the duration of your position.
Make sure your experience is bulleted in reverse chronological order
You can certainly include volunteer work, just under a separate section after your paid work experience.
Education
Finally, here you would include your schooling, training and any degrees, certificates you obtained. Include any academic achievements that will also demonstrates specific skills you’d like an employer to see for a specific job you’re applying for.
References
If you have the space, it is wise to include personal references upon request, though it is not mandatory. Keeping a list of references is always good, just in case the employer is interested in contacting them shortly after reading your resume and cover letter.
(This information was gathered with the help of Brigitte MacKinnon, resource and information officer at Fanshawe’s Community Employment Services, located at the corner of Clarke Road and Trafalgar. The centre is open during the week for those looking for further assistance in finding employment.)
