Functional Résumé Worksheet

Name
Address
City and Province
Postal Code
Telephone #
Alternative #
E-mail

Job Goal, Career Goal or Objective

This section tells a prospective employer what type of job or position you want (i.e. Position as a light duty cleaner; To obtain a full-time, permanent position where I can utilize and expand upon my experience in the manufacturing / clerical / food services industry).

Summary of Qualifications

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

Example: Over 20 years experience as a residential and commercial cleaner).

Relevant Skills and Experience

List at least three major areas of experience that best describe the skills you have to offer an employer (i.e. Food Service Skills, Customer Service Skills, Cleaning Skills, Cash Handling Skills, Administrative Skills).

Now, under each main skill heading write down your major accomplishments (i.e. under the skill heading Food Service you might include, “ Worked shifts handling up to 20 tables as a waitress at Dennys”).

Employers want to know what you have accomplished, not a job description. Your skill base can come from both paid and unpaid experience (i.e. volunteer work, co-ops or work placements).

Employment History or Work History (if including Volunteer/Unpaid Work)

Make a list of the past jobs you have held starting with your most recent first. Provide the dates, job title, name of employer and location (city/town/province). You can include any unpaid work experience to fill in the gaps (i.e. if you have stayed at home caring for your children for the last 3 years, you could state, “ Family Management, Belleville, Ontario, 1995-1998 ”).

Education

This section is normally listed following the Employment History/Work History section but can be listed first if it will strengthen your resume. List all diplomas, certificates and degrees you have obtained in reverse chronological order.

Hobbies and Interests

This section is optional. You may want to include this section if you think it will add value to your resume by showing that these activities are directly related to the job you are seeking.

References

Do not include individual references on your resume. List these on a separate sheet of paper. You should include the statement, “ References available upon request “ at the bottom of your resume.

Once your job search has ended and you find a job, there are things you can do to make your working life successful.

Communication skills
Working well with others requires effective communication skills, which can be learned on the job. Listening well to what is being said and asking for clarification when necessary are two particularly important skills in the workplace.

People skills
Good people skills are essential in the workplace and take time to develop. Here are a few pointers to get you started:

Practise patience. In the workplace, you often have to depend on others to get the job done, just as others may have to rely on you. The modern workplace relies on teamwork, so you need to stay calm under pressure and respect your co-workers.

Learn to accept criticism. When your supervisor hands something back to you for corrections, or suggests a different way of doing something, don't get upset; constructive criticism is part of the learning process.

Give others space to do their jobs. Ask questions if you need to, but learn to trust in your own ability to make decisions. When first training for a job, everyone will understand if you have questions about how to do things. After you settle in, try to solve problems on your own before going to your boss. That will show the employer and the other employees that you have the resources and initiative to find things out for yourself.

Forgive the mistakes of others as well as your own. Everyone has days when things don't go the right way. Being able to forgive yourself and others when mistakes are made will make you a better team member.

Learning styles
When you start a new job, there is a lot to learn about the organization, your employer, other employees and your position. That’s why it’s important to know how you learn best. For example:

Are you more likely to turn a computer on and start playing with it, or would you read the manual first?
Do you learn best by hearing about tasks, reading about tasks or performing tasks?

Let your employer know how you learn best and ask for what you need if necessary. It’s also important to look at how you can add different techniques to your learning style, like slowing down before jumping into a task or asking someone to show you how best to perform a task.

The power of knowledge
Knowledge gives you more choices. The more you learn, the more valuable you become to employers. You may be able to apply for higher positions within your organization or to transfer into another job with more responsibility.

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