A. Personal Data

First name, middle initial, and last name
This is an important document so you should use your legal name.
If you prefer to be known by another name, put it in parenthesis. For example,

Wilbur (Bill)
Street address
City, State (spelled out), and zip code
(Area code) and telephone number
Use a number where you can be reached during business hours. If the number is something than your home, identify it as other such: For example, "message phone," "work," "cell," etc.
Add e-mail address if you have one.

An objective is a statement of your search intentions and is an opportunity to demonstrate that you know specifically what you want to do. It should always go on a skill/functional resume and in many cases on a chronological. If it is not utilized on the actual resume, it should be a part of the cover letter.

Some people prefer to put a header before the statement such as "Objective," "Position Desired," "Career Objective," "Employment Objective," "Summary of Skills," etc. You should choose the one that you feel most comfortable with.

In an objective, be specific! Use two or three lines maximum! Avoid being too general--it would be better to not have one. Consider these:

 

Bad Examples:

"Desire a job that is more stable than my last job."

"Seeking a career that offers potential for advancement."

"I want full time employment allowing me to provide for my family."

Good Examples:

"Seeking an assembly-line manufacturing position utilizing my technical training and welding experience."

"Seeking a home-health nursing position utilizing my education, training, and previous nursing experience."

"Seeking a teaching and research position utilizing my communication skills, classroom management background, and abilities to conceptualize research models."

You need to account for your work history for at least the past 10 to 15 years. Start with the most recent first and work back. List the job title, employer's name, city and state, and dates of employment. If you have no gaps in your history, you can list the month and year.

 

For Example:

Waitress, Shoney's, Columbia, Missouri, August 1990 to May 1993

Assembler, Vickers Inc., Rolla, Missouri, May 1983 to June 1994

Supervisor, K mart, Inc., Sedalia, Missouri, December 1987 to Present

If you have any gaps, list only the year! This is the preferred method!

 

For Example:

Waitress, Shoney's, Columbia, Missouri, 1990 to 1993

Assembler, Vickers, Inc., Rolla, Missouri, 1983 to 1994

Supervisor, Kmart, Inc., Sedalia, Missouri, 1987 to Present

As a rule of thumb, don't list a job that was for less than three or four months unless it helps you. What if I worked at one place for 15 years or longer? We have already stressed the importance of duties, responsibilities and skill identification for this portion of your resume. Remember to:

• Use bullet statements (see samples).
• Never use pronouns (such as I, me, my, mine, etc.).
• Begin each statement with an action verb (see samples).
• Quantify and add value whenever possible (see samples).
• Eliminate as many prepositions as possible (such as if, a, and the).

If you're stuck or having difficulty describing your duties, an excellent resource is the D.O.T. (Dictionary of Occupational Titles). Check with your local library or state employment office for a copy.

As with most other things, list the most recent first and work your way back.

If you have attended a four-year college or university, or have received a college degree, there's no need to list your high school. Otherwise, it's better safe than sorry.

Begin the entry with the name of the completed degree or certificate. Following that, list the formal name of the school, the city it is located in or branch campus you attended, and the state.

What about the year of your graduation? List it if you think it will work to your advantage or help you in some way. Otherwise, leave it off.

If you don't have a high school diploma or GED but do have extensive work experience, don't list education unless you are enrolled in GED courses.

There are various levels of education...

General Educational Development Diploma, Currently Enrolled:
General Educational Development Diploma, Received:
High School Graduate:
High School Graduate and slight amount of specialty training:
Certificate from a Vocational-Technical School:
Professional Development Courses:
Some College--no degree:
College Graduate--Associate's or Bachelor's Degree:
College Graduate--Master's or other Graduate Degree:

What if you have a lot of education and training but no degree?

What about your company-sponsored training?

You should be cautious whether you should list any or not. Some affiliations might not work in your favor. When you do list these, list broad categories rather than specific ones. A few good examples:
 

"Active in Local Church Activities"
"Member and Vice-President, County Daycare Center, Incorporated"
"Active in Local United Way Annual Fund Drive"
"Member, Forsyth Chamber of Commerce"

Say whether these are current or not. A few good examples:

Member, American Sociological Association, 1987 to Present
University of Missouri-Columbia Alumni Association, Member
Parent Teacher Association, Greentop Public Schools, 1992 to 1995

You may put this phrase at the bottom of the last page of your resume, but it is not necessary. In the same way a period ends a sentence, this line says "this is the end of my resume." A separate reference page should be available if requested. Do not mail with resume unless requested. Take along reference sheets to an interview, in case requested.

Mr./Mrs./Ms. first and last name
job title or position
company name or affiliation
street or mailing address
city, state, zip code
(area code) phone number

Who should you use for a reference??? Use someone who can talk directly about your work ethic, production capabilities, and personal commitment to your employment. Contact this person and ask their permission before using them as a reference. Some examples of who to ask:

Supervisor or Foreman
Plant Superintendent
Assistant Manager or Manager
Pastor, Banker, or Lawyer
Co-worker or Civic Contact

Writing a Cover Letter

Whenever you send a resume to a prospective employer, you also should include a cover letter. The cover letter should accomplish three things:

• explain the purpose of sending your resume,
• get the employer interested in your resume, and
• target the resume to a specific position or career field.

Effective cover letters are clear, to the point, and brief. The cover letter should achieve its purpose in three to four paragraphs consisting of the greeting, the opening, the body, and the closing.

Greeting: Address the letter to a specific person. Never use "To Whom It May Concern:" or "Dear Sir or Madam:". You can often find out the name and title of who will be hiring or interviewing for a position by making a simple phone call to the company or business. However, it is sometimes impossible to do this or the ad may state "no calls, please." In these situations, either use the "RE:" approach or address it to the position as in: "Dear Director of Manufacturing:" or "Dear Human Resource Manager:".

Opening: Begin your letter by directly stating why you are writing the employer. If you are applying for a specific opening, indicate the position you would like to apply for and how you learned of the opening.

Example: 
I would like to apply for the mechanic position advertised in the September 28th edition of The Kansas City Star.

Example: 
I am interested in prospective mechanic openings with A & C Auto.

Example: 
I would like to apply for the mechanic position advertised in the September 28th edition of The Kansas City Star. I believe my experience in repair and maintenance of farm machinery and equipment qualify me for further consideration.

Example: 
As indicated in my enclosed resume, I have 20 years of experience maintaining and repairing a variety of equipment and have recently completed a vocational course in engine repair. In addition, as a community leader, I am experienced in serving the public and working as a team. I believe my skills and experience would enable me to be an immediate asset to your organization.

Example: 
I would like to meet with you to discuss my qualifications. I will call you next week to find out when we might get together. Thank you for your attention and consideration.

• Keep your letter short, clear, and business like. Flashy or "gimmicky" letters do not impress most employers.
   
• Type the cover letter using paper that matches your resume. Check carefully for typographical errors, punctuation, and spelling errors.
   
• Keep a copy of the letter for your records.
   
• Put the cover letter, the resume, and the reference page all together. Place them in a large letter-size envelope--do not fold or staple them and type the label. Mail with first-class postage to the same person and address as is on the cover letter. Even if you hand deliver the resume, utilize a cover letter for additional "impress-ability."
   
• Be sure to follow-up as indicated in your letter. If you said "I'll call your office next week," call the office next week!

Utilize the cover letter to highlight the matches between what you have to offer and what the employer is seeking. The cover letter is an opportunity to describe your skills, abilities, and personal qualities and how they would benefit the employer.