WRITING THE HISTORY/ EXPERIENCE SECTION

You can use a number of headings here: "Professional Experience," or "Professional History," they both work well.  Shy away from using: "Work History," or just “Employment.”  These are not as effective and they don’t look as professional.

To focus your reader, list all jobs held in reverse chronological order.  Concentrate on giving good detail about your most current positions and offer only limited information about the jobs held earlier on.  In many cases, you can write a simple statement to sum up holding several jobs earlier on.

Decide which you want to highlight more, your job titles or the names of the companies you worked for.  The one you wish to highlight is listed first and then the next follows.

Example:

Dow Chemical Petroleum, Ltd. - Product Engineer

OR

Product Engineer - Dow Chemical Petroleum, Ltd.

For this section include all service work and internships as well as any key volunteer experience.  This section is not only for paid experience.

WRITING YOUR EDUCATION SECTION

As with your History/Experience section, list your Education credentials in reverse chronological order.  Show your completed degrees or licenses first, and then show your completed certificates and key training. Follow by listing Education in progress with a proposed date of completion.

Boldtype anything you wish to highlight, such as your completed degrees.  No need for too much detail here.  Be concise by showing only your major as well as any awards and distinctions received.

To be impressive list grade point averages of 3.5 or better and highlight any courses of study engaged in currently as it relates directly to the position you seek.

If your awards and commendations are impressive, give them a section of their own. Always quote sources to substantiate.

WRITING A PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS SECTION

In this section show your community involvement and highlight current participation, especially in an area that might impress the employer as being relevant to key work issues.  Give detail to show your abilities within specific areas, such as: “Initiated leadership role in organizing minority group of women wishing to return to the workplace.”

List participation on a Board or as a Chairman.

Hold back when stating political involvement as this can be judged negatively by an employer or company.

WRITING A PUBLICATIONS SECTION

If you can offer experience in this section, your employer will be impressed!  Only highlight published material and summarize if you have lots of credits.

Include stellar critiques and comments of your work and edit to contain only the most impressive.

WRITING A PERSONAL INTERESTS SECTION

This can be a tricky call for someone who does not have a lot of job hunting experience.  Do you or do you not write a Personal Interests section?

In most cases, you do not!

Those with targeted personal interests and skills that relate directly to the job sought can take advantage of this section to highlight how their hobbies and interests relate to the position they seek.

For example, a baker who is applying for a chef’s position might present a prospective employer with cookbook recently published.  This showcases talent, creativity and ability!  An employer would like to see this!

On the other hand, an accountant seeking a managerial position within a large corporation would not be smart to include a Personal Interests section to highlight his interest in collecting 18th century currency from Spain.

This becomes a judgment call on your part!  In most cases, candidates opt to forgo this section. 

WRITING A REFERENCES SECTION

The final closing of your resume can read, “References on Request,” or “References Available upon Request.”

Some candidates don’t use this as a close, however, and the prospective employer generally will assume you have references to offer.  An employer will not hesitate to ask for references when needed and they most always are.

Consider writing a separate page listing a few really good references.  Include contact information, as well.  You can hand this page to your prospective employer when needed and so, this is always good to have on hand.

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