The first step is taking time to write down all of your experience, positions, leadership, and skills down on a sheet of paper. Yes, a real sheet of paper, not a Word document or note on your iPad- shocking I know.You might just be a pro and know all of these at the top of your head, but I have found that planning it out and writing ensures I will not forget anything. It also helps me figure out what is really necessary to put in the résumé. You want to feature experiences that your interviewer will care about- things that matter and can showcase a particular skill. Seeing everything together will help you see what could be of value. Also, you will probably hand in a résumé prior to an interview, so be sure to prepare to explain each experience. You never know what the interviewer will ask you to elaborate on, so give each one thought and make sure you have a plan on what to say and how it ties into your work now.
After you've written down your experiences, you are ready to start your document! There are TONS of templates for résumés online that you can download and simply add your information. I do not think there is any set rule for the template as long as it is clean, simple, and organized. No crazy colors or weird lining or fonts. You do not want anything to distract from the content on the page. That being said, your résumé should reflect your personality. Find something to add a splash of you, whether it is your initials in the corner or how you place your name on the page. Make the résumé memorable.
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| Kitty nooooo! Evidence of kitten will be memorable...in a bad way! |
So you've got your template and information done- almost done, champ! Kind of. Next, you'll need an objective. This statement is super important. It should be right under your information so that as soon as they know your information, they are led straight to what you are looking for. This should be a crisp, concise statement. Just one statement. One. This is not a set-in-stone model, but it is what I have used in the past. Basically,
State what you are + noteworthy skills + what you want out of the job + why they should want you.
This is actually pretty difficult to do, and you really need to take time to form this one statement. It is the first thing they really read about you, and is probably where they will start during your interview. In stating what you are, you should add something that sets you apart or something you specialize in. This statement is basically you marketing yourself, so you want to use what you have to promote yourself. Get specific. For example, if you are exceptionally strong with crisis management, use "Crisis management PR professional seeking...." For the noteworthy skills, continue with other valuable skills the company would want. Weave in what you want into this category. For example, picking up from the example above, use "...Crisis management PR professional specializing in social media seeking a position where I can showcase my....skills...." And then tie the bow- slip in why they would want you. Don't make any concrete plans or promises yet, but entice them a bit. The final example, "Crisis management PR professional specializing in social media seeking a position where I can showcase my communication skills to accomplish and further the goals of your esteemed organization." Done. Boom. Again, not promising this is a slam-dunk example, but it is what has worked for me. :P
After the objective, add your experiences. The order depends on the template, but you will pretty much need your education, employment, any extracurriculars, and leadership. You'll also need your special skills. Brag a little, but make sure you do not come across as arrogant. Your résumé showcases the best of you, and you deserve to pump yourself up and promote your past accomplishments but arrogance is off-putting, no matter what you've done. Hopefully, your experiences will speak for themselves.
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| Please don't. |
Content-wise, you are DONE! But hold on there friend, you must now proof-read like there is no tomorrow. Because if you use "u" or have dumb grammar mistake, there will be no work for you tomorrow. Read over your completed résumé for grammar mistakes, mistakes in content (like a date or detail), or formatting. Make sure the résumé is clean, and also if you have multiple pages, each page is numbered and breaks off at an appropriate point. A pet peeve of mine is when a page breaks mid-sentence or in a paragraph even. Make the page break between categories, like your employment and then skills. Be critical, and have people you trust look over it. Get honest opinions. This résumé is your marketing method, and it is a reflection of you. Make sure it is as good as it can get!
I hope this helps! And thank you all for the support- love you madly. Now go get 'em, tiger! ;)
xxx
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