Process
The following process will help you develop a complete, accurate, and impressive
resume.
STEP 1: Prewriting—Analyzing the Employment
Requirements
Before you develop a resume, name the specific position you are seeking. Then make
a list of the skills, duties, responsibilities, and education you think the job requires. If
possible, ask for a job description and tailor your list from that.
The implications for doing this analysis are twofold:
-^ First, you will design a resume to best show your qualifications for the
specific job.
-^ Second, you will design different resumes for different kinds of jobs.
Redesigning a resume to suit different positions may sound dishonest; in fact, it is
not. You simply emphasize the experiences appropriate to the position. For instance,
if you were applying for a job at a horticulture nursery, you would want to empha-
size your experience with plants and your understanding of botany and commercial
gardening. On the other hand, if you were applying for a position as an appliance
salesperson where nobody cared what you know about horticulture, you would
emphasize your sales experience (even if the experience was selling plants) and your
ability to relate well to other people.
So, yes, it is important to name the specific position and precisely determine its
responsibilities so that your resume can be geared toward that goal.
STEP 2: Prewriting—Analyzing Your Experience
List your work experience. Jot down dates and employers. If you are young and
lack job experience, do not hesitate to include volunteer work and major commit-
tee assignments. After all, it was work, even if you were not paid for it. It required
responsibility and commitment; it shows willingness to work and achieve goals.
Once you have listed all the experiences you can, or all that seem appropriate,
arrange them in reverse chronological order (that is, the most recent first).
STEP 3: Prewriting—Meeting the Job Requirements
For each experience listed, name the responsibilities you held or the duties you per-
formed. List responsibilities and duties especially appropriate for the position you
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