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A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE RESUME WRITING FOR CONTRACT WORKERS    


    As  a  contract employee your resume is your calling card. It sells
you  to  your  potential employer. So, it behooves you to take  extreme
care in preparing a resume that will be a professional presentation  of
your qualifications.

    There   are   many  acceptable  resume  formats  and   methods   of
preparation.  This brochure offers just one...but one  with  which  our
subscribers  have found continued success. If you use this  format  and
the  guidelines we suggest, we can't guarantee you'll land a job.  But,
if you do adhere to this format, we can assure you that your chances of
getting that next assignment will have definitely improved!


BASIC GUIDELINES FOR RESUME PREPARATION


Typesetting . . .


    Professional  typesetting equipment produces the best  presentation
of  your  resume.  Most printing companies can provide  you  with  this
service.  You can  also  use  your  own computer with some type  of  word
processing software. The quality of this method depends greatly upon the
kind  of printer  you use with your computer. A third, and often less
desirable method,  is to use a typewriter. If you do use a typewriter, make
sure that it is in good condition...and use a new ribbon.


Printing. . .

    Offset  printing  is your best choice for duplicating  copies.  All
cities have quick printers that can provide that service for you.  Make
sure  you  check  out some samples of their work, however,  before  you
allow  them to print your resume. If you have a laser printer  attached
to your computer, you can elect to print multiple copies of your resume
that  way. The quality of a resume which you type on your computer  and
produce  on your laser printer should be excellent...almost as good  as
one  that  is  typeset  by a professional and reproduced  at  a  nearby
printer.  The  major  difference between  these  two  methods  is  that
professional typesetting equipment can condense more copy onto a single
page.  Also, be aware that the typed copy on your laser-printed  resume
can  "crack" along the crease if you fold it. If that happens to your
laser-printed resume, mail them to firms flat in a 9"x12" envelope.

Helpful hints...

  Include only necessary personal information.

  List  "Under  contract to" for any contract assignments you may  have had.

  Include total number of years experience.

  Give  security  status,  if  any.  If  your  security  clearance  has
     expired, include the date of expiration.

  Write   job   descriptions  in  easy-to-understand  terms,   and   as
     completely as space allows.

  Include  your  name and page number on each page of a  multiple  page
     resume (except no number on first page).

  If you  want  to  use a better quality paper, consider a  white  bond
     paper  with a rag content (available from most printers  or  paper
     supply  stores). Rag bond, however, should not be used if you  are
     printing copies of your resume on a photo copier (such as  Xerox),
     as the letters may break up on folds.

Tips to help you shorten a lengthy resume...

  Have it typed by a professional typesetter.

  Eliminate  all  extra  spaces  between  lines  (except  between   job
     assignments).

  Use narrower margins.

  Keep   job  descriptions  to  3-5  sentences  (especially  for  older
     positions).

  If your  "length"  problem  is  due to an  extensive  number  of  job
     assignments, leave the oldest positions off and type the following
     at  the  bottom of the last page of your resume: "Experience  from
     (date)   to  (date)  available  upon  request."  Then  prepare   a
"complete" resume to furnish only to firms asking for it.

Things you "Should" do with your resume:

  Use 8-1/2" X 11" paper.

  Make your resume as legible as possible.

  Include  both  a  permanent  contact and present  address  and  phone
     number. You may be contacted through a permanent address or phone,
     even after you have moved from your present address.

  Include  your job discipline(s)...near your name at the top  of  page
     one of your resume and as a title to each assignment.

  Include  a  summary paragraph near the top of your resume.  Be  brief
     but be complete.

  Include pertinent education and/or training.

  List jobs in reverse chronological order.

  Try  to  keep  to  a maximum of two pages (see "tips"  if  resume  is
     longer than two pages).



Things you "Should Not" do with your resume:

  Don't include personal references or hobbies.

  Don't include your Social Security Number.

  Don't include a cover sheet.

  Don't  use a "Job Objective." This is normally found on a resume  for
     someone  who is seeking a "direct" position. A "Job Objective"
     tells the firms what you want from them whereas a "Summary" tells
     what you can do for them.


  Don't exaggerate your experience.

  Don't show salary or pay information.

  Don't offer explanations for leaving prior employers.

  Don't use your photograph.

  Don't  use  abbreviations (except those that are  acceptable  in  the
     engineering/technical fields, such as IBM, CAD, E/M, etc.).


MANY CONTRACT FIRMS USE RESUME SCANNERS

  More  and more contract firms are utilizing scanners to input resumes
into  their  computer databases. Because of that,  new  guidelines  are
required  that will enable firms to scan your resume. Here  are  a  few
recommendations that will make your resume "scanner ready:"

  Use white paper and black ink.

  Don't underline words.

  Don't use script or other fancy typefaces.

  All  letters  should  be  of the same quality  (no  light  or  broken
     letters, no smudgy or filled-in letters, etc.).

  Use adequate margins (at least 1/2" on all sides).

  Don't handwrite anything on your resume.

  If using  a dot matrix printer, utilize the best quality of type  the
     printer provides (i.e. letter quality, dark copy, etc.).

  Avoid boxes or unusual configurations.


NOTE:  If you transmit your resume by using a FAX card in your personal
computer, make sure you see what you transmit. Many resumes received at
,in  this  manner,  have   problems   (extraneous characters, missing copy,
strange lines, etc.). Also, the format of the received  resume  is  often
different than  what  you  think  you  are transmitting.  Try faxing to a
friend or local fax number  so  you  can physically see what everyone else
sees!