7 steps can change your future Step 1   Summarize your Qualifications. Step 2   Education Step 3   Work Experience Step 4   Additional Information  Step 5   References Step 6   Power Words Step 7   The Cover Letter Step 1   Summarize your Qualifications. Summarize your qualifications by writing a summary paragraph that highlights your  professional background as it relates to the needs of the company. Hiring managers need to see immediately that you have the skills and experience they need. If an employer has to figure out what you can do for him, the odds are you won't get an interview. Over 15 years of diverse and challenging experience, combined with powerful presentation skills, a disciplined approach to the task at hand and the innate ability to anticipate potential obstacles are attributes that contribute to a strong record of excellence and acknowledgement for "getting the job done." An accomplished senior executive with outstanding credentials and a proven record of results……Constantly progressed in an organization that demands a broad business perspective to achieve accelerated growth in sales and profits. Fourteen years experience with a major international organization on a career path which supported increased levels of responsibility in the areas of management, communication and training. Over 12 years of technical sales and marketing experience including: electronic component sales knowledge of Unix, Pascal, Sun work station, Fortran new software business start-up and market presentation international marketing penetration. The ObjectiveThere is much debate regarding the inclusion/exclusion of a job objective-use your judgment. It is usually placed right under the heading. The job objective is a targeted, brief description of the specific kind of job you are seeking: legal administrator, bookkeeper, medical transcriber, diesel mechanic, etc. Avoid vagueness here, if you can't be specific leave it off the resume. It should be specific to the point of repeating what the advertisement/announcement stated. Since you may need a different resume for each opening you locate, you may also need to change the job objective. You can always discuss your objective in the cover letter. Do not assume that any job objective is better than no job objective. If your objective is vague or unfocused, you will appear unable to decide what you want to do with the next part of your life. Target it to the specific kind of job you are seeking, e.g., secretary, bookkeeper, sales representative, medical transcriber, backhoe operator, etc. Example: Position teaching science and/or math at the secondary school level. Position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills. The profile is an alternative to an objective statement. It gives you the opportunity to present your strengths at the very beginning of the résumé.  Example: Profile Marketing...Finance...Management Eager to contribute to the growth of a progressive company with quality products or services. Qualified by business education, customer service and administrative experience. Professional appearance and advanced interpersonal communication. Highly motivated, strong work ethic; available as needed for training, travel, overtime, etc. Financed 80% of college tuition and expenses; additional 20% through scholarships. In writing the major areas of your résumé, it is important to emphasize your abilities and accomplishments more than past duties. You may also want to indicate how well you performed. This will help infuse personal qualities such as character and personality into your résumé. Step 2   Education This category is particularly important if you have not had a great deal of work experience. Remember, your most recent educational experience should be listed first. Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution(s) attended, date of graduation, minors or concentrations, and any special workshops, seminars, related coursework or senior projects. A G.P.A. of higher than a 3.0 (either overall G.P.A. or G.P.A. in major) should also be noted here. Step 3   Work Experience If you are a student, recent college graduate or have limited paid work experience, but have been involved in volunteer, internship, practicum or student teaching work experiences, be sure to point this out to the employer. This is what your skills are and what you can do on the job. Be sure to include all significant work experience in reverse chronological order. Note to teacher candidates: Be sure to include your student teaching experience on your résumé. You should include:  The title of your position The name of the organization The location of work (town, state) The dates of jobs held You should describe your work responsibilities with an emphasis on achievements using action words to communicate your skills. List the most important and related responsibilities first. Identify the most relevant work experiences and describe them fully. Be brief with the irrelevant experiences or omit them. It is sometimes useful to divide your work experience into two categories: Relevant Experience and Other Experience. You may want to add that work was performed to earn a certain percent of college expenses.  Example: Earned 75% of college expenses through the following part-time jobs Step 4   Additional Information    This category is useful for displaying information that doesn't fit in any other category. Although Interests, Computer Knowledge, and Activities can be separate categories, especially if they are very strong, they can be listed here as well. Languages spoken, or any extra, relevant bit of information can be placed here as well.     InterestsThis is sometimes used to evaluate your suitability to a geographic area or to understand your "personality type". Include this section if you have available space. Include social or civic activities, health and fitness or sports activities, or hobbies which indicate how you spend your leisure time. Computer Knowledge: If using computers is a necessary skill for the job you are seeking, be sure to highlight your knowledge in this section. Example: Databases: Oracle 8.x, SQL Server, Sybase Client/Server: Power Builder 3.x/4.x/5.x/6.x/7.x, Visual Basic Oracle Skills: SQL, PL/SQL, Replication, Database Administration, Oracle Web toolkit Web skills: HTML, XML, Sybase EA Server, Power Dynamo, Power Site, Jaguar Component Transaction Server, Oracle Application Server  Data modeling: Erwin Object modeling: Rational Rose, BPWin Hardware: Sun Workstations Operating Systems: Windows NT, UNIX Programming Languages: Java, C, C++, Perl  Activities, Honors, and Leadership are also important categories to include. If the activities involved work responsibility, note it in some detail. The employer is interested in the skills you have developed whether through volunteer or paid experiences. If you were elected to offices or committees, mention it. Recognition and demonstration of leadership roles are valuable. Step 5   References Be sure to ask individuals if they would be willing to be a reference for you prior to mentioning their names to prospective employers. Names of individuals are not usually listed on the résumé (unless there is space available at the end), but you should prepare a typed list of three references to provide at the interview. This list should include name, title, employer, address, business and home telephone number. You may also state at the bottom of your résumé "References furnished upon request." Step 6   Power Words Employers today want to know concrete things about you, and what you can produce. Most résumés today are filled with empty generalizations, failing to be distinguished in any way from the crowd of respondents. By beginning sentences with Action or Power Words, you are showing employers you are capable of tactical strategic thinking and have proven results. Here are some Power Words to get you started: accelerated accomplished achieved adapted administered analyzed approved conceived conducted completed controlled coordinated created delegated demonstrated designed developed directed earned effected eliminated established evaluated expanded expedited facilitated found generated implemented improved increased influenced initiated inspected instructed interpreted launched led lectured maintained managed mastered motivated operated ordered originated organized participated performed pinpointed planned prepared produced programmed proposed proved provided proficient in purchased recommended reduced reinforced reorganized revamped reviewed revised scheduled simplified set up solved streamlined structured supervised supported surpassed taught trained translated used utilized won wrote Step 7   The Cover Letter Never send a résumé without a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to express your interest in an organization and to request an interview. The opening paragraph must get the reader's attention and interest in your employment potential. This paragraph should also refer to the specific position sought and areas in your background that make you an attractive candidate for it.  The development section (usually one or two paragraphs) highlights specific aspects of your education, training, and experience that relate to the position or organization to which you are applying. It also refers the reader to your enclosed résumé for further details.  The concluding paragraph should request action by the reader. You should request an opportunity to meet with the person to discuss your qualifications and employment potential in greater detail. Include information on how you can be contacted by providing both day and evening phone numbers.  Important: If you are expecting a prospective employer to contact you at home and you have an answering machine, this may be a good time to review your outgoing message. This is the employers first contact with you. Be sure your outgoing message is respectable