Resume Format

The way we're taught to prepare our resumes in high school is totally outdated and it can be rather embarrassing submitting such a shoddy piece of work to a potential employer.

Probably the most important thing to remember is to be as succinct as possible, and to tailor each resume you submit very specifically to each particular company.

There are a few general areas you should always address in your resume:

Career Profile/Summary/Objective - a brief overview of who you are, what your best skills are and the type of position you are seeking.

Education and Training - only the most relevant education and training should be included, for example if you are a 50 year old Manager with a Business degree, you don't need to include your high school details, unless you've been asked for it.

Professional Experience - start from your most recent and work backwards - only go back 10-15 years in a resume and make sure you include specific achievements at each position.

Expertise/Achievements - this section can include awards, successful projects, specific skills you possess - remember you are trying to market yourself as a valuable asset.

Computer Skills - this becomes more important depending on the industry you are applying to, for example an IT Graduate will need to include this, but a plumber may not.

Other sub-headings might include Community Service, Relevant Work Experience, Projects - depending on the type of position, however there is usually NO need to include personal information such as date of birth, marital status and interests.

The order of your resume is important as well - if you are a graduate your education and training will be the most important item, whereas your professional experience will be more relevant if you've been in the workforce for a number of years.

Visit Super Resume Secrets to learn more and get resume examples.