Page 30 - The Editors of VGM Career Books - Resumes for Computer Careers, Second Edition (2002)

Chapter

3

Assembly and

Layout

t this point, you’ve gathered all the necessary information for your
resume and rewritten it in language that will impress your poten-
A tial employers. Your next step is to assemble the sections in a log-
ical order and lay them out on the page neatly and attractively to achieve
the desired effect: getting the interview.

Assembly

The order of the elements in a resume makes a difference in its overall
effect. Clearly, you would not want to bury your name and address some-
where in the middle of the resume. Nor would you want to lead with a less
important section, such as special skills. Put the elements in an order that
stresses your most important accomplishments and the things that will be
most appealing to your potential employer. For example, if you are new to
the workforce, you will want the reviewer to read about your education
and life skills before any part-time jobs you may have held for short dura-
tions. On the other hand, if you have been gainfully employed for several
years and currently hold an important position in your company, you
should list your work accomplishments ahead of your educational infor-
mation, which has become less pertinent with time.
Certain things should always be included in your resume, but others
are optional. The following list shows you which are which. You might want
to use it as a checklist to be certain that you have included all of the nec-
essary information.

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