Gathering Material to Write Your Resume

Writing a resume can be intimidating. But like any other big, important task, breaking it into smaller steps makes it go easier. By dividing the job into easily understood portions, the finished product is far more likely to come out well. Start the resume crafting process by gathering all the necessary elements before you even begin to write.

Here are the key pieces you need to assemble before you start writing your resume.

Details About Your Accomplishments
This is perhaps the most important element in your resume preparation. Accomplishments are what separate you from all the thousands of other people with similar experience. More than anything, employers want to see what makes you unique -- what you bring to your work. Accomplishments are the tangible evidence of your brilliance, your creativity, your initiative. So think long and hard about what you've done. You should begin with this step, because you want to be brainstorming about the details of this key component for as long as possible. Think back on your accomplishments. Write down as many as you can think of. Then step away to gather the other things. Your unconscious mind will continue to chip away at the question, and doing the other tasks will further jog your memory.

Company Names, Job Titles, and Dates
Next, take a break by diving into the relatively easy stuff. This will get you warmed up for the more creative aspects of writing a resume. Gather any pertinent dates, job titles, and names of companies and divisions. Get these details exactly right at this point, so you don't have to go back and futz around with double-checking them later.