Getting Started for the First Time? Start by answering these questions.
Writing a resume for the first time can be overwhelming. Answering a question seems a lot easier. We have created a list of questions below to ask yourself as you begin to put pen to paper on your resume or you’re looking to add to your existing resume. By answering some of the following questions, we assure that you will come up with some new content for your work responsibilities and skills.
Happy writing!
Professional Experience Resume Questions
- What is your experience?
- Skills you have developed
- How many people did you supervise?
- How large a budget did you manage?
- To whom did you report?
- What was the highest level in the company you reported to or communicated with directly?
- Did you coordinate anything?
- Did you serve as liaison between groups or key individuals?
- Did you do, or participate in, strategic planning?
- Did you set or participate in the setting or evaluation of policy?
- Did you evaluate any individual or group performance?
- How did you relate to the product or service?
- Did you communicate with customers? How?
- Were you on any proposal teams?
- What was your function on the team?
- Did you communicate with suppliers or subcontractors? How?
- Did you purchase services or supplies for the office, unit, or department?
- Ever serve as a troubleshooter? In what area?
- Did you back up someone? Who?
- Did you do any surveys or other research or studies? Explain.
- Prepare recommendations?
- Design or manage any processes, systems, or projects?
- Organize any events, conferences, meetings? How many and what type?
- Did you administer anything?
- Consult for anyone, inside or outside the organization?
- Did you gain experience in any special use software?
- What kind of writing did you do, for yourself or someone else (e-mail, correspondence, memos, reports, concept papers, plans, proposals, office newsletter, etc.)? What did you write about? Did you write anything that was delivered to a customer as a product, or part of one?
- What experience, skills, aptitudes, or traits do you have, or think you might have, that could be of some use to some employer?
- What skills have you developed, at least to some degree, which you have never used at work?
- Do you have military experience (include Coast Guard and Merchant Marine)? Branch, grade, specialty? Duties? Accomplishments? Medals, citations, commendations?.
- Have you ever published an article, report?
- Have you ever given a talk, speech, or presentation, or provided training? Give the specifics.
- Computer literacy and related skills: What platforms can you use? What operating systems are you familiar with? If you program, which languages do you know, and what is your level of ability or experience? What programs, or kinds of programs, have you designed? What Internet research tools are you familiar with? What programs are you familiar with?
- What foreign languages do you speak?
- What experience have you had as a manager?
- Do you have any special travel experience?
Achievements and Accomplishments Resume Questions
- How much reduction in costs or increase in profits did you contribute to?
- What did you do?
- Did you noticeably improved the way things were before you assumed responsibility?
- Did you propose, suggest, or initiate any programs, changes, or improvements that were implemented at least partly because of your initiative? How did they improve the company’s bottom line?
- What did you do as a volunteer, beyond the regular duties of your position?
- What were you particularly good at that made a difference in how the office progressed from day to day?
Listing Awards and Recognition Resume Questions
- Were you recognized for anything? How? By whom?
- Were you promoted ahead of schedule?
- Selected for any special responsibilities or programs?
How to Provide Professional References?
Before applying to a job, be sure to have 3 to 5 professional references available and willing to speak on your behalf with the way they prefer to be contacted.
Available to you in a simple Google search are several free resume templates to input the answers to your questions. Remember it’s about quality now quantity for your resume. Be sure to focus on what is important to your next role.
