Education

Start with your most recent certificate, diploma, or degree program, including degree, name of the school and its location, number of years you attended, major field of study or some courses you took, and grades or average grades.

Work Experience

The record of your professional experience shows how well you've performed
in the past and indicates to the prospective employer how you'll do in the future. Write down what you did at each job, including responsibilities, major accomplishments, and duties you performed. Try to group your duties and skills into three or four general skill areas. You can list the number of years worked, positions held, and organization names and locations in a section called Relevant Skills and Experience. Starting with the most recent employer, describe your work history by listing the name of the organization where you're currently employed and then previous employments. Include dates of employment, positions held (job titles), responsibilities, and accomplishments.

Honors and Achievements

If you have been awarded scholarships or work-related or sports awards or honors, include them in this section.

Additional Highlights

You can add further résumé sections so as to highlight achievements, extracurricular activities, and special skills. Examples are sections called Community and Technical Services, Volunteer Experience, Military Experience, Special Training, Leadership Experience, Special Skills and Interests, Research Experience, and Personal Interests (of a nonreligious nature). Even such an expression as "Training in firefighting" or "Training in first aid" can make a big difference in your favor.

Also list your memberships in professional and nonprofessional organizations. Memberships in professional associations show your commitment to a career field; memberships in nonprofessional organizations demonstrate other, wider interests that say you're well-rounded.

Do not include a reference list with your résumé, but do state the following, centered, at the end of the résumé:

References available on request.

That way prospective employers can inquire about you. Be sure to ask your references in advance for their permission to include them on your list so that when they're contacted to speak on your behalf with a prospective employer, they're prepared to describe your (great!) qualities. If you learn that they were contacted, send a message of thanks.

Important Factors

A résumé should be concise and specific. If possible, limit your résumé to a maximum of two or three pages. Your résumé should say the most about you in the fewest words. There should be a reason for everything in it. Leave out personal information such as race, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, and political and religious affiliations. The only time to include photographs is in a very extensive portfolio and if the job description requires it.

Be careful not to include a large number of jobs even if you have had a large number of jobs. Try to keep the employment section relevant or specific to the position you're seeking.

Be both precise and truthful about all information you're providing; incorrect or false information could become a reason for termination once you're on the job.

And there's usually no need to use fancy binders or folders; they add nothing to the résumé's substance.

Consult a reliable and experienced editorial services company that offers résumé writing services because such professional editorial and writing services can make your résumé stand out from others.

About the author

PAULA PLANTIER is a recognized expert in the field of executive resume review and resume writing services.