Elite Asset Staffing professionals are committed to assisting you in finding the job you want! An important part of the process includes writing an effective resume. Writing your resume requires thought, careful planning and your maximum effort.
The primary purpose of your resume is to help you secure an employment interview. The resume must convince a prospective employer that you are an outstanding candidate, who has something of value to contribute to his/her organization. Once convinced, the prospective employer will consider it well worth his or her time to meet with you and conduct a personal interview.
To accomplish this, your resume must emphasize your contributions and accomplishments –not simply state the names of your past employers.
For most of us, writing a resume does not come easily. The information on the following pages will help you to know what to say, how to organize it and how to say it.
Before you can proceed with the actual process of writing your resume, you need to have a considerable amount of data at your fingertips. List the following details about all of your previous employment:
- Name of Employer (City, State)
- Dates of Employment (Month, Year)
- Position Title
- Functional responsibilities and size/scope of your position (In bullet form)
- List at the minimum 5 bullets which highlight your responsibilities
- Add major accomplishments
- Include metrics (if applicable)
Instructions
This guide has been designed to help you write your resume. Below is a brief description of each step required to develop a good resume. Please read through each item carefully. Once you have completed these assessments, you will be ready to start writing your resume.
Resume Guidelines:
Read through this section for tips on resume content, style and format. It is recommended that you use a standard word-processing software program (Microsoft Word) to create your resume.
Action Words:
The first exercise consists of reading the Action Words listed (see below). Read through ALL the words and circle, underline or highlight those words that describe activities that you have done in your work experience. This exercise helps you think of accomplishments associated with the words that you have selected.
Skills & Skill Areas:
The second exercise requires you to read the Skills & Skill Areas (See below). This list is designed to assist you in thinking about the many responsibilities and job functions that you have experience or accomplishment in your career. Again, circle, underline and/or highlight those skills that you have performed in your past positions.
Chronological Resume – Sample:
Review the sample resume that demonstrates content, format and style. Notice that in the SUMMARY statement at the top of the resume, personal characteristics have been included. For example, these would describe traits: flexible, quick learner, creative, etc. When listing specific skills such as software, include name and version. When listing equipment, include model and manufacturer.
Resume Guidelines
There are several important guidelines to follow regarding your resume:
| Content, Style and Format Do’s | Content, Style and Format Don’ts |
| Present yourself accurately and positively | Don’t include salary information |
| Include only enough information to encourage an employer to find out more. | Don’t include references. Reference requests are made when there is actual hiring interest. Do not say “References Available Upon Request” on resume. |
| List your most recent positions or areas of expertise and work backwards. Work from strengths. | Don’t lie or exaggerate. |
| Include brief descriptions, when appropriate, of the companies where you worked: size, sales, volume, products, etc. | Don’t use pronouns, abbreviations, conjunctions, or jargon unless terms are widely known and accepted. |
| Stress and illustrate accomplishments. Include when possible the result of your accomplishments and/or the improvements made. | Don’t include data that could result in discrimination (age, race, and number of children, marital status, religion, etc.). Do not include a photograph. |
| Put education at the end. Include courses or training sessions that you have attended/completed. | Don’t have someone else write your resume – ask for advice, but you know yourself best and will have to defend the contents |
| Use the strongest action words. | Don’t crowd the margins or use excessively small type or different fonts. |
| Make the resume attractive to the eye. | Don’t overdo the use of capitals, bold type italics or underlined phrased |
| Have others proofread and critique your resume. | Don’t use colored paper other than white or off-white. Avoid heavily textured papers. |
ACTION WORDS
Management Skills |
Communication Skills |
Research Skills |
Technical Skills |
| Administered | Addressed | Clarified | Assembled |
| Analyzed | Arbitrated | Collected | Built |
| Assigned | Arranged | Critiqued | Calculated |
| Attained | Authored | Diagnosed | Computed |
| Chaired | Corresponded | Evaluated | Designed |
| Contracted | Developed | Examined | Devised |
| Consolidated | Directed | Extracted | Engineered |
| Coordinated | Drafted | Identified | Fabricated |
| Developed | Edited | Inspected | Maintained |
| Directed | Enlisted | Interpreted | Operated |
| Evaluated | Formulated | Interviewed | Overhauled |
| Executed | Influenced | Investigated | Programmed |
| Improved | Interpreted | Organized | Remodeled |
| Increased | Lectured | Reviewed | Repaired |
| Organized | Mediated | Summarized | Solved |
| Oversaw | Moderated | Surveyed | Trained |
| Planned | Motivated | Systematized | Upgraded |
| Prioritized | Negotiated | ||
| Produced | Persuaded | ||
| Recommended | Promoted | ||
| Reviewed | Publicized | ||
| Scheduled | Reconciled | ||
| Strengthened | Recruited | ||
| Supervised | Spoke | ||
| Translated | |||
| Wrote |
Teaching Skills |
Financial Skills |
Creative Skills |
Helping Skills |
| Appraised | Administered | Acted | Assessed |
| Audited | Allocated | Conceptualized | Assisted |
| Balanced | Analyzed | Created | Clarified |
| Budgeted | Appraised | Designed | Coached |
| Calculated | Audited | Developed | Counseled |
| Computed | Balanced | Directed | Demonstrated |
| Developed | Budgeted | Established | Diagnosed |
| Forecasted | Calculated | Fashioned | Educated |
| Managed | Computed | Founded | Expedited |
| Marketed | Developed | Illustrated | Facilitated |
| Planned | Forecasted | Instituted | Familiarized |
| Projected | Managed | Integrated | Guided |
| Researched | Marketed | Introduced | Referred |
| Planned | Invented | Rehabilitation | |
| Projected | Originated | Represented | |
| Researched | Performed | ||
| Planned | |||
| Revitalized | |||
| Shaped |
Skills & Skill Areas
This list contains both transferable skills and special-knowledge skills areas, but is not a comprehensive list. Use this list is to help you think about all of your job responsibilities and the skills required to complete them.
| Account Management | Field Research | Presentation |
| Accounting | Food Preparation | Presentation Graphics |
| Accounting Software | Forecasting | Printing |
| Administration | Fundraising | Production |
| Analysis & Evaluation | Graphic Design & Layout | Program Design |
| Audio-Visual Presentation | Group Benefits | Promotion & Publicity |
| Bookkeeping | Interviewing | Public Relations |
| Budgeting | Inventory Control | Public Speaking |
| Business Communications | Investigation/Research | Purchasing |
| Business Management | Languages | Quality Control |
| Career Development | Litigation Support | Real Estate |
| Classroom Teaching | Lotus (Version__) | Receptionist |
| Client Services | Management Analysis | Records Management |
| Communications | Market Research | Recruiting |
| Community Organizing | Marketing | Reporting |
| Community Relations | Media | Resource Development |
| Computer Usage | Microsoft Access (Version__) | Sales (inside; outside) |
| Contracts & Agreements | Microsoft Excel (Version___) | Statistical Analysis |
| Coordination | Microsoft PowerPoint (Version___) | Supervision |
| Corporate Administration | Microsoft Publisher (Version___) | Systems Analysis |
| Cost Analysis | Microsoft Word (Version___) | Teaching |
| Curriculum Development | Negotiation | Technical Writing |
| Customer Service | Office Management | Telecommunications |
| Data Entry (Alpha/Numeric) | Outreach | Telemarketing |
| Data Processing | Payroll | Testing |
| Decorating | Payroll Software | Training |
| Desktop Publishing | Performing Arts | Transcription |
| Display | Personnel Training | Typing |
| Drawing and Illustrating | Photography | Visual Arts |
| Editing | Policy Making | Word Processing |
| Equipment Maintenance | Writing | |
| Expense Reduction |
Chronological Resume – SAMPLE
Name
State, Zip
Telephone and email
Overview
Five years business experience as an Administrative Assistant. Strengths include ability to manage several projects simultaneously, work under pressure, and meet deadlines. Quick learner who takes initiative and produces results.
Experience
ABC Printing Company, Dallas, TX May 2014 – Present
Administrative Assistant
- Create and coordinate the production of quality proposals and documents for customers as member of quote team
- Produce $35,000 in cost savings by setting up hardware models and system configurations o automate the quote process, increasing department efficiency
- Calculate and input price and cost information into database, with zero errors
- Train support staff to increase knowledge of company computer system
- Updated and maintained quote information for three particular lines, resulting in timely response to customer requests
- Compiled customer mailing lists and quote database information
- Ordered and monitored office supply needs (totaling $100,000 annually) for the sales and marketing departments
Woodbury Consultants, Dallas, TX September 2012 – March 2014
Data Entry/Secretary
- Maintained database of member pledges and addresses for non-profit organization
- Introduced a new tracking system, which reduced retrieval time of key information
- Performed accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll
- Provided clerical support in a purchasing department, including processing return authorizations, proofreading contracts, and inputting orders and part numbers
Education
Dallas County Community College – Business Administration – Associates Degree
Graduated May 2012
Skills
- Microsoft Word 2016
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Microsoft PowerPoint 2016
- Outlook
- Microsoft Office Suite
- QuickBooks
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