Resume information gathering is one of the first things you need to do to put a resume together. You may have just been unexpectedly affected by job loss and not prepared. You haven’t had to have a resume as you’ve been working in the same role for quite some time but you know you need one. Maybe you’re suspecting that a lay off is coming and you are trying to prepare. Whatever the reason is, this is a good place to begin.
Start by gathering together all the information you will need to construct the resume. This is the first step in knowing how to write a resume. When you have all of the information close at hand, the writing process will be much easier. You will need to know the names of the last three places you have worked at along with their address. Take a moment and jot down the dates you worked there, your job title, and your job duties.
When learning how to write a resume, you also need to have your education information. It depends on where you are in life as to what you include here. Most people just include high school and any college, but certifications and other educational endeavors you have participated in are also important. You’ll need the dates and any diplomas received as well as areas of study and any awards received like honors. Include the name of the school as well as the city and state.
The sections of your resume should include: job experience, educational experience, skills, awards and achievements, and references. If you are a member of an organization or club, have a separate section for that as well. You can choose to include other sections when learning how to write a resume, but these are the basic ones that most people use. In the “references” section, you should just have a sentence that says “References are available upon request.” However, if the ad for the job you are applying for asks you to include references then change the sentence to “References are attached” and include a separate reference sheet.
When learning how to write a resume, it is important that you be very professional and use positive words. Your resume is what a prospective employer will see first, so you want to make a good first impression! There are many other resources out there on how to put your resume together, but information gathering is the first step.