STANDARD SECTIONS

For an example click on either the functional or chronological resume.
Name and Address Block
Include name, full address, and phone number, and e-mail address.

Objective
Your objective tells the employer what type of position, occupation or career field you are pursuing. Keep it short and simple. Tailor the objective to the position and be specific.

Sample: A position as a ________. (Insert position/title of job you are applying for.)

Qualifications or Summary
Here you present a snapshot of the skills you want to highlight and advertise to the employer. Getting the resume reader's attention in the top third of the page will encourage them to read the rest of the resume.

• A qualifications section lists skills or buzzwords for the employer to scan over.
• A summary is a brief paragraph that describes your most marketable skills.

Computer/Technical Skills
This section is optional. However, for jobs requiring software, hardware or programming skills, draw special attention to those skills and list them towards the beginning of your resume.

Employment/Experience History

CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT

• List your employment experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job.
• List the company name, city and state, job title, and dates of employment (i.e. 1998 - 2000).
• For each company, write three to six statements describing your duties in that position. Start each statement with an action verb; avoid the phrase "responsible for." List these job duties in order of importance relative to your current job objective.
• Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, if you saved the company money, or you increased the customer base by a significant percentage, include it.

FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

• List your employment experience by a few major "skill categories." Here are some examples of skill categories:
  A project manager might use: management, administration, written and oral communication.
  An accountant might use: accounting, financial analysis, business management.
  A PC support specialist might use: systems design and implementation, maintenance contracts, training.

Following each "skill category," write about six statements describing the various activities you have done. These activities could have occurred anytime throughout your career and should be listed in order of importance, rather than chronologically. Start each of these statements with an action verb; avoid the phrase "responsible for." Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, if you saved the company money, or you increased the customer base by a significant percentage, include it.

Next, add a "Work History" section. List your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent job. Include position title, company name, city and state and dates of employment (i.e. 1998 - 2001).

Education/Training
List:

• Educational achievements, starting with your highest academic achievement.
• Professional development certificates, continuing education classes and college coursework (even if you did not receive a certificate or degree).

Note:
Include the degree or certificate name, the name of educational institutions attended and its city and state. List education without graduation dates, which can indicate your age. However, if you have recently obtained technical education or credentials, listing graduation dates can work in your favor by showing the employer that you have the most recent technical knowledge.

Licenses/Professional Affiliations
This section is optional. Include any current licenses and memberships to professional affiliations that are relevant to your current resume and job search objective.

Example: California RN License 
               Certified in CPR and Red Cross First Aid
               American Association of Accounting Executives, member