WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION & SKILLS

The general format is as follows: work experience, education, then skills.

Work Experience

Work experience should include internships and any other jobs that you had during college. Even if you spent your college career answering phones part-time or working as a clerk at a video store, all experience counts. Many skills are transferable (i.e., computer work, handling heavy phones, travel and logistics, basic accounts payable and receivable). Also, having a job in college demonstrates a number of qualities that employers look for in an employee such as responsibility, ambition, and dependability.

When responding to an advertisement, your potential employer has helped you with the hardest part of composing a resume -- the job description. Most entry-level job descriptions will list desirable qualities such as: 'top notch organizational skills', 'excellent communication skills', 'ability to work in a fast-paced environment', and 'computer skills'. Plug these descriptions straight into your resume. Internships, retail, and receptionist positions tend to require all of the requirements listed above. By adding these skills to previous job descriptions, you improve your resume tenfold.

Education and Skills

The education and skills sections should be brief. Education should include college, degree and graduation year. If you studied abroad or completed an intensive summer course -- list those too. Omit your high school information.  If having Grade 12 is noted on the job advertisement as being necessary or an asset, indicate that you have graduated high school (only if you in fact have done so).  Do not lie or exaggerate your education.  These are easily verified and lying can be cause for dismissal if found out after you have been hired or show the interviewer that you are unreliable if it is found out during the interview process.

The skills section should list computer skills, language skills, typing speed, and any skills that you believe make you a valuable candidate.