How Do I Prepare A Resume

When it comes to preparing a resume for successful application, there is a lot of information that you should have in regards to your qualifications, career history, market expectations, as well as formatting. In the following discussion, we offer insight into how to prepare to excel in all of these areas of resume preparation to ensure that your resume gets the positive attention it deserves from potential employers.

1. Career Qualifications: Though you may have experience and/or education in the career that you are applying for a position in-it does not mean that you have presented yourself well enough to persuade the employer to meet with you for an interview. This is the purpose the resume serves, and the first thing you must do is to consider what career qualifications you have to offer them. Consider the most basic sections of a standard resume: employment history, education, achievements, and skills. Which of these is the most strong in regards to the position or career you are applying for? Start with dissecting what details about your education or experience or achievements should be incorporated into a resume presentation. Perhaps, you were last year’s best sales performer for the company; or maybe, you graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. Whatever it is, start with the strongest category, fill in significant details, and then follow suit with the other sections. This is the easiest and most effective way to start filling in your resume content for the first draft.

2. Consider Employment History: Though employment history is a section that should be considered in the first step of preparation-already discussed-depending on your employment history, more thought and consideration should be necessarily given to this one. Why? Simply because there are situations in which you may have a solid career history, but in either a different industry or a different career than the type of position that you are applying for. Moreover, you could have an employment history that for one reason or another, has employment for short periods of time, or employment positions that do not follow the same career. In any of these circumstances, an employer reading through your resume in a standard format, may immediately have concern over the dependability or career permanence of your candidacy. At that point, they may pass you on by, without asking for a reason. This is why you would need to use a different resume format to dress up what you do have to offer in lieu of a seemingly incongruous career past.

3. Market Expectations: Do you know what your current industry and/or career position requires-not only just in responsibilities, but also training and experience? It is vital that you know what employers are expecting of those working in your position, as well as what fellow candidates will be offering in the way of experience, education, and skills. Without this knowledge, you could inadvertently be omitting key details that could sway a potential employer in your direction for an interview.

4. Formatting: Lastly, do your research on not just what information is required of a resume; but also, as we discussed earlier, what might be the best resume format for your specific industry, career, or employment history.