Resume Writing

Introduction

Resumes focus on your previous job experiences. However, there may be times when including a skill or accomplishment that was gained outside of your work history could greatly influence a hiring manager. For example, did you win City Volunteer of the Year for your work with a homeless shelter? Or perhaps you have a useful language skill, such as being fluent in Spanish. There is a place for these types of things, as well as a spot to include references if you choose, on your resume.

In this lesson, you will determine what type of additional information is appropriate to include on your resume.

Additional skills and information

Sometimes you may want to include additional information about yourself that comes from outside of your education and work history. For example, you may want to include your fluency in another language, a special community project you coordinated or managed, or maybe even your technology skills outside of what you included in your employment history.

So where do you include additional skills and information on your resume?.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about including additional information on your resume.

References

If an employer is considering hiring you, he or she may ask you to supply a list of references. A reference is a person who, if asked, is willing to discuss your skills, abilities, job performance, and general character. Potential employers contact these references and ask questions about your skills, duties, dependability, or productivity.

In most of the United States, your previous managers and the human resources department can only confirm dates of employment, not talk about your performance, so your references should not include previous supervisors.

To improve your chances of getting a job, choose references who:

• are educated
• are well-spoken
• are thoroughly familiar with your skills and abilities
• have a mutually respectful relationship with you
• will speak positively about your work performance or work ethic

Remember, potential employers want to hear more than "She's very nice".

You try it!

 

Open your My Resume document to complete this activity. Enter your own information into this document as you progress through this activity.

You will be working only in the Additional Information and References portions of this document for this activity. Please refer to the following picture:

1. Include any additional skills or information that relates to the position you are trying to get. Some things you may consider including:
   • Computer, technical and/or language skills
   • Any leadership role you have had outside of employment
   • Awards or honors you have received
   • Community or civic organizations or projects in which you were involved
   • Volunteer activities
   • Hobbies or activities that are related to your career
2. Either keep or delete the References section. To decide whether to keep it, consider the following:
   • "References available upon request" is a phrase commonly listed at the bottom of resumes.
   • You should not include the names and other personal information about your references directly on your resume, especially if you are using a recruiter or are planning to post your resume online. Instead, create a separate sheet that you can give to a hiring manager if you are asked to supply references.
   • Most hiring managers expect that you have references and usually only ask for them during or after an interview.
3. Save the file with your name as part of the file name (For example, timjohnson_resume.doc).

Be careful not to add any information that is personal, recreational, political, or religious in nature.

Replace the template text with your own information. Be sure to remove brackets as you are replacing text.

Your References sheet should provide the names of at least three people who are not your direct supervisors but who can ably discuss your work ethic and skills. Include their contact information, job title, and a brief description of how they are familiar with your work habits. Never include a family member as a reference unless you have worked with this person in a professional capacity. It is always a good idea to make sure each of your references is aware that he may be called to discuss your skills and abilities. You may even want to provide references with a description of the job you are trying to get so each can talk about those specific skills and other requirements.