What do you think of this resume (format/content)?

Format looks pretty good. Seems about right for your age and your history. I’d probably try to consolidate the professional skills section a bit and get yourself a bit of extra space on the page. (for example, say “Proficient with MS Office Suite” instead of naming each program).

Once you’ve got that extra space, add an Objective at the top… i.e. “Seeking full time permanent employment in the ________ industry”.

Move the education down, they hiring you for your experience. Format is good.

@gambitking Thanks for the input. I had an objective on there for the longest time until I was told by a career counselor that it’s irrelevant and not necessary anymore. She said most employers don’t even look at it, so unless I have something really good to put there, skip it.

@Tropical_Willie Will do. Thanks.

The object, if you use it should LOADED with buzzwords and if you can tailor it, parrot the buzzwords in the ad / posting.

I think that is upside down. Your Professional Skills should go on top, then your work history and experience, and last your education.

I was a resume screener in a previous life. Here are some suggestions that will make your resume stronger.

* Think like a screener/recruiter. 100’s of resumes come across our desks (sometimes daily) for various positions. The first thing your resume needs to tell me is what position you are applying for. This is done by including a Professional Summary at the top of your resume—a brief paragraph summarizing your qualifications. It’s best if you customize your qualifications based on the key words in the description of the job you are applying for.

* Quantify and Qualify. If you can put a number to something, do it. Especially if the number makes you come off like a superstar. How many transactions do you handle on a monthly basis? How much money are you responsible for in your cash drawer? What are the monthly sales goals that you’re meeting, etc.?

* Think outside the box. If you have any volunteer or community service work that relates to the job you eventually apply for, include that information as well.

* As for Professional Skills, your list is too long, and recruiters’ time is too short. On average, resumes get a 10 – 15 second scan. In that time, most HR folks can tell if they want more information or if your resume is going into the discard pile. I suggest cutting your skill list in half and only including those skills that pertain specifically to the job you are applying for.

Good luck!

I think it looks great, if anything if you wanted to include more material I would shrink the header.

I like the look of it a lot (nice and clean, professional), but agree with @marinelife that it is upside down. Skills first, then employment history, then education. I also agree that you need to consolidate your skills list so that it’s not quite so long.

Whether skills come before education depends on work history. Typically, if you are not yet graduated from college, education comes first. But that also depends on what kind of job you are going for. If you want a teller job, then I’d put work history first. If you want a CJ job, I’d put education first. Education, in this case, shows your aspirations and potential, which is what is important for that kind of work. Indeed, if you want any work where brains are what you are selling, then education comes first for at least up until you have established two to five years of relevant work history.

I am not fond of your list of “skills.” Anyone can list skills. What I want is proof of things like willingness to learn. I want a few work or education stories that demonstrate some of those skills. Maybe some school projects you worked on, or better yet, managed. Maybe volunteer experiences that show these things.

Your resume is primarily a list of things you want the recruiter to know, but it does not tell a story. What can you do? What can you do it well?

Write me an essay that answers those two questions. Then marry that essay with the resume format—either skills or history format—so that I can see this story through your experience. If you can do this, your resume is going to leap out of the pile for recruiters. Right now, it’s nice enough, but it isn’t special and it gives no one a reason to linger on it.

Nice enough is good. But I think you want much better. You’ll get a job with this, but it might take a while. If you can make your resume “pop,” it should take less of a while, though in this economy, it still could be longer than you want.

@give_seek I love those suggestions. Thank you. You too, @wundayatta. :)

Working on shortening my list of skills and making it more about what I can do. Also adding a professional summary that will serve as my objective as well. And I’ll change it according to any job I may be applying for. And quantifying as well – definitely a great suggestion I never thought about before.

Thanks everyone. :)

I would advise you to add a few lines about your personal information. Rest everything is fine.