You've decided that on your hunt for a job or looking for a career change and you need to write a resume. Sure, there are tons of people that you can pay to write your resume for you, but if you have a little bit of time, a computer with Microsoft Word and Internet access, you can be on your way to a successful career without having to pay someone to help.
Step 1
Launch Microsoft Word.
Step 2
Search for your desired Template: If your "Getting Started" screen appears, you can use the search box there for the next step. If not, click on Help then Microsoft Office Word Help or press F1.
Step 3
Type RESUME TEMPLATE into the search box and press enter.
Step 4
Click on the document called "Career change resume with volunteer experience." This is the best template available for free from Microsoft for someone with little or no experience.
Step 5
Click the "Download" button.
Step 6
There's your template! Now, all you have to do is fill in the blanks with information that pertains to you. If you do not like this template, don't fret! There are several others to choose from.
Step 7
Save your resume and build onto it as you gain experience. It is an ever-changing project.
Tips
Think of some great adjectives to describe your good qualities that employers would be attracted to, but make sure that you are honest! You do not want to mislead your potential employer about your abilities. Some examples might be...team player, outgoing, steadfast, dedicated, loyal, trustworthy, timely, motivated, the list goes on and on. List these qualities in the "Profile" section of your shiny new resume along with your other specific skills. - Use a thesaurus. A great resource is www.thesaurus.com. If you're at a loss for words, this is a great place to get your brain going.
Now you're wondering "How do I fill even a page with information when I have no experience?" The answer is...everything counts! If you're a student, list your extra curricular activities (sports, clubs, school government) that you're involved in, your role in the activity and what your contributions were. Have you done any volunteer work? Babysitting? Walking a neighbor's dog, house sitting, lawn work? Think of what you spend your time doing and what makes you good at it. All of those are good things to include. You may even want to interview some adults in your life that you look up to and simply ask the question: What do you think some of my good qualities are?
Warnings
- Keep your resume to one page in length, if at all possible and definitely no more than two pages. Many employers get hundreds of resumes and don't have time to read 5 pages of long paragraphs of information. Use brief, descriptive, bulleted points. Some managers have so many resumes to go through, they will toss out any that are longer than one page.
Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Microsoft Word
- Internet Access
- A little bit of time
- Brainstorming
