Create Your First Resume For That Job

First Resume

You've been told you need a resume. What??!!

Relax, it's not that hard to put one together. In fact, let's walk you through creating your first resume right now. Ready?

Let's start with the paper

At a minimum, you want to use good quality copy paper. But, if you can get your hands on something nicer, go for it. Most office supply stores sell a great selection of resume paper and matching envelopes. It may seem boring to use gray or cream colored paper. But this is what employers want to see. And, if you are trying to get a job, you give the employer what they want, right?

Now that you have the paper, what goes on it?

Resume Heading

In the center at the top, put your name, address, telephone number and email address in a block format. I suggest you use the same heading on your cover letter to stay consistent.

Your Name
Your address
City, State, Zip code
Phone number (000)000-0000
Email address

Objective

This portion is optional. But if you know exactly what you are looking for in a job. Your objective should be no more than one or two sentences. Feel free to write this last, though it will appear first.

Experience

This section can be switched with Education, but usually comes first, especially if you have previous relevant experience. However, if you do not have job experience, you can put other experience here, such as volunteer work.

Most experience is listed this way:

You'll notice, each separate job is given its own listing, starting with the years of service, then the name of the employer and the location where you were employed.

Under this information you would list what your responsibilities were.

If you have no prior work history, you can label this section "Experience" and describe your volunteering activities in the same format.

Education

You can list your high school or ongoing college education here, if you wish, particularly if you have taken or are taking classes that relate to the job you are trying to get. For instance: If you are trying to get a job at a childcare center, and you took an Early Childhood Development class, it should appear on your resume.

Education is listed in a similar format to work experience. Instead of describing your title or responsibilities, you would state your major or degree and relevant classes.

Skills

If you haven't listed a particular skill elsewhere on your resume, this is the place. Are you a strong typist? Do you have excellent computer skills? Have you been told you are highly organized or detail oriented? List those types of skills here.

A bulleted list like this is the most common format: