Resume Information
Resume Questions
QUESTION: I am a first time
college student. I have little or no work experience and have mosly
taken general education classes. What kind of resume format should
I use?
ANSWER: Students who have little
or no paid work experience should do a functional
resume. A functional resume is used to highlight your skills
and abilities rather than chronicle a work history. You still need
to summarize your work history, but this is usually done at the
bottom of the page. In addition, you can describe home projects
or volunteer projects that show you have an interest in, and an
aptitude for a particular field of study.
QUESTION: I am changing careers
and have taken a few classes in my new major but don't have any
work experience in the field. What kind of resume format should
I use?
ANSWER: A functional
resume is also particularly useful for people who are looking
to transition into new careers. For example, if you have worked
in retail, chances are you were responsible for organizing merchandise,
responding to customer needs and being accountable for sales. These
skills are transferable to many internships where you are creating
web content or transcribing technical information. In developing
a functional resume, think of skills as something you use in your
everyday life, whether it's negotiating, documenting, communicating,
organizing, creating, calculating or problem solving.
QUESTION: I have some rather
large gaps in my work history, and my wife is re-entering the workforce.
We are both interested in an internship to gain new skills. Should
we still do chronological resumes?
ANSWER: Often the chronological
resume seems to be the most popular format used. This type of
resume usually contains an objective and/or summary statement and
a chronological listing (from most recent to past) of all your employers
along with related accomplishments. Educational information is included
along with certifications and special skills. However, large
gaps in employment will be immediately noticeable and possibly
present a red flag.
In this case, a functional resume gives
a better view of your skills without making the gaps so obvious.
If you are re-entering the workforce, the same logic applies.
Summarize the things that you have been doing while you were not
actively engaged in "paid" work: perhaps you were the
head of a volunteer organization, wrote/edited a newsletter, etc.
QUESTION: My work history is
aligned with my internship goals. Should I do a chronological resume?
ANSWER: Yes, a chronological
resume is preferred when you have a cohesive work history. The
chronological format is the most traditional resume format. It highlights
your job titles, places of employment and dates of tenure by presenting
them as headings under which your achievements are listed.
Resume Tips
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMES
The traditional, default format for resumes is the chronological
resume. This type of resume is organized by your employment history
in reverse chronological order; with job titles, names of employers,
locations of employers, dates of emloyment and accomplisments listed.
A standard chronological resume may be your best choice if most
or all of your experience has been in one field, you have no large
employment gaps, and you plan to stay in that same field.
The chronological resume is preferred by the widest variety of employers,
as well as by recruiters and many of the Internet job boards. Recruiters
and hiring managers tend to like this resume format because it's
easy to read and clearly demonstrates your job history and career
advancement/growth.
Keep in mind that the first impression of your resume comes from
your resume's appearance. Your resume should be well-organized with
consistent headings, fonts, bullets and style. Never overcrowd the
resume. Leave some "white space" so that important points
can stand out, and try to make your margins between ..75" and
1" on all sides. For print resumes, use subdued color paper,
such as white, ivory, beige or light grey. In addition, take the
time to carefully write, rewrite, and edit your resume. Be sure
to meticulously proofread your resume for misspellings and typos,
and have a friend or colleague check your final draft.
FUNCTIONAL RESUMES
The resume format preferred by job-seekers with a limited job history,
a checkered job history, or a job history in a different career
field, is the functional resume.
Job-seekers who take a functional approach organize their resumes
by skills and functions clusters. In a purely functional resume,
company names, employment dates and position titles are intentionally
omitted. The functional resume can work for individuals returning
to the workforce, or for new graduates entering the job market.
The purely functional resume has very limited uses, but can be an
excellent marketing tool if well done.
Keep in mind that the first impression of your resume comes from
your resume's appearance. Your resume should be well-organized with
consistent headings, fonts, bullets and style. Never overcrowd the
resume. Leave some "white space" so that important points
can stand out, and try to make your margins between .75" and
1" on all sides. For print resumes, use subdued color paper,
such as white, ivory, beige or light grey. In addition, take the
time to carefully write, rewrite, and edit your resume. Be sure
to meticulously proofread your resume for misspellings and typos,
and have a friend or colleague check your final draft.
Resume Links
Everyone has knowledge, skills and abilities that can be put down
in writing. The resume simply offers a format to explain them clearly,
concisely and in an organized manner.
In order to put together the best resume for the internship area
you are seeking, look at one of the many resources on the Internet.
The following sites provide valuable information on resume writing
in general:
www.monster.com
www.damngood.com
(Yana Parker's site, author of The Damn Good Resume Guide)
www.wetfeet.com
www.hotjobs.com (look at "key
tips")
www.jobsmart.org
www.jobhuntersbible.com
www.susanireland.com
Sources: Randal S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen
