Basic Components of a resume?

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Basic Components of a Resume

A resume must include certain basic information so that a potential employer can assess your qualifications in comparison to those of other job applicants.
It is best to keep the resume one page long unless you have an extensive amount of experience that can be directly applied to the position that you seek. Employers normally want to be able to quickly scan one page that sums up your experience and background.
The basic information that most resumes include is:
» Name and current address
» Telephone number
» Career objective (optional)
» Educational background
» Summary of Qualifications (work experience, skills)
» Military service (if applicable)
» Awards and honors (if applicable)
» Interests (Optional)
Your name, current address, and a telephone number where you can be reached should always be the most prominent piece of information at the top of the page. This information is usually centered and your name should appear in capital letters. If you do not have a telephone, give the telephone number of a friend or relative who is willing to take messages for you – most interviews are arranged by telephone. If you have a FAX number or an E-mail address, it would be appropriate to place those after your telephone number.

A career objective indicates the type of position that you would like within a company and may sometimes include an ultimate career goal.
Your educational background should include information about the college or colleges that you have attended, with graduation dates (or projected graduation date), degree title, the type of program or subject major completed, and your grade point average (if above 3.0). Completely write out your degree and technology.

Your summary of qualifications should include your work experience and any skills that would enhance your marketability. List the jobs that you have held in reverse chronological order. You may also include any applicable internships that you have completed. For each position listed, you should include the dates worked, the city and state where the employer is located, your job title, and a concise description of the type of work you did in the job. When describing the type of work performed, it helps if you stress any of the following items that apply to the jobs that you have had: responsibilities, the number of people that you have supervised and/or trained, special skills or training needed for the job, and specific types of equipment or software used (if pertinent to the type of position you are now seeking). If you have held many jobs over the years, list the jobs that have requirements similar to those of the job to which you are applying. Any specialized knowledge, such as a language or some sort of expertise that might be applied to a position, should be listed. Computer experience should include the title and version of software.

If you have received any significant awards or honors, list them in a separate section. Academic or civic awards, or military medals and awards are appropriate to list.

When listing outside interests, try to list things that show a well-rounded set of interests. Be aware of the type of person who would be reading your resume and do not list any controversial hobbies or interests. A mixture of cultural, physical, and leisure interests will be more impressive than several interests of the same type.

You may also wish to include memberships on your resume. Memberships in career-related associations should be included. Civic associations may also be listed. Be careful not to list any controversial memberships (such as religious or political organizations).

Finish off the resume with a statement that indicates that references will be furnished upon request. The references themselves should be typed on a separate sheet of paper and centered from top to bottom on the page (see Example 4). References are normally from former employers and supervisors or from college instructors. Usually 3 to 5 names are listed along with their job titles, full addresses and telephone numbers. Always ask permission before listing someone as a reference. This will give your references a chance to prepare should they be asked to speak about your qualifications for a position. It is not appropriate to list a relative as a reference.

A potential employer will normally ask for your references at the end of the interview if they are truly interested in hiring you.