Sherry Said:

How do I go about creating a resume?

We Answered:

Good luck in getting your first job. (=
I gained so much confidence, many friends, first love and many good memories from my first job when I was 16 from working at a movie theatre - even though the job itself wasn't glamourous or perfect, it was well worth the experience.

Writing a resume always seems intimidating - especially when you start writing your very first one - but you'll quickly learn that there isn't much to be intimidated about.

There are three types of resumes

1 - Chronological
These type of resumes are basically just a time-line of your work history - from most recent on top and oldest at the bottom. These type allow the employer to review your work history and experience.

2 - functional
These are more focused on skills and experience rather than work history, and is often used by people who are completely switching career paths.

3 - Combination
Combination combines both of them together - typically listing skills first and work history second. Considering you're trying for a first job, I'd recommend this one.

Work history doesn't need to be legit work - you can include past work-like experiences and volunteer work. Babysitting, charity, sports, junior achievers, school clubs, anything!

When you write your resume, make sure to avoid using words like "me" or "I". Instead of writing "I can type 70+ words per minute", write "Can type 70+ words per minute".

Do you have specific skills that make you stand out from the others that could potentially be useful in your workplace? Fast typing? Speak more than one language? Creative? Punctual? etc?

Don't use fancy fonts or colored paper or any of that - it doesn't at all leave a good impression. Don't be afraid of writing your name in a bigger font to make it stand out more, and remember to try to keep it at a 1 page limit (spilling a little on a second page sound be fine, but employers prefer shorter to-the-point resumes. Keep your references on a seperate page specified to them. (generally 3 of them is good)

So, you want:
Your name
Mailing address
Phone number
Email
-
Useful skills and personal qualities
(insert a few, maybe 5-10) ex: typing, languages, creativity, punctual, etc
-
Studies
Year you received or anticipate receiving your high school diploma/ + post secondary
School name
-
Extra-curricular activities
List some if you've participated in any, years active and such.
-
Work experience/Volunteering
Your most recent experience first.

It's also an idea to mention the functions of your work. Example, if you volunteered in a baking fundraiser, put your responsibilities in point format at the end of the other information :
- Baking
- Setting up the food
- Decorating
- Greeting people
- Collecting and counting money

Make sure to double and even triple spell-check, because a type or simple grammar mistake could be the thing that divides you from and equally qualified person.

If you're still not 100% sure how to go about applying, don't be scared to google for examples. Don't let yourself feel intimidated - you're just starting your working journey, and the styles of resumes vary greatly.

It's also a good idea to attach a cover letter - write your name and adress, your employer's name and adress, write a letter an sign it. I know, it sounds even more intimidating at first, but once you force yourself and write a couple, it gets much easier. This allows them to get to know you a bit more beyond the resume, and can help them warm up to you.
Write
- the name of the position you're applying for
- Why you'd like to work there (do a little but of research if you need to) - you can mention you appreciate their values - showing a little passion helps make you stand out, shows you know more, you'll likely fit in, you put an effort, you're not just dropping 20 random resumes. Employers also get bored of generic cover letters - they quickly become a bore - so if you say something like, "I one day aspire to be a chef", or "as young artist, I know I'll excel here at Michaels (a craft/art supply store) because .... " even something like "It has always been important for me to work in an environment in which I can help people in need" - these are simple examples, but don't be afraid to show a passion and knowledge/research for the work you're seeking. Job seekers are often too scared to and stray away from getting more personal with their cover letters - don't be afraid, it can help you stand out from the boring generics.
- Then mention special skills and qualities and other info (ex: I am currently a student of____, I own a car so transportation isn't an issue, past relevent experience, etc, then finish with something like "I look forward to meeting with you and discussing possible opportunities" or something of the like. - It helps to thank them in there somewhere too.

You can also google examles for cover letters.

Hope I helped, and I hope you get the job you're looking for. (=

Esther Said:

When creating a resume on Wordpad, after I had typed everything and lined it all up, I previewed page and need?

We Answered:

yeap! Open Office is just like word and it's free. but what you wanna do is click on the top above the wording and then delete until the page move up to where you want it. If you lose margins then reset them after you get the info where you need it to be. Still, you will make a much better resume in open office and then you can save it as a word document, which is what you can send it in to employers.

Ashley Said:

I am a student studying graphic design and I am creating a resume. Help?

We Answered:

Absolutely. As Chris R above said, the goal is to identify and communicate the transferable skills from your "unrelated" positions.

As a Graphic Designer, your job is to translate your client's high level ideas into collateral, creative, etc. that delivers real business value. I think something that would set you apart in a "creative" field, would be to show that you have a clear understanding of how the work you do impacts the business. Highlight times when services you provided directly supported an organization's/client's growth strategies. Speak to specific metrics and quantifiable achievements when possible (increased web traffic, expanded market share... you get the idea). This will certainly help to make you stand out in a pool of similarly qualified candidates.

Best of luck to you in your job search!

Heidi Said:

Help creating a resume for a 64 year old with only high school education?

We Answered:

Just list education without the years of course. Try going to http://Susanireleand.com free resume help
Good Luck I am a recruiter..

Minnie Said:

What are the best websites for creating a resume?

We Answered:

Another great place to build a resume is in a Microsoft Office Live Workspace. Not only do they provide templates for resumes but also sample cover letters and thank you letters. Office Live Workspace is a great place to start a professional and organized job search.

Check it out at http://www.officelive.com

Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Live Outreach Team