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What is a Resume?

Types of Resumes

Functional Resume

Chronological Resume

Chronological Resume Format

Combination Resume

Resume Tips

Action Words for Resumes

Resume's Contact Information

Resume's Objective Statement

Resume's Educational Information

Resume Education Placement

What is a cover letter?

What should be included in a cover letter?

Cover Letter Tips

Types of Cover Letters

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What is a resume?

A resume is a way that you can sell yourself to a potential employer. Resumes outline
your qualifications, experiences and your knowledge. Resumes should be to the point and
not too wordy.

Resumes are the first impression that you will make on your potential employer. It is
important that your resume is easy to read. It should be one page, unless you have a huge
amount of experience. A good resume will help you make a first impression.

Your resume should contain your experience, education and your qualifications. A resume
should emphasis your strong points.

Different Types of Resumes

There are a few different types of resumes. It is best to choose the type of resume based
on the type of job you are applying for, and the type of experience and your skills.

Chronological Resume - The chronological resume is the most common type of resume.
The chronological resume emphasis your experience and education.

Functional Resume - The functional resume is a resume that emphasizes your skill and
ability.

Combination Resume - The Combination resume emphasis your experience and skills.

Curriculum Vitae -CV's - The Curriculum Vitae a specific type of resume that is used
only for certain positions and industries. The Curriculum Vitae gives detailed information
about your skills and qualifications.

What is a chronological resume?

• A chronological resume emphasizes a stable and established employment history,

within a specific industry.
• A chronological resume is a resume that is also referred to as a "traditional
resume".
• A Chronological resume is a resume that emphasizes your work experience.
• When writing a chronological resume, write your most resent experience first
with your last job that you choose to put will be the last job on your list. If you are
still working list your current job first.
• The work experience includes section should include:
o title of the position you held/hold
o the name of the company
o the town/city of the company
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o the dates you worked at the company

Who should choose to a chronological resume?

• A chronological resume is for people that have an established employment

history.
• Anyone that has a education that is directly related to the job position that you are
applying for.
• If you are applying for a job within the same field.
• You climbed up the career ladder over the years.
• You don't have gaps in your employment history.
• You can prove and state your accomplishments and achievements in your career.
• You have an impressive employment history.

What are the sections of the chronological resume?

Each person is different so each resume is different. Your resume should reflect on your
skills, education and experience. The common sections of the chronological resume are:

• Personal Information - name, address, phone numbers, e-mail

• Objective - is optional
• Profile - Summary of Qualifications - is an alternative to an objective. It is used
to state your skills and talents.
• Experience - list your work experience, volunteer experience and any other
experience that you feel is relevant to the job you are applying for. Your
experience can be divided into different sections such as office experience, and
technical experience.
o write your experience using the past tense
o state your skill clearly, don't let your skills get lost within your job
descriptions
• Employment History - can go under the experience section or you can add a
separate section for your employment history. Your employment history should
include:
o the company
o your position - title
o dates of employment
o a short description of your responsibilities and your tasks
• Qualifications - list any qualifications that you have that are need to perform the
job
• Licenses and Certifications - list any licenses and certifications that are
required, including any dates that apply.
• Education - state any degrees and the dates that you will graduate or graduated.
• Affiliations and Memberships - that are job related, don't add any personal
affiliations or memberships that are not job related.
• Languages - state the languages that you know
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• Activities - that are job related, don't add any personal affiliations or
memberships that are not job related.
• Hobbies/Interests - that are job related, don't add any personal affiliations or
memberships that are not job related.
• Military - state your military experience if you were in the military.

Functional Resume - The functional resume is a resume that puts an emphasis on skills,
accomplishments. The functional resume doesn't emphasis work experience or work
history.

The functional resume is good for people that:

1. Don't have the greatest work history.

2. Anyone is just entering the job market.
3. Anyone that wants to emphasis his/her skills.
4. Anyone that wants to emphasis accomplishments or awards.
5. Anyone that is reentering the work force, or making a career change.

The Combination Resume - The Combination resume is a cross between the functional
and the chronological resume

The combination resume is good for people who:

1. Anyone that has a lot of experience, but age might be a problem.

2. In a case, where your skills and work experience do not directly relate to the job
that you are applying for.
3. The Titles of your job title/s do not relate to the position that you a are currently
applying.
4. If you want to use one resume to apply for different types of positions that require
the same skills.
5. For people who are changing careers.
6. In cases where there are gaps of time in your work history.
7. For anyone who wants to emphasize his/her skills and achievements.
8. If you are a student or looking for your first job.

What are action verbs?

Action verbs are verbs that are used to emphasize accompaniments, skills and
experiences.

Why should you use action verbs?

Everyone has skills, accompaniments, and experiences that are needed in the job
market. Action words emphasize your skills, accompaniments, and experiences that
are needed in the job market today. It is really important that you advertise your
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self in a way that your resume stands outs. Action verbs define, emphasize, draw
attention, and highlight your skills, accomplishments and experiences.

When writing your resume, it is important to write your resume using

Action Verbs

accelerated conceptualized established instrumented prevailed shipped

accomplished conciliated estimated insured printed shored up
accounted for concluded evaluated integrated processed showed
achieved conditioned examined interpreted produced sifted
acquired conducted executed intervened profited simplified
acted confronted exercised interviewed programmed sketched
activated conserved exhibited introduced prohibited smoothed
adapted consolidated expanded invented projected sold
added constructed expedited inventoried promoted solved
addressed consulted experienced investigated proofed sorted
adjusted continued explained joined proposed sought
administered contracted explored judged protected sparked
adopted controlled expressed kept proved spearheaded
advertised convinced extracted labored provided specified
advised coordinated fabricated launched publicized spoke
aided copied facilitated lectured purchased started
aligned corrected familiarized led qualified stated
alphabetized correspondence figured licensed quoted stimulated
analyzed counseled filed located raised stopped
anticipated counted filtered looked ran straightened
applied crafted financed made rated streamlined
appointed created fixed maintained realized strengthened
appraised critiqued forecast managed reasoned stripped
approved dealt foresaw mapped received structured
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arbitrated debated formulated marketed recognized studied

argued deferred forwarded mastered recommended submitted
arranged defined fostered maximized reconciled suggested
ascertained delegated found measured recorded summarized
assembled delivered founded mediated recruited supervised
assessed demonstrated gained mentored reduced supplied
assisted designed gathered met referred supported
assumed detailed gave modaled rehabilitated surmounted
assured detected generated moderated reinforced surveyed
attained determined governed modified related synthesized
attended developed grabbed monitored rendered systemized
audited devised graded motivated renovated tabulated
authored diagnosed greeted moved reorganized talked
authorized did grossed named repaired targeted
awarded digested guided navigator replaced taught
began diminished handled negotiated reported tended
bolstered directed hastened netted represented tested
boosted discovered headed observed rescued tightened
bought dispensed heightened obtained researched timed
briefed displayed helped opened resolved took
brought disproved highlighted operated responded took over
budgeted dissected hiked ordered restored totaled
built distributed hired organized resulted in toured
calculated diverted housed originated retrieved tracked
calibrated drafted hunted overcame returned trained
catalogued dramatized identified oversaw revamped transcribed
caught drew illustrated paid revealed transferred
caused drew up imagined painted reviewed transformed
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chaired dropped implemented participated revised translated

changed drove improved perceived rewrote transmitted
charted earned improvised perfected routed traveled
checked edited included performed said treated
chopped educated incorporated persuaded saved tutored
chose effected increased photographed saw typed
classified elected indexed piloted scheduled uncovered
cleared up electrified indicated pioneered scouted unearthed
closed eliminated indoctrinated placed screened unfurled
coached employed influenced planned scrutinized unified
collected encouraged informed played selected updated
combined enforced initiated policed sent vitalized
communicated enjoyed innovated predicted served welcomed
compared enlarged inspected prepared serviced won
compiled enlisted inspired prescribed set up worked
completed ensured installed presented set wrote
computed entered instituted preserved sewed
conceived entertained instructed presided shaped

What information should you include on a resume?

• Your contact information is very important. It should be clearly writing no

abbreviations should be used. It should be easily to read. The person reading your
resume should not have to look hard to be able to contact you.
• Physical Address - You should include a permanent address on your resume. If
you are living in a dorm or some other short term residence, then it good idea to
include your temporary address, along with the date until you can be contacted.
• Phone Numbers - It is really important that you include a home phone number,
and a mobile phone number each phone should have an automatic answering
machine with a professional message. The messages should checked on a
regularly. You shouldn't include your work phone number.
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• E-mail address - When you chose an e-mail address it is important it that it sounds
professional, and that you check your e-mail frequently. Don't use your e-mail
from work.
• Here is an example of a name and address section for a university student.

Mary Green

Campus Address Permanent Address

890 North GreenRoad 555 S. Willy Wonka Ave.
Boston , MA 54781 West Lafayette, IN 47906
(613) 535-4455 (765) 555-6666
E-Mail: MaryG@yahoo.com

What is a resume's objective statement?

• A resume's objective statement should clearly state what type of job you are
looking for.
• It should be between one and three sentences. Your resume's objective should not
be more then three sentences.
• It should be clearly stated what you can do for the employer.
• Each position that you apply for should contain a different objective. It is
recommended that you change each objective according to the position that you
are seeking.
• Clearly state your skills and abilities.
• Don't be modest!
• If you are looking for a summer job or part time job it should be stated in your
resume's objective statement.

What should you include in the educational section of your resume?

It is important to include any the following:

• The name of the schools you attended.

o University/ 4-year college
o Junior/community college
o Professional/ technical schools
o High school - high school is not necessary if you have a higher education,
unless high school is relevant to the job you are applying for.
• The location of the school, city/town, state and country if the school was located
outside the country.
• The type of degree eared, and your major. It is best not to use abbreviations.
• The dates you attended the school and the date of graduation or when you are
planning to graduate.
• Your GPA (grade point average) if you feel this is an relevant.
• Awards or certificates of achievement that you received.
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Where should you put the educational section of your resume?

The education section should be placed after the objective section in the following
situations:

• If you are a recent graduate.

• If your what to emphasis your education.

The education section should be placed after the employment section in the following
situations:

• If it has been out of school for a long time.

• If your work experience is stronger then your education.
• If your education is not your stongest point.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a short letter that states the reason you are sending him/her your resume.
It is the first impression that your potential employer will have of you. A cover letter
should be accommodated with each resume that you submit.

A new cover letter should be written and tailored for each position you are applying. It is
important that you take the time to write the cover letter properly. Don't use that same
cover letter for each job and just change a few of the words. Keep your cover letter short
and to the point.

The cover letter should state:

1. Why you are contacting him/her?

2. A brief outline of your skills, qualifications, education and work experiences.
3. How you found out about the job?
4. Give him/her a reason to want to look at your resume.

The cover letter is state the following about yourself:

1. Your ability to write.

2. Your written commutation skills.
3. An outline of your skill
4. The reason you are writing
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5. An overall image of who you are, and your level of intelligence.

What should be included in a cover letter?

A cover letter should included the following:

• state the position you are applying for

• state where you heard about the position
• clearly state the needs of the employer
• state how you can contribute to the needs of the employer.
• state some basic knowledge of the company, and some knowledge of the job
within the company
• Don't be timid, this is a time to sell your self. Don't be overconfident either.
• Make sure your cover letter should be 1 page long or less.
• Use the basis business letter format
• state why you want to work for the company
• state when you plan to call to make an appointment for an interview

Here are some basic tips for writing a cover letter:

1. Address each cover letter to the person that has the authority to hire you, use that
persons full name and title.
2. Write the cover letter using the started business letter form.
3. Make sure your letter is direct and to the point.
4. Use simple language, don't use slang or completed language
5. State something about the company - based on your research
6. Proofread your letter.
7. Do not write a story about yourself!
8. Keep an organized file of all the cover letters that you send out.

What are the different types of cover letters?

There are different types of cover letters. It depends on which type of cover letter you
choose depends where you heard about the job. You need a different type of cover letter if
you are sending your resume to a specific person then you would if you are sending your
resume to a ad in the newspaper.
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All the types of cover letters have the same purpose to get you a job. Like everything in
life there are different ways of getting what you want. There are some differences
between the different types of cover letters.

There are five basic types of cover letters:

1. Cover letters to a specific person

2. Cover letters to an ad in the newspaper
3. Cover letters to a head hunting agency or recruiters
4. Cover letters to inquire about job possibility
5. Cover letters to a professional contact