A Resume Writing Sample

A Resume Writing Sample Can Make the Process Easier

How many sites have you searched through looking for a good resume writing sample to help you with your own writing process? Finding the right information at the right time is essential. The sample shown below is a template for a resume in the Chronological Format.

Chronological resumes are good to use in many circumstances. This resume format is great if you have a solid background with continual employment, longevity with an employer (or two) and/or great academic credentials. Employers often prefer this format because it appears to be less subjective (or more “factual”).

It is written in reverse chronological order—with your most recent education and experiences listed first. The focus is typically on the Work Experience section. The Chronological Resume is the most commonly used format and it also the easiest to develop.

Writing a resume does not have to be drudgery. You can learn a lot about yourself in the process.


Sample Chronological Resume

Home Address
Street
City, State ZIP
Phone Number

OBJECTIVE: State your job target in a clear and concise way, emphasizing what
you can do for the company

EDUCATION: List most recent institution first, including dates attended and
subjects studied (or degree if one was conferred). List GPA if it
it over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

EXPERIENCE: List most recent employer first, including job title, city and state
where you worked, dates employed, responsibilities of the position and accomplishments achieved.

SPECIAL SKILLS: Foreign languages, computer skills, relevant equipment knowledge

HONORS AND
AWARDS: Any certificates received, offices elected to, awards accepted


OTHER: Anything else that will excite the employer about meeting you

REFERENCES: Always list “Available Upon Request”


No resume format can guarantee success, but any one of the most commonly used formats, written well, could secure an interview slot. Which format you use is entirely up to you. Simply take your time to write it with these thoughts in mind:

1. Use active language that energizes the reader to want to get to know you better.
2. Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.
3. Only use one font
4. Keep all statements in the same verb tense (i.e. directed, formulated, enhanced).
5. Try to keep the resume to one page or two at the most.

Writing your own resume is not rocket science, but it does involve time and thought if you want to develop a marketing piece that sells your qualifications as well as possible.

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Basic Principles of Resume Writing

Basic Principles of Resume Writing

Keep it brief!
Your resume is an overview of your qualifications - not your life story. It is a "preview of coming attractions" which creates the desire to see the rest of the show. One to two pages is the standard for a resume read by the human eye, and up to three pages for a scannable resume. If your resume is more than one page, the first page must capture the reader's attention. If it fails to do so, the remaining pages will not be read.

Focus
Don't try to be everything to everyone. Target your job search and your resume to your specific occupational goals.

Multiple Resumes?
Generally, you should concentrate first on one well-written resume that targets your immediate job search. Make sure this resume represents you well to a wide range of employers and is suitable for scanning. If you have more than one objective, additional resumes may be required. For example, if you are planning to pursue two distinct occupations such as realtor and bookkeeper, you would need two resumes. If you only use the targeted resume approach, you would also write a unique resume to each employer.

Visual Impact
A piece of sales literature has only about two seconds to attract the reader's attention. Similarly, the resume must attract the employer even before it is read. Many advertising techniques apply, including the use of white space, bullets, indentation and varied type style. Professional printing produces high quality, but can be expensive. Laser quality printing is an excellent alternative. Never handwrite your resume! Make sure there are no typographical, grammatical, or spelling errors. Ask someone to proof read your resume to help eliminate errors.

Insure Integrity
Your resume is specifically designed to paint the best picture possible of you. Place the emphasis on the positive, not the negative. It should be an honest statement of your best qualities. Your resume should hold up under scrutiny. Facts and numbers must be believable. The content of the resume should be in harmony. Dates should be consistent while experience and related activities should support your qualifications.

Scannable Resumes
Many employers and employment agencies are using resume scanning systems to screen resumes, a trend that will increase in the future. When writing any resume consider its scannability. Generally, there is little difference between a good scannable resume and one that is effective for the human eye. Since, ultimately, all resumes will be looked at by a person, your resume must work for both.

Overqualified?
If you consistently hear that you are overqualified or are concerned that you will be perceived as such, then you have not effectively targeted your resume. When writing your resume, target it to the level of employment and to the occupation or employer. If you are pursuing more than one distinct level of employment, then consider a separate resume for each. Present the information that you believe is important. You don't have to tell everything. As an example, if you have an advanced degree in a field unrelated to your goal, leave it off.

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The Length of Your Resume

The length of your resume is less important than its substance. Remember when you were told, especially as a child, that it wasn't what you wore on the outside, but what kind of person you were on the inside? Well, to some extent, that is exactly the same with your resume.

What you write on your resume is more important than how long it is.

How long should your resume be? The length of your resume should be in direct proportion to your success in reaching your career goals and in pursuing related educational objectives. What does that mean?

Well, it means:

• Don't pad your resume


• Be honest


• Only list what applies to the position you are seeking


• Add enough white space to allow natural breaks in reading


• Never use two words when one will do


• Do not list references


• Target your resume to the job and the company


• Use action keywords

Write your resume in such a way that the reader knows exactly what you want and your credentials support that goal. Anything more becomes tedious and takes away from the impact of your true purpose. Anything less and your goal become unsubstantiated by your past experience and education.

Most resume experts, myself included, suggest you keep your resume to two pages. If you can fit your skills and accomplishments on one page, that is even better. Just remember that the goal isn't to provide your life story. Make sure you are using only what best supports your career goals.

The resume cover page is in addition to the resume. It is not counted in the suggested resume length above.

The length of your resume is - as long as it need to be to get the employer to take notice.

If you are interested in getting some help with your resume, you will love this resource that I have put together over the past few years. Actually, it was originally copyrighted in 1991, but I have revised it many times since then. I just had a panel of 10 individuals read and review it and they just raved about it.

"How to Write a Professional Resume"

Thanks for reading!

~Carla Vaughan