Starting Steps for Your First Resume

• When creating your first resume, remember that employers want clarity first and foremost. The best curriculum vitaes or CVs aren't the most fancy, they're the most concise. Keep this in mind when adding information and creating the layout.
  
  Select a clear font in an easily legible size. Times New Roman or Arial in 10 or 12 points are standard choices. The name can be slightly larger than the rest - perhaps 14 points with bold type for effect. It's also fine to select center or right justification.
  
  The header sets up the first impression of you for a potential employer. Proper formatting includes the name followed by the mailing address, phone number and email address. The address should be what is called a permanent address; college students can use their family's home address, if need be. It's fine to put more than one phone number or simply a cell number if that's your main contact. For email addresses, try to use one that's professional sounding; leave sweetandsassy666@yahoo.com for friends and family.
  
  

Objective and Experience

• Next comes the objective statement and skill summary. The objective says exactly what you're looking for, whether it be a job as a graphic artist or special eduction teacher. The skills summary will be a summation of what qualities you bring connected to the desired post. According to job coach Robin Ryan, "Your 'summary of skills' should highlight experiences and qualifications that the employer is seeking...a résumé is not about what you want. It's about what you offer an employer." Avoid the pronoun "I" and phrase items with impersonal modifiers, if possible.
  
  The list of experience comes next. Because this is a first CV, there might not be much to document. However, there are a lot of valid items for this section. Record internships, club and organizational posts or volunteer jobs. All of these count in an employer's eyes. Highlight how each of these contribute pertinent professional expertise in concise, simple language.
  
  

Awards, Education and Extras

• At the bottom of the resume are sections for awards and honors, education and any other personal facts. These will flesh out your resume and give an employer a more well-rounded view of your accomplishments. Using the bullet function of your word processing program, list all pertinent items. Keep things succinct and restricted to one sentence. For schooling and certification programs, list dates next to the name.
  
  

Finishing Steps

• Do a final proofing of resume before sending. Fact check all dates and jobs, and make sure that everything is true to the best of your knowledge. Employers now harness the Internet to fact-check, so lies and half-truths are verboten.
  
  The completed resume should only be one page long - no more. As your job experience increases, it may become necessary to prune out past posts in order to fit in ones that are pertinent to the job you're applying for. This first CV, however, is easy to expand and add to.