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| by Human Resources Development Canada, |
Aug 20, 2001 |
Your cover letter and resumé should always be works-in-progress. Tailoring them to fit each situation and job will definitely help you stand out from the crowd.
Your resumé and cover letter are your own personal marketing tools. They should make you stand out from the crowd so that the employer will want to invite you in for an interview. While you may spend hours writing and refining your resumé and cover letter, the employer will only take a minute from his or her busy schedule to look at them. With this in mind, ask yourself how you can best get your message across to each potential employer.Resumés usually contain the following elements:
- contact information
- career objective
- skills and/or accomplishments
- work experience
- education
- a statement about references.
While there are many formats you can use, the functional resumé format — which focuses on skills and accomplishments rather than on work history — is most appropriate for people with limited work experience.
Even if you don't have any work experience, you can sell yourself by highlighting some of the skills and attributes you identified in your personal skills profile. (See the sample resumé for ideas on how to do this.)
If you're not sure how to write a resumé, or just want feedback, the staff at your local HRDC office or HRDC Office for Students can help you. You can talk to staff individually or attend a group information session, where you and other job seekers can learn more about writing a resumé. There are many other helpful resources — including Web sites like Canadian Careers.
Resumé Tips - Make sure it's neat, uncluttered and easy to read.
- Use quality paper — white is best.
- Keep it short — one or two pages maximum.
- Use dynamic words — like organized, completed, designed — to describe your skills and experience.
- Ensure that the most important information stands out and is positioned near the top of the page.
- Customize your resumé to suit the specific job you're applying for.
- Have others check it for spelling or grammatical errors.
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Dynamic Words
Verbs That Work
Accomplished
Achieved
Completed
Communicated
Created
Delivered
Designed
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Developed
Directed
Established
Founded
Instructed
Managed
Operated |
Organized
Participated
Prepared
Produced
Provided
Repaired
Supervised
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Example Resumé:
J.P. ROY
68 Pine Street
Cooksville, ON P7A 5X3
(919) 555-1234
Performance-oriented high-school student, with an excellent reputation as a responsible and hard-working achiever, seeking a retail position in the fashion industry
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
- People-oriented
- Motivated
- Committed
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Honest
- Reliable
- Organized
- Methodical
- Creative problem-solver
WORK/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
1999-2000 Cooksville Soccer Association (Assistant Coach)
- Instructed and supervised junior team
- Performed administrative tasks for coach as required
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