A Trinity College London Registered Examination Centre
Writing a resume in English can be very different than in your native tongue. The following how to outlines a standard resume format.
Difficulty Level: Hard Time Required: 2 hours
Here’s How:
- First, take notes on your work experience – both paid and unpaid, full time and part time. Write down your responsibilities, job title and company information. Include everything!
- Take notes on your education. Include degree or certificates, major or course emphasis, school names and courses relevant to career objectives.
- Take notes on other accomplishments. Include membership in organizations, military service and any other special accomplishments.
- From the notes, choose which skills are transferable (skills that are similar) to the job you are applying for – these are the most important points for your resume.
- Begin resume by writing your full name, address, telephone number, fax and email at the top of the resume.
- Write an objective. The objective is a short sentence describing what type of work you hope to obtain.
- Begin work experience with your most recent job. Include the company specifics and your responsibilities – focus on the skills you have identified as transferable.
- Continue to list all of your work experience job by job progressing backwards in time. Remember to focus on skills that are transferable.
- Summarize your education, including important facts (degree type, specific courses studied) that are applicable to the job you are applying for.
- Include other relevant information such as languages spoken, computer programming knowledge etc. under the heading: Additional Skills
- Finish with the phrase: REFERENCES Available upon request
- Your entire resume should ideally not be any longer than one page. If you have had a number of years of experience specific to the job you are applying for, two pages are also acceptable.
- Spacing: ADDRESS (center of page in bold) OBJECTIVE double space EXPERIENCE double space EDUCATION double space ADDITIONAL SKILLS double space REFERENCES. Left align everything except name/address.
Tips:
- Use dynamic action verbs such as: accomplished, collaborated, encouraged, established, facilitated, founded, managed, etc.
- Do NOT use the subject „I“, use tenses in the past. Except for your present job. Example: Conducted routine inspections of on site equipment.