Resume Help

The objective statement is the most overlooked section by resume authors. It should contain two essential elements: (1) the position you are applying for, and (2) your career aspirations. Cleary stating the position that you are applying will ensure your resume reaches the correct reader; remember that your potential employer may be hiring multiple positions. The second element, your career aspirations, may be a determining factor in the hiring process. Briefly explain your short term and long term goals. Your goals should be related to the position you are applying for. This section should be short and concise.

The professional skills section should be bulleted, using two or three columns. Bulleted lists create ‘eye-breaks’ that help the reader remain focused on the content. Do not list professional skills to fill space; each skill that you list ought to related directly to the position you are applying for. For example, you would not want to list any computer-related skills if you are applying for a labor position. Avoid generic skills such as: communication skills, people skills, computer expertise, etc. Be as detailed as possible! For example, instead of writing ‘communication skills,’ you may want to list ‘advanced complaint resolution ability’ or ‘public speaking proficiency.’ Since the job posting tells you exactly what the employer is looking for, use exact language from the job posting. For every skill you list, be prepared to give a specific example that illustrates that skill. This will help you prepare for the interview.

For most applicants, the professional experience section will be the resume core. This section should always be presented in reverse chronological order. For each job, include the company name and location, as well as the dates you were employed. Underneath each employer, using descriptive language, explain the tasks you performed and the responsibilities you maintained at that job. In addition, include your accomplishments with that employer. Like the professional skills section, you should use exact language from the job posting; in the reader’s mind, this will create a link between you and the open position. If possible, list concrete, measurable accomplishments. For example, state ‘Sales increased 23% since I implemented the new sales strategies,’ instead of ‘I increased the sales by making changing our policies.’ Measurable results are much more impactful and memorable. If you are a recent high school or college graduate with limited professional experience, this section should not be the focal point of the resume. Instead, the resume core should consist of the following section, education.

For seasoned professionals with a plethora of professional experience, the education section should either be very short or not present at all. However, recent graduates should focus on this section as the core of the resume. The education section should include the school or university name, city, and state. Your major, minors, certificates, and organization involvement should also be present in this section. Also, include awards and accomplishments such as: graduating with honors, dean’s list, GPA (if above 3.4), etc. Some impressive elements of the education section include related courses and course projects. A bulleted list of job-related courses will help the employer connect your experiences with the essentials of the position. If you have participated in any projects that illustrate the skills that you listed in the professional skills section, you should briefly explain the project and how it helped you develop new, relevant abilities.