You need two types of information to prepare your resume:

1. Self information. Completing a background and experience list will give you the self information required to prepare your resume.

• If you’ve worked before, list your jobs. Next, write down the work duties for the jobs you’ve listed. Now, think about the skills or talents it took to do each work duty. Write them down.
• List your hobbies, clubs you belong to, sports you’ve been involved in, church and school activities, and things that interest you. Look at the first item on your list. Think about the skills or talents it takes to do that item. Write them all down.
• Look at the abilities (talents) identified on your background and experience list. You have talents that you use everyday. Now, find out what JOBS can use your talents.
• Don’t limit yourself. The important thing is not the job title, but the skills and abilities of the job.

2. Job information. Gather specific information on the job you’re applying for. Here’s what you need:

• Job duties (to match your skills to the skills needed to do the job). Get your job duties from the job announcement. If the job announcement or ad is vague, call the employer and ask for a description of job duties.
• Education and experience required (again, so you can match your education and experience with that required for the job).
• Hours and shifts usually worked.
• Pay range (make their top offer the minimum acceptable!).