Resume Format

A mini resume contains a brief summary of your career highlights and qualifications. It can be used for networking purposes or shared upon request with a prospective employer or reference writer who may want an overview of your accomplishments, rather than a full length resume.

A resume profile is a section of a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) that includes a brief summary of an applicant's skills, experiences and goals as they relate to a specific job opening. It is typically several sentences or a short paragraph that highlights an applicant's objectives and ambitions for his or her next job.

Resume profiles are the first opportunity to highlight a person's relevant career experiences, skills and what goals they are looking to achieve while in his or her next position. Well-written resume profiles are concise yet informative.

An info-graphic resume uses visuals including images, photos, graphs, charts and other graphics to provide information about a job seeker. Info-graphics can be shared with connections and prospective employers and pinned to P-interest.

They are like traditional resumes in that they convey similar information such as contact information, previous work experience and related skills.

Use white, off-white or pale gray. These are conservative colors that will not compete with the content of your resume.

A resume headline (also known as a resume title) is a brief phrase that highlights your value as a candidate. Located at the top of your resume under your name and contact information , a headline allows a recruiter to see quickly and concisely what makes you the right person for the job.

Resume headlines are ideal for candidates with lots of experience, a headline offers a way to condense your skills and work experience into a brief phrase to quickly impress the hiring manager. However, less experienced applicants can also use headlines to highlight personal attributes.

Reserve underlined text for web links. If you need to emphasize something, use bold or a different font size instead.

A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent positions listed first because it focuses on most recent work experiences, it is considered one of the most common resume structures.

A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. It is typically used by job seekers who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history. In this way, specific skills and capabilities are emphasized to highlight the potential employee's competency.

Use no more than two fonts styles-one for headings and the other for body text. More than that is distracting.

Use bold carefully and consistently. For example, if you bold the name of one company you have worked for, do it in all cases.

Use the same amount of space before and after headings, between bullets etc. This gives your resume a uniform look.

Bulleted text allows you to break down complex information into readable chunks and also highlight key points.

Your reader should be able to quickly locate key areas on your resume, such as education, without extensive searching.

Lots of white space makes text easier to read. Text that is too dense may discourage time-pressed readers from reading further.

The content of your resume is by far the most important factor. But design is important too for a couple of reasons:

☛ Your resume must be easy to read, and good design makes that possible. Design calls attention to key sections of your resume, such as work experience and education.

☛ A well-designed resume reflects positively on your skills. Sloppy or careless design may give a negative impression, even if you are well-qualified.

There are several techniques you can use to create a highly readable and attractive resume which are given below:

☛ White space

☛ Better-quality paper (print)

☛ Neutral color (print)

☛ Bullets

☛ Selective use of bold

☛ No underlining (except links)

☛ Consistent spacing

☛ Easy-to-scan headings

☛ Limited number of fonts

Although most companies will be able to handle your resume in Word format, occasionally you may need to have a plain-text resume that is been stripped of formatting. To create one, follow these steps:

☛ Copy your resume into a plain text editor like Notepad, which should be available as an accessory on your computer. Most of the formatting should be gone.

☛ Change any remaining bullets to asterisks and space once after the asterisk.

☛ For your main section headings, such as Work Experience, change to all caps so the headings stand out.

☛ Add spacing between sections as necessary for readability.

Including a resume objective can convince employers that you know what you want and are familiar with the job, the industry and the company.

If you include an objective on your resume, it is important to tailor the resume objective to match the job you are applying for. The more specific you are, the better chance you have of being considered for the job you are interested in.

Certain information should not be revealed to employers, on the grounds you might be exposing yourself to potential discrimination. Your age and marital status should be left off. Also your religion and country of origin.

You may be asked:

☛ Why you chose Syracuse?

☛ Your major or any of the other details of your academic choices?

These questions help an interviewer assess your career focus and decision-making and how you achieve your goals.