Resume Help

 

 

Your resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer. You want your resume to stand out and highlighting your talents, skills and experience. In addition to the resume writing tips provided below, the Vermont Department of Labor offers sample resumes on the CareerOneStop website.

Applying

When applying to a State of Vermont position, the system works best when you upload a chronological resume. While not required, a well-organized resume that lists specific work history and education will be able to be read by the system and the information extracted from it will make your application time shorter!  You are also encouraged to provide a cover letter, especially for professional level positions.

You should upload the resume and cover separately. If they are combined in a single file, the resume information will not be properly extracted into your profile. Attached cover letters and resumes should be in a .doc or .pdf format whenever possible.

Resume Writing Tips

Contact information:  Put your home/cell phone number, email address and complete mailing address by your name in the header.  We want to be able to reach you.

Work history:  We recommend a chronological resume (most current job first and previous jobs below that).  Tell us what you did for each job, including your big accomplishments.

Education: Include your degrees, certifications, licenses and related training courses.

Other Information: You may want to include additional information that highlights additional skills and abilities.

  • Special accomplishments, awards, and honors you have received.
  • Languages you are fluent in.
  • Professional memberships and volunteer work, particularly if related to the position for which you are applying.

Presentation:

  • Your resume should be brief and to the point. One to two pages is best.
  • Choose an easy-to-read font style and size.
  • Spell it out. Avoid using acronyms that people may not recognize.
  • Do not include a picture or personal information such as marital or family status, personal health condition, ethnicity, gender, date of birth, and social security number.
  • Proofread your resume for proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.

 

Cover Letter

Most hiring managers expect to see a cover letter that summarizes your interest in the position and highlights what you have to offer the employer. This is not a repeat of your resume, but an opportunity to call attention to your credentials, accomplishments, and areas of expertise.