# I need to write a resume.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-write-a-resume/232289
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 3, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-write-a-resume/232289 "2004-03-03T13:16:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-write-a-resume/232289/1 "2004-03-03T13:16:18Z")
After a lot of thought, I decided that I must return to work. I’m having trouble with my resume though. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 11 years, except for a part time waitressing job I held for two years.
When my kids got older, I served as president for two years of my son’s youth group (our primary function ia fundraising) and I’m currently secretary. I’m also a brownie leader for my daughter’s troop. I pretty good at computers and I’m very good at dealing with difficult people. I have no education outside of high school, but I am very well organized.
How can I turn this into a decent resume ?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@spudzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spudzilla)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-write-a-resume/232289/2 "2004-03-03T14:23:44Z")
Since you don’t have much paid work experience, I think it is your personal qualities and work-related skills that you need to bring out in your resume. For this, I would try to give good, detailed descriptions of the positions you’ve held. As president of the youth group, for instance: Did you formulate your own plan for fundraising? Did you think of any new/creative/successful ideas for fundraising? How much did you raise? How many people were “under” you at the time? Did you instigate any changes in the organization? Were there any problems/crises that you had to deal with? If so, how did you take care of them? Even if it was a small group, you can still present your activities in such a way that show the qualities/skills you drew upon and that you can bring to a prospective employer.
Once you’ve got the content worked out, make the resume look really sharp and professional. There are lots of different ways to format a resume, so look around on the Internet or get a book with examples and choose a style that you like. For the descriptions of your work and volunteer experience, use bulleted lists that can be skimmed quickly. Boldfacing/italicizing of select information can also make your resume easier to read and look at. Have someone proofread your resume to make there there is not a single mistake in grammar or spelling. The overall “look” of your resume will itself make a statement about you, so make it look as professional as possible.
Good luck!