What Is a Resume?

CaptionsMeet Dana. Dana wants a job at a grocery store, and the store asked for a resume. Dana has never written one, and she feels stuck. In this lesson, you will learn what a resume is, and what goes on it.

CaptionsSo what exactly is a resume? A resume is a document you send to an employer before you meet them. It tells them your name, your contact information, your work experience, your skills, and your education. Think of it like a highlight reel — your greatest hits — all on one piece of paper. Employers look at a lot of resumes. Studies show that a hiring manager spends about six to seven seconds glancing at a resume before deciding whether to keep reading. Six seconds. So your resume needs to be clean, clear, and easy to read.

CaptionsEvery resume has a few key sections. First, your contact information — your full name, phone number, email address, and the city you live in. Second, a brief professional summary — two or three sentences about who you are and what you bring to the table. Third, your work experience — jobs, gig work, volunteer work, anything relevant. Fourth, your skills — both technical skills and personal strengths. And fifth, your education — your degree, diploma, GED, or any certifications you have earned.

CaptionsHere is the good news: you do not need a long work history to have a good resume. You might have volunteer work. You might have helped a family member with their business. You might have taken care of kids or elderly parents. All of that counts. All of that tells an employer who you are. The key is knowing how to present it. And that is exactly what we are going to teach you in this module.

CaptionsA few quick rules for resumes. Do use a clean, readable font like Arial or Calibri. Do use bullet points — not paragraphs. Do keep it to one page if possible. Don't include a photo of yourself. Don't include personal information like your age, race, or marital status. Don't use bright colors or fancy designs that might confuse hiring software. Simple and professional always wins.

CaptionsHere is what you learned. A resume is a one-page summary of you. It has your contact information, a short summary, your experience, your skills, and your education. And volunteer work and caregiving count. Try this today: write down every job, volunteer role, and caregiving role you've had. That list is the start of your resume.