Questions and Answers about a Resume

Resumes that get read are usually one-page long, organized, clean, and essy to look at:

Q: How do I create a resume like that?

A: Give your resume a KISS (Keep It Short and Simple), try to limit it to one page with brief sentences, under 12 words when possible (Do not write in paragraphs). Don't metion or list personal preferances, salary, wages, and artwork/ photos irrelevant to the job; this means no pictures of you. Finally don't exaggerate just be truthful, use standard size white paper, and keep the use of mulitple or fancy fonts to a minimum (standard fonts help you more than fancy).

Q: So, I should try to include my life's history?

A: NO. Don't clutter your resume. A resume is not an autobiogtaphy, It's a sales brochure. Only include those things which relate to the job you are seeking, things which demonstrate your ability to do the work.

Q: Does my resume have to follow a certain format?

A: NO. There is no official format, you can set up a resume any way you like. Some people only have resumes that list their skills and abilities, others put down only work experience, and some choose to just list accomplishments. A general rule though is to do what you have to show that you're qalified to do a job (usually this is a resume that combines a little of every category talked about above), and YES this means having a generic resume that you can change for EVERY job you apply to instead of applying to a bunch of different places with the same resume.

Q: How should I handle things like being fired, laid off, or serving time?

A: If you were fired from a job put the job on your resume still, but don't say that you were fired your not required to tell them unless asked up front. If you were laid-off from a job, put the job in your resume, being laid-off is nothing to be ashamed of. If you were incarcerated, please understand that there are people that will hire you, and people that won't. You'll have to put in a little extra effort to find the ones who will. So, include your training and work experience in your resume and list the facility as your employer.