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Resume Guide

Although CARE does not require that a resume be in a certain format, the below guidelines may be helpful to you in developing yours. It is also helpful to recruiters who read your resume to be able to pull out relevant information, so please keep in mind that a two-three page resume is preferable. To review a sample resume, click here

NAME
Address
Phone/Fax/E-mail

  1. Try to keep the resume within two to three pages.
  2. The major headings in order are:
    • KEY QUALIFICATIONS
    • EDUCATION
    • PREVIOUS WORK/CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCE
    • LANGUAGES
    • TECHNICAL SKILLS
  3. The KEY QUALIFICATIONS statement should, in a paragraph or two, let the reader know why he/she would want to hire you. It should include areas of expertise and where your primary experience lies. SELL YOURSELF. Use action words (i.e. Performed training in . . . , Implemented new financial controls . . . , Designed workshops . . . , Managed key staff . . . , Wrote new manual on . . . , Monitored . . . , Developed new methodologies . . . , Accomplished . . . , etc.).
  4. When listing EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, begin with highest degree/award. Only list those trainings which were at least 40 hours in length, unless they are unusual or significant.
    • Master of International Business Studies (MIBS)
      Human Resources University of South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina
    • Bachelor of Administration, Finance
      University of Georgia; Athens, Georgia
    • Certificate in International Humanitarian Law
      Judge Advocate General's Office; Ottawa, Canada
  5. Under PREVIOUS WORK/CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCE, start with the most recent employer and year. Describe work in paragraph form (using point form takes up too much space).
    • CARE Kenya, Assistant Country Director May 1994 - September 1995
      Provided overall management to the mission's support functions - finance, human resources, administration, communications, and computer services. Supervised more than 50 clerical and administrative staff.
  6. Under LANGUAGES, list your NATIVE language first and follow with others.
    English, native; Spanish advanced; French, basic.
    If you know the USAID ratings, these may be used, but always identify your native language.
  7. Under TECHNICAL SKILLS, list any skills not found above. For example, if you are an Information Technology professional, you would list things like "Quality Assurance" or "Systems Design," as well as any specific skill sets you have, such as "Visual Basic" or "SQL Server."

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SAMPLE RESUME