{"id":599,"date":"2023-09-21T20:16:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T20:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/chapter\/writing-effective-resumes\/"},"modified":"2024-07-26T13:04:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T13:04:12","slug":"writing-effective-resumes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/businesscommunication\/chapter\/writing-effective-resumes\/","title":{"raw":"Learn It 14.3.2 Crafting Your R\u00e9sum\u00e9 and Cover Letter","rendered":"Learn It 14.3.2 Crafting Your R\u00e9sum\u00e9 and Cover Letter"},"content":{"raw":"

Writing Effective R\u00e9sum\u00e9s<\/h2>\r\n

For many people, the process of writing a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is daunting. After all, you are taking\u00a0a lot of information and condensing it into a very concise form that needs to\u00a0be both eye-catching and easy\u00a0to read. Don't be scared off, though. Developing a good\u00a0r\u00e9sum\u00e9 can be fun,\u00a0rewarding, and easier than you think if you follow a few basic guidelines.<\/p>\r\n

To get started you will create your baseline or generic r\u00e9sum\u00e9. This is the hardest part where you gather your best experiences together. The order of the following sections may change depending on where you are in your career and your match to the new position. For example, if you are a lifeguard and are applying to be the lifeguard supervisor, you would list that work experience early in the r\u00e9sum\u00e9. If you are a lifeguard while you finish your college degree in Accounting and you are applying for a job at an accounting company, then you would list your education before your work experience. This is one of many reasons to modify a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 for each position you are applying in your job search.<\/p>\r\n

The purpose of a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is not to get a job but to get to the next level in the screening process.<\/p>\r\n

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What to Include<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  1. Your contact information<\/strong>: name, address, phone number, and professional email address<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. A summary of your skills<\/strong>: five to ten skills you have gained in your field; you can list hard skills as well as soft skills<\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Work experience<\/strong>: depending on the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 format you choose, you may list your most recent job first; include the title of the position, employer\u2019s name, location, employment dates (beginning, ending)<\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Volunteer experience:\u00a0<\/b>any relevant volunteer experience should be listed on your resume to best showcase your skills and interests.<\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Education and training<\/strong>: formal and informal experiences matter; include academic degrees, professional development, certificates, internships, etc.<\/li>\r\n\t
  6. References statement<\/strong>\u00a0(optional): \u201cReferences available upon request\u201d is a standard phrase used on\u00a0r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, although it is often implied<\/li>\r\n\t
  7. Other sections<\/strong>: may include a job objective, a brief profile, a branding statement, a summary statement, additional accomplishments, and any other related experiences<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

    What to Leave Out<\/h3>\r\n

    Although you can benefit from giving your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 a stamp of individuality, you will do well to steer clear of personal details that might elicit a negative response. It is advisable to omit any confidential information or details that could make you vulnerable to discrimination, for instance. Keep in mind that your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 will likely be viewed by several employees in an organization, including human resource personnel, managers, administrative staff, etc.<\/p>\r\n