Page 167 - digitalliteracy

8.1 Building Your Résumé

interview, make sure you target your résumé to the specific job described in each advertised
job opening (you can easily make minor changes to your résumé on a computer). Include
some of the key words the organization uses in its job posting and list any relevant skills you
have that match the job requirements. If you do not have the specific experience required, be
sure you emphasize any related experience and any transferable skills you possess, which we
discussed in Module 7.

Make sure you address each of the required qualifications and minimum requirements to
avoid being screened out of the initial computer résumé review. Of course, it is also important
that your résumé be professional in appearance and error free.

It is one thing to emphasize or highlight a skill, and another to embellish or exaggerate or
claim a skill you do not have. Always be honest about your experience, qualifications, and
work history. If you do not meet the minimum requirements for a particular job but want to
apply anyway, honestly state the experience, qualifications, and work history you do have. If it
does not conform to the job posting, acknowledge in a cover letter that you are aware of this
fact, but then go on to tell the potential employer why you believe he or she should consider
you as a candidate anyway. It is always unethical to present false information on a job appli-
cation or résumé, and lies may come back to haunt you later in your career. In many cases
if, after you are hired, it is discovered that you falsified information on your application or
résumé—perhaps even years later—that falsification may be grounds for your termination.

What Type of Résumé Should I Use?

A good résumé is more than just a list
of information. The order in which
the information is presented, the font
styles you use, the organization of
each section of the résumé, and the
professionalism of your writing are
all important to create a positive first
impression.

Résumés are generally categorized
into two primary format types: reverse
chronological résumé and combination
functional and reverse chronological
Caia Images/SuperStock
résumé. Let’s examine the characteris- There are two types of résumés that Ashford recom-
tics of each of these types separately. If mends to land an interview: the reverse chrono-
you are not sure which type of résumé logical résumé and the combination functional and
to construct, you might want to experi- reverse chronological résumé.
ment with different types to see which
feels most appropriate and comfort-
able for you.

Note that there is also a creative résumé for professionals in more artistic fields, but they are
generally not used in professions associated with Ashford programs.

151