How to Write an Effective Resume - Essay Example

Your resume could therefore be the reason why you get or do not get a job. That is why you need to take time to make sure that you have written an effective one (Sarada, 42)

1. The first thing in writing a good resume is to know your area of specialization. It will be beneficial to do some research about the career field that you intend to pursue, what qualifications are needed for your desired jobs, and how to effectively market your skills.
2. The second step is to understand the different types of resumes. There are four main categories namely; functional, chronological, targeted, and combination.

• The chronological type focuses mainly on your employment history, your most recent job position is usually slotted for the first position and the rest follow chronologically. This resume type is used when you want your prospective employers to follow through with career development through the years.
• The functional resume mainly focuses on your experiences and skills. The skills are typically grouped into functional areas. This type of resume is best used when you want to change a job or if you are trying to fit a gap in your company.
• As the name may suggest, a combination resume is a combination of both the functional and the chronological types. This resume will therefore highlight the competencies and provide chronological work history that you deem suitable for the employer.
• The other type of resume is the targeted one. This is usually prepared to target a specific job. The job seeker will therefore edit the resume to fit the employer’s needs. The objective or vision statement in this resume must refer directly to the vacant position being applied for.
• A hybrid resume refers to a resume that has borrowed from almost all the other types of resumes and doesn’t stand out as a given type of resume.

          The rule of thumb in selecting the best type of resume to use is choosing the type that will best reflect how your skills match the vacancy you are applying for. The table below looks at some of the important differences between the different common resume types.

          Most companies prefer hard-copy resumes to electronic ones. The hard copy resume is typically mailed, faxed, or even hand-delivered to the company premises. Most employers will also require that you carry it to the interview room if you are shortlisted. There are some important things to keep in mind before you print out the resume.

• Readability- You should always use fonts that are easily readable. This also includes the font colors used. In addition, you should space your paragraphs well to ensure the text is not too squeezed.
• Precise- Keep your resume as short as possible. 1-2 pages are the recommended length. Human resource professionals have to go through lots of applications and they do not have the time for perusing through very lengthy resumes.
• No typos – You should always take some time to go through your resume to ensure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes. Such mistakes may be interpreted by the managers as carelessness.
• Writing style- you should always use the first person in the resume since you are talking about yourself.