Before you begin to write, you might keep in mind what a resume is and what it has become. First of all, resumes are letters of presentation when you are asking for recognition by parties or institutions. They have always been ways for people to formally introduce themselves and their abilities to people who have the power to hire them. In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci wrote a resume addressed to the Duke of Milan which described how da Vinci could be useful through his invention of innovative war technologies. Leonardo’s letter said in part,

“…I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my secret, then offering them to your best pleasure…”

It goes on to describe how da Vinci designed very light bridges, found a way to take water out of trenches, invented methods “for destroying every rock or other fortress,” invented “all kinds of mortars,” etc.

He describes 11 items that he can do that would be useful to a war-prone count.

The resume was actually called a resume when a traveling 16th Century English Lord offered a hand-written summary of his achievements as an introduction to new acquaintances, calling it his resume (meaning a summing up). It was essentially an elaborate calling card with the purpose to impress.

The one shortcoming of da Vinci’s that was overlooked then, but is very important now, is the element of documentation. Leonardo da Vinci never gave specifics that would validate his claims. That no longer works in today’s more critical time. The resume as a selling document must now give specifics of where and when to document each claim. The rest is fashion.

The modern resume has become ritualized into a certain format, mostly so the hurried employer will recognize it. However, it remains a letter of introduction that explains an applicant’s usefulness in a convincing way. In some cases, it may be presented as an actual business letter, similar to the one da Vinci wrote.

The object of a resume is to get an interview for a job. The achievement of actually getting a job is based on a variety of factors in the recruitment process. A good resume will get you at least seen.

There are two resume structures.

The chronological resume

Whether it is typed on paper or sent electronically, the most convincing resume is, fundamentally, a well-documented list of past experience with company names and to-and-from dates of employment or engagement. This is the most demanding form and the one most trusted by employers. It is demanding because it has to show a pattern of regular employment with no large gaps and a continuously upward mobility in the career it depicts. If there is something irregular or non-optimal in a work history, most will recommend an alternative interview format.

The functional resume (sometimes called “skills resume”)

Sometimes it’s useful not to emphasize chronology, but to highlight skills. This kind of presentation is more like Leonardo’s. It is a document of things the applicant is good at. The more concrete the skills the better of course. Each skill claimed should be followed by the places and means the skill was gained. This requires some analysis of a person’s career. As always, the best resumes will include a chronology section–this may be nearer the bottom of the text than it would be on a chronological resume form, less emphasized, perhaps. The chronology section always improves your credibility. It consists of position name, company name, and dates over the applicant’s entire career.

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