Resume Hints
Your resume may be the only chance you have at introducing how special you are. Review these questions to help you think through your writing process.
Skills
- What experience, skills, aptitudes or traits do you have or think you may have that could be of use to a potential employer?
- Have you developed skills that you have not used at work? If so, explain them.
- Have you assisted others at work or elsewhere which have proven helpful to them?
- Do you have military experience (include Coast Guard and Merchant Marine)? Please indicate the branch, grade or specialty and whether it was for active duty, reserves, national guard, etc.? Were you discharged? What were your duties and accomplishments? Have you received medals, citations, commendations, promotions? Military training can be useful in private industry if it is relevant to your objective.
- Have you ever published an article in a newsletter or a journal? Have you prepared reports, concept papers, plans, etc.?
- Have you given talks, speeches or presentations, or provided training to fellow workers? Give specifics.
- What is your level of computer literacy and related skills? What platforms can you use (PC, Apple, etc.)? With which platforms are you most comfortable? With what operating systems are you most familiar (DOS; Windows 3x, NT, or 95: OS/2; Unix; Apple; others? What programs have you designed or help design or debug? With what Internet tools are you most familiar? With what programs are you most familiar (word processors; spread sheets; data bases; groupware or PIM's, such as Lotus Notes, Groupwise, Ecco; graphics, desk-top publishing; office suites; LAN or WAN system software? What experience have you gained from using any special software, equipment or hardware?
- What foreign languages do you know and what is your level of skills in each? Are you a native speaker, fluent, moderate, phrase-book reader, or writer for professional purposes?
- With what planning or analytical tools are you familiar (critical path, PERT, etc.)?
- Do you have experience in process reengineering?
- Have you traveled extensively either domestically or to a foreign country? If you studied, lived, or worked in a foreign country, how long were you there and for what purpose?
Responsibilities/Activities
- How many FTE's have you supervised? Hired? Trained?
- How large a budget have you managed? Was this for profit or a non-profit institution?
- To whom did you report? What was the level of this person's position?
- Have you served as a liaison between groups or key individuals? Resolved any conflicts? Served as a mentor to anyone?
- Did you ever take part in Strategic Planning? To what extent?
- Did you set, evaluate, or participate in setting any policy or by-laws?
- Have you evaluated any individual or group performance or any task or research project?
- Did you communicate with customers? On what basis? What is your communication style?
- Have you worked with suppliers or subcontractors? If so, in what capacity?
- Have you analyzed or evaluated any procedures? If so, describe briefly.
- What organizations are you affiliated with?
- Do you have union experience?
Achievements/Accomplishments
- To what extent have you helped reduce costs or increased profits?
- What has been your contribution to a project or program and what gains were achieved?
- What have you done as a volunteer beyond the regular duties of your position?
- Have you written proposals or take part in proposal teams? What was your contribution to winning and what was the teams percentage of wins?
- Have you ever served as a troubleshooter? In what area? What did you resolve?
- Have you prepared surveys or other research or studies? What were your final recommendations?
- Have you organized events, conferences, meetings? How many? How many participants were involved?
- Have you ever consulted for anyone inside or outside the organization?
Awards/Recognitions
- Were you praised, recognized or given an award for an assignment, for a particular method of work, or for a trait of character? By whom and how did this occur?
- Were you ever promoted ahead of schedule or been selected for "sensational" responsibilities?