Resume Preparation Tips If you are seeking a new job, you cannot afford to be without a well-prepared resume.

While writing an effective resume can often be one of the most difficult aspects of job hunting, following a few basic rules will make building and improving your resume less onerous.

The Basics The objective of a resume is to sell your skills to a prospective employer, or at least generate enough interest to enable you to obtain an interview. Ask yourself "What are the main attributes that I have to offer an employer?", then make sure that these are covered in your resume. Stick to the facts and avoid over-embellishment, but don't be afraid to include all relevant factors that indicate your capability to do the job. Keep the resume concise; it should rarely exceed three letter-sized pages. Use clear, precise language and ensure that all spelling is accurate and that there are no grammatical errors. It is a wise idea to have someone with good language skills proofread the document before you make copies. (Grammatical and typographical errors make a powerful negative impression!) Always strive for a clear, uncluttered look. Your resume should generally contain information under the following categories:

Personal Information List your full name, address and home telephone number. If it is appropriate for people to contact you at your present employment, provide your business number and local, if applicable. Also provide a fax number and/or e-mail address if available. (Under Canadian legislation, your date of birth, marital status and number of dependents are considered privileged information, access to which a prospective employer is not entitled. Therefore, we generally recommend they be omitted.)

Career Objective The objective gives focus to your resume. If you are seeking a challenging middle-management position, an entry-level position, or a career change, then say so. Don't leave the employers to guess what you are looking for. Be realistic. This isn't the time to talk about advancement potential or your long

term plan.

Overview / Skills Summary It may be beneficial for you to highlight your skills early in your resume. Depending upon your field, you could list the specific computer software, the styles of accounting systems in which you have experience, size of budget controlled, supervisory experience, foreign languages, sales awards received, etc.

Education List all formal post-secondary education, giving emphasis only to that which is relevant. If you have attended a university, community college, etc., note the dates attended, degrees or diplomas granted, and the major subjects taken. If you are currently enrolled in a program of studies, indicate what level and/or mention the courses completed (or exempted) to date. If you hold a professional designation, note the date of qualification or admission. Other relevant courses include computer software, management training, sales and marketing, etc. (Be careful when listing self-help or personal development courses, not all employers see these as relevant.)

Employment History (Experience) Although functional resumes (which list your lifetime of responsibilities jumbled into one section) are in style with job clubs and trade schools, we urge you to avoid them. The vast majority of employers consistently prefer the more specific chronological format. List each of your full-time positions since graduating from high school or university in reverse chronological order; that is, put the most recent first. For each position held, state the name of the company, location, nature of business, your title, and the dates employed. List your duties and responsibilities and note any significant achievements. Account for any significant gaps between employment. If you took six months off to travel, say so. Try and tie in any periods where you were engaged in full-time studies.

Other Information Use this section to convey any other facts which you would like a prospective employer to know, such as "Willing to Travel" or "Willing to Relocate", etc.

Hobbies & Outside Interests This section is optional, but can be useful since employers sometimes identify with people who have similar interests. (Religious and political information fall under the same legislative umbrella as personal information, so we recommend that you refrain from listing them on your resume as well.)

References Under this heading, simply state that business and personal "references will be supplied upon request". This will avoid unnecessary inconvenience to your references by ensuring that they will be contacted only with serious inquiries.