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What is a Resume?
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing,
while others judge us by what we have already done."
(HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW)
In this section:
 TAILOR-MADE
ADVERTISEMENT
EVIDENCE
ATTENTION
GRABBER
JOB
APPLICATION
CONTENT
TAILOR-MADE
Resume writing is a fine art. It is not an exact science. There is no one
right way to write a resume. There are no rigid rules for designing or
composing a resume. Resume writers have a lot of flexibility regarding
layout, format and content. A good resume is the one that is tailor-made to
meet your current job-seeking needs, one that fits your specific
background, your unique contributions and your
personal and professional goals.
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ADVERTISEMENT
Your resume functions as an advertisement of yourself. Think of it as a 30
second commercial about you. It is meant to be an effective way of
marketing and packaging yourself. Your resume presents, promotes and
publicizes you to the job market. Your resume is a sales brochure. You are
the product. Your resume is the advertisement that sells the product. Your
resume is one of your key sales tools.
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EVIDENCE
A good resume will enable you to affirm in writing your positive and
relevant qualities, skills and characteristics. A good resume presents
supportive information that justifies your job objective. By stating your
work-related accomplishments, duties, responsibilities, experience and
qualifications, you effectively document your capabilities
and provide evidence of your suitability to the job.
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ATTENTION GRABBER
Your resume does not get you a job. Your resume gets you an interview. Your
resume must arouse the curiosity of the reader. It must grab attention. It
must spark interest. It must make the reader want to meet you. It must
clearly differentiate you from your competition. It
must make you stand out.
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JOB APPLICATION
Don't mistake your resume for a job application form. A job application
form is an official document that demands all the information about you
that the employer thinks he needs to know. Your resume, on the other hand,
is an unofficial document that presents only the relevant and positive information
about you that you want to tell the employer in your own words, on your own
terms, in your own way. A resume writer has the option of leaving off any
item or piece of information that might not put the candidate in the best light.
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CONTENT
Your resume generally includes highlights and information drawn from your
professional work experience, educational background, extracurricular
activities and community service. It may also mention
memberships, internships, awards, honors and distinctions.
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CONCISE
Your resume is not a lengthy, detailed, official, historical document of
every area of your life. It should be brief, concise and full of spark. It should
be targeted to a specific job or career field. The information on your
resume should be positive, selective and relevant. A resume is an
individually designed document that summarizes your background. It is
intended to demonstrate your fitness for a particular position. It focuses
on the most attractive and applicable aspects of your background. Every
element of your resume must present you as a perfect match for the job you
are seeking. Keep the reader in mind. Make sure your resume conveys what you
have to offer. Tell what contributions you can make. Emphasize transferable
skills. Write clearly and simply. Use active, positive language. Use short,
direct, succinct phrases.
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Source: http://www.careercenter.uab.edu/gethired/resumes/whatisre.htm
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