Writing a resume? Follow this format: Target and specify

A quick look at the classifieds will tell job seekers that many employers expect a resume along with, or in place of, a job application.

A well-crafted resume often is a necessity, local resume writers and career counselors say.

The task of writing such a document can be daunting, but local professionals say there are some guidelines, if not rules, for resume writing.

"Of course there's no one, true resume that's always going to work," said Karen Darrow, who works in the Flathead Valley Community College career center.

The main goal, though, is the same regardless of the job desired: to show employers you have what they're looking for.

And the key words for accomplishing that goal are target and specify.

"The more targeted a resume is," Darrow said, "the more likely you are to get" the job.

Targeting means narrowing down the skills and job history an applicant lists on a resume to only those that apply to a specific job, says Christine Mueller.

She owns a Whitefish resume and technical writing business, Document Design and Writing.

Here are tips for effective resume writing.

. List a specific objective

Mueller and Darrow suggest the best way to start a resume is to target an employer by listing an objective.

That should clearly state what the resume writer hopes to accomplish. For example, a statement that is too broad might be "to obtain a job in business," Mueller said.

A more appropriate objective would be "to obtain a job in sales in the food service industry," she said.

Job applicants also could list the specific job they are applying for within a company, Darrow said.

. List skills relevant to the objective

Once resume writers have listed their objectives, they should write down their skills or experiences that relate to those objectives. For instance, the food service salesperson might list that he or she has handled or acquired sales accounts for major food service clients.

Listing an objective and specific skills or experiences is called a functional format.

The other common style, the chronological format, lists jobs and the various skills or talents the applicant acquired. That format is suitable for some industries where progression from one job level to the next, such as climbing the corporate ladder, is important.

If applicants are having trouble thinking of pertinent skills, they should refer to the job description for clues, Darrow said.

. Use action verbs

One way to make a good impression is to list skills with action verbs, Darrow said. Action verbs quickly show an employer proof of an applicant's experience - and quick is what matters.

"Generally a person has 30-60 seconds when a person first looks at their resume," Darrow said.

Rather than stating "excellent customer service skills," an applicant could show proof by writing a customer service heading and listing "helped customers resolve problems."

. Include a job history and explain employment gaps

Even if resume writers use the functional format, they should include a simple job history that states the place of employment and the dates, Darrow and Mueller said.

Resume writers should be careful to explain any long employment gaps.

"Even if you were traveling in Europe, put down traveling in Europe," Darrow said.

Explaining gaps tells employers that at least the applicant was doing something. And often times they know experiences such as travel teach people skills that carry over to the work force.

. Focus on the text more than the design

Some people worry more about how a resume looks than about what it says, and that's a mistake, Darrow said.

Applicants need to concentrate on strong, clear wording, she said. Actual formatting and layout is less important than people realize, she said.

Resume writers should choose an easy-to-read font and size. Some companies have software packages that have templates for resume writing. Those are nice and make layout easy, but most people can achieve the same look with a regular word processing program, Darrow said.

And applicants can be more creative or formal with layout depending on the type of job or field they're interested in.

Resumes, though, should be only one page unless people have extensive job histories, such as those in academia, that are important to note. References can be included on that page if there is room.

. Ask the employer what format of resume to send or bring in

Most job listings state how the employer wants to receive resumes, so just follow those guidelines, Darrow said. Some employers want them on CDs, some want them through the mail, some want them e-mailed.

If a job listing doesn't specify, applicants should call or ask in person to make themselves known.

It's advisable to put a resume in the body of an e-mail to avoid any trouble with opening attachments, Darrow said.

. Get a final proofreading.

Mistakes, large or small, look bad, so ask someone to proof all resumes.

"If there's any errors on there," Darrow said, "they go in the no pile."

For more information, call Mueller at 863-2995 or Darrow at 756-3900.

Reporter Camden Easterling may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com