First Steps to Writing Your Resume

For many people, the disciplineand effort required to bring their resume together makes them want to put off the task altogether. The best way to tackle things is to structure your approach, making it as painless as possible. The first step is to collate all the information you have regarding your education, work experience and other skills and talents.

1. Gathering Your Information

Before you put pen to paper, make sure that you are fully prepared for the task of writing your resume by gathering all the information that you think might be relevant. This could include:

• Proof of training courses you have been on.
• Certificates from your formal education.
• Articles you have written.
• Any testimonials written about you.
• Addresses and phone numbers of your potential referees.
• Anything else that you might refer to in your resume.

2. Listing Your Experience

The next task is to make a detailed chronological list of your total work experience, for your own reference. This list will keep you from forgetting anything important in your professional history. For each job you have had, complete the following:

Company name and location:
Job Title:
From:
To:
Your line manager's name and title:
You were responsible for:
Your key achievements were:
Starting salary:
Finishing salary:
Extra benefits:
What attracted you to this job?
What was your reason for leaving?
Who could provide a good reference for you?

3. Summarizing Your Educational Details

University/College:
Dates:
Course of study:
Degree received:
Date:

High school:
Year you left:
Qualifications gained:

4. Noting Down Your Vocational Training

Course:
Date:
Certificate:

5. Do You Have Any Special Talents?

Languages: (degree of fluency)
Other skills: (programming, word processing, writing, etc.)

6. Listing Any Associations:

Professional:
Social:

7. Finally, Do You Have Any Hobbies?

All finished? Well done! You've just made a great start to putting your resume together and you'll find that this list will make the remaining tasks so much easier.