Completing a resume outline is a great way to ease into building a resume if you haven't done one before. Making an outline was my least favorite task whenever I was required to do it in school. I disliked being forced to formulate my thinking in a focused, content-rich manner! However, this is exactly the benefit you will gain by creating an outline of a resume - focus & content! Follow these steps to create your outline:

Step 1:Review the Sections of a Resume

Your resume information should be laid out with broad details at the top in the professional summary, and then increasingly more specific information about your skills and experiences as you progress down the page into the Employment History Section. Here are the critical sections to use when creating your resume outline:

• The Contact Information Section at the top of the page contains your name, address, city, state, zip, contact telephone number, and professional email address.
• The Objective or Professional Summary Section gives an overview of your experience, training, and expertise. The Professional Summary points an employer to why they should hire you.
• The Skill Summary Section is made up of bulleted, succinct phrases that describe your skills and abilities. You will tweek this section every time you apply for a job so that it is custom fit for that employer. Compare the skills you possess with what the employer is looking for and list these in the Skill Summary Section.
• The Employment History Section is the place in your resume to provide targeted details about your experience and accomplishments. You will quantify what you accomplished in your previous/current employment. You will list your most recent employment first.
• In the Education Section you will add training that you have completed, such as college degrees, diplomas, and other training or certifications that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Your most current education will be listed first.
• Honors / Awards Section: It is a good idea to keep a list of any notable awards or honors you are given in the course of school, work, volunteering, or groups you are involved with for entertainment. Include those Awards & Accomplishments relevant to the position you are applying for with the most current listed first.
• The Professional Memberships Section will include memberships in professional organizations relevant to the position you are applying for or those that you hold a leadership position in. If you are early in your career and have not pursued professional membership, now is a great time to get involved - it will help you round out your resume and your career contacts.

Step 2: Get Organized

First write out the Resume Outline Section Headings on a piece of paper, giving each heading its own separate piece of paper. Next, write down all the information you have for each section. If you are not able to complete a section, go on to the next page and then come back to it at the end. Continue to organize your employment information, listing the most recent information first. When you have completed each section, you will have the outline of a resume started, and have compiled the information that you will need to complete your resume.

Step 3: Set Your Target

As you are collecting the information for your resume outline, keep in mind that the resume should be tailored or targeted to the employer and the position you are seeking. You should be emphasizing the unique qualifications and skills you possess that match what the employer is looking for.

Happy Job Seeking!