There are a number of things that go into compiling a resume for successful application for a position that you are interested in. If you have never compiled a resume, or perhaps, want better results from potential employers with a better resume; you need to know how to compile the most important information included in your resume. Below, we discuss the most significant pieces of information included in a professional resume, and how to go about including them in your resume in the right manner.
Contact Information
The first type of information that an employer will need as a part of your resume is your contact information. This information begins the resume, and contains all the basics of who you are and how to best contact you, should they be interested in talking to you further. Your contact information should include your full name, your mailing address, your phone number, and email address. Make sure when creating this section that you include the most convenient and updated contact information that you have available.
Employment
Another key piece of information that employers look for in a professional resume is that of the employment history. They want to see where you have worked, in what positions you have worked, for how long, and what responsibilities and experience you have gained in these positions. Your employment section should offer the last ten years of employment, from most recent to least, and should include all applicable responsibilities and achievements that you have had in each position. Another key thing to consider is that employers look to this employment history section to see how long you stay with your employers, and if you have a tendency to hop from job to job or have lapses in employment. If either of these apply to your employment history, you should consider two things: changing your resume format from chronological to functional, and second, including a reasoning for this inconsistency in your cover letter-so that you are still considered despite your inconsistent history.
Education
Employers also expect to see a section in your resume on your education, so while compiling your resume for an application; you must give serious attention to this section as well. What sorts of information should be included in education? Start compiling this section with most recent schooling to least, and if you have higher education; do not include high school. This section should be compiled with the appropriate details of the name of the school, the dates attended, the major field of study, the degree obtained, the location of the school, and any other applicable achievements such as stellar GPA or being on the Dean’s List.
Relevant Professional Experience
The professional experience section that is entitled “relevant professional experience” is included in many resumes for the purpose of showcasing any other professional experience that cannot be categorized as education or employment. Another title for this section might be “skills and achievements”, and this would include respective skills and achievements of the applicant. If you are compiling one or the other, it should be done with experience such as volunteer work, certifications, classes you may have taken after college, or any other specialized skills that you believe the employer should consider in conjunction to the rest of your experience.