Purpose of a Resume

The primary purpose of your resume is to show the employer that you have the skills and meet the requirements for the role you’re applying to. Tailoring your resume is critical to showing the employer your alignment with the role.

Additionally, your resume;

• Presents a point form summary of your knowledge, skills and experience
• Shows a batch between you and the position requirements/qualifications
• “Sells” your unique qualities and skills so you stand out from the competition

What Employers Look for on Your Resume

1. Knowledge: Your subject matter expertise and knowledge about specific areas and/or content, policies, procedures etc.
1. What you KNOW
2. Skills: Your ability to perform a task through practice and experience
1.  What you CAN DO
3. Attributes: Your personality characteristics and processes
1. HOW you get things done

Basic Resume Content

Your resume should include some or all of the sections listed below, depending on your experience and the requirements of the role. Use the Resume Building Tool below to assist in your resume development.

• Contact Information - required
• Summary
• Skills - required
• Professional experience - required
• Educations - required
• Formal education
• Professional development
• Volunteer Work
• Memberships/associations
• Awards

Accomplishment Statements

The content on your resume, specifically the bullet points in your skills section (if applicable) and in your experience sections should be presented as Accomplishment Statements:

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SKILL: What skill did you showcase? This should be a skill related to the position that you’re applying to
HOW: What steps, actions, process did you use?
IMPACT: What was the result, outcome, importance etc.

The Importance of Numbers

Quantifying accomplishments is a great way to stand out.

Time/Money $: 

• Length of a project
• Hours worked
• Years of experience
• Amount of budget managed/used/responsible for
• Reduction in cost
• Increase in sales

Tasks:

• Events coordinated annually
• Number of people hired
• Web pages developed
• Reports produced 

People:

• Staff supervised
• Size of team
• Number of clients 
• Stakeholders consulted with

Equipment/Software:

• Specialized technical knowledge
  
  

Additional Resources

• Below you will find our [CQ] Resume Building Tool (if you haven't already completed/submitted this on the homepage). This tool will assist you in;
• Identifying your value proposition and highlighting key aspects of your brand
• Landing interviews for positions you know will prove to be personally rewarding
• Having a very clear idea of your key brand attributes, helping you identify what your network and decision-makers need to know to see you as the perfect fit for suitable positions
• Determining the core messages you need to be communicating — on paper, on screen, and face to face. 
• Helping our resume writers to understand your target job as well as your work accomplishments and achievements