Chapter 6 Lesson 2 Preparing Your Résumé

functional résumé

arranges your information under skill headings, without focusing on dates. The headings will depend on your particular experience and skills.

résumé

brief summary of your work experience and qualifications.

cover letter

gives prospective employers further information about you that is not in your résumé.

targeted résumé

includes the title of the actual job or career you are seeking. This type of résumé presents your qualifications in terms of the specific job you are applying for. This format is especially effective when you are interested in a particular job and need a separate résumé for it.

summary of qualifications

is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and knowledge. For the reader's convenience, place the summary near the top of the first page.

job objective

is a brief statement that describes the type of position you are seeking. It always appears at the beginning of the résumé, immediately after your name and address.

hybrid résumé

is a combination of the chronological and functional formats. In this résumé you list the number of years that you worked in a particular job rather than the dates.

keyword

is a specific word that a computer looks for when searching a database, and are usually noun forms.

portfolio

is an instrument that gives employers a comprehensive picture of an applicant—including experience, education, and skills, and most importantly, concrete evidence of that applicant's background. It is a powerful tool for a job seeker.

electronic résumé

is one prepared specifically for online use.

chronological résumé

lists your jobs, education, and other relevant accomplishments in reverse order. It begins with your current or most recent job and schooling and works backward. This is the most common résumé type and is the easiest to write.

action verbs

verbs that give your résumé power and direction. Your résumé should be lively. It should portray you as a dynamic person who has done many good things and can bring lots of value to an organization.