CAREER OBJECTIVE

A job or career objective should always be stated on your resume. The omission of a job or career objective forces the potential employer to guess from the resume just what your career goal is, or what position you're applying for. If you don't state your objective, there's the likelihood that you might not be invited to an interview.  A stated objective on a resume is a plus factor, says career coordinator J.I. Biegeleisen. "It can do you a lot of good." Used as a focal point, your job objective should, in 30 words or less, state the position you're looking for in terms of your qualifications. For example:  "A challenging position in the financial management of a mid-sized manufacturing company, where strong reporting, costing and analytical skills can impact the bottom line."  A job or career objective should be brief and to the point. It should highlight one or two of your qualifications and motivate the prospective employer to read the rest of your resume.

WORK EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This is a record of the jobs you've held. Each job listed should show the name of the firms you've worked for, job titles, responsibilities and accomplishments.  It should be noted that the prospective employer, while interested in an overview of your entire employment history, will be most interested in your most recent job-the one which presumably represents your highest level of achievement. This should be the most detailed.

YOUR RESUME OUTLINES YOUR WORKING LIFE

Dates of Employment: The duration of employment with each employer should be indicated on a year-to-year basis. There is no need to specify months.
Companies: When listing companies you worked for, don't waste precious space by giving the address. Specify the nature of the firm's products or services and, perhaps, the position it holds among its competitors.
Job Title: This refers to your payroll position-Administrator, Office Manager, Computer Analyst, Credit Manager, V.P. Real Estate Division, etc.
Accomplishments: Just listing responsibilities doesn't tell the potential employer what you actually did. What's important is to show how you made an impact on the company, says Biegeleisen. You must tell how you positively affected the company's or your department's productivity, sales, savings or mention other records of achievement such as special awards, or commendations by supervisors or promotions to higher rank. How did your actions benefit the company?

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

This section would include a list of schools attended, with dates for each, degrees and honors earned and noteworthy participation in extracurricular activities.

PERSONAL DATA

This section may include relevant physical information, professional affiliations, community activities and special features that might enhance your employability.

HOBBIES

When uncertain whether a hobby should be included or not, leave it out.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS

In most instances it's a good idea to list community organizations in which you play an active role. By all means list affiliations with professional organizations in your line of work. In addition, if you've had articles published in related trade or professional journals, say so. It will enhance your status as a candidate.

REFERENCES

This section should be left out. Instead, you can say, "references available upon request". Remember, by law, you are not required to include such information as marital status, date or place of birth, age, sex, social insurance number, etc. So don't. The two most important rules of resume content are - truthfulness and completeness.

Ruta Lovett is a Toronto writer and President of Advanced Learning Institute, a company specializing in the development and delivery of business seminars.