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Maybe in a perfect world, you wouldn't. But if you're asking someone to give you a job, you probably do. In short, you need a resume because people expect you to have a resume. Even if you think you would better communicate your goals and accomplishments by, say, composing an Ode to Employment, or by making a documentary film about your past job experiences, employers are looking for a simple, concise description of who you are and what you've done. Even a really good resume may not give an employer a complete idea of who you are. But it probably will get you an interview. Once you're in the interview, then you can do the interpretive dance that will clinch the job and showcase the real you.But do you really need a resume on the Web? Think of your resume as an attention-getter. Which medium is getting more attention than any other right now? Employers will have instant access to your resume; you will demonstrate familiarity with the Web. And you can submit your electronic resume to numerous job search services on the Web, increasing the chance that your resume will be noticed.
Probably now. Whatever your particular circumstances, it's safe to say that if you're going to need a job -- even a summer internship -- you will likely need a resume. (An employer might not expect a resume from, say, a sophomore summer job applicant, but may well be impressed if you have one to offer.) Even if you're not in the job market, keeping an updated resume is a good way to take a step back and keep track of your accomplishments and activities, and can help you clarify your goals when you do need to launch a job search.
Well, there are certainly times when it's inappropriate to give your resume (summer job at the fish fry, maybe, or when offering yourself up as a prom date), but it's never inappropriate to have a resume. Sure, in some particularly casual or informal employment settings, offering up your resume may only invoke laughter. (Even so, an increasing number of non-professional jobs, especially in "prestige" operations such as coffee bars, are requiring resumes. A fancy paper goods store in New York has a sign in the window "Now Accepting Resumes." You would have thought they were accepting resumes to print on their fancy paper; in fact they were soliciting resumes from potential sales clerks.) Simply use your judgement.
That's simply not possible. Even a child could construct an interesting, and maybe even impressive, resume based on his or her "life experiences." If you've ever been to school (even if you didn't graduate), had a job (even if you got fired), or learned a skill (even if you're not an expert), there's something to say on your resume. It's just a matter of "spinning" it all the right way. And that's what Tripod's Resume Builder is about.
Constructing a good resume is only partly about its subject (you). It's also about the structure and style of your presentation. A resume is a very compact, concise, and in some cases, formal, method of telling someone what they want to know about you. The trick to a successful resume is balancing what they want to know about you with what you want them to know about you. The methods of highlighting the right things hold true whatever your situation. And that's why mastering the resume basics is a must for any serious job seeker.
Because it's the resume that gets you an interview, and the chance for your personality to charm the interviewer.
Resumes don't get jobs, people get jobs...
...But resumes get attention. And with the right kind of attention, the right people get the right jobs.
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