Resumes: Create Great Looking Resumes With Microsoft Word

TearTaylor

KEY SITE PAGES►	Creating Resumes With Word
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	Using Resume Templates It's always a good idea to develop your resume using some type of word processing software, preferably Microsoft's Word. Word 2000 has several convenient resume templates already built-in that are easy to use. They can be accessed conveniently by clicking on File from the main menu bar. Next, click on New and then click on the tab that reads Other Documents. A panel will immediately open displaying various resume styles along with a resume wizard. Double-click on the resume style you prefer and presto! You'll notice a form resume right in front of your eyes. Now, all you'll need to do is replace the template's default information with that of your own. Using Resume Wizards Now, if you went with the resume wizard instead, you'll notice your document assembly on the screen was slightly different from what I've just described. Before the wizard will download a useable resume document to your screen, you'll first need to follow and complete the different prompts (e.g. Start, Style, Type, Address, Standard Heading, Optional Headings, Add/Sort Headings and Finish). The Style panel includes professional, contemporary and elegant resume setups and the Type panel includes entry-level, chronological, functional and professional setups. Once you've completed the different request fields, the wizard will download an attractive resume model for you to work with. Doing It Yourself If you prefer to create your resume without the aid of any wizards or templates, then simply click on File from the main menu bar. A small drop down box will immediately appear with various document types to choose from. Select the tab that reads General and click New Document. Now, with your blank document screen in front of you you'll want to try and picture how you'll want items arranged within your resume, this meaning if you want section headers placed out to the left of the page or if you want them centered directly over related information or if you'd prefer for your name to be boxed off or centered with a neat line drawn right underneath it. Whatever it is you want you need to think about it first so that constructing your resume will be a lot simpler at the end. Adjusting Margins If you want to condense a lot of information onto one page, you'll want to consider altering your top, bottom, left and right margins to give you more room to squeeze additional text in the side margins. First click on File, then click on Page Setup, next click on the Margins tab. Change your top and bottom default margins of 1" to .5". Next, change your left and right margins of 1.25" to .50", .75" or to any other number or measurement that will allow you more typing space in the side margins. Working With Tables Once you've got your margins set up just the way you like, you'll want to use Word's convenient Table feature for constructing the body of your resume. To do this, simply click on Table from the top menu bar. Next, select Insert, then click on Table and type in the number of rows and columns you want your resume to consist of, choose your Autofit behavior and click OK. Another way to accomplish this same task is simply to click on the table icon (if displayed) from the toolbar below the main menu bar. A box will appear with many other boxes directly inside of it. Just drag your mouse or cursor over to the number of columns that you want to display and immediately drag down to the number of rows that you want to appear, but make sure you don't let your hand go of the left-mouse click button before accomplishing both tasks. Now, if you want to make your document look a lot more professional and turn those annoying table borders off simply click on Format from the main menu bar. Next, select Borders and Shading. Next, click on the Borders tab. Click the box that reads None and then click OK. If you want a shaded box around your name header or a long line stretching under the name header or under the different section headers to help isolate information more smoothly, you'll need to use the Customize Feature which is also located within the Borders tab. If you're ever not sure how to use a particular formatting tool or feature within Word, always click on Help from the top menu bar. Next, left click on Microsoft Word Helpor the symbol that looks like a Question Mark placed on top of a piece of paper and then type in your question or topic that you're seeking detailed information about. Fonts & Sizes When typing your document it's probably a good ideal to use the Arial font since so many other resume developers seemed to have also gravitated towards this ubiquitous font. As of this writing, Arial seems to be an extremely popular font for both professional and amateur resume writers to use in constructing resumes. When choosing a font size or when working with italics, bolding, CAPS or underlining features, it's a good ideal to save these special enhancing designs for section headers, company names, position titles or anything else you want to stand out from other text. Remember that when using these special enhancement features you don't want to overdo them, because overuse can create confusion and page clutter. Remember you want to keep your document easy to read. You want to make it so that your reader can find or target key information right away and that's what bolding and underlining features were designed for. Also, when selecting your font sizes, it's always a good ideal to stick with traditional sizes such as 10, 11 or 12 to type the majority of your resume in and reserve larger font sizes for typing your name headers, section headers and again anything else that deserves more notice on your page. Saving Your Document Once you're finished with your document, be sure to save it. Click File from the main menu bar. Next click Save. A box will appear. Type in the name you want to give your file in the File name: field and then click Save. Make sure when naming your document that you always give it some type of memorable name such as Resume, Resume1, My Resume, Seneca's Resume or something else along those lines. _________________________________________________ This article is © 2003-2004 by Tracy Miller and may not be reposted without written permission from the author and may not be reprinted for profit.