Career Corner: How to write a respectful resume
Your resume is one of the most important tools you have in promoting yourself to an employer. First impressions are lasting ones, so why not make your resume stand out favourably? While your resume won't get you a job, it should get you that all-important interview.
General tips on writing your resume:
Ensure that your resume is well organized, easy to read, factual, honest and positive.
Keep your resume to two pages. Any longer and it becomes work to read it. A one-page resume may not provide enough detail to arouse interest.
It should be concise — you do not have to use complete sentences. Use descriptive verbs to describe your achievements, skills, activities and responsibilities.
Getting Started:
Start by creating a list of information about you. Many of the following headings will be appropriate:
Name: If you call yourself Andy Scott, fine. If you are Andrew Scott, use that. Above all, just be consistent.
Address & Telephone: Make sure all the information about your postal address is correct — don't forget your postal code and include your email address. Include all of your numbers (voice, fax, cellular) as well as the correct area code.
Education: In reverse chronological order, start with your most recent education and work backwards. List college/university, high school, with diplomas or degrees granted, (or year expected), with the cities, provinces, years attended and year of graduation. It can also be useful to an employer if you mention relevant courses that you have completed.
Employment History: Again, start with your most recent experience and work backwards. Include employer/company name, with the city, province, the years and months employed, your job title, a brief description of your duties and responsibilities, and mention any special projects or initiatives that you completed.
Volunteer Work or Community Service: List the names of organizations you volunteered with, include the years, any elected position you may have held, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
Awards and Achievements: List any special awards from work, scholastic achievements or community activities.
Hobbies and Interests/Memberships: Mention your spare-time activities. Include a list of memberships in professional organizations with their full name rather than just acronyms or abbreviations.
References: Few employers check references prior to an interview so you aren't obliged to include references on your resume. Instead, have a separate page with your complete contact information on the top. List only appropriate references and make sure you contact each of them for permission before you list them. Confirm with them the proper spelling of their name, title or position, company, address, and telephone number. Following any interview, make sure to call your references to advise that the employer may be contacting them.
Need help writing your resume or cover letter? Why not drop by the Career Services office located in Room F2010 for a copy of our job search booklet “Getting Started” which contains helpful hints on creating your resume and conducting a positive job search. The Career Services staff is available to assist you on an individual basis. Visit F2010 to arrange an appointment with the consultant responsible for your program or call 452-4294. For student and graduate job listings visit www.fanshawec.ca/careerservices
General tips on writing your resume:
Ensure that your resume is well organized, easy to read, factual, honest and positive.
Keep your resume to two pages. Any longer and it becomes work to read it. A one-page resume may not provide enough detail to arouse interest.
It should be concise — you do not have to use complete sentences. Use descriptive verbs to describe your achievements, skills, activities and responsibilities.
Getting Started:
Start by creating a list of information about you. Many of the following headings will be appropriate:
Name: If you call yourself Andy Scott, fine. If you are Andrew Scott, use that. Above all, just be consistent.
Address & Telephone: Make sure all the information about your postal address is correct — don't forget your postal code and include your email address. Include all of your numbers (voice, fax, cellular) as well as the correct area code.
Education: In reverse chronological order, start with your most recent education and work backwards. List college/university, high school, with diplomas or degrees granted, (or year expected), with the cities, provinces, years attended and year of graduation. It can also be useful to an employer if you mention relevant courses that you have completed.
Employment History: Again, start with your most recent experience and work backwards. Include employer/company name, with the city, province, the years and months employed, your job title, a brief description of your duties and responsibilities, and mention any special projects or initiatives that you completed.
Volunteer Work or Community Service: List the names of organizations you volunteered with, include the years, any elected position you may have held, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
Awards and Achievements: List any special awards from work, scholastic achievements or community activities.
Hobbies and Interests/Memberships: Mention your spare-time activities. Include a list of memberships in professional organizations with their full name rather than just acronyms or abbreviations.
References: Few employers check references prior to an interview so you aren't obliged to include references on your resume. Instead, have a separate page with your complete contact information on the top. List only appropriate references and make sure you contact each of them for permission before you list them. Confirm with them the proper spelling of their name, title or position, company, address, and telephone number. Following any interview, make sure to call your references to advise that the employer may be contacting them.
Need help writing your resume or cover letter? Why not drop by the Career Services office located in Room F2010 for a copy of our job search booklet “Getting Started” which contains helpful hints on creating your resume and conducting a positive job search. The Career Services staff is available to assist you on an individual basis. Visit F2010 to arrange an appointment with the consultant responsible for your program or call 452-4294. For student and graduate job listings visit www.fanshawec.ca/careerservices
