A useful résumé makes it easy to understand what you have done and how that experience connects to a job. Start with accurate contact information, clear headings, and specific examples. Then adjust the résumé for the position you are applying for.
You can do this whether you are applying for a first job, returning to paid work, or changing fields. A résumé is a way to introduce your experience; it does not have to explain every part of your life.
Start with the job posting
Read the posting and identify three or four responsibilities you can honestly connect to your experience. Look for the work itself: helping customers, keeping records, organizing materials, following safety procedures, or completing tasks on schedule.
Keep a master résumé with your full experience. Save a separate copy for each application, giving the most relevant examples more space. Use the employer’s terminology when it accurately describes what you know. Do not add a skill, credential, or job duty just because it appears in the posting.
Show what you actually did
A short description of your actions usually says more than a broad label. Compare these examples:
- Vague: “Worked in retail.”
- More specific: “Helped customers locate merchandise, restocked shelves, and kept displays organized.”
- Vague: “Good at teamwork.”
- More specific: “Coordinated opening tasks with two coworkers and shared updates when priorities changed.”
These are writing examples, not claims to copy into your own résumé. Replace them with tasks you actually performed. Include a number or result only when you can explain where it came from; a clear description is useful even without a statistic.
Include relevant experience outside paid jobs
School projects, volunteering, caregiving, and community activities can involve skills an employer needs. Label that experience accurately. A section called “Volunteer Experience” or “Relevant Projects” can help a reader understand the context.
For example, organizing a community supply drive could demonstrate sorting, recordkeeping, or communication. A class project might show research, planning, or collaboration. Describe your own role rather than taking credit for everything a group accomplished.
Keep the layout easy to use
Use headings such as Experience, Education or Training, and Skills. Choose a readable font and consistent spacing. Keep dates and job titles in a predictable place. Decorative charts and complicated columns can make a résumé harder to follow.
Follow the application’s instructions for file type and length. Open the saved file before sending it to check that the formatting stayed intact. Use a filename you can recognize later, such as “Jordan-Lee-Resume.pdf,” when a PDF is accepted.
Check these details before applying
- Contact information: Is your phone number correct, and do you check the email address listed?
- Experience: Are titles, dates, credentials, and examples accurate?
- Relevance: Can a reader see how your experience relates to this particular job?
- Clarity: Have you explained unfamiliar abbreviations and removed repeated wording?
- Instructions: Did you attach the requested file and complete the application fields?
- Review: Can someone you trust check spelling and tell you what is unclear?
Get résumé help in Battle Creek
Goodwill CMH’s Job Development program provides support with résumés, cover letters, applications, and interview preparation. To ask about getting started, call (269) 788-6500, extension 2032, or email battlecreekwfd@goodwillcmh.org.
Bring a draft if you have one, plus a posting that interests you. If you are starting from scratch, notes about your experience are a useful beginning. Learn what to expect at the Financial Opportunity Center.
Next step: Choose one job posting and rewrite two résumé bullets to show the experience you have that fits it.
More reading: Goodwill Industries International offers additional guidance on customizing a résumé for a job application.
Illustrative photo from Goodwill CMH’s image library.