Resumes

No one loves the idea of writing a resumé, but once you have it completed, it can be considered a working document. As long as you remember that each resumé you hand out can be tweaked towards whichever job you are applying for AND you have taken advantage of this by investigating your job prospects thoroughly, then you will be able to create a strong resumé that will catch the eye of the reader, not through fancy words or what you have done, but by your professionalism that is apparent in your resumé.

Types of Resumés

There are many forms of resumés that you can use, however, only a few will be listed here as these are the more relevent styles that students in your age group will be using over the next few years. If you are afraid non of this will suffice, there are many agencies and companies that focus on helping you to create the perfect product for you application process.

Chronological Resumé

Jobs listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent job listed first.

Functional Resumé

This is a format that outlines jobs by skills and experiences, versus your chronological history. If you are looking to move out of your current career, this resume is used to outline skills and experiences that you may hold that will benefit the company.

Combination Resumé

The order of information is listed opposite to the chronological resumé; your skills and experiences are listed first, followed by your employment history. Using this format will help to highlight skills that you possess, that may help the reader see how qualified you are for the position, plus show what other skills you may possess that are not necessary but are a big asset.

Target Resumé

Similar to the functional resumé, the presentation of your qualifications are more focused as to the specific job you are applying for. This is a perfect example of a resumé that you might use if you were not going to all of your previous jobs, but only the jobs that would have been similar to the job you are applying for or where you would have learned skills that could apply to the new job.

Before You Apply...

Many of you you have not yet written your first resume, and have simply applied for jobs by completing an application form. When applying for a job, there are a few items to keep in mind:

Social Insurance Number - If you want to get paid properly and legally, you need to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This important card will contain one of the most personal numbers you will ever receive, that is associated to you. You are not to hand this number out lightly, as it will allow the person who holds the number access to certain private financial information. At your age, you may not think of it as a big deal, but as an adult, you will quickly realize that this number being handed out to the wrong person can lead to identity theft. Always keep it safe and only give it out if you have been hired. NEVER put it on an application form. There is a special form that you will fill out for the person who does your pay, that is a government document and you are to only put it on this document. If you do not already have a SIN, you should be checking with your parents to see if they have one already for you or you can begin the application process yourself by following the link above.
Labour Laws - As a student in Alberta, there are certain labour laws that employors must follow. If you think you are being treated unfairly or you feel you are are being "overused", be sure to discuss with your parents or look over the Employees Under the Age of 18 website that has been created by the Government of Labour of Alberta.
Balance - Statistics show that 3 people are killed while on the job, in Canada and 700 will be severely injured. There are huge risks while on the job. As was learned earlier this year, it is important to maintain a healthy balance of all the components of health. If you see $$$ and you are beginning to pick up shifts that compromise your school work, you may end up risking more than your graduation diploma. My Work Safe is a a not-for-profit organization that is working to establish a "world class safety culture" through story telling and helping to establish company safety programs. Be sure to maintain a healthy life-work-school balance to ensure you are working at your full potential for the future.

Time to Write Your First Resumé

For the purpose of this exercise, you will be creating a Functional Resumé because many of you have not begun your working career, but you do have many skills that are noteworthy.

Layout

Margins are 1/2 to 1 inch on all sides
Font size 10 - 12, but remember this will be affected by the font style you select.
Single space with a blank line between sections

Paper

8 1/2" x 11" paper
off-white or bright white - PLEASE no funny colours, just white or off-white
Print on a inkjet printer or a laser printer. Other printers will take away from the quality you are trying to maintain.
Resumés are written in sections. Follow this template when creating your resume. Take note of the size of the font, as well. Changing your font size will help to balance the writing, but avoid font that is smaller than 11, as it is difficult to read.

Fonts

No fancy fonts. As the Interview guys say "No. Comic. Sans"
Use stylized fonts such as Times New Roman, Calibri, Georgia or Tahoma. There are many others you can use, but remember....no frills and ruffles please!

Your Name

Email: yourname@email.com

Phone: 234-567-8910

Objective

This portion of the resumé outlines what your career direction is while pointing out key skills or attributes that show you are a good fit for the job. Every objective is different for every job you are applying for. It is important to research the company you are applying to so that you have an understanding of what kind of a worker they are probably seeking.

Experience

Job Title, Company Name, City/town, Time worked for them (this can be all on one line, separated by commas or on 3 separate lines, depending on the length of your resumé)

Job description/duties - This is a great location to highlight tasks you were responsible for, that may be used in the job you are applying for.
Each task can be on a separate line or placed in one paragraph. This is typically done in a format without the use of pronouns.

Previous Job, Company Name, City/Town, time worked

job description/duties
etc.

Skills and Abilities

Certificates - For example First Aid, CPR, H2S, etc.
Work related skills - For example - proficient in computer programs, Word, Excel, etc.
Typing skills
If you are bilingual
Awards - Honours with Distinction, Duke of Edinburgh, 4-H Achievements

Interests

Clubs you belong to
Sport teams you play on
Volunteering organizations

References

Although not necessary for resumé now, they are still important to add for your age and job experience. Before adding a reference to your resumé, you must ask the person if they are willing to be one. The last thing you want to happen is to have someone surprised when they get a call for a reference. At your level, it is good to have a 2 references: teacher, pastor, coach or community member who can vouch for your credibility. If you do not think they can provide a glowing review for you, then you want to find one that will.

Mr/Mrs. First Last Name

Organization or affiliation to you
Town/community name
Contact information

Resources

Jeff and Mike: The Interview guys

Resumé Objectives

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