How to Write a Detailed Resume

by Ruth Mayhew

Detailed resumes include a great deal of information about the applicant. Unlike more succinct resumes, they can be two, three or more pages long. They are likely to be used for federal government applications where the level of detail can determine whether to invite an applicant in for an interview. Everything from the applicant's name to service as president of the home association board of directors should be included in a detailed resume because each bit of information sheds light on the applicant's experience, expertise and capabilities.

1. Gather your existing resume, work records and information you need to write a new resume. Obtain copies of your job descriptions to help you remember details about your previous and current job duties. Pencil in updates on your existing resume such as your current job and additional job skills you've acquired since you prepared the last version of your resume.

2. Create a fresh draft of your resume because it might be simpler to start with a new document than to build out your existing resume. Start your new resume with contact information in the document header, including the URL to your professional online portfolio, resume website or professional network profile. Reconsider whether to include your mailing address. If you're including extensive contact information in the header of your document, don't clutter it with too much information. Save the details for descriptions about your jobs and work skills, not information that's probably not useful, such as a street address.

3. Write an introductory paragraph that begins with one or two adjectives that describe your personality or work style and states how long you've been in your field. Follow with a brief statement about your academic credentials or professional licenses, and the type of job you're seeking. It's acceptable to use fragmented sentences in a resume. For example, begin your resume with: "Accomplished, enthusiastic marketing executive with 15-plus years' experience designing high-profile promotions and marketing strategies. MBA with practical hands-on expertise and business acumen. Seeking opportunities with multinational organization that values creativity and forward-thinking."

4. Construct a table that contains your areas of expertise. Areas of expertise are one- or two-word terms that explain your proficiencies. Ideally, an easy-to-read, yet detailed table has three horizontal columns and four vertical rows. Examples of areas of expertise are: Supply Chain Management, Health Informatics, SAP Implementation, Healthcare Terminology and Legal Research. Use initial capitalization for your areas of expertise.

5. List your employers' company names in reverse chronological order for the past 10 years. If you worked for a subsidiary, include the parent company name and your work location. Beside the location, insert your dates of employment. You need only put the month and year. For federal government resumes, include the number of hours you worked each week, your beginning and ending pay, your supervisor's name and contact information, as well as whether your former supervisor may be contacted.

6. Describe your work duties and responsibilities for every one of your employers. Pull information from your job descriptions if you can't remember everything you've done; however, don't copy the job description style or your resume will be stiff and uninteresting. Use bullet points to delineate your job duties and include approximately six to eight points for each position. Include your major responsibilities and either omit or flush out routine tasks such as convening or attending meetings, answering telephones or composing correspondence. Instead, write: "convene meetings with key stakeholders and prepare logistics for attendees from global locations" or "draft correspondence to respond to consumers' requests for legal opinions on federal agency's wage and hour laws."

7. List your academic credentials, including degrees awarded with honors. If you're a recent graduate, list relevant course work that aligns with the type of job you're seeking. Include extracurricular activities that illustrate your experience in leadership roles and study abroad programs that enhanced your cultural fluency. Organize continuing education course work and job-related workshops and seminars in reverse chronological order. List current certifications, such as professional licenses in nursing, real estate or accounting.

8. Describe the professional affiliations and community-based organizations to which you devote volunteer time and talent as your resume's final section. Include your position, such as chairperson or elected officer, as well as committee membership and leadership roles.

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