Building an Eye Catching Resume

what Takes a resume from good to great?

It's all about the action words! Employers want to know what you can do, not just what was on your task list at a given job. Words like provided, trained, collaborated, implemented, maintained, supervised, etc. show that you were active at work. Challenge yourself to use strong verbs in all descriptions of prior work experience.

how long should my resume be?

Generally speaking, a resume is one page long. This could be just the front of a document or the front and back, but should never be more than one printed page.

What if i have gaps in my work experience, or no work experience, due to my incarceration?

Potential employers do not like gaps in work experience. There are ways to be creative and honest to fill in any gaps in formal jobs. Some ideas include:

  • Give the dates of your education if you were pursuing a GED, degree, or taking any courses during a period when you weren't working.

  • If gaps in your resume align with time when you were incarcerated, be sure to include any porter, maintenance, or landscaping work you did in prison. If you worked in an office, library, or any other location, include it.

  • Include volunteer experience or advocacy work during time that you weren't working. The skills utilized in those positions are often the same skills that employers are looking for.

What should i include?

Your resume should include some basic pieces of information:

  • Your name, phone number, and email address should go at the top of your resume in large and easily visible font.

  • An objective statement that describes your professional goals as they relate to the job for which you are applying

  • Work experience, including volunteer or advocacy experience

  • Educational history

  • Skills relevant to the job for which you are applying

Where do i go to make a resume?

You can make a resume on any word processing software, including Microsoft Word, Google Documents, or Pages. Many types of software, including Microsoft Word and Pages, have templates that make it easy to create an eye-catching resume.

Help! I am stuck...what should i do?

Don't sweat it! Review page 327 of the NYC Connections 2020 guide. If you're still stuck, reach out to Kiki or Elisabeth and we will get you the help you need.