Computer Concepts in Action ©2009

Introduction:
Learn how to create an effective résumé.

Directions:
Read the information below.
Click the Destination Site link(s) to find out more about the topic.
Apply what you learn to answer the questions.
Check your work carefully, and click Submit.

Résumés
Your résumé is a summary of your education, experience and skills, so taking the time to develop your résumé will create the best image of you possible. A résumé should be direct, contain the most relevant information, and be easy to read. The ideal résumé is one full page and should never be more than two pages. There are different formats you can use to create a résumé. You can find templates for these in Microsoft Word.

A résumé should include most, if not all, of the following elements:

• Your name and contact information Be sure to use your full legal name, address or post office box, accurate contact numbers, and an e-mail address.
• Objective This describes the type of job or field in which you want to work and your reasons why.
• Education Include high school, college, graduate, or specialized training courses (such as beauty school or nursing school). Dates of attendance, graduation dates, area of specialty, and grade point average are all appropriate information to list.
• Work experience Include the company name, dates of employment, position held, and, if relevant, the person to whom you reported. Be sure to list the skills used and those learned to perform that particular position.
• General skills Technology knowledge, speaking a second language, and other important skills make you a desirable candidate.
• Outside activities and interests Volunteer work, clubs, and hobbies might be a way for employers to see how you would fit into the company environment.
• References Letters from former employers or personal acquaintances could be useful to verify your experience and character.

It is important to be truthful and complete. Employers often use agencies to verify the backgrounds of those that apply.

Cover Letter
Cover letters are an excellent way to introduce your résumé, even if a cover letter never is mentioned in conversation or in an advertisement. It allows you to provide information that you may not have room for in the résumé.

The cover letter should follow the same format as a professional business letter: introduce yourself and identify the specific job you are applying for. It is lazy to send out a generic cover letter that could be used for any job application. Be sure to address it to the person who can hire you (not just the company or hiring department) and show that you know a little bit about their business. Spending a little time to research your potential employer will make you look like a much better choice.

TTGO7.1_Resume Sample (17.0K)

Destination Site: http://www.how-to-write-a-resume.org/   or http://www.howtowritearesume.net/

Note: If this link is inactive or to find other Internet sites with similar information, use a search engine. Here are some keywords you might use: write, résumé, job search.

Assessment Questions

1			In addition to name and contact information, what are three types of information in a résumé?
2			What information is included in a résumé objective?
3			Is it appropriate to send an identical cover letter with résumés to different companies? Why or why not?
4			What information should be included in your contact information?