http://www.procom.ca/news/resume-checklist/
This is a list that was made to definitely be checked twice—perhaps even a third time. When it comes to your resume, format and design is a personal preference(although we definitely have some thoughts on the matter), but there are a few standard requirements that demand to be met if you’re angling for employment. So before you submit your CV, check this checklist:
1. Contact details
Sometimes the obvious can be oblivious to some, but when you’re trying to be reached– you have to be able to be found. Did you get a new phone number or email address since you last applied to a job? Double check and on your resume, include:
- Full name
- Full address (WITH POSTAL CODE)
- Phone number
- Email address
Hint: Leave flyguy69@hotmail.com for your friends. Use a more professional email address when addressing a potential employer. Ensure your contact details are fully up to date and your name, phone number and email address are positioned at the bottom of each page. If the first page is misplaced, a recruiter or hiring manager will still be able contact you on the fly.
- Headline
Craft a summary with a short statement that outlines who you are and what you can offer. Like a 30 second elevator pitch, this will determine whether or not a recruiter or hiring manager will bother to read the rest of your resume.
- Experience
In reverse chronological order, include:
- Company names
- Dates of employment (including the months against years)
- Quantifiable achievements
Hint: Don’t just simply list your job description; describe what you did during your employment and how you achieved the desired results. Result-orientated resumes are what recruiters and hiring managers are concerned about.
- Education
Unless you’re a new grad, leave highschool in the past and focus on the highest level of education completed along with your post-secondary education.
Include:
- Full name of the post-secondary institute
- Years attended
- Degree completed
- Skills
Read the job description carefully and include any skills you feel would be relevant to the role.
Hint: Don’t just include your technical skills in the summary of your resume; ensure they’re listed throughout the body as well.
- Extras
This is the section where you can list proficiencies and abilities that include:
- Licenses/certificates/awards
- Social media accounts (if applicable)
- Blog
- Online portfolio
Hint: It’s awesome if you can bake a mean chocolate cake, but unless you’re applying to work in a bakery, leave that little extra bit on the plate and off the paper.
- Formatting
We’ve dedicated an entire blog to the proper formatting of a resume. To get noticed by the Applicant Tracking Systems recruiters and hiring managers use, take a look at how to SEO your resume like a pro.
- Grammar
As your professional first impression, your resume should present you in the best possible light. Proofread it—twice, and then give it to someone else for a fresh perspective. Avoid using slang terms and ensure you use plenty of action verbs.
Your resume is your foot in the door, don’t let it close without being invited in because you left out the basics.
Tom Sweeney 