DETJ-9433-P (R. 11/2016)
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Resume Writing
– A Basic Guide
for the person with little or no resume writing experience.
Resumes and application forms are two ways to
provide employers with written evidence of your
qualications and skills. Generally, the same
information appears on both a resume and an
application form. The way it is presented differs.
Some employers prefer a resume and others
require an application form. This booklet presents
the basic information to include in your resume.
You want to apply for a job. Do you need a resume? That de-
pends on the kind of job you’re applying for.
RESUME REQUIRED
• Professional, technical, administrative and managerial
jobs.
• Sales positions.
• Secretarial, clerical, and other ofce jobs.
RESUME SOMETIMES REQUIRED
• Skilled jobs
(Examples: Baker, Hotel Clerk, Electrician, Drafter,
Welder)
RESUME NOT REQUIRED
• Unskilled, quick turnover jobs
(Examples: Fast Food Server, Laborers, Machine Load-
er, Cannery Worker, etc.)
There are many ways of organizing a good resume. Depending
on the job, you should choose the format that best highlights
your skills, training, and experience.
CONTENTS
When do you use a resume?
Tips for good resumes
Selecting information for your resume
page 2
A standard resume should include ...
page 3
Resume 1: Outline and example
page 4-5
Resume 2: Outline and example
page 6-7
Cover letter: Outline and example
page 8-9
Application letter: Outline and example
page 10-11
Resume checklist
page 12
Resume worksheet
page 13-14
10 tips for effective resumes, and
and using electronic resumes
page 15
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When do you use a resume?
• To respond to a want ad
• To give an employer more information
about you than the job application gives
• To send to a company you’d like to work
for
• To give to an interviewer so he or she
will ask you about the positive things on
your resume you want to talk about
• To leave with an employer after an in-
terview as a reminder of your skills and
abilities
Tips for good resumes
You need two types of information to prepare
your resume:
1. Self information. Completing a background
and experience list will give you the self infor-
mation required to prepare your resume.
• If you’ve worked before, list your jobs.
Next, write down the work duties for the
jobs you’ve listed. Now, think about the
skills or talents it took to do each work
duty. Write them down.
• List your hobbies, clubs you belong to,
sports you’ve been involved in, church
and school activities, and things that
interest you. Look at the rst item on
your list. Think about the skills or talents
A resume must be very easy to read so that
an employer can see at a glance who you
are, where you can be reached, what kind of
work you can do, and why you’re qualied for
that kind of work.
A resume should be short, preferable one
page typewritten. It must be error free. It
includes honest, positive information that is
related to your job goal.
A good resume will open the door for an
interview.
it takes to do that item. Write them all
down.
• Look at the abilities (talents) identied
on your background and experience list.
You have talents that you use everyday.
Now, nd out what JOBS can use your
talents.
• Don’t limit yourself. The important thing
is not the job title, but the skills and abili-
ties of the job.
2. Job information. Gather specic information
on the job you’re applying for. Here’s what you
need:
• Job duties (to match your skills to the
skills needed to do the job). Get your job
duties from the job announcement. If the
job announcement or ad is vague, call
the employer and ask for a description
of job duties.
• Education and experience required
(again, so you can match your education
and experience with that required for the
job).
• Hours and shifts usually worked.
• Pay range (make their top offer the mini-
mum acceptable!).
Selecting information for your resume
The best way to select information that belongs
on your resume is to think like an employer. Ask
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yourself, “If I were hiring a person for this posi-
tion, what training and experience would be re-
lated?” Give brief, specic, positive information
that would be of interest to your next employer.
Do not give unrelated or negative information.
A standard resume should include...
Contact information
Tell the employer your full name, street address,
apartment number, city, state, zip code and tele-
phone number (including area code).
Employment goal or job objective
Tell the employer the specic job you are inter-
ested in. Good examples are, “An entry-level
clerical position”, “A customer-service posi-
tion in the retail industry”, or, “A manufacturing
position utilizing my ve years of quality control
experience.”
Avoid vague statements like, “A position with
growth potential”, or, “A challenging position
with a stable company.” Remember, keep it
simple and to the point.
Summary of Qualications
Tell the employer your major selling points in
3-5 lines. Be brief, summarize, give facts — not
opinions. (This section is optional)
Work Experience or Work History
Tell the employer about your work experience
in one of two ways — either by job titles and
dates, or by functions and skills. Later in the
publication you will see outlines and sample
resumes which will help you decide which way
would work best for you.
Education
Tell the employer about any job-related training
or education. List your most recent training rst.
If you are a recent graduate with little work
experience, you might want to list the following
information before your work history: the name
of the school, the degree or certicate received,
dates, course titles related to your job goal,
scholarships, honors, grades, and extracurricu-
lar activities.
If you have been working for over ve years,
you don’t need to give as much information
about your education. Name the school, city,
state, degree or certicate, or course work and
dates (dates are optional).
Include your high school unless you have a
higher degree. Never include your grade school
or middle school.
Military Experience
Tell the employer the branch of service, your
highest rank, type of discharge, and date of
separation. List any special assignments, du-
ties, clearances, collateral duties, and decora-
tions that relate to the job that you are seeking.
Technical military training can be listed under
the Education heading on your resume. (A Mili-
tary heading is only listed if you have military
experience.)
Special Skills and Abilities
Tell the employer any other information you
feel might help you. (This section is optional.)
You might want to include information about
knowledge of foreign languages, volunteer or
leisure activities, memberships in professional
organizations, special skills such as typing,
computers, machines you can operate, licenses
or certicates you possess. Do not provide per-
sonal information such as your age, sex, marital
status, or handicaps.
References
Tell the employer simply that, “References are
available upon request,” or, “References gladly
furnished upon request.” Do not list references
on your resume. Instead, have them typed on a
separate sheet of paper and have them avail-
able if the employer asks for them. You should
have three to ve references listed. They should
be people who know you and your work — not
your relatives. Be sure to get each person’s
permission to use him or her as a reference.
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Resume Outlines and Examples
The following pages have outlines and examples of two of the most commonly used basic resumes.
Example 1 lists each job separately, starting with your most recent job and working backward.
Specic information is given about each job.
Example 1 Outline
First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name
Street Address, Apt. No.
City, State, Zip Code
Area Code/Telephone Number
Employment Objective
Tell the employer the specic position you are interested in.
Summary of Qualications
A brief summary of your best selling points
Work History
Company Name City, State Dates of employment
Your Job Title
Describe your duties, skills, responsibilities:
• State your major accomplishments, achievements, skill area.
• Start each with an action verb; try to keep each to 1-2 lines.
• Use an asterisk (*), dash (-), or bullet (•) to draw attention to each statement.
• Give specic results to show your qualications.
• List your most important accomplishments rst.
(Use the above format for additional employers. Start with your most recent job and work backward.
Give the most space to more recent and more relevant work.)
Education
School City, State Degree Dates attended (optional)
Military (Optional)
Branch, rank Type of discharge (optional) Dates served (optional)
Special Skills and Abilities
Interests, hobbies, foreign languages, clubs, etc.
References
Available upon request.
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Example 1 Resume
Tammy P. Farrell
1234 Major Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
715/555-4444
Employment Objective
Seeking a position as a retail sales clerk.
Summary of Qualications
Five years successful experience in direct retail sales.
Excellent communication skills; sincere commitment to providing quality customer service.
Work History
ShopWell Stevens Point, Wisconsin 2001-present
Sales Associate
Assisted customers with item selection, operated computerized cash register, balanced cash register
daily, monitored inventory and stocked shelves.
• Set new monthly sales record, surpassing all sales associates for any given month in company
history.
• Accurately balanced cash register daily. Never was short.
• Maintained detailed paperwork for inventory control. Operated automated inventory equipment.
• Handled customer problems with patience and sensitivity.
• Promoted to sales associate lead worker after one year. Trained new associates.
PickRite Rosholt, Wisconsin 1999-2001
Sales Clerk
Operated computerized cash register and automated scanning equipment for the local branch of a
large department store chain.
• Worked cash register and scanning equipment in all departments.
• Conducted inventories. Reconciled counts against inventory control systems.
• Entered data into computer for special orders.
• Received customer service and inventory control training.
• Trained two new sales clerks.
Education
Rosholt Senior High School Rosholt, Wisconsin Diploma 1996 graduate
Military (Optional)
US Army Honorable Discharge 1996-1999
Special Skills and Abilities
Able to speak, read and write Spanish
References
Available upon request.
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Resume Outlines and Examples
Example 2 lists the 3-5 skill areas or functions you performed that are related to your present job
goal, briey describing the work you’ve done within each area. Very little attention is given to when
and where.
Example 2 Outline
First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name
Street Address, Apt. No.
City, State, Zip Code
Area Code/Telephone Number
Employment Objective
Tell the employer the specic position you are interested in.
Prior Experience
Major skill areas or functions (list 3-5)
• bulleted skills, successes or accomplishments
• short phrases that start with verbs
• result-oriented statements
(Use the above format for additional skill areas or functions.)
Work History
Company Name City, State Dates of employment
Job Title
(Use the above format for additional skill areas or functions.)
Education
Degree School City, State Dates attended (optional)
Military (Optional)
Branch, rank Type of discharge (optional) Dates served (optional)
Special Skills and Abilities
Interests, hobbies, foreign languages, clubs, etc.
References
Available upon request.
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Example 2 Resume
Tammy P. Farrell
1234 Major Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
715/555-4444
Employment Objective
Retail salesperson
Prior Experience
Sales
• Set new monthly sales record, surpassing all sales associates for any given month in company
history.
• Worked cash register and scanning equipment in all departments.
• Set-up advertising signs and displays to increase sales.
Customer Service
• Handled customer problems with patience and sensitivity.
• Greeted customers and assisted them with item selection.
• Answered customers’ telephone and in-person inquiries.
Record Keeping
• Conducted inventories. Reconciled counts against inventory control systems.
• Entered data into computer for special orders.
• Kept layaway records current.
Work History
ShopWell Stevens Point, Wisconsin 2001-present
Sales Associate
PickRite Rosholt, Wisconsin 1999-2001
Sales Clerk
Education
Diploma Rosholt HS Rosholt, Wisconsin 1996 graduate
Military (Optional)
US Army Honorable Discharge 1996-1999
Special Skills and Abilities
Able to speak, read and write Spanish
References
Available upon request.
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Cover Letter
Most employers prefer that a resume be mailed with a letter of introduction. This letter is called a
cover letter. A cover letter should tell the employer which position you are interested in and why
you are qualied for the position.
It should cover 1/3 to 2/3 of an 8-1/2” x 11” sheet of paper and should be on the same size,
grade, and color of paper as your resume. It is best to use a personal computer, word processor
or typewriter to write your cover letter. Some information in your cover letter may also be on your
resume; it is all right to have some overlapping information. Be sure your letter does not have
spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors. Have another person proofread it before you mail it.
Cover Letter Outline
Your Current Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number
Today’s Date
TWO LINES OF SPACE
Name of Individual
Ofcial Title
Name of Company
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip Code
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Dear Mr./Ms.:
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Paragraph 1 - The Opening/Your Introduction
1. Give your reason for writing the letter.
2. Tell the employer the position in which you are interested.
3. Tell where you found out about the job opening.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Paragraph 2 - The Body/Your Hook
1. This is 1-2 paragraphs that tell the employer why you are qualied to do the job.
2. Include information about your education, work experience, job-related skills, accomplishments,
personality, availability, etc., that relates to the employer’s needs and the position for which you
are applying.
3. Keep this section brief; give only the highlights of qualications.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Paragraph 3 - The Closing
1. Tell the employer you are interested in interviewing for the available position.
2. Thank the employer for considering you for the position.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Sincerely,
THREE LINES OF SPACE
Your signature in ink
Your name typed
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Cover Letter Example
1234 Major Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715/555-4444
January 5, 2002
Ms. Judy David
Store Manager
Michael’s on the Mall
5678 Minor Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Dear Ms. David:
The position you listed on JobNet at your store in Stevens Point for an experienced
Retail Salesperson is one I am very interested in and for which I am very well quali-
ed.
For the past three years I have worked as a salesperson in retail stores in the area.
I have operated computerized cash registers and automated inventory control
systems. I bring experience in stocking shelves, reconciling inventory levels, mark-
ing merchandise, balancing cash registers and handling customer comments and
requests.
I enjoy providing friendly service to customers. My store manager once told me that
my desire to help customers kept them coming back. During one month, my sales
totals set a company record.
I have enclosed my resume for your review. I am very interested in the position you
have available and look forward to meeting with you to further discuss my set of
qualications.
Sincerely,
Tammy Farrell
Enclosure
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Application Letter: An Alternative to a Resume
In some situations, a traditional resume might not be the best way to contact an employer. De-
pending on the employer’s preference, the eld of work and your qualications, you may want to
use a Letter of Application.
This is a personal letter you write to an employer that tells which position you are interested in and
why you are qualied for that position. It should ll 1/2 to 2/3 of an 8-1/2” x 11” sheet of white or
light-colored bond paper. It must be error free. Have another person look it over to make sure it is
perfect before you mail it.
An outline and a sample for a Letter of Application follow.
Application Letter Outline
Your Current Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number
Today’s Date
TWO LINES OF SPACE
Name of Individual
Ofcial Title
Name of Company
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip Code
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Dear Mr./Ms.:
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Introduction: Tell the employer what position you are applying for and how you learned of the opening.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Body: Tell the employer why you are qualied for the job. Include information about your education,
work experience, job-related skills, accomplishments, personality, availability, etc., that relate to the
employer’s needs and the position for which you are applying.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Closing: Ask for an interview.
ONE LINE OF SPACE
Sincerely,
THREE LINES OF SPACE
Your signature in ink
Your name typed
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Application Letter Example
1234 Major Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715/555-4444
January 5, 2002
Ms. Judy David
Store Manager
Michael’s on the Mall
5678 Minor Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Dear Ms. David:
Please consider this letter my application for the Retail Salesperson position listed
on JobNet in Stevens Point. I believe I am qualied for this position.
With over three years experience as a retail sales clerk, I have demonstrated my
abilities to operate computerized cash registers, accurately monitor inventory levels,
and provide quality, friendly service to customers.
In my most recent position, I set a new monthly sales record, surpassing all sales
associates for any given month in company history. After one year, I was promoted
to head sales associate. I really enjoy retail sales.
I would appreciate an interview with you to further discuss my qualications.
Sincerely,
Tammy Farrell
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Resume Checklist
Use 8-1/2" x 11" paper, 1-2 pages
Choose ivory, white, cream, buff or light
gray paper
Use personal computer, word processor,
typewriter or typesetting
Keep margins 1" wide at sides and bot-
tom
Check for and correct any spelling,
punctuation, typing or grammatical er-
rors
Write short and to-the-point statements
Keep it brief; write a summary, not a life
history!
Use short phrases beginning with action
words to demonstrate accomplishments
and results
Provide positive and honest information
Use a simple, professional, easy-to-read
style
Have others look it over to make sure
it’s perfect
Leave off personal information such as
height, weight, age, sex, marital status
Emphasize important information by
underlining or using capital letters when
appropriate, but don’t overdo it
Don’t list wages, company street ad-
dresses, references, salary require-
ments, personal problems
Provide examples of your qualications
Look at your resume through the eyes of
an employer and ask yourself, “If I were
an employer, would I want to interview
this person?”
Application forms
Resumes are required for some jobs, and are sometimes required for other jobs. An employer
may have you complete an application form instead of submitting a resume. On some occasions,
an employer may ask you to complete an application in addition to your resume.
When you ll out an application form, make sure you ll it out completely and follow all instruc-
tions. Do not omit any requested information and make sure that the information you provide is
correct.
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Resume Worksheet
Name _____________________________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip Code __________________________________________________________________
Telephone (with Area Code) ___________________________________________________________
EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE (optional) __________________________________________________
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
WORK EXPERIENCE: List most recent jobs rst.
1. Job Title: _______________________________________________________________________
Job Duties/Accomplishments: _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________________________________________
City, State: ______________________________________________________________________
Dates of Employment (year to year): __________________________________________________
2. Job Title: _______________________________________________________________________
Job Duties/Accomplishments: _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________________________________________
City, State: ______________________________________________________________________
Dates of Employment (year to year): __________________________________________________
Step 1: Read this brochure.
Step 2: Review the samples provided in this brochure.
Step 3: Tear out and complete this worksheet
Step 4: Write your resume using the information from
your worksheet.
Step 5: Check it for errors. Have others check it, too.
Step 6: Have your resume word processed, typed, or
typeset.
Step 7: You’re ready! Now USE YOUR RESUME!
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3. Job Title: _______________________________________________________________________
Job Duties/Accomplishments: _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________________________________________
City, State: ______________________________________________________________________
Dates of Employment (year to year): __________________________________________________
SPECIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES: _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION:
Technical School and/or College: _______________________________________________________
City, State: _______________________________________ Dates Attended: ___________________
Degree/Certicate or courses taken: _____________________________________________________
High School: _______________________________________________________________________
City, State: _______________________________________ Dates Attended: ___________________
Diploma or courses taken: _____________________________________________________________
MILTARY EXPERIENCE: (optional and if not used elsewhere on this resume)
Branch of Service: ___________________________________________________________________
Highest Rank: ______________________________________________________________________
Type of Discharge: _________________________________ Year of Separation: ________________
Duties: ____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: List job titles/positions you want to show but do not want to go into
detail about, i.e. short-term jobs, part-time jobs, volunteer work, etc.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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1. If possible, use a computer to prepare
your resume. There are computer pro-
grams that make it easy to produce a
professional looking resume. Your Wis-
consin Job Center, school,
library, or quick print shop
can help.
2. Do not include irrelevant
personal information (age,
weight, height, marital
status, etc.).
3. Do not include salary and
wages.
4. Center or justify resume
headings. Avoid the use of
abbreviations.
5. Be positive. Identify your
accomplishments.
6. Use action verbs. For more information,
read the publication, “The Right Words
to Use in Your Job Search” (DETJ-
9463-P).
7. Be specic. Use concise
sentences, Keep it short (one
page is best).
8. Make sure your resume “looks
good” (neat and readable).
9. Proofread the master copy
carefully. Have someone else
proofread it carefully.
10. Inspect photocopies for clarity,
smudges and marks.
The information for your resume can be fed into
databases as an electronic resume.
Electronic resumes are searchable by poten-
tial employers who aim to select resumes for
further scrutiny.
In Wisconsin, you may post your resume on Job
Center of Wisconsin, an internet-based service.
Visit http://JobCenterOfWisconsin.com
From the “Job Seeker Tools” menu on the
toolbar, you will rst need to establish an ac-
count. Once you have your password-protected
account, return to the “Job Seeker Tools” menu
and choose, “Create/Update Résumé”. Com-
plete instructions, and help text is available on
the web site.
When posting a searchable resumes, it is
important to accurately represent your work
experience, education and training, skills, and
availability. Be sure to use keywords and phras-
es specic to your education, skills and work
experience.
Job Center of Wisconsin permits searches on
the following elds for your matching keywords:
• Employment Prole
• Work Experience
• Education
You are in control of the information you pro-
vide. No personally identiable information will
be displayed to the employer. If the employer
decides to contact you, it will be by email.
10 Tips for an Effective Resume
Using Electronic Resumes in Wisconsin and nationwide
Your Wisconsin Job Center features additional
publications to guide you with your
resumes and applications
Personal Data Record
(DETJ-4937-P)
Thoughts on Resumes
(DETJ-4658-P)
The Right Words to Use in Your Job Search
(DETJ-9463-P)
Publications are also available through
Wisconsin Job Centers on these topics
related to job search success
INTERVIEWING
Keys to Successful Interviewing
(DETJ-6951-P)
Hidden Elements of Interviewing
(DETJ-9484-P)
Informational Interviewing
(DETJ-9407-P)
JOB SEARCH
Qualities an Employer Looks for When Hiring
(DETJ-8459-P)
Networking
(DETJ-9455-P)
Where to Look for Job Opportunities
(DETJ-9467-P)
To obtain single copies of this publication, visit your nearest Wisconsin Job Center.
For multiple copies of this or other Wisconsin Job Center publications, contact
Document Sales at 1-800-DOC-SALE (Visa/MasterCard accepted).
We invite your comments. Send an e-mail message to: [email protected]
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. DWD does not discriminate on the
basis of disability in the provision of services or employment. If you need this printed material interpreted, translated, in a different form, or if
you need assistance in using this service, please contact us at 888-258-9966. Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired callers may reach us
through (866-275-1165) or contact us through the Wisconsin Relay Service, number 711.
web: http://jobcenterofwisconsin.com (888) 258-9966 email: JobCenter[email protected]
Job Readiness publications:
• Personal Data Record
• Resume Writing – A Basic Guide
• The Right Words to Use in Your Job Search
• Transferable Skills
• Employment Skills
Publications available in these topic areas:
• Job Readiness
• Interviewing
• Job Search
Where talent & opportunity meet
DETJ-9433-P (R. 11/2016)
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. DWD does not discriminate on the basis of disability
in the provision of services or employment. If you need this printed material interpreted, translated, in a different form, or if you need assistance in using this service,
please contact us at 888-258-9966. Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired callers may reach us through (866-275-1165) or contact us through the Wisconsin Relay
Service number, 711.
