Creating A Resume

[Senecia]

Hey all, I posted a thread a while ago about being hopeless with returning to work.

I've been looking at resume how-to's, but it's no different each time. List what you've done, and your skills. I personally feel that I have none, but I know that's not the case. My fiance pointed out that knowing how to proficiently use a computer is a big skill...so I've got that going for me. It's just, I'm not very good at seeing positive things about myself. I know that's required to write a resume because I have to sell myself as a good employee. Ugh.

I feel this was the best place to start a thread.
What techniques do you all have for writing a resume - specifically finding your skills and positive traits?

 

[moonbeam]

Resumes should be entirely factual. No opinions. Don't add things like attention to detail, etc. All the bragging stuff belongs in your cover letter.

Your CV should have contacting you details, any education (If it was recent it should be at top or more recent then your last work experience it should be on top, if it was more then 5 years ago it should be on bottom). Work experience should be listed by employer/job title and should contain a bit about the job but also a bit about how you did the job well.

Um finding positives can be difficult but I usually start at one job and try to think of the things I liked doing and that usually helps.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

Factual yes, but the hot thing right now is actually a skill-based resume, rather than one that emphasizes work experience.

When I was in school, my career-services office actually had a list called "skills you might have." It was incredibly helpful - looks like there are now such lists online that you could google. Just go down one and check things off, and then you have a starting point of what to include.

 

[Friday]

I've worked in several different fields (wildly different)... So I tailor my resume towards what job I'm applying for. Jobs often conveniently list out their minimum & hoped for requirements. If I qualify for the job, there's usually a reason for it ;) So I list out those positions that supply the reason, all neat and orderly.

 

[moonbeam]

What Friday said is exactly right.

Factual yes, but the hot thing right now is actually a skill-based resume, rather than one that emphasizes work experience.

Hmm I wonder if this is a difference of countries or CV/Resume. Here its more desirable to have an achievements based. So a small bit about your role. And then a bit about how you did it well. Its also desirable to have numbers based qualifies, like overseeing a team of x number of employees, answering x phone calls a day, providing IT support for x size company. With the number being an average/estimation. So hiring managers can get a feel for the scope of the work. I used to love it when I got these types of CV. I hated the ones with lots of skills listed. Don't list that you have the skills show me where you used the skills and used them well.