What is a resume?

A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. It is a document that briefly goes over one's accomplishments and what makes them a good candidate for the role. A resume is usually accompanied by a customized cover letter in which the applicant expresses an interest in a specific job or company and draws attention to the most relevant specifics on the resume.

Pro tip: Try googling 'Sample resume for __job title__' to get ideas about different skills and verbs to include on your resume.

The structure of a resume

There are a few sections you will see on just about every resume. These can be in any order, putting the best information first.

1. How to Connect With You. This includes your name, phone number, email address and home address. Note that if you are putting your resume online you may only want to include the city and state you live in, otherwise your home address might be made public.

2. Professional Summery. This is a short (around 3 sentences) introduction. While it is optional, this is your space to explain why you want this specific job and highlight your best qualifications.

3.Highlights or Skills. These can be taken directly from the job posting or from the job posting of previous jobs. This can help your resume pass a potential AI based candidate filtering system. Read more in the FAQ section.

4. Experience. A time ordered list of relevant jobs you have worked. Use bullet points to paint a picture of what tasks you did and projects you worked on.

5. Education. This is your schooling, feel free to include relevant classes you took, clubs you were a part of, and your GPA. You can put anything you are proud of.

6. Awards & Accomplishments. If you have received recognition in the past don't forget to include it. You could also add certifications like having your food handlers license or CPR/First Aid training.

Resume templates

Frequently asked questions:

What do I put down if I've never had a job?
- You can include experience like volunteering, clubs, baby-sitting, and activities you've done in the community like at your church, or for your neighbor. Be creative!
Where do I make my resume?
- You can make it in a simple text document, but there are plenty of templates you can use. Google Docs has templates built in. Canva has more aesthetic templates. You can also find step by step walk throughs on sights like indeed.com