The Professional Resume

Most people introduce themselves when meeting a stranger. A brief handshake and giving your name are just two of the ways to let someone know who you are. A professional resume is an introduction from you to a potential employer. You may not be able to shake his or her hand until the interview portion, but you can still let employers know who you are. Writing a resume is not hard, yet many people do not know how to write a resume. There are resources to help you though.

As you probably have already seen from different resume templates, there are three different types of resumes to choose from when creating your document. Chronological, Functional and Combination are the three most prevalent forms of resumes that are requested by employers. However, a professional resume does not stop there, as there should also be a cover letter attached to all resume distribution.

A cover letter is the most often overlooked piece of paper when a person is applying for a job. This is particularly true of online job banks. People upload their resume but fail to create a cover letter. It may explain why they do not often hear back from the company. An employer can learn more from a good cover letter than an excellent resume. Cover letters show intent and why you would be a good fit for the company. Take the time to write a cover letter. In today’s job market it is expected, as it demonstrates good business ethics and shows respect.

Even though there have been countless articles and interviews done on this subject, it bears repeating as some people have not learned the lesson. Do not lie on your resume. It is good practice to make your resume stand out, but do not do this by lying or fudging the facts. Most companies will check to ensure that you are telling the truth about your salary history, education and your past employment. It is not worth the repercussions.

A professional resume does not have to be elaborate. It is a document that tells your work history. It should be clear, concise and to the point. The same goes for the cover letter. If you are having trouble churning out a professional document, then you can always hire someone to do the task for you. Many online resume resources offer sample resumes and cover letters. Just make sure to give them all of your information as well as details about your past job experiences.