It is expected that when we apply for a job we should also send along a resume; especially if we are applying for any type of professional position. A lot of the information in a resume will also be provided on the application form, but if it is done correctly it can be an effective way to show your qualifications for a job. The effectiveness of this document can often decide if we are short listed for an interview so it is always worth putting the effort into getting it right. A question that a lot of us will have to ponder is what information our resume should include.
So What Information Should My Resume Include?
The nice thing about a resume is that you really get to show off your abilities and include information that isn’t asked on an application form. Here is just some of the information that should be included:
- Your personal details such as name, contact information, and age.
- Your employment history with any gaps explained; for example if you took a year off to go travelling you will need to explain this. One of the first things that potential employers will look for is unexplained gaps in your employment history. If you are just out of college then you can include information about any part time jobs or work placements.
- Your relevant education history should also be included as well as any courses that you have taken that will be useful for the job you are applying for. If there are things in your education history that aren’t relevant to the current position then it is best to leave them out — except for higher qualifications like degrees and post-graduate studies.
- It is a good idea to have information about your personality as it will benefit the role you are applying for. For example you could say that you are a, “motivated team player”.
- You can add a small section on your other interests.
- List any achievements that you think are relevant to the job.
How to Write an Effective Resume
Writing an effective resume is an art form and here are a few tips to make your one more effective:
- You should aim to make your resume short and avoid going beyond two pages; ideally it should be just one page with the information on both sides of the page.
- Brevity is the key when writing an effective resume. You should carefully consider the need for any information and remove any words that aren’t needed. Those people who are evaluating applicants will usually have a lot of work and they appreciate it when a resume is straight to the point.
- It is important that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes on your resume. It is a good idea to get somebody else to check the document to make sure there are no mistakes. Sometimes just having a couple of typos on the document can be enough to disqualify you from the position.
