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HBCU Careers Magazine

42

Constructing an Effective Resume

Why is a resume so important?

Your resume helps an employer determine whether or not they want to

interview you. Employers spend an average of less than 60 seconds reviewing

any resume so it is critical that your resume is flawless and that it immediately

grabs the employer’s attention. Your resume should project a clear and

concise picture of your education, skills, experience, and achievements. In

addition, a strong resume will convey your professionalism and work ethic

as well as establish the connection between the employer’s needs and your

background.

How do I get started?

First, determine the structure that will best showcase your skills, abilities and background. The most

common resume formats are as follows.

Chronological

The chronological resume is typically used when you have strong work history. It emphasizes employment

and/or experience history, listing these elements in reverse chronological order frommost recent to least

recent.

Functional / Skill-based

The functional or skill-based resume focuses on your skills rather than on your chronological work history.

Your skills are broken down into categories that quickly communicate to employers what you can do for

them. This format is useful if you have limited employment-related experience or if you are seeking a

position in a field that is unrelated to your academic background.

Regardless of the resume format you choose, be sure to tailor your resume to fit

the position for which you are applying. In other words, your resume should be

customized so that it specifically highlights the experience and skills you have that

are relevant to the position. Your resume should also include the same keywords

that appear in the job description. This means you may need to use a slightly

different version of your resume for each position that you apply to. While this

will take some additional time and effort on your part, it is definitely worth it.

Employers will take notice when you are able to show how your skills, attributes

and background match with their specific needs.