Do you need to make a resume? Are you looking to revise your current resume?

A resume is an important piece to the job search process. Your resume stands as the first professional impression you give to employers. This first impression can make or break your chances of being considered for the position. For those of you looking to create that good first impression, we’re here to help with the basics of creating a resume.

 

Follow this simple guide to learn how to construct a resume from scratch:

1) List your contact information at top.

Include your name, address, phone number, and email.

 

2)  Use proper formatting.

• Use 1″ margins
• Use standard font (Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman)
• Bold your name and section headings
• You can use size 14 font for headings, 12 for all other text

 

3) Choose the type of resume you want to create.

• Chronological Resume:

The chronological resume lists your employment history, starting with the most recent position.

This type of resume is best for job seekers with very little or no employment gaps and can show a steady progression in their work history.

• Functional Resume:

The functional resume focuses on your skills and experience.

This type of resume works for people who have gaps in their employment history and prefer to focus their resume on specific skill sets.

For example: If the position is customer services oriented, your headline might be “Customer Service/Sales Experience”

• Combination Resume:

The combination resume is exactly how it sounds- It combines both your skills and your employment history. It lists your skills/experience first, then your employment history.

This type of resume is good when you want to show employers skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for right at the top of your resume.

 

4) Next, use the samples below as a template and add your own unique work experiences and/or skills:

Add additional sections if relevant (Computer Skills: Software, Languages, Operating Systems; Accomplishments: Awards, Honors, Publications; Languages; Certifications).

 

Here is a SAMPLE Chronological Resume

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Janice Kendley
15 State St. Boston, MA 02112| 555-555-5555 | kendleyj@example.com

Experience

Microsoft Corporation, NY, NY                                                                  February 2012 – Present

Executive Assistant

• Processing invoices and correspondence to meet end-of-month sales review
• Overseeing the scheduling of two hundred attendee meetings weekly
• (List a major accomplishment) Oversaw travel arrangements for Board of Directors during 2012’s Leadership Conference, resulting in an average net saving of $1,000/attendee.

 

AT&T, Woburn, MA                                                                                June 2010 – February 2012

Sales & Marketing Leader

• Represented AT&T products to over 1,500 customers at field events, conferences, and seminars.
• (List a major accomplishment) Garnered $8,000 in profits from sales of cellular devices.

 

Martha’s Bakery, Hartford, CT                                                                       May 2009 – June 2010

HR Assistant

• Managed store operations including scheduling, inventory, and customer service.
• (List a major accomplishment) Reduced wasted inventory through overseeing installation of new freezers, which increased inventory by 35%.

 

Education

University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
B.A. Psychology; Minor, History

 

Special Skills

• Software/Applications: MS Word, MS Access, MS Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop
• Languages: Proficient in Spanish

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here is a SAMPLE Functional Resume. Note how the resume is divided by functions/skills, instead of a chronological work history.

 

Janice Kendley
15 State St. Boston, MA 02112 | 555-555-5555 | kendleyj@example.com

Education

University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
B.A. Psychology; Minor, History

Relevant Experience

Sales and Leadership (Note: Here is where you list a MAJOR SKILL)

• Represented AT&T products to over 1,500 customers at field events, conferences, and seminars. (An accomplishment that shows this skill.)
• Garnered $8,000 in profits from sales of cellular devices.
• Answered customer service inquiries related to billing, plan upgrades, and technical assistance.
• Maintained routine checks of store operations involving inventory and employee scheduling.

Writing/Editing Content

• Writing content and editing manuscript for final review by editor.
• Posted content and daily status updates for social media, such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Managing a tracking system to ensure newsletter progress and provide management with periodic status updates.

Employment History

AT&T — Woburn, MA

  Sales & Marketing Leader, June 2010 – February 2012

Noah’s Publishing –Boston, MA

  Editorial Intern, June 2011 – August 2011

Martha’s Bakery, CT  

  Cashier, February 2010 – December 2010

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) Always make sure to proofread for punctuation, grammar, spelling errors, and incorrect contact information! Have someone else read over your resume to double check for any errors.