Get your resume noticed for the right reasons.
You want to get hired today. You don’t want them to say, “We’ll keep your resume on file for six months.” A good resume doesn’t guarantee you a job. But a bad resume will guarantee that you blow it.
Take your time. Do it right. It’s not unusual for your rst resume to take a few hours to write. There are a number of different formats for resumes. Look online and you should find at least one that you like. Pick a format that’s simple and easy for your next boss to read.
No matter what style you choose, make sure you have the following sections:
Objective:
Too many people make the mistake of putting a me-centred objective here. For example, “To earn enough money to pay for university.” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that goal, but use this space to say what you can do for the company. Something more like, “To use my skills to help drive the success of a great team.”
Core skills:
Put together a list of the skills that you bring to the table. Skills like hard-working, attentive and punctual. If you can speak a second language, put that towards the top of your resume.
If you’re responding to a job ad, create a separate resume for that job ad and be sure to use words from the posting. If they want a person with a strong attention to detail, put those words here, along with an example that illustrates your point. Make it clear that you’re the one they’re looking for.
Employment history:
Whether you have a lot or a little, you should still follow the same rule: be honest. Never lie to fill out this section.
If the only jobs you’ve had are babysitting or delivering newspapers, it’s perfectly acceptable to list them here. If you’ve never had a job, that’s fine. Try to focus your resume around volunteer work,
extracurricular activities, sports or anything that makes you look motivated or like a team player. Were you in a play or a band? Talk about that.
Education:
Again, this section doesn’t have to be extensive. List your high school (and college, if applicable); perhaps include a few courses you’re studying or your GPA if it’s worth bragging about.
If you have any courses like first aid, CPRor Smart Serve, list them in a separate section called “Certifications.”
References:
Provide them if they ask for them in the job posting. But if you’re just dropping resumes off at random businesses just put “Available on request.” This way, when they ask you for your references, you have a chance to call your references ahead of time and tell them to expect a call, so they won’t be blindsided.
Cover letter:
When you’re entering your chosen career, you’ll need a different cover letter for every job you apply for. For now, try to have at least one for each type of business.
A template or a cookie cutter cover letter is almost as bad as no cover letter at all. Employers know that you’re applying for other jobs—sometimes you’re applying for dozens in a day. But making your cover letter seem a bit more thoughtful shows that you’re motivated and that you’re willing to make an effort.
If you’re going to pound the pavement at the mall, bring four or five different types of cover letters. One for restaurants, one for clothing stores, one for electronics stores, etc. Each cover letter should talk about why you want to work in that industry.
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