The way you arrange your resume depends on how well your experience seems to prepare you for the position you want. Basically, you can either describe your most recent job first and work backwards (reverse chronology) or group similar skills together. No matter which format you use, the following advice applies generally.

Nuts and Bolts of a Resume

• Use specifics. A vague description of your duties will make only a vague impression.
• Identify accomplishments. If you headed a project, improved productivity, reduced costs, increased membership, or achieved some other goal, say so.
• Type your resume, using a standard typeface. (Printed resumes are becoming more common, but employers do not indicate a preference for them.)
• Keep the length down to two pages at the most.
• Remember your mother's advice not to say anything if you cannot say something nice. Leave all embarrassing or negative information off the resume--but be ready to deal with it in a positive fashion at the interview.
• Proofread the master copy carefully.
• Have someone else proofread the master copy carefully.
• Have a third person proofread the master copy carefully.
• Use the best quality photocopying machine and good white or off-white paper.

The following information appears on almost every resume.

• Name.
• Phone number at which you can be reached or receive messages.
• Address.
• Job or career sought.
• References--often just a statement that references are available suffices. If your references are likely to be known by the person who reads the resume, however, their names are worth listing.
• Experience.
• Education.
• Special talents.
• Personal information--height, weight, marital status, physical condition. Although this information appears on virtually every sample resume I have ever seen, it is not important according to recruiters. In fact, employers are prohibited by law from asking for some of it. If some of this information is directly job related--the height and weight of a bouncer is important to a disco owner, for example--list it. Otherwise, save space and put in more information about your skills.