How to create a resume?

All you need to know about how to create a resume (without a resume builder)

Step 1 - Who is your audience?

The first step in creating a resume is to work out who your audience is. Therefore, this determines the template and style in which your resume will be written in and also what needs to be included. The template also dictates the various headings of your resume. Examples of types of resume templates are: General Academic Arts Teaching Nursing The reason why this is important, is because a nurse's resume, for example, would need to include clinical placements. An academic resume, in contrast, would focus heavily on your academic history and achievements, which in other resumes would make up only a small section.

Step 2 - Personal Details

Now that you have chosen your template, the first part of information you must include are your personal details. This includes your: Name Age Address Contact number/s Email address

Step 3 - Career objective

Your career objective is your goal - what you want to achieve in the future. Example: If you are studying Media and Communications and you are applying for an internship, your career objective might be - 'to graduate from university with high marks and obtain a job in journalism where I can use my writing skills and interact with the public.'

Step 4 - Education

List your education levels and the years spent at each institution in order from most recent Example: Tertiary: 2010 - Present Secondary: 2003 - 2009 Primary: 1996 - 2002

Step 5 - Employment

List your employment in order from most recent List the date of when each job began and ceased List also the skills which were used and gained at each job Example: Customer service, using an electronic register, daily banking, general cleaning etc.

Step 6 - Voluntary or course related experience

The next step is to list any volunteer work you have completed or course related experience. This can include work such as volunteering in a fun run to raise money for a charity or completing work experience or an internship. It's important to include the dates of when each event occurred and for how long, as well as offering a short description of the skills gained.

Step 7 - Extra curricular activies and interests

In order to tell your respective employer a bit about yourself, you must list some interests and activities you participate in outside of school and work. Example: Playing netball for a local sports club, any instrument you play, reading novels.

Step 8 - Achievements

List your achievements in order from most recent. Make sure they are relevant. Example: Don't put that you got voted Miss Happy in Grade Two.

Step 9 - References

Listing your references' names and contact information is a vital part of your resume.

Step 10 - Extra information

Attach any written references, certificates or work samples relevant to the job you are applying for.