2torial #0768:
Learn2 Write a Resume

The right tool for the job

You've heard the word from friends, parents, and pundits: If you want a good job, you need a fabulous, show-stopping, leave-the-rest-in-the-dust resume. A great resume, we're told, can get you the job interview you want; an imperfect one ends up "on file" or, worse, in recycling bins across the city. It all seems like a lot of weight for one little sheet of paper to carry.

Writing one doesn't need to hurt your brain, though. We'll explain how to create the best resume for you, whether you're starting from scratch or freshening up an old one.

Job-hunt gurus like to say that a resume is a sales tool--and, well, they're right. Good salespeople know what and to whom they're selling, and they make convincing connections between the two. As you craft your resume, it's important to remember your audience: hiring managers.

Hiring managers have problems: They need good, qualified help so they can get back to work, but they rarely have time to both look for help and keep up with their own work. A good resume presents you as the possible answer to hiring managers' problems. It shows you understand their needs and are qualified to help, and that you won't waste their time. It makes them want to interview you and find out more.

Note: If you're an academic or researcher, you need a curriculum vitae, or c.v., which lists every detail of your education, publications, research, honors, affiliations, and work experience. This is usually several pages long, and is arranged chronologically within each area of achievement. It's much more detailed than a resume.