Purpose

The purpose of your resume is to obtain an invitation for you to interview with an employer. It is a tool that markets you and your abilities. Your resume is the packaging that provides potential employers information about your background, education, professional work experience, skills and accomplishments. It must look good and be mistake free. To perform an effective job for you your resume must meet acceptable business criteria. Keep it short, one to two pages and avoid using "I", "me," "my," or "we".

Format

Resume formats vary but one that is most acceptable in our market today follows this format:

• Name - Your First, Middle Initial and Last Name
• Address - Where you currently live
• Telephone - Numbers where you can be reached at home or work and cell phone.
• Email address
• Career Summary - Brief, three to four lines of clear and concise information about what you do. Example:

Thirteen years experience in accounts receivables, inputting payments, crediting accounts and completing bills to customers. Solid understanding of accounting fundamentals and principles. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Effective team player with the ability to work independent. Advanced skills and understanding of computer software including: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Access and Power Point.

• Employment History - Name of Company, location, date of employment and position held. Example:

  Bendix Corporation, Nashville Tennessee - August, 1995 to Present
  Accounts Receivables Supervisor - March, 2001 to Present
  Accounts Receivables Clerk - August, 1995 to March, 2001

  • The type of information that follows your job title must be crisp, factual and without any misrepresentation or statement that cannot be proven. Example:

    Promoted from accounts receivables to supervisor of accounts receivables and perform daily accounting function of recording customer payments, inputting payment information into company specific software. Generate on weekly basis excel spreadsheet of current and delinquent customer payments.

• Accomplishments - NOTE - Saving in verifiable percentages, dollars or time - use facts and figures. Example:

  Supervise 4 person staff and meet all scheduled financial report deadlines.
  Collected 35% more in delinquent funds in 2004 than 2003.

• Education - Example:

  Bachelors Degree in Business, University of Tennessee

• Special Training / Seminars
• Professional Organizations - Example:

  National Society of Accounting

Resume Don'ts

• Attach photograph
• Use odd size or brightly colored paper
• Include references or the statement "references available upon request"
• Include personal data about your age, health, marital status, height, weight, hobbies, ethnic, religious or cultural affiliations.
• Use fancy binders
• Mention any salary information
• Use abbreviations, acronyms, or buzz words where any misunderstanding may result
• Overcrowd your pages
• Use any less than 10-point font
• Any ornate fonts (Only use Times New Roman or Aril font)

Interview Tips

Printable Resume Tips ( file requiring Word or Word Viewer)

Printable Resume Tips ( file requiring Acrobat Reader)