Introduction
A properly written and informative resume will greatly enhance your chance in landing a job interview and that is the main goal of a resume. Once you land a job interview, then you have personal control over the opportunity to sell yourself and show the hiring manager why you are the best candidate for the job. The challenge is that there could be hundreds of resumes for one particular job opening. Your resume needs to be the "cream of the cream" to rise to the top.

Overall, the key to any successful job search is preparation. The first step in preparation is to determine what you like to do and things that you are good at; what are your passions. You need to identify your life goals and priorities, as well as look for organizations you would like to work for. With this information, you are ready to look at potential careers which will fulfill your passion and provide you with an enjoyable career experience.

The following thoughts regarding resume writing are based on ideas from Mayo Clinic Human Resources professionals. The suggestions and thinking are based on the Mayo Clinic application process, interview process and hiring process.

What Will a Resume Do for You?

• Create a link between you and the job by emphasizing your related skills and abilities
• Introduce you to the hiring manager with a goal of securing an interview
• Give the hiring manager enough information to consider you for an interview
• Supplement the information included on your job application
• Highlight your skills, abilities and experiences
• Focus attention on your experiences and accomplishments
• Emphasize the benefits of selecting you for an interview
• Demonstrate your written communication skills
• Show your interest in working toward your career goals
• Describe your participation in community services

Steps in Creating a Resume

Step 1: Brainstorming and List-Making
Step 2: Sifting and Sorting
Step 3: Writing One-Liners
Step 4: Putting It All Together

Step One: Brainstorming and List-Making
This "pre-work" will be the foundation of your resume, so allow plenty of time.

• List your present and past experiences, including the following:
  • Your work experiences, including school activities or those during an internship or other training program.
  • Volunteer activities, such as community service.
  • Any projects you have completed.
  • Your educational degrees. Specific courses or workshops may be listed, if they apply directly to the position or highlight special skills or abilities.
  • Involvement in professional organizations, student clubs, etc.
  • Other accomplishments that may be pertinent, such as awards, hobbies or languages spoken.
• Describe what you did in each experience.
• List the skills and knowledge you learned and used to achieve what you did.
• Identify your strengths. Be specific.

Step Two: Sifting and Sorting
Select the information pertinent for your resume and the job you are applying for.

• Identify the "core competencies" or skills and abilities required to perform the job for which you are applying. The job posting or a job description is helpful in identifying the core competencies.
• Match your skills and abilities to these core competencies or skills and abilities.
• Mayo has identified five core principles considered essential to job success for all employees who work at Mayo. These principles are: work atmosphere, professional conduct, mutual respect and diversity, commitment to quality and professional development.
• Be selective in what you include. It is not necessarily quantity that counts but quality and matching.
• You may wish to consider including a career objective or profile statement near the top of your resume. This provides a quick summary of your career goals or personal attributes and may be appropriate if you are applying for a general job set rather than a specific position.

Step Three: Writing One-Liners Write a one-line description of each accomplishment that will clearly relate to the requirements of the position for which you are applying.

• Use short, concise phrases that are easy to read and understand. Use a consistent writing style.
• Use action verbs to describe accomplishments. Verb tense should be consistent.
• Be specific in describing your accomplishments and skills. For example, rather than stating "typed letters," be more specific by stating "typed medical letters from dictation of three physicians" or "typed reports, spreadsheets and letters using Microsoft Work and Excel."
• Avoid first-person pronouns (I, me, my).
• Avoid codes, abbreviations, and jargon unless you know the reader is familiar with these terms.

Step Four: Putting It All Together
Write and organize your resume in an effective format.

• Start with your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
• Your background and experiences will determine the most effective format for you.
• The most important information should come early in the resume.
• Correct spelling and grammar are critical.
• An ideal resume is compact and concise. You may attach a separate listing of transcripts or a letter of recommendation.
• A resume should be pleasing to the eye with lots of "white space" and use of formatting techniques that make it easier to read.
• Attach a list of references or state that they are available upon request.
• Sample formats: http://www.iseek.org/sv/41487.jsp (opens in new window)

Resume Tips:

• Emphasize abilities and accomplishments that match the core competencies of the position for which you are applying.
• Tailor your resume to the position for which you are applying.
• Include the most important skills and abilities early in the resume.
• Use active language.
• Be consistent (spacing; order of information presented; a format of highlighting).
• Reverse chronological order within categories (e.g., most recent work experience listed first).
• Check grammar, spelling, and wording (use spell-check!).
• Neat and visually appealing.
• High quality white paper.
• One to two pages (no longer).
• Clear, crisp printing (send an original if possible).
• Have someone else review your resume.