Business and Organizational Communication EA 301 Maha Kamal

Creating a Customized Résumé

Your goal is to make your résumé fit the targeted position and stand out. Such a résumé does more
than merely list your qualifications. It packages your assets into a convincing advertisement that
sells you for a specific job.

Choosing a Résumé Style

Résumés usually fall into two categories: chronological and functional.

1. Chronological Résumé:
The most popular résumé format is the chronological résumé. It lists work history job by job,
starting with the most recent position. Recruiters favor the chronological format because such
résumés quickly reveal a candidate’s education and experience record. The chronological style
works well for candidates who have experience in their field of employment and for those who
show steady career growth, but it is less appropriate for people who have changed jobs
frequently or who have gaps in their employment records. For college students and others who
lack extensive experience, the functional résumé format may be preferable.

2. Functional Résumé:
The functional résumé focuses on a candidate’s skills rather than on past employment. Like a
chronological résumé, the functional résumé begins with the candidate’s name, address,
telephone number, job objective, and education. Instead of listing jobs, though, the functional
résumé groups skills and accomplishments in special categories, such as Supervisory and
Management Skills or Retailing and Marketing Experience. This résumé style highlights
accomplishments and can deemphasize a negative employment history. People who have
changed jobs frequently, who have gaps in their employment records, or who are entering an
entirely different field may prefer the functional résumé. Recent graduates with little or no
related employment experience often find the functional résumé useful. Older job seekers who
want to downplay a long job history and job hunters who are afraid of appearing overqualified
may also prefer the functional format.

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Effective Résumé Categories

Although résumés have standard categories, their arrangement and content should be
strategically planned. A customized résumé emphasizes skills and achievements aimed at a
particular job or company. It shows a candidate’s most important qualifications first, and it de-
emphasizes any weaknesses. Most writers consider including all or some of these categories:
main heading, career objective, summary of qualifications, education, experience, capabilities
and skills, awards and activities, and personal information.

1. Main Heading:

Your résumé should always begin with your name. Following your name, list your contact
information, including your complete address, phone number, and e-mail address. Keep the main
heading as uncluttered and simple as possible. Format your name so that it stands out on the
page. Don’t include the word résumé in your main heading.

2. Career Objective:

Opinion is divided about the effect of including a career objective on a résumé. A well-written
objective—customized for the job opening—can add value to either a chronological or a
functional résumé. If you choose to omit the career objective, be sure to discuss your objectives
and goals in your cover letter.

3. Summary of Qualifications:

A summary at the top of your résumé makes it easier to read and ensures that your most
impressive qualifications are not overlooked by a recruiter, who skims résumés quickly. A well-
written summary motivates the recruiter to read further. A summary of qualifications should
include three to eight bulleted statements that prove you are the ideal candidate for the position.
When formulating these statements, consider your experience in the field, your education, your
unique skills, awards you have won, certifications, and any other accomplishments that you want
to highlight.

4. Education:

The next component in a chronological résumé is your education—if it is more noteworthy than
your work experience. In this section you should include the name and location of schools, dates
of attendance, major fields of study, and degrees received. One way to enhance your GPA is to
calculate it in your major courses only. If your GPA is low, you might choose to omit it. Under
Education refer to courses only if you can relate them to the position sought. In a functional
résumé, put the education section below your skills summaries.

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5. Work Experience or Employment History:

When your work experience is significant and relevant to the position sought, this information
should appear before education. List your most recent employment first and work backward,
including only those jobs that you think will help you win the targeted position. For each
position show the following:

● Employer’s name, city, and state

● Dates of employment (month and year)
● Most important job title
● Significant duties, activities, accomplishments, and promotions

Your employment achievements and job duties will be easier to read if you place them in a
bulleted list. Do not make your bullet points complete sentences, and avoid using personal
pronouns (I, me, my). Statements describing your work experience can be made forceful and
persuasive by using action verbs. Starting each of your bullet points with an action verb will help
ensure that your bulleted lists are parallel.

6. Capabilities and Skills:

List your special skills, and include your ability to use the Internet, software programs, office
equipment, and communication technology tools. If you speak a foreign language, include it on
your résumé. Describe proficiencies you have acquired through training and experience, such as
Certified in computer graphics and Web design through an intensive 350-hour classroom
program. Search for examples of your writing, speaking, management, organizational, and
interpersonal skill —particularly those talents that are relevant to your targeted job. For recent
graduates, this section can be used to give recruiters evidence of your potential. Instead of
Capabilities, the section might be called Skills and Abilities.

Those job hunters preparing a functional résumé will place more focus on skills than on any
other section. A well-written functional résumé groups skills into categories such as
Accounting/Finance Skills, Management/Leadership Skills, Communication/Teamwork Skills,
and Computer/Technology Skills. Each skills category includes a bulleted list of achievements
and experience that demonstrate the skill, including specific numbers whenever possible. These
skills categories should be placed in the beginning of the résumé, where they will be highlighted,
followed by education and work experience.

7. Personal Data:

Today’s résumés generally omit personal data, such as birth date, marital status, national origin,
health, and religious affiliation. Such information doesn’t relate to genuine occupational
qualifications, and recruiters are legally barred from asking for such information.

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8. References

You should prepare a separate list of references when you begin your job search. Ask three to
five instructors, your current employer or previous employers, colleagues or subordinates, and
other professional contacts whether they would be willing to answer inquiries regarding your
qualifications for employment. Do not include personal references; companies are more
interested in the opinions of objective individuals who know how you perform professionally
and academically. Most recruiters see little reason for including the statement References
furnished upon request. It’s unnecessary and takes up precious space.

A Sample Reference List

Action Words to use in Résumé

accelerated enabled introduced reviewed achieved encouraged

managed revitalized analyzed engineered organized screened
collaborated established originated served expanded overhauled
spearheaded constructed expedited pioneered spurred converted
facilitated reduced designed improved resolved targeted
directed increased restructured transformed conceptualized strengthened

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A Chronological
Résumé

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A Functional Résumé

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A Combination Resume

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Note: Read chapter 18, Page no. 568 Building Careers and Writing Resumes from the book Business
Communication Today for deep understanding