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What is a resume?
Some people think of a resume as their "life on a page," but how could anyone put everything important about himself/herself on a single piece of paper (or two)? Actually, resumes are much more specific, including only relevant information about yourself for specific employers. Like a life, however, a resume is always growing and changing. As your career goals shift or the job market changes--as you grow personally and professionally--chances are you will need to re-write your resume or at least create new versions. Writing a resume is a lifelong process. How do you know what in your life--past, present, and future--is most relevant to prospective employers? How do you select which information to include? The quick answer to both these questions is "it depends." It depends on your individual career goals as well as on the professional goals of the companies hiring in your area or field of interest. In the end, only you, through research, planning, questioning and self-reflection, can determine the shape and content of your resume, but the strategies below along with those on the job search, can help you ask the right questions and begin exploring your options. Why write a resume?
A silly question--to get a job of course! But why else? - to persuade your readers you are the best person for the job
- to construct a professional image of yourself and establish your credibility
- to provide a sample of your written communication skills
- to convince prospective employers you deserve an interview What kind of resume should you write?
This is a trick question. You will likely need to create more than one kind of resume. Moreover, your resume(s) will grow and change dramatically as you travel down your career paths. What are the most common kinds of resumes? Which ones are right for you given your career goals? To help answer these questions, you will need to think about your overall job search strategy and make some decisions about current resume technologies. Overall job search strategies: main approaches | Approach | When to use | Drawbacks | | A generic approach to writing a resume involves creating one version for a broad range of readers. | large number of applications placing a resume on the Internet or in a job search database creating a resume for an employment portfolio | casts you as a "generic applicant" with undefined career goals makes it difficult for recruiters to decide whether you are the right person for the job implies you are not especially interested in the organization or position
| | A tailored approach to writing a resume involves creating multiple versions, each one customized for a single company or position. | whenever possible! for "top choice" positions for small number of applications previous contacts or connections with the organization
| takes more time to research each company/position and customize each resume increases chances to make mistakes with multiple versions | | A combined approach to writing a resume integrates the above two approaches, creating tailored resumes for "top choices" and creating a generic resume for all others. | when you want to maximize your chances for success | can be difficult to keep organized | Technological Considerations
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages | | Traditional print resumes are printed on paper, usually to be mailed or hand-delivered. | allows you to use page design and formatting to emphasize your qualifications and skills | difficult for computers to scan your resume requires knowledge of advanced formatting features in word-processing or desktop publishing programs
| | Scannable resumes are often printed on paper as well, but they are designed to be scanned first by a computer rather than a human eye; they include little visual and textual formatting (i.e. columns, varied font styles and sizes, etc.). | can be scanned by a computer so that employers can search for keywords required by some prospective employers (check job ad) can be easily sent via e-mail
| limits options for page design and layout | | On-line web resumes are placed on a web server/site so they can be accessed by web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. | adds many design/layout options allows links to other sites/files | often not easily printable requires basic web design and authoring skills, an Internet connection, and server space | Questions to ask | About you | About the company or organization | | How much time and energy can you dedicate to finding the right job for you | Which companies/positions would be your top choices? Which would be second choices? Which jobs are most worth tailoring your resume for?
| | Which writing technologies are you comfortable using? Which could you learn given the time you have available? What resources are available to help you learn? | What kind(s) of resume do companies in your area of interest request? What writing and computer technologies do they typically use?
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Resume Tips 
