How to write Resume and Cover Letter.

Chronological format of the resume clearly identifies dates, job titles, and the names of employers. Education credentials and job experience are arranged in a time line, starting with the most recent and going backward, ultimately listing the first job last. The placement of dates next to facts makes reference checking simple. You should choose the chronological format if you’re looking for your first job after attending or graduating from high school. It’s a good choice because with it employers can get a handle on the skills you have based on your major and your summer and part-time work experiences.
The second format, a functional resume, is less widely accepted and understood by employers. In it, the main section is composed of areas of expertise followed by a brief work history section and an education section. It is best used by career changers.
The third format option is a combination chronological/functional resume. The primary advantage of a functional resume, its analysis of your strengths by area of expertise, is added to a chronological resume, often as a second page. Why use this format? It’s a way to emphasize groups of skills or experience that can help the resume reader more readily see why you are qualified for a position.
With a chronological format, sections of information should be listed in the following order:
• Identification (name, address, phone number0
• Job Objective (optional)
• Summary of Qualifications (optional)
• Education
• Work Experience
• Activities or professional Involvements/Affiliations (optional)
• Skills (optional)
• Interests
The exception to this sequence is the resume of a job hunter with full-time job experience that postdates attending school or receiving a degree. In that case, the Work Experience section should come before the Education section.
IDENTIFICATION
• Your full name (a formal name rather than a nickname).
• Your permanent address (street number and name, apartment number, city, state, and zip code).
• Your phone number.
No other personal information – social security number, birth date, marital status, number of dependents, health status, height, weight, or other physical characteristics – should be included.
JOB OBJECTIVE
It is useful when sending your resume to an employer who is receiving resumes for more than one type of position. It can be useful to the resume reviewer if you hope to do anything that is inconsistent with your educational credentials. If you decide to include a job objective on your resume, keep the following in mind.
• Speak not of what your employer can do for you, but what you can do for an employer.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
The cover letter has traditionally been the place where the job hunter has summarized his or her skills, experiences, and, sometimes, personal qualities.
EDUCATION
Start with the last school you attended or graduated from and list each entry in reverse chronological order, naming the first one you attended last. It is not necessary to include every school you ever attended. Entries should start with either the name of your degree or the name of the college.
• University name. Provide city and state.
• Degree received. A.A., B.A., B.S., M.B.A., and Ph.D. are easily recognized degrees; other degrees should be spelled out. If you are enrolled in a program but have not received your degree yet, you can express your status by including the date of expected graduation.
• Year degree was received.
• Major field of study, grade point average (if it is 3.0 or higher), and significant honors.
• Percentage of education you personally financed through scholarships, part-time work, or summer jobs. This kind of statement shows that you are a motivated person and that you can successfully juggle more than one commitment at a time – both highly prized qualities in today’s workplace.
• Special programs of study. If you spent a summer or semester studying or working in another country or in a special program, describe it briefly after you mention the name of the school and the program. Be sure that you mention the criterion used for your selection to the program.
• If you have received a certificate or degree for completing a program after you graduate from college or high school, that information should appear above the college or high school information.
Listing courses you took is not necessary. However, if they are relevant to the position you are looking for, you can mention them in a cover letter.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Other options for this section include employment, business history, work history, experience, employment experience, professional experience, and professional background. It should include:
• Job title
• Company name
• Dates of employment
It is not necessary to include:
• Headings that state categories (i.e. Job Title, Dates of Employment, Name of Employer, etc.)
• Address or phone number of the employer or the name and job title of your manager (they can be included on a separate reference sheet).
SKILLS
You have probably mentioned specific skills when describing your job responsibilities. Highlighting these in a separate section is optional, but it is a good idea if the are essential to landing the job you want.
ACTIVITIES
Including activities is always a good idea if you have space. It shows what you are interested in. It is also important to select a heading that announces the kind of information you are presenting. Some of the possibilities are:
• Extracurricular Activities
• Professional Activities
• Professional Memberships
• Community Activities
• Civic Activities
• Volunteer Work
INTERESTS
It is the one place to give the reader of your resume insight into who you are beyond your work identity. More than that, it provides a casual way for the interviewer to start a conversation. And it just may be that the employer shares one of your interests, which can only help you as a candidate.
REFERENCES
It is not necessary to include the line “References Available on Request” – that is the statement of the obvious. But you have to prepare a list of references on a separate piece of paper. It will be a god idea to take the list of references with you to the interview in case you are asked for them.
Do not tell white lies!
Design Your Resume.
1. Resume Length. A one-page resume is preferred because it shows the job hunter knows how to highlight and organize material, and there’s no chance that th3e second page will be lost.
2. Select the right typeface and point size.
3. Keep graphic elements minimal. To highlight your headings, use boldface, capital letters, italic, or underline. Use a line across the whole page only once – after the identification section.
4. Make a sophisticated paper choice.
5. Reproduce your resume so that each one looks like an original.
6. Check up for spelling mistakes.

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