Resume 101 - Writing Content

Writing the content of your resume is one of the most time consuming steps in the resume-writing process. However, if you work strategically, the process may seem to go a lot faster.

The first piece of advice I have is to start writing from the “skeleton” of the resume. The most difficult part of writing is getting started. If you come up with an outline first, writing the resume will seem much less like a huge task, and more like a simple worksheet to fill out. The sections in your resume may vary between formats (chronological vs. functional) or even between different career fields. A good place to start is with your Contact Info, Objective, Profile, Education Information, and Work Experience (or Relevant Skills). Keep in mind that these titles are not set in stone, they can be renamed and adapted to your liking.

Another tip: start with what you know. Obviously, your personal information will take only minutes to complete, and writing it down will help make visible progress. Likewise, feel free to skip around and fill in the different sections out of order. For example, writing the job titles out before you write the skill bullet points will help you organize your thoughts. (And if you’re working in chronological format, it gives you a nice outline to work in.)

One common tough spot is the bullet point section that describes the skills you learned at a particular job or volunteer activity. There are three keys to remember that will help you help your resume make a good impact on the employer: Quantities, Results, and Responsibilities. If you find yourself simply listing the duties you had, you may wish to revise them with these three things in mind.

For example, maybe your main task at your previous job was answering phones. To make this point more interesting, tell how many, what happened, and what sort of responsibility you had in that situation. You might come up with something more like this: “Responded to around 30 phone calls per day and streamlined the client intake process.” This shows that not only did you answer phones, but you took proactive actions to improve the efficiency of your workplace while managing your time in a stressful and busy environment. Instead of simply seeing that you can answer a phone, the employer sees that you have several transferable skills: communication, time management, customer service, organization, and the ability to function under stress.

And as always, it’s good to have a second pair of eyes look over your resume. Call 206-6508 or stop by the CDC (SAB 50) for a quick critique, and personalized advice on tailoring your resume to your target employer.