It is important for you to understand what a resumé is and how it is used in the process of a job search. It is also important to understand what it is not.
- The resumé is a business document that provides a summary of your education, skills and experience to hiring organizations for use in evaluating your candidacy for employment. Usually a resumé is most effective when it is submitted for a specific position and is accompanied by a customized cover letter.
However, candidates who are involved in a job search often create a "generic" resumé that includes a broadly focused career objective and a list of all career-related skills and experiences. This type of resumé is used in the CCU Resume Bank and can be used to contact selected employers, with a "prospecting" letter, to inquire about unadvertised employment opportunities that require a bachelor's degree, your specific skills and your willingness to travel or relocate.
- A resumé is usually one to one and a half pages long. It does not include high school information or personal information such as weight, height, race, age or marital status. Employment law protects personal information, as it could be used in discriminatory fashion. Do not enclose a picture.
- A resumé should be laser printed on heavier bond (ask for resume weight) paper in white, cream or pale gray. The cover letter is usually printed on standard letter stock in white. The resume and cover letter can be mailed flat in an 8.5 by 11 envelope or folded in a standard business envelope.
A resumé is not a life history, and it is not a curriculum vita, sometimes used for applications to graduate school or employment in academe. Contact the Career Resources Lab for more information about writing a curriculum vita.
* Other types of resumés include computer-friendly resumés for use in resumé banks, technical resumés, federal resumé s and executive level resumés. Contact the Career Resource Lab for information related to resumés for special circumstances.
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