The resume is one of the most important tools we can have. A good resume has the potential to not only open the door to a job interview; having a professionally crafted resume could also create opportunities for networking and strengthen business contacts. The professional resume format is not difficult to understand. Let us look at some of the things that make a powerful resume.
First off, a resume should not be too long. Hiring managers regularly receive anywhere from to dozens to thousands of resumes (in larger areas). Resumes that go over one page in length often are ignored. Another common mistake is to cram to much content into the resume. The more difficult a resume is to read the more likely it will be tossed aside. Be complete in the information, but be concise as well. One of the best ways of being concise is having a targeted position in mind as opposed to a general resume aimed at many different jobs. With a specific resume, it is easier to keep the content to a minimum, by removing anything that does not pertain to the position. Avoid fonts that are fancy or odd and colors. A couple of acceptable fonts are Times New Roman, and Arial.
A professional resume format should contain the following, contact information, Job objective, education work history, accomplishments, and references. If space permits a small section of personal information that amplifies any special talents or skills that pertain to the job, but this is optional.
The heading of a professional resume should consist of contact information. The best location for this information is centered at the top of the page. Personal contact info that we would want to include here is full name, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address. The rest of the content of the resume should be left aligned. Each section should be treated as a separate paragraph and spaced accordingly.
The job objective section consists of a sentence or two stating the position for which you are applying. The education section should contain any college or vocational education, and high school/GED information. We could also include apprentice training, on-the-job training, and internships. This would also be place to list seminars, military training, self-study, etc. Remember spacious is precious. Beyond any college or high school information, be very selective and list only list other educational information directly related to the position.
The work history section of a professional resume format contains the current or most recent job, followed by past positions related to the one for which we are applying. We would want to be sure to include the business name, job title, city, and state, and a short description of the duties performed. The accomplishments section is where we relate life experience to the description of the position we are applying for, but remember be brief. The last section should contain the name, address, and telephone number of three or four references. That is, basically, a professional resume format.
