The purpose of this section is to present a very general idea of what an English resume looks like and how it is used. It is not comprehensive! There are many, many aspects to writing a good resume, and how these aspects are handled depends on your background and what kind of job you are looking for. This material is only meant to be a general introduction to what English resumes are all about.
Purpose of a Resume
The resume has one major purpose: to help the applicant get an interview.
Please keep this purpose in mind when making your resume. If you resume has mistakes or doesn't stand out from the resumes of other applicants, your chance of getting called in for an interview is greatly diminished. In other words, if your resume doesn't impress the person who reviews it, your application process with that company comes to an end.
Styles of Resumes
There are many possible resume styles, and which one you use depends on the type of job you are seeking and your experience and qualifications. I'm only going to discuss the most basic format (the chronological resume), but be aware that there are other options.
The one thing you probably shouldn't do is copy the format of a resume given to you by a job placement service. These tend to be very standard, thus giving all the people who copy them resumes that look alike.
What are the Styles?
The most common style is the chronological resume. This is usually appropriate for people who have good experience for the job for which they are applying.
Other styles include the performance resume and the functional resume. These are good for people who are new to the field in which they are trying to find a job. (If anyone is interested in knowing more about these other styles, please let me know by leaving a message on my guestbook.)
What Should I Put on My Resume?
At the very least, a standard chronological resume includes the following sections:
- Contact information — Your name, address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
- Objective — A sentence (or two) that tells the potential employer what you want.
- Education & qualifications — Information about your formal education and any additional education or qualifications (such as your TOEIC score). Emphasize this information if it is relevant, and de-emphasize it if it is not relevant or outstanding.
- Work experience — The jobs you have had. Like your education, you should emphasize work experience if it is relevant. (You do not have to list every job you have ever had — an accounting firm will not care if you worked in a grocery store when you were in high school!) This section should highlight what you did at your previous companies and how you benefited those companies. Make sure this information is current when you send your resume to a company.
You should add anything else (e.g. computer skills, language skills, or volunteer work) that you think will make your resume more impressive.
What Shouldn't I Put on My Resume?
- Interests or hobbies — List these only if you think they help make you look like a stronger candidate for the job. If you hobby is painting and you are looking for a job as a graphic designer, it might be a good idea to list this. If you are interested in heavy metal music and are looking for a job as an accountant, it might be a good idea not to include this on your resume.
- "References Available Upon Request" — The interviewer will usually expect you to have a list of references, so I think it's redundant and a waste of space to include this line at the bottom of your resume. (Make sure that you do have a list of references ready to send in or to hand in at the interview if requested!)
How Long Should It Be?
One page is appropriate for most people, but a two-page resume is acceptable is you really do have extensive relevant experience and qualifications.
Sample Resume
Click on one of the links below to download a sample of a basic chronological resume:
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Perfection
English resumes are expected to be perfect in grammar and spelling. If there are mistakes on your resume, the resume reviewer may think that you don't care about details or, worse yet, aren't serious about your job search. Make sure your resume uses good grammar and perfect spelling!
Resume Killers
There are many things that can possibly turn off the person who reviews your resume. These include:
- Mistakes in spelling and grammar — These stand out like a sore thumb.
- Inaccurate information — Check your resume two or three times to make sure all of the information on it is accurate. (Make sure your phone number is right!)
- Old information — If your employment information is not up to date, the reviewer probably won't finish reading your resume.
- Unusual information — If you have had some unusual experience in your career (such as being fired), it is better to leave it off your resume and to explain it in the interview. Basically, anything that looks strange or suspicious on paper should be avoided (or very carefully worded if you feel that you need to include it).
Presentation
In addition to good content, there are other aspects to putting together a resume that can help you can project a good image. The best way to make a good impression before the interview is to make sure your resume and any accompanying documents look as good as possible. Having a nice looking resume and cover letter printed on high quality paper will help project a high quality image of you!
So . . .
1) Put your resume on high quality paper (and in an envelope that matches the paper).
2) Print your resume on a laser printer.
3) Have several people look at your resume and give you their impressions.
Do I Need Anything Else?
Yes. You should write a cover letter to send along with your resume. This should be as well written and as nicely formatted as your resume. The letter's purpose is to make the reader interested in your resume; if you cover letter is weak or sloppy, the reader may not even look at your resume.
How Does My Resume Look?
Print out this checklist and see if every question can be answered with a "yes."
Good luck!
ｩ 2001 William T Kennedy