Functional Resume Worksheet

The following sections will make up the parts of your resume. Enter your information as you go through the sections to complete your resume. When you have finished, click submit and your resume will be generated and emailed to you.

When you have received the email, copy and paste your resume into a Word document and make any additional edits before sending it to potential employers. You will be able to add additional information and make formatting changes when you are in Word - if you need assistance with formatting, visit your local Employment Services Centre.

Tips for creating your resume:

Avoid fonts smaller than 10 - 12pt font is standard size for the body of a resume
Save your resume to more than one place - save it on a disk, email it to yourself so you have access to it from any computer
Print your resume on white paper, especially when faxing
Include your name and contact information at the top of each page just in case they get separated
Do not use periods at the end of your bulleted statements as they will not be complete sentences
Use same tense - don't switch back and forth between past and present

Personal Information

Some things to keep in mind when getting started:

Include a phone number where you can be reached or a message may be left
Avoid using email addresses that are unprofessional or personal in nature

Name: *

Address:

Phone:

Email: *

Example:

Personal information example

Job Objective

This section, which is optional, can be called Employment Objective, Job Objective, or Career Goal. Think of a brief statement that summarizes what you are applying for.

Examples:

A full time position in the clerical field
To obtain the position of Housekeeper with ABC Cleaners

Job Objective:

Example:

Employment objective example

Skills Summary / Highlights of Qualifications / Professional Profile

This section can make your resume stand out from all the others. It tells the potential employer the essential skills, personal attributes, and experience you have to offer.

Examples:

Experience as a waiter/waitress - a statement could be 'Excellent customer service skills"
Experience in sales - you might state "Exceeded sales quota each month"
Multiple jobs in the same field - an overall statement such as "Over 10 years experience in driving and courier services"
Experience in a law/community office - you could say "Provided professional, client-oriented reception and office support while maintaining accuracy with a high level of confidentiality"

When completing this section, be sure to include all types of skills you possess:

HARD SKILLS:

Skills you have learned or trained for - typing, software applications, machinery, languages, driver’s license, project management.

SOFT SKILLS:

Skills we use in our day-to-day lives. Acquired knowledge that we do not necessarily train for - organizational abilities, problem solving, communication skills, teamwork, presentation, self-management, adaptability, motivation, commitment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Years of experience, degrees, licenses, certificates, memberships, awards, languages (that you speak, read and write), professional memberships & affiliations.

Skills summary and accomplishment statement:

Example:

Qualifications example

Relevant Skills and Experience

To get started on your skills section, group your skills into skill sets. List 2 to 4 major areas of experience that best describe the skills you have to offer an employer.

Under each main skill heading write down your major accomplishments. Employers want to know what you have accomplished, not simply a job description.

Relevant Skills and Experience:

Example:

Skills and experience example

Employment History

May also be called Employment Experience, Work History, Professional Experience. Sometimes dates of employment are included, other times they can be left out, or the numbers of years may be used. Since you have already listed your relevant skills and experience above, less detail can be given in this section.

List information in the following order:

Job title, Company, Town, Province, Dates

Employment History 1:

Employment History 2:

Employment History 3:

Example:

Work experience example

Volunteer Experience

What other relevant information do you have? Include information about your volunteer positions and community involvement. You can also include information about your duties as well. It is best to state volunteer work that is relevant and within the community you are applying to.

Volunteer Experience 1:

Volunteer Experience 2:

Volunteer Experience 3:

Education and Training

What education or training do you have for this type of work? In chronological order, list all your training and education including:

Colleges/universities attended and degrees/diplomas/certificates earned
Relevant courses and/or project work
Training/Certificates/Licences/Awards
Additional courses, seminars, conferences
Related workshops or projects

List information in the following order:
Education Title, Institution Name, Town, Province, Dates

Education and Training 1:

Education and Training 2:

Education and Training 3:

Example:

Education and training example

References

End your resume with a quick note about your references and/or portfolio. State "References Attached" if you have been requested to include your references with your application. Or you can use the following examples:

References and Portfolio Available Upon Request
References and Portfolio to Be Provided at Interview

Putting Your References Together

Using the same format as your resume will tie all your information together and create a professional and consistent look.

References message:

Reference 1:

Reference 2:

Reference 3:

Example:

References example

Northern Lights Canada

Real work - Real people - Real results

Employment Services

Vocational Rehabilitation

Corporate Training

Employer Services

Example:

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Example:

Example:

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Example:

Employment Services

Vocational Rehabilitation

Employer Services