Here are some tips on how to prepare your resume!

Your resume is a major tool when looking for a job. For a candidate, your resume is your initial way in; for the employer, it’s the description of who you are and what you’ve done on a few sheets of paper.

A ‘good’ resume is a clear and precise resume that enables the employer to see what matters right away. They must be able to easily identify your coordinates, previous employment, training, experience and competencies.

Keep in mind that the employer is looking for the relevancy of your work experience in relation to the position offered and this should be clear in your resume. During the interview, the employer will ask you about your past work experience, the reasons for leaving that position and what has been your motivation in choosing such positions. Make sure that you can answer these questions before including all past experience on your resume.

There are different types of resumes; each depending on your professional experience.

The Beginner Resume

You are newly graduated with less than 2 years of experience: choose the beginner model.

The 5 parts of your resume are the following:

• Your Coordinates:
  You must include your family name, first name, address, phone number and email address. This will let recruiters know who you are and allow them to get in touch with you.
• Your Specific Competencies :
  This will give the recruiter an idea in what fields you excel.
• Your Education :
  This will allow recruiters to see your education, degrees and diplomas.
• Your Experience :
  Talk about your internships by including the name of the employer, the length and the position held by explaining the mission you were given and the kind of environment you worked in. This will allow the recruiter to get an idea of your professionalism.
  You can also include your student jobs but don’t go back to your young teenage years.
• Your Hobbies :
  Describe any sports that you play or sports teams that you play on as well as any leisure activities (this will let the employer to get to know your human and personal side).

The Experienced Resume

If you have more than 3 years experience in your field, choose the “Experienced” resume.

The 5 parts of your resume are the following:

• Your Coordinates :
  You must include your family name, first name, address, phone number and email address. This will allow employers know who you are and get in touch with you.
• Your Competencies :
  Include all fields in which you feel you can comfortably perform and intervene.
• Your Experience :
  List all your different work experience by paying special attention to the title of the position occupied, the name of your former employers from the most recent to the oldest as well as paying attention to the length of each term in years (ex. 1997-2003).
• Your Education :
  List all the diplomas and degrees that you have obtained by listing the year of graduation and the name of the school. Note: If you list a college diploma, employers will assume that you had previously received a high school diploma.
• Your Hobbies :
  This is in no way a “ whatever ” list. This will allow employers to understand you as a person and see your human side. Forget about activities that are considered taboo or may be controversial (politics, cults, rights movements or union activity).

Our Resume Advice

• Be basic. Avoid colours, pictures and formatting “À la Picasso”.
• Your resume should be 2-3 pages in length. If you have a lot of experience, your resume may be 3 pages in length.
• Keep paragraphs equal in length: it is illogical to use 10 lines to describe a 6-month job and 3 lines to describe a 3-year job.
• Be precise and concise with your explanations: get right to the point.

Note: Lying is quite risky and will be rather costly once the recruiter or employer finds out.

IN SUMMARY, ask yourself these questions:

« Does my resume represent who I am and what I do? »
« Are there things that I can remove from my resume in order to make it clearer? »
« Should I add some things so that it is more pertinent for the position that I am seeking? »

Have someone proofread your resume: Mistakes are simply unacceptable!

Follow the golden rule: Be precise and straight to the point!

Get free help putting your resume together as well as preparing your interview; give us a call at 514-366-0660 or fill out the form below and someone will get in touch with you within one business day.

Our services are offered free of charge thanks to the support of Emploi-Quebec..

The contents of this page are inspired by “How to Prepare a Resume” from the website www.erecrut.com.