If a cover page is requested, provide one and make sure it provides the requested information. For a general application a cover page can be helpful if you have specific experience, qualifications, and skills the employer is asking for but remember to be concise. 

It can also be used to share your flexibility to relocate if you can, travel as needed, or you might to emphasize specifics why you fit this job such as “Grew up on the water with a family of boaters” or other relevant information.

All of this relevant information should also be noted in the resume body and relatively easily found. This is not an opportunity to provide a life story or be overly familiar.

Following is an example of a standard resume with a typical sequence of data:

1. Personal Details :

 If a cover page is requested, provide one and make sure it provides the requested information. For a general application a cover page can be helpful if you have specific experience, qualifications, and skills the employer is asking for but remember to be concise. 

It can also be used to share your flexibility to relocate if you can, travel as needed, or you might to emphasize specifics why you fit this job such as “Grew up on the water with a family of boaters” or other relevant information.

All of this relevant information should also be noted in the resume body and relatively easily found. This is not an opportunity to provide a life story or be overly familiar.

Following is an example of a standard resume with a typical sequence of data

• This is your elevator pitch where you have just a few lines of text to sell yourself to a potential employer. Try to keep it brief and to the point.
• Highlight your stand-out features.
• Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
• Keep it directional with the most relevant points. While you may have years of experience in various roles, it’s important to only communicate what will help you achieve the role you are presently seeking.  For example, if you are looking to make an industry change, there is no point in including in your summary your six years working in hospitality when you are seeking a new career in the Maritime industry.
• Think of the main attributes needed for the role you’re seeking and customize your summary to respond to those needs

Education can be placed on the first or last page of your resume depending on the job requirements.  If a degree is not required, it can be at the end of your resume.  If it is most important, it belongs on page one.
If you have a very long list of qualifications, do not include every course you may have completed if the list becomes very long or not related.(Such as a Real Estate License from the past if you’re not going to work in that field any longer).

Provide your highest qualifications first and list the rest below that with the most relevant and recent next. Include Educational facility, location, and field of study

Company name, location, and dates of employers beginning with your most recent. If you have worked for one company for several years in more than one capacity, then list the total employment period and company and then under that each of the positions you worked in with their appropriate dates and information.

This is used to elaborate on effectively what you were hired to do. This is where you might adjust your responsibilities based on the position you are applying for.  As you read the job description of the position you are interested in, be sure that anything you see on there is also on your resume.  This includes keywords such as specific systems, brands, or software.  The closer your resume matches the position the better opportunity to be selected for a meeting.

Be sure to include the key, critical, or most impressive responsibilities are included. These can either go in their own segment or be listed under each position where the achievement occurred.

Try and quantify and qualify the achievements so provide details such as staff numbers you may have managed, the scope of the project/facility/portfolio such as size and dollar value. Make sure they are factual, relevant, and measurable. 

There are 3 reasons to select you to interview over others - describe how you Saved the company Money, Made the company Money, or gave someone Peace of Mind in your positions.

Some examples:

• Responsible for securing a 16.5M contract in the first 6 months of employment. 
• Directly managed and led a team of 6 with an additional 12 staff plus contractors.
• Completed 4M project on time and 250K under budget.
• Increased annual sales by 150% in the first year.
• Trained staff of 12 on new software

Include any internships or Project details you’ve worked on: Name, size, sector, $, along with your specific responsibilities on that project.

• MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• AutoCAD, Adobe, Photoshop, Solidworks, etc.
• CRM Systems – Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.

These are not critical but if they relate to the industry or position you are looking at, definitely add it.  If you are applying to something in the Marine Industry and you are an avid boater, fisherman, captain, or mechanic in your personal life, be sure to mention that – especially if you have no work experience in the industry. Keep this short and non-controversial.

Have a prepared list of professional references with email and phone contact information but only offer that to employers when you interview, not before.  Their information should only be used with their permission.