How to write a resume

A resume – sometimes called a ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’ - is a summary of skills, education and work experience. A good resume demonstrates how skills and abilities match up with the requirements of a job. A resume should never be too long, if it is it probably won’t get read at all. It is not an exhaustive list. The best resumes are usually no longer than one or two pages.

A resume should differ with every job application so that it lists the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job applied for. A tailored resume will be much more successful than a generic one, even though it means more preparation.

While things like academic record and work experience are typical ways to show how suited you are to a particular job, these are not the only things to be included. There are other ways to demonstrate that you are the right person for the job, including: 

Youth Central

Personal traits - an honest worker, enjoy being part of a big team

Strengths - things you’re good at or enjoy

Experiences - volunteering or extracurricular activities

Key responsibilities and achievements - any awards or recognition received

The structure of the resume will vary depending on work experience and education and training background. A resume usually sets out information in reverse order. Most recent work experience and study details should be first on the list.

Here’s a brief rundown on the essentials.

Personal details

Full name and contact details including address, telephone number(s) and email address.

Education and training

A summary of education and training history, starting with most recent studies. Make sure to include all training that is relevant to the job.

Employment history

Start with most recent work history and work backwards chronologically, listing the name of the employer, job title, the period of time worked and responsibilities, tasks and achievements. Make sure to include everything that is relevant.

Skills and abilities

A list of the things you are good at. These can be general skills or skills specific to a particular job. List them under broad headings such as ‘Communication’ and ‘Teamwork’.

Career objective (optional)

Tell the employer what type of job you want to end up with; this shows that you have given thought to your future career.

Interests (optional)

A list of hobbies and interests; this gives employers more information about you and also shows other areas of life where you have gained experience such as teamwork and commitment.

Referees

List people who can talk about how good a worker you are. Make sure you get their permission before including them on your resume. List their name, company name occupation, and contact details.

Resume checklist

After you’ve written your resume, and before sending it, go through this checklist: 

Proofreading - Make sure there are no spelling mistakes, typos or grammatical errors.

Tailoring - Make sure everything shows how well-suited you are for the job.

Presentation - Make sure the resume is well laid out, easy to read and printed on clean, white paper in a standard font (like Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana) and at a standard size (10 or 12 point).

Detail - Make sure specific examples as to your achievements and skills are provided.