Producing a well written, quality resume takes time and thought. While there are a few different ways to structure a resume, the format of all resumes will include these common segments.

Identification - This section explains who you are and where you can be reached. It includes:

• Name (in slightly larger font)
• Address (including Zip or postal code)
• Area Code and telephone number
• Business telephone number if available - Ensure this number will be answered properly. Include it only if you don’t mind your current work location knowing that you are job hunting.
• E-mail address

Include your name and page number at the top of each subsequent page. Make sure you give your potential employer the capability of leaving a message. Invest in an answering machine or call answering service. If the employer can not contact you, they may well pass you by in favour of an applicant they can reach.

Objective Statement - Identify a specific, clearly stated career objective on your resume. There are a number of reasons to implement this strategy.

• Helps you to focus on the position you are applying for – your goal.
• Gives you a reference point for choosing the most important things to say about yourself.
• Tells the reader exactly what position you are seeking. They will not have to guess or make an assumption about the position you want.
• Saves the employer's valuable time when they assess qualified candidates from the hundreds of resumes they receive.
• Tells the recruiter what the rest of your resume is going to say.
• Helps the reader evaluate your resume based on what position you want.

Your career objective should be a brief statement and should not include superfluous phrases such as "a challenging position" or words like "exciting". No one seeks a position that is not challenging or exciting.

Summary of Qualifications - While included at the top of the resume just below the Career Objective section, the summary section is often the last piece of the resume to be written. This section is designed to provide the reader with a quick look at your special skills and competencies and how this qualifies you for the new position. Highlighted in the summary could be:

• Number of years or months of experience in targeted job field.
• Your education, training or certification in that field.
• Your key skills, talents or special knowledge related to this job.
• Something about your personal work style, or attitude toward the job that would look appealing to an employer.
• An accomplishment or recognition of achievement that "says it all", if possible.

You could choose to write the summary statement using bullets, prose (two – three sentences) or a combination of both. Whatever format you use be sure that each statement supports, and is relevant, to your career objective.

Experience - There are various ways to record your experience on your resume. However, regardless of the format you choose, the experience section of the resume highlights and stresses your accomplishments. The outline of experience proves to the employer that you can do the job you are applying for. The implication is that if you have been successful in the past, you will be able to achieve similar results in the future.

• Successfully managed Technology Training $200,000 budget, resulting in a savings of more than $51,000
• Designed and implemented an early booking program for livestock products resulting in a 15% increase in sales.
• Successfully reduced operating capital and expense by 50% over the past 3 years while maintaining excellent service results

Remember that you are marketing a valuable product – Yourself. Think of your competencies and accomplishments as major selling points that will set you apart from other candidates.

Education - Briefly list your academic credentials and your formal degree(s) in order of relevance or in reverse chronological order. Include the type of degree, school and the year (if fairly recent). You do not have to mention high school if you have achieved a university or college degree.

Training – Briefly list all other courses or training that you have taken if it is directly related to the position for which you are applying. You could also use "Professional Development" or "Related Education" as a heading.

Other Information - Other types of information that you might want to include under a separate heading on your resume could be professional affiliations, awards, honours, trade tickets or military training. Ensure that any additional headings and items you include are relevant to your objective. If you are in doubt, it is best not to include the item. Any other significant data that you have relevant to your career, such as patents issued or published papers, could be prepared as an addendum. This addendum could be left behind after an interview or submitted with a resume if this kind of information is specifically required. It should be printed on the same paper stock as the resume.