Okay, so what should you tell and not tell employers about yourself? That is what many people ask themselves when they sit down to write out a resume which is probably one of the least favourite thing people like to do when planning for a job.

So, maybe you are asking yourself what is a resume? I have never had to write one before to get a job, why would I have to now? A resume is a short, point-form document that you will give to employers at a certain industry where you want to apply. You will tell them about your work experience, education and skills where most employers expect you to have one, it is actually basically mandatory now a days. Do not panic, there are tons of experiences, skills and interesting areas that you can put on your resume, even if you do not have that much work experience.

Below I will give you a few basics on how to exactly prepare your resume and how to get that job you are applying for:

BASICS

• An important factor when you begin to write your resume is to identify all of your interests and skills.
• Short & sweet is key for having a great resume.
• Below is a small breakdown as to what your resume should actually include:

• Personal Information
• Goals
• Skills
• Education
• Experience
• Duties
• Additional
• Interests
• References

Breakdown

Personal Information:

Your personal information should, of course include your full name, address which should be written out in full and your phone number where you can be reached throughout the day.

Goals:

One sentence should describe in full detail what your job goals are. This will tell the employer what type of work you are exactly looking for. If at all possible try to at least link your job goals to the job you are applying for.

Skills:

This section should include all of your special abilities and skills that relate to the job you are applying for. This can include even past job experience, volunteer experience or even your own hobbies. You will most likely be surprised to see that you have way more skills thank you think.

Education:

Make sure you list your education with the most recent one. Education can include anything from a diploma, training course or even high school education. In some cases I have actually seen a list of awards and certificates they accomplished during their education.

Experience:

List a majority of companies you have worked for in the past which should include their location, dates to-from. Now if you have too many companies that would not fit on a one-two pages resume, just pick the ones you feel are most related to the position you are applying for.

Duties:

This area should include the type of duties you fulfilled in past, starting from the one that took up most of your time or even involved the most responsibility. No need to have more then 5 duties for each job.

Additional:

This section is perfect for outlining the languages you speak, software programs you have been taught and any other capabilities you may have related to the job you are applying for.

Interests:

Here you can briefly outline just a few of your interests and activities that actually demonstrates something about you.

References

References are good to put on your resume, so the employer can easily contact other employers to find out more about you and your work ethic. They do not have to be included on your resume, but you should plan to be asked for them. Before you make a list of your references you will want to ask permission to do so. Also, make sure you keep your references up to date as much as possible. In most cases on the resume you will see Reference Available Upon Request. Now who should you ask to be your reference? Anyone working at your school, someone you have worked in with the passed or have even helped out as a volunteer.

Things To NOT Do On A Resume

• Make sure your resume does not look cluttered or messy.
• Have misspelled words.
• Is exceeding the two pages limit.
• Is on a coloured piece of paper.
• Includes inappropriate info.
• Has a photograph.
• Looks like a duplicate of someone else's resume.
• Sounds like it was not specifically for that position, meaning it was sent to multiple companies.
• Outlines skills that you cannot prove
• Does not show any achievements

Make sure you ALWAYS include a cover letter with your resume when you are applying for a job.

There you go, you have the basics and a breakdown on how to accomplish a resume all by yourself, but still does nothing for you? You have no idea what to write about yourself, have no accomplishments? If you need a resume fast, the only other option I can give to you is to try out a resume consultant. Of course they cost money, but the end result will be you having a job and probably one that you wanted to begin with.

I wish you luck and hope this article has helped you understand what you should and should not put in a resume.