Page 11 - The Editors of VGM Career Books - Resumes for Computer Careers, Second Edition (2002)

2 Resumes for Health and Medical Careers

The first step in preparing your resume is to gather information about
yourself and your past accomplishments. Later you will refine this infor-
mation, rewrite it using effective language, and organize it into an attrac-
tive layout. But first, let’s take a look at each of these important elements
individually so you can judge their appropriateness for your resume.

Heading

Although the heading may seem to be the simplest section of your resume,
be careful not to take it lightly. It is the first section your prospective
employer will see, and it contains the information she or he will need to
contact you. At the very least, the heading must contain your name, your
home address, and, of course, a phone number where you can be reached
easily.
In today’s high-tech world, many of us have multiple ways that we can
be contacted. You may list your e-mail address if you are reasonably sure
the employer makes use of this form of communication. Keep in mind,
however, that others may have access to your e-mail messages if you send
them from an account provided by your current company. If this is a con-
cern, do not list your work e-mail address on your resume. If you are able
to take calls at your current place of business, you should include your work
number, because most employers will attempt to contact you during typ-
ical business hours.
If you have voice mail or a reliable answering machine at home or at
work, list its number in the heading and make sure your greeting is pro-
fessional and clear. Always include at least one phone number in your
heading, even if it is a temporary number, where a prospective employer
can leave a message.
You might have a dozen different ways to be contacted, but you do not
need to list all of them. Confine your numbers or addresses to those that
are the easiest for the prospective employer to use and the simplest for you
to retrieve.

Objective

When seeking a specific career path, it is important to list a job or career
objective on your resume. This statement helps employers know the direc-
tion you see yourself taking, so they can determine whether your goals are
in line with those of their organization and the position available. Normally,