A resume is a brief, written summary of your skills and experience. It is an overview of who you are and a tool to present yourself to employers. The goal of a well-written resume is to gain a job interview. Job interviews may lead to employment!

Employers and personnel managers are very busy and tend to rapidly review resumes. Therefore, your resume must quickly catch the employer's attention. Writing a brief, to the point description of your experience and skills can do this. Tell the truth on your resume. Write your resume to describe how your skills will meet the employer's needs.

When applying for a job, read the job advertisement or announcement very carefully. Then customize your resume by writing up your skills to describe and match what the employer is looking for. It is helpful to describe your experience and skills by using some of the same words the employer used in the job advertisement.

Preparing to Write Your Resume

Writing a resume requires a little time and planning. However, it is well worth the effort. It is a good idea to begin by writing a master resume. Having an attractive resume on hand that stresses your strongest skills, better prepares you to attend job fairs and respond to a large number of jobs advertised in newspapers and on the Internet.

Get organized! Before beginning to write your resume:

• Gather information on your past employment: employer names and addresses, and dates of employment.
• Gather information for personal references: names and addresses.
• Research information on the employer. 
• Select a quiet area to gather your thoughts and begin working on your resume.
• Decide what type of resume suits you best: chronological, functional, or technical. 

Resume Tips:

• Make your resume short (one page, if possible, two pages at most).
• Use white paper.
• Type your resume on a computer, when possible. (If you do not have access to a computer visit your local Job Service office, One-Stop Career Center, or local public library for help.)
• Use action words to describe your work skills. (See "Action Words" below.)
• Stress skills, knowledge, and abilities that fulfill the job requirements.
• Be specific about accomplishments, but do not stretch the truth.
• Make it attractive.
• Emphasize most recent jobs.
• Proofread it for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors.
• If possible, have someone else check your resume for errors.
• Save references and personal data for the interview.
• Avoid date of birth.
• Avoid salaries or the reason for leaving the last job.
• Ask yourself "Would I interview this person?"
• Keep your resume current.

  Below is a great list of action verbs that are often used to emphasize talents and skills in resume:

  	Various Skills Achieved Arranged Built Collected Contributed Delivered Designed Dispatched Examined Improved Increased Informed Maintained Organized Performed Purchased Prepared Scheduled Supervised Trained	Technical Skills Assembled Balanced Built Calculated Cut Designed Detected Developed Formed Generated Inspected Installed Maintained Molded Operated Packaged Processed Remodeled	Sales Skills Accomplished Arbitrated Budgeted Computed Consulted Demonstrated Dissuaded Exceeded Forecasted Generated Increased Influenced Marketed Ordered Persuaded Produced Projected Promoted Realized Saved Sold
  	Communication Skills Addressed Authored Clarified Created Demonstrated Drafted Presented Persuaded Proofread Reported	Clerical Skills Assigned Balanced Catalogued Charted Compiled Composed Distributed Edited Followed up Identified Ordered Planned Prepared Recorded	Helping Skills Assisted Attended Comforted Consoled Encouraged Facilitated Guided Helped Nursed Reassured Served Supported Tutored