The résumé that you send to your prospective employers will be the first item they see that is the representation of you and your work. The most effective résumés are clearly focused on your job objective.

• Résumé Sections
• General Résumé Tips
• Getting Started
• Writing a Cover Letter
• Types of Résumés
  • Chronological Format Sample
  • Functional/Electronic Format Sample
• Sizzling Words for Your Résumé

Click here for our Résumé Tips Brochure

PURPOSE:
Provide a small summary of your skills, accomplishments, experience, and education. This should help to secure an interview.

LENGTH:
Keep résumés limited to one page. Extensive work experience, technical skills, or education may need a two-page résumé. If a résumé is longer than one page, key skills and selling points are listed on the first page.

HEADING:
Your name, address, and telephone number should appear centered at top of the page. Type your name in capital letters, or set in bold type, or a larger font. Add an e-mail address if you have one.

OBJECTIVE:
Start your résumé with a statement of your employment objective. Make sure that your objective is not too narrow or too broad. Name the position you want along with two or three of your top skills.

TITLE(S) & DATE:
Identify company name, position title, and the dates of your previous positions. If a company has changed its name due to reorganization, use only the current name. Use dynamic job titles to describe your position.

CONTENT:
Emphasize results and achievements, not job duties. Indicate how well you performed, and incorporate numbers wherever possible.

SALARY:
Never list past, current, or expected earnings. You may be rejected because you make too much money (over-qualified), or you may be offered too little money based on past earnings (under-qualified).

EDUCATION:
Be brief and concise: include degree earned, schools attended, year graduated, major, and any honors.

REFERENCES:
Modern résumé formats do not include employment references. References are needed by the employer after you have been interviewed and there is interest in extending an offer of employment. Have a separate list of references available.

PERSONAL:
Do not include any personal information such as age, height, weight, health, or marital status. Such information is not considered to be job relevant.

Objectives:
Clearly define your objective in one sentence.

Skills:
A bullet point list of your skills that match the position.

Bullets:
Bullet points are more effective for key points.

History:
Make sure the dates line up and are easy to follow. If you have had several job changes, be sure to state the reason for leaving.

Progress:
List goals achieved and what role you play on the team. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance.

For each job, specify duties and responsibilities.

List skill sets that you gained from those responsibilities.

Include:

1. Return address
2. Potential Employer's address
3. Date
4. Salutation
5. Introductory paragraph
6. Purpose
7. Request for response
8. Brief summary of qualifications

If possible, mail cover letters to the attention of a specific individual within the company, rather than simply to "Human Resources".

• Chronological -You easily meet skill, experience, and education requirements.
• Functional -You're a new graduate, changing fields or industries.
• Electronic Résumé -For responding to Internet job postings or to large employers with automated applicant tracking systems.

Christopher Smith
1600 Seattle St., Anytown, WA 98055
(425) 123-4567

OBJECTIVE:
A position as Sales Coordinator, or Account Executive

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
1991 - Present
Sales Coordinator
Emily Imports, Renton
· Directed market research and implemented new promotions.
· Excelled in sales and new account development.
· Coordinated over 75 field representatives and major accounts.

1986-1990
Distribution Coordinator
Deja Vu Publishing Co., Seattle
· Oversaw the production of advertising and its placement in major trade publications.
· Organized and styled merchandise for effective presentation in 20-page giftware catalog.
· Increased a small publication's advertising revenue through market research and promotion.
· Developed new distribution outlets for a special-interest magazine in Seattle.

1980-1985
Co-Owner/Manager
Bill's Dairy Products, Gig Harbor
· Responsible for customer relations, advertising, marketing, and distribution.
· Handled all aspects of order taking and processing.
· Kept current and accurate records of inventory, international suppliers, brokers, shippers, etc.

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, UCLA, 1994

Christopher Smith
1600 Main St., Anytown, WA 98055
(425) 123-4567

OBJECTIVE:
A position as Sales Coordinator, or Account Executive.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
· Twelve years successful experience in direct sales of a range of products and services.
· Extensive practical hands-on experience as co-owner and manager of a small business.
· Motivated and enthusiastic about developing good relations with clients.
· Effective working alone or as a cooperative team member.
· Professional in appearance and presentation.

RELEVANT SKILLS:
Sales and New Account Development
· Increased a small publication's advertising revenue through market research and promotion.
· Developed new distribution outlets for a special-interest magazine in Seattle.

Customer Relations
· Served as vendor representative for Emily Imports.
· Oversaw the production of advertising and its placement in major trade publications.

Advertising, Marketing, Distribution
· Organized and styled merchandise for effective presentation in a 20-page giftware catalog.
· Handled all aspects of order taking and processing, both at Bill's Dairy and Emily Imports.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
1991-Present Sales Coordinator, Emily Imports, Renton
1986-1990 Distribution Coordinator, Deja Vu Publishing, Seattle
1980-1985 Co-Owner/Manager, Bill's Dairy Products, Gig Harbor

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, UCLA. 1994

Your résumé should be short, succinct and, most importantly, have "sizzle." Now that does not mean your written presentation of yourself should be corny or cute, but you should strive to make the employer anxious to meet you. When applied to your experience, the following list of action words can give your résumé sizzle.