"Running 45-50 miles a week" is a more interesting accomplishment than "jogging", and "playing classical piano in a local performance group" is more interesting than "music". If you belong to any professional associations, speak any languages fluently, or have any unusual hobbies that are pertinent to your career objectives, this optional category allows you to mention it.
A personal data section is also optional, and is becoming less a standard part of the resume. You may include date of birth, marital status, citizenship, and security clearance if applicable. Do not include height, weight, color of hair or eyes, or health condition.
The reference section is the last element of the resume. As we stated at the beginning, it is customary to state: "References are available on request." Just be sure that you come to the interview with a typed list of good references. Good references are people who respect you, who are knowledgeable about your abilities and accomplishments, and equally important, who like you. It is well-advised to think carefully about who you want to use, and to ask their permission.
Beverly Seppey, of Foote, Cone & Belding, explained most clearly how references are used. "We always check references," she stated. "We want to find out as much as possible about the applicant. We ask about strengths and weaknesses, character, ability to get on with other people, reliability, punctuality, attendance. How ambitious, how motivated, how connected the person is to doing well. We want to see a high level of responsibility, terrific performance no matter what the job is."
As you can see, even though professional recruiters may differ on the specifics, they seem to agree on the basics. The value of including their comments, however, is to let you know that different people will view your resume differently. There is no one right way to present your back ground; the rules are not etched in stone. The resume is like every other element of the job search process - you'll have to work on it, refine it, and maybe even change it as you go along and as your career objectives become clearer to you. After all, there are dozens of different ways you can present your background, depending upon the job you are seeking, and which skills you want to highlight. For example, if you're a history major who wants a career in computer sales, your resume should be different than that of a history major who wants a career as a researcher. That's because the sales manager who will be reading your resume will have different needs than the research department head who will be reading the resume of your fellow graduate.
This is not to say that the format of your resume should be different, just the substance. While one resume will highlight research, writing, and academic skills, the other will highlight leadership, achievement, and people skills. And yet, there will also be some similarities in the two resumes. Both employers will be looking for a well-written, well-organized, and well-laid out document that is presented in a generally accepted resume format.
Now that you're familiar with the eight elements of the resume, you can see it's not that complex a procedure. However, that doesn't mean that writing a resume is easy. Writing a good resume takes time.
But when you think of all the hours you spent in college, writing term papers that were not important to you, you'll realize that this is time well-spent. Since your resume is an integral part of the job search campaign, it may be one of the most important documents you'll ever write. With that in mind, you should write it and rewrite it until you feel it's first-rate. Once you're satisfied with the content, look at the way it's laid out. Is it easy to read? Is the text centered and balanced on the page? Have you eliminated all spelling, grammar, and typographical errors? If you're satisfied that everything looks okay, then type it up and have someone else look at it. If the career counselor at school is someone whose opinion you respect, show it to him or her. If not, show it to a friend or contact who's got a good job, and see what they think about it. Or show it to a professor on campus. An outsider's opinion is very important. It will help you look at what you've done more objectively.
Typing it
When you get to the point where you have a final draft that you feel comfortable with, it's time to type it. If you're a good typist and you have access to a good typewriter with a clean ribbon, type it yourself. If you're a lousy typist, or if you don't have access to a good typewriter, hire a professional typist. Many typists advertise in college newspapers or local printing establishments, or are listed in the Yellow Pages. They charge an hourly or flat rate, and since your resume shouldn't be any longer than one page, it's a relatively easy job.
Reproducing it
Because of the advent of some excellent photocopying equipment, resumes can now be copied as well as printed. The decision is usually a question of quantity, rather than quality. If you plan to reproduce 150 resumes, you may find that it's cheaper to have them printed on an offset press. If you only want 50 copies, it will probably be less expensive to have them photocopied. One word of caution, however, if you choose to photocopy: the key to success is finding a copy center that knows resumes and has the latest copiers. Resumes done on a poor ma chine are not acceptable, and the money you save won't be worth the price you pay.
Whether you choose copying or printing, the cost of reproducing a resume is dependent on two variables: the paper you pick, and the number of resumes you want printed. It is generally a good idea to pick the best quality of paper available, usually a 20-weight bond, in white or off-white. Colored paper is not a great idea, even though some people would say it makes your resume stand out. Your resume should stand out because of its quality, not its color.
