The importance of a resume...

If you are a student at Prairie View A&M University, you are in preparation for a career. Everyone wants to attain a career in life, but not many actually know what it takes to get there.

The most important step to earning a career is creating a resume. Not only is it used for employment, it is essential for scholarships, internships, and other positions that require necessary experience.

We've all heard the saying, "Your first impression is a lasting impression." Well, your resume is basically your first impression to an employer before you are considered for an interview. Therefore, it is critical that we all know how to write a good resume and make an outstanding lasting impression.

The first thing to know about creating a resume is to have a clear idea of what you're applying for, how you qualify for the position or scholarship and what you plan to do if you are offered the position or scholarship. There are three Rs in creating a resume: Research, Research and Research. Meaning you must research the company or organization, as well as the position you are seeking to obtain, and yourself and your accomplishments.

It is also significant to know exactly what type of resume suits you and its specific format. There are different types of resumes for different types of positions and focuses. For instance, a resume for a scholarship would focus on educational experience. Types of resumes include chronological, functional, teaching and technical. A chronological resume is used if most of your work experience is related to the position you desire to fill. Someone with no work experience wouldn't use this type. Instead they could use a functional resume for those who haven't had much work experience because it concentrates on skills they possess and can be effective if you are changing your career or requesting a promotion. Teaching resumes elaborate on teaching experiences and qualifications related to careers in education and should include hobbies and/or an extracurricular activities section. Technical resumes are most helpful for careers directly related to your major or degree and help to expand on experience and course work related to the objective.

The basic content of a resume consists of your name and contact information, your objective, education, experience, organizations, community activities, awards, interests and references. The objective of any resume must be simple and to the point. For example: 'A part-time internship related to accounting or marketing.' Your education and experience should be related to your objective and listed in chronological order or in order of importance. Your organizations, community activities, awards and interests are all optional. References should always be listed on a separate sheet and should consist of people who comment honestly and wholly on your personality and work ethic.

Some tips to keep in mind when creating a resume are (1) keep it short, sweet and specific, (2) don't try to be too fancy or 'overdo' your resume, (3) make yourself sound like the most qualified person for the job without being dishonest and (4) after completing your resume, thoroughly check for all types of errors, not just spelling and grammar.

More information on resumes and applying for a position can be found in the Career Services Center on the second floor of the Evans Hall building. It is open Mondays-Fridays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and they will do everything in their power to assist you with your future including personal resume revising and resume writing workshops. They also offer a career planning guide that has a lot of valuable information on careers overall.