Tips for Getting Started on Your Resume

How to Get Started

Creating a new or updating an old resume may seem like an insurmountable task but don’t be intimidated. 

Begin with these five steps:

  1. Seek inspiration: Ask friends, colleagues, mentors, and supervisors if they are willing to share their resumes with you. This is a great way to view a variety of different formats. You could also search the internet for images of resumes and/or visit a bookstore or library to browse through the resume books to identify formats and phrasing that appeal to you. You can also look at resume samples provided in this toolkit. It is important to remember that having relevant accomplishments and skills on your resume is much more important that having a fancy design so spend your time and energy where it is most impactful.
  2. Break the task up into smaller steps: Take each section and work on it over several short sessions. If you take it in stages over a few days or a couple weeks you’ll have a completed resume in no time.
  3. Get organized: Gather all the facts before you sit down to write your first draft, including job titles and dates, previous job descriptions, past performance reviews, educational history, certifications, licenses, training completed, technical skills, honors and awards, and anything else that you think will help you create your resume.
  4. Analyze the job posting. Read the job posting and highlight the required and preferred skills, abilities, attributes and qualifications.  Remember to use these keywords in your resume.
  5. Decide what's most relevant. Decide what information is relevant to include in your resume.  This may vary from job to job.  In order to clarify what is relevant to a particular job, ask yourself the following questions:
    • What skills and experiences are identified in the specific job description?
    • What skills do I have that are relevant to the position?
    • What are my strengths as they relate to the position?
    • What aspects of my education are most relevant?  (This can include degrees, certifications and specific courses and/or training that you've completed.)
    • Do I have any unique experiences or talents that relate to the position?
    • Determine which format (chronological or functional) is most appropriate for you to use.