Use the following questionnaire to gather the information you will need for your resume. In the following sections, you will learn how to organize, for- mat, and word it to make the best possible impression.
Contact Information
The only personal information that belongs on your resume is your name (on every page, if your resume exceeds one page in length), address, phone number, and fax number and e-mail address if you have them. Under no cir- cumstances should you include personal information such as age, gender, religion, health or marital status, or number of children.
Full name:
Permanent street address:
City, State, Zip:
Daytime telephone number:
Evening telephone number:
Pager/cell phone number (optional):
Fax number (optional):
E-mail address:
Personal website address/online portfolio URL:
School address (if applicable):
Your phone number at school (if applicable):
Job/Career Objective(s)
Write a short description of the job you are seeking. Be sure to include as much information as possible about how you can use your skills to the employer’s benefit. Later, you will condense this answer into one short sen- tence.
What is the job title you are looking to fill?
Educational Background
Be sure to include any internships in this section. For many recent gradu- ates, it is their only work experience. Include the skills you learned which will be applicable to the position for which you are applying.
List the most recent college or university you have attended:
City/State:
What year did you start?:
Graduation month/year:
Degree(s) and/or award(s) earned:
Your major:
Your minor(s):
List some of your most impressive accomplishments, extracurricular activi- ties, club affiliations, etc.:
List computer courses you have taken that help qualify you for the job you are seeking:
Grade point average (GPA):
Other college/university you have attended:
City/State:
What year did you start?:
Graduation month/year:
Degree(s) and/or award(s) earned:
Your major:
Your minor(s):
List some of your most impressive accomplishments, extracurricular activi- ties, club affiliations, etc.:
List computer courses you have taken that help qualify you for the job you are seeking:
Grade point average (GPA):
High school attended:
City/State:
Graduation date:
Grade point average (GPA):
List the names and phone numbers of one or two current or past profes- sors/teachers (or guidance counselors) you can contact about obtaining a letter of recommendation or list as a reference:
Personal Skills and Abilities
Your personal skill set (the combination of skills you possess) is something that differentiates you from everyone else. Skills that are marketable in the workplace aren’t always taught in school, however. Your ability to manage people, stay cool under pressure, remain organized, surf the Internet, use software applications, speak in public, communicate well in writing, com- municate in multiple languages, or perform research are all examples of marketable skills. When reading job descriptions or help wanted ads, pay
careful attention to the wording used to describe what the employer is look- ing for. As you customize your resume for a specific employer, you will want to match up what the employer is looking for with your own qualifications as closely as possible. Try to utilize the wording provided by the employer within the classified ad or job description.
What do you believe is your most marketable skill? Why?
List three or four specific examples of how you have used this skill in the past while at work. What was accomplished as a result?
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What are keywords or buzzwords that can be used to describe your skill?
What is another of your marketable skills?
Provide at least three examples of how you have used this skill in the work- place:
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What unusual or unique skill(s) do you possess that help you stand out from other applicants applying for the same types of positions as you?
How have you already proven this skill is useful in the workplace?
What computer skills do you possess?
What computer software packages are you proficient in (such as Microsoft Office, Meeting Matrix, PowerPoint, Menu Maker, etc.)?
Thinking carefully, what skills do you believe you currently lack?
What skills do you have, but need to be polished or enhanced in order to make you a more appealing candidate?
What options are available to you to either obtain or to brush up on the skills you believe need improvement (for example: evening/weekend classes at a college or university, adult education classes, seminars, books, home study courses, on-the-job-training, etc.)?
In what time frame could you realistically obtain this training?
Work/Employment History
Previous work experience is very important. Even if it had nothing to do with your chosen field, every job taught you something that will make you a better hotel or restaurant manager. Experience in other fields such as med- icine, accounting, real estate, human resources, and insurance, is considered a hiring plus by potential employers. Don’t overlook or discount volunteer work for the same reason. You gained skills and experience, and your volun- teering also indicates that you are committed to your community. (Keep this in mind as you go through your training; if you are short on experience, you might think about volunteering.)
Complete the following employment-related questions for all of your previous employers, including part-time or summer jobs held while in school, as well as temporary jobs, internships, and volunteering. You proba- bly won’t want to reveal your past earning history to a potential employer,
but you may want this information available as reference when you begin negotiating your future salary, benefits, and overall compensation package.
Most recent employer:
City, State:
Year you began work:
Year you stopped working (write “Present” if still employed):
Job title:
Job description:
Reason for leaving:
What were your three proudest accomplishments while holding this job?
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Contact person at the company who can provide a reference:
Contact person’s phone number:
Annual salary earned:
Employer:
City, State:
Year you began work:
Year you stopped working (write “Present” if still employed):
Job title:
Job description:
Reason for leaving:
What were your three proudest accomplishments while holding this job?
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2.
3.
Contact person at the company who can provide a reference:
Contact person’s phone number:
Annual salary earned:
Military Service (if applicable) Branch of service you served in:
Years served:
Highest rank achieved:
Decorations or awards earned:
Special skills or training obtained:
Professional Accreditations and Licenses
List any and all of the professional accreditations and/or licenses you have earned thus far in your career. Be sure to highlight items that directly relate to the job(s) you will be applying for.
Hobbies and Special Interests
You may have life experience that should be emphasized for potential employers. Did you help a spouse in a business? Were you a candidate for public office? Any number of experiences can add to your attractiveness as a job candidate. If you don’t have a great deal of work experience, this part of your resume is very important. Think about the things you have done.
Which have taught you lessons that are valuable for a hotel or restaurant manager to know? If you can’t find a way to include those experiences on your resume, mention them in your cover letter.
List any hobbies or special interests you have that are not necessarily work- related, but that potentially could separate you from the competition.
Can any of the skills utilized in your hobby be adapted for the workplace?
What non-professional clubs or organizations do you belong to or actively participate in?
Personal/Professional Ambitions
You may not want to share these on your resume, but answering the follow- ing questions will help you to focus your search, and prepare for possible interviewing topics.
What are your long-term goals?
Personal:
Professional:
Financial:
For your personal, professional, and then financial goals, what are five smaller, short-term goals you can begin working toward achieving right now that will help you ultimately achieve each of your long-term goals?
Short-Term Personal Goals:
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Short-Term Professional Goals:
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Short-Term Financial Goals:
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Will the job(s) you will be applying for help you achieve your long-term goals and objectives? If ‘yes,’ how? If ‘no,’ why not?
Describe your personal, professional, and financial situation right now:
What would you most like to improve about your life overall?
What are a few things you can do, starting immediately, to bring about pos- itive changes in your personal, professional or financial life?
Where would you like to be personally, professionally, and financially five and ten years down the road?
What needs to be done to achieve these long-term goals or objectives?
What are some of the qualities about your personality that you are most proud of ?
What are some of the qualities about your personality that you believe need improvement?
What do others most like about you?
What do you think others least like about you?
If you decided to pursue additional education, what would you study and why? How would this help you professionally?
If you had more free time, what would you spend it doing?
List several accomplishments in your personal and professional life that you are most proud of. Why did you choose these things?
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What were your strongest and favorite subjects in school? Is there a way to incorporate these interests into the job(s) or career path you are pursuing?
What do you believe is your biggest weakness? Why wouldn’t an employer hire you?
What would be the ideal atmosphere for you to work in? Do you prefer a large corporate atmosphere, working at home, or working in a small office?
List five qualities about a new job that would make it the ideal employment opportunity for you:
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What did you like most about the last place you worked?
What did you like least about the last place you worked?
What work-related tasks are you particularly good at?
What type of coworkers would you prefer to have?
When it comes to work-related benefits and perks, what is most important to you?
When you are recognized for doing a good job at work, how do you like to be rewarded?
If you were to write a ‘help wanted’ ad describing your ideal dream job, what would the ad say?