By David Pease - Director of Talent, Diversity & Inclusion Bangor Savings Bank
I. Overview
A resume is a written document promoting your education, work experience, accomplishments, skills and volunteer/leadership work. It is the first look a hiring manager will have of you - so make a positive first impression. The purpose of a resume is to create interest in you by an employer to secure an interview for a job or other professional opportunities.
II. Contact Information
Contact information for the employer to reach out to you.
Name:
Street Address, City, State, Zip Code:
Phone:
Email:
LinkedIn Profile/Twitter/Blog/Portfolio:
When you are creating this section of your resume, your name should stand out, so make it bold and a larger font than the rest of the contact information. Leave a space or put a horizontal line between the end of the contact section and the next section.
III. Objective/Profile (This is an optional section)
In addition to the required parts of a resume, there are optional sections you can include an Objective or Personal Profile. This section, like an elevator speech, promotes your personal brand and helps differentiate yourself from others.
IV. Experience Section
All resumes include an experience section. The companies you have worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of duties and results are included in this section of your resume. Internships, summer jobs, and temporary jobs should all be included in this part of your resume. Start with your most recent job.
Job Title:
Company:
Dates:
Job Responsibilities/Results:
V. Education Section
The education section of your resume is where you show the employer your academic achievements. List the colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned in the education section of your resume. If you're a student, include your high school on your resume. Professional development courses and certifications should also be included in the education section of your resume.
Dates:
School Name:
Degree/Diploma:
Relevant Classes:
Awards & Honors:
VI. Skills Section
The skills section of your resume includes your knowledge, strengths, and abilities. Include skills that are relevant to the position that you are interested in, such as computer skills, customer services skills, and language skills.
Skills/Strengths:
VII. Activities Section
This section can be used for those with limited work experience, This section is used to highlight relevant passions, community activities to showcase your volunteer and leadership aptitudes.
Passions:
Community/Volunteer work:
Leadership Abilities:
VIII. Keywords
When writing a resume, it's important to include keywords in the job descriptions and the other content of your resume. HR, a hiring manager or automated system will be first looking to see if your skills, experience, and education match the job duties and responsibilities. You will need to modify your resume each time that you submit it to align with the desired job. Be specific. Use as many as possible. Mix it up.
IX. Use Proper Resume Format
Your resume should be properly formatted, with a simple font and plenty of white space, so it is visually appealing to the reader.
The content of your resume is as important as the presentation. It's important to personalize and customize your resume, so it reflects your skills and abilities and connects them with the jobs for which you are applying.
Proofread, proofread, proofread - you don't want to submit a resume with spelling, grammar or language mistakes. Have several people review for accuracy.
X. Leaving a Positive Impact
Remember your resume is the first impression the employer will have of you. You want it to be positive! A great employee must have a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, a sense of judgment, and a strong work ethic. An effective resume can showcase all of your skills and demonstrate you are the best candidate for the job!
"What do I want someone to remember about me?"
"How can I create the right first impression?"
"How do I want to be perceived?"