What's the purpose of a résumé? To get you an interview.

When you write your résumé, your goal is to show the potential employer how your skills and abilities

match the specific position at hand -- to convince him or her that it's worth the time to talk with you in

more depth about your candidacy. This means that, within a very limited space, you must be specific,

concise, and persuasive. This is not the time to expand, elaborate, or wax eloquent: you can do these

things at the interview.

A résumé is a marketing tool, not an historical document.

Include only that information which is pertinent to the question, “Why should someone hire me for this

particular job?” Stay focused, be concise, and think from the employer's point of view.

• What does the employer most want to know?

• What can this candidate do for me/my organization?

If your experience in high school band can actually help you to demonstrate compellingly how you could

be valuable to this particular employer, then it's relevant -- if not, leave it out. Don't write your life history.

Your résumé should be targeted to the job for which you are applying. Be specific and particular in

showing your interest and marketing your suitability.

What are they looking for? Read job descriptions carefully and do your homework.

It's essential to target your résumé to the specific position for which you're applying, and to know

something about the organization. Pick out key words in the job announcement that indicate the skills

they're looking for, and be sure to highlight these skills in your résumé and cover letter. Find out as much

as you can about the organization so that you can express yourself knowledgeably about how you'd fit

into the organization and why you're interested. Design your résumé and cover letter so as to match

yourself, point by point, to the job description.

What do Employers Look for when they Read an Applicant’s Résumé:

1. Is your résumé readable?

2. What grabs the eye?

3. Are the margins even, and is there sufficient white space?

4. Is the most important information in the top third of the page?

5. Is your contact information correct, and listed on every page?

6. What position are you applying for, specifically? (Does the employer know what you want?)

7. Do the skills, qualifications, and experiences listed relate to the job being targeted?

8. Is your résumé free from errors?

9. Have you followed all of the prospective employer's guidelines carefully?  

You can (and should) adapt the formats and résumé categories to your own experiences and skills, as

well as to the job being targeted. You may want to develop a number of different formats for your résumé,

to be used and adapted for different jobs. Don’t rely on a single résumé to serve the purpose for all

situations: you will need to adapt and revise your résumé and cover letter each time you target a new

position. And yes, your résumé CAN be longer than one page.

Reverse Chronological: This is the traditional format, in which work experience is highlighted and is

listed chronologically with the most recent positions listed first. This is a good style for job seekers who

already have professional experience in a specific field and who are looking for a new job within the same

field.

Functional: This is a skills-based format, in which specific job skills are highlighted. This is a good style

for job seekers without much professional experience, or those who are looking to move into a new field.

Combination: This style highlights the job seeker’s skills and also provides a chronological listing of

experience. An excellent style for foregrounding skills but also providing work history.

Typical Résumé Categories/Headers:

Contact Information: Your name and contact information should stand out clearly. Include your name,

address, phone number, and email address. (Make sure you have a professional-sounding email address

to send out to potential employers). If your résumé exceeds one page, be sure that your name and

contact information are listed at the top of every page.

Education: Along with listing your degree (or anticipated degree), recent graduates may also want to

include information on curriculum (concentrations, minors, specialized coursework, etc.), honors,

activities, and study abroad.

Experience: List your title, place of employment, city, state, and dates of employment. Write job

descriptions that give evidence that you have the skills the employer wants.

Activities (Optional): List activities that are either relevant to this position or can offer the employer a

sense of your qualities and qualifications as a job candidate. If you’re short on work experience, you may

want to provide details of volunteer work or leadership positions you’ve held in the context of your

education or the community. If space is at a premium, you may want to simply list the organizations

you’re affiliated with and your positions with them.

Honors/Awards (Optional): If you have a substantial list of honors or awards, a separate category is

probably appropriate. If these are related to your education, you may want to list them above, in the

education section of the résumé.

Other Categories (Recommended): The categories in your résumé are used to highlight particular areas

of strength or expertise. You should create them and adapt them to fit your purposes. Some résumés

include categories such as Computer Skills, Software Programs, Related Skills, Leadership, Special

Training, Research Experience, Volunteer Work, Internships, etc. Design headings to draw attention to

particular, related attributes or experiences.

References (Optional): Some applicants use “References” as a heading and state “References available

upon request.” Others don’t refer to references in the résumé at all. In either case, it’s better to have a

separate reference sheet. Most applicants don’t provide this with the résumé, but do prepare it to take to

a job interview. Employers will ask for references in advance if they want them.

• Format is less important than content

• Highlight specific skills and specializations

• Make sure your résumé is digitally compatible

                                                                                                                         i  Adapted  from  English  Major  Career  Services  materials  at  the  University  of  Washington.  Accessed  2  March  2015.  http://depts.washington.edu/engl/advising/careers/resumedoc.php.