There are diverse views about how one should produce the professional résumé. Until just a few years ago, there were only a few formal college degrees in technical communication, and as one implication of this, there are a diversity of opinions about how best to create résumés to demonstrate one's competencies in the field. Advice about creating professional résumés in the fields surrounding technical communication and usability vary widely, but interviewers tend often to be very interested in experience and portfolios with examples of skills.
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Learn to Write a Resume that Will Get You Noticed 
Your resume could be hurting your chances of landing a new job. Columnist Jeff Davis shares some advice for making sure your resume is one that hiring managers will read.
Davis, Jeff. TechRepublic (2003). Careers>Resumes
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The Million Dollar Letter: Some Hints On How to Write One 
This article suggests ways of writing a truly effective cover letter, an extremely important document in the search for a job. First, features gleaned from 13 model letters in technical writing textbooks yield figures on the number of words, sentences, and paragraphs per letter, plus the average number of words per sentence and paragraph, information helpful to those with little or no knowledge of how to write a strong cover letter. Second, the article surveys what the textbook writers offer as advice about the rhetorical principles that should be employed in composing cover letters. One piece of advice given by almost all of the experts is that writers should try to exude an energetic attitude, yet these same authorities do not delineate just how to display such a posture in the letters themselves. Third, examination of the letters reveals that one way that experts insert verve into cover letters is to use verbals, particularly gerunds, participles, and infinitives. In fact, 92.58% of the sentences in the 13 model letters have some type of verbal in them. The advantage of employing verbals is that while they are used for other parts of speech, they still retain the residue of action in their meaning. Fourth, the article describes the results of a survey to determine the acceptance of such constructions in the minds of two sets of readers: first-year writing students and third-year technical writing students. In both groups, more than 75% of the students preferred a paragraph with verbals in it over a paragraph devoid of verbals. Finally, the article suggests "sentence combining" as a procedure for teaching technical writing students how to combine basic sentences into verbals to garner variety and economy, one of the hallmarks of technical writing.
Myers, Marshall. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2004). Careers>Resumes>Cover Letters
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Notes From a Recruiter's Diary: A Plethora of CVs
Competition is tight and readers are right to be concerned. But the numbers sound scarier than they really are.
Jensen, David G. Science (2002). Careers>Resumes
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Team Webmonkey reveals where to look for Web jobs, how to tweak your e-résumé, and the best way to interview.
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A list of verbs one should consider when writing a resume.
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This handout offers advice making informed design choices in creating a resume. We also have a sample resume that uses these design principles.
Purdue University (2004). Careers>Resumes>Document Design>Visual Rhetoric
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The guide contained here is intended to help you on your quest to create a good, usable resume. I don't promise you that you will get a job after following my advice, but it will get you a lot closer to your goal.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2007). Careers>Resumes
#31925
Many people start on their resume by worrying about fonts and spacing. Unless you get the wording down perfectly first, you will only be creating more work for yourself.
Fiske, Peter. Science (1998). Careers>Resumes
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Resume Presentation and Mechanics
Select a high quality paper. Standard bond, office, or copy paper is not the answer here. A 100 percent cotton fiber or other high quality paper is essential.
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Your Resume contains general information about building an effective resume such as overall organization, font selection, and a rationale for resumes.
#22033
The Resume: Keys to Write it Right
Although there may be a dozen books out there that say something to the contrary or offer 'The' correct resume format, there really is no universally accepted template. A little common sense and some wordsmithing will go a long way to making an effective resume, irrespective of what format you choose.
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It’s simple…Don’t lie! Don’t embellish! It’s not only unethical, but eventually you’ll get caught. You may get away with it for a time, but it will catch up with you. Whether technical skills, training, or particular accomplishments, keep it honest. It’ll work better for you.
#22036
Resumes should be written in language that is as plain and simple to read as possible. Don’t use a lot of jargon that may or may not be understood by your prospective employer. Avoid overusing buzzwords or slang.
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The best portfolio addresses the most tangible skills, domain expertise and tools skills. Here are our guidelines for creating a winning personal portfolio.
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This 40- to 45-minute presentation is designed to help students develop their resumes and attract the attention of prospective employers. This presentation covers methods for developing each section of the resume and is well-suited to any person preparing documents for the job search process.
Laflen, Angela and Jennifer Liethen Kunka. Purdue University. Careers>Resumes
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Employers read resumes in order to find evidence that a particular applicant is well qualified for a particular job. Experience, education, training, and personal qualities relevant to the job are all important. The resume should describe what has led the applicant to where he or she is now.
Wymelenberg, Erin Vanden. Seton Hill University (2000). Careers>Resumes>Writing
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Many employers look for creativity and imagination when the job calls for it. However, it is best to aim for a professional, neat, and organized look for your resume. If you are applying for a job that requires radical creativity, you can always include a portfolio of your wildest, most unbusinesslike work!
Wymelenberg, Erin Vanden. Seton Hill University (2000). Careers>Resumes>Writing
#19628
I regularly ask my students to submit resumes early in the semester. Here are the top 5 problems that typically cause stress for my students (and me) on resumes.
Jerz, Dennis G. Seton Hill University (2001). Careers>Resumes>Writing
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Résumés: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
This article offers advice to technical writers about what to inlclude on their resumés, in order to get attention when applying for positions.
Zvalo, Peter. Writer's Block (2001). Careers>Resumes
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Lists ten common mistakes in resumes and ten suggestions for improvement based on his experience as a hiring manager. The article includes a sidebar on how to write effective cover letters.
Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Careers>Resumes
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This workshop combines demonstrations and exercises to help you revise your resume so that your past presents a persuasive argument for your career objectives. You can fully participate in this workshop even if you do not bring a copy of your resume. Those who bring a resume can use it for some of the workshop exercises.
Panagakos, Denise Mazza and Renée Pauley. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>Resumes
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Everyone knows that your resume is one of the most useful marketing tools you have in a job search, and this is particularly true for technical communicators. Your resume not only presents your education, skills, and experience, but also provides a writing sample. In this workshop, you will learn how to develop a professional, eye-catching resume that will get you job interviews. Attendees should bring at least three copies of their resume with them to the workshop.
Chiricosta, Tracey C., Charles D. Fisher, Jr. and Alice Alspach Jones. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Resumes
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A scannable resume can be scanned into a computer using the latest document imaging technology, allowing employers to search for applicants. It is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your goals, education, work experience, activities, honors, and any special skills you might have.
Purdue University (2004). Careers>Resumes
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Scannable resumes are frequently requested. They are scanned into a database and pulled up through keyword searches. Use left justification for everything and use the dreaded ALL CAPS for headings. When you are done, pray that you can redeem yourself with a properly formatted resume at your interview.
Dunham, Paul. Newbie Tech Writer (1999). Careers>Resumes>Online
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This presentation is designed to assist students in learning the various methods for crafting a technologically correct document that will be successfully translated into a potential employer's database. This workshop is ideal for students who are nearing the time when they will be ready to apply for jobs or internships and need to tailor their resume for scanning.
Hughes, Stephanie Williams. Purdue University (1998). Careers>Resumes
