In the first part of our resume series, we looked at the components of a resume. Now we’ll delve into the first three key components.
1. Heading (at top of the page)
Includes contact information:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number(s) with professional voicemail greetings set up
- Email address: set up a professional address, if needed, and check email daily
2. Objective
An objective clarifies the purpose of your resume and presents a clear statement of your goals.
It is a short, specific one-sentence summary of position desired. Your objective can take two different approaches:
- Brief and to the point
- Example: To secure a part-time position at spa or salon
- Detailed description of desired position and qualifications
- Example: To become a receptionist at Dog Days veterinarian office, where I can use my experience in clerical support to make a difference.
You must decide which approach is best for the position for which you’re applying.
3. Education
Include:
- Name and location of the school
- Major, minor and area of concentration (if applicable)
- Graduation or anticipated graduation date
- Courses
- Relevant courses that help you stand out from the crowd and/or have provided you with specific skills or knowledge
- Do not include general courses that are part of a required curriculum, e.g., English, math
- Do include advanced courses if they are relevant to the position, e.g., biology, calculus