Marie-Louise is in her late forties. For the last few years she has been the office manager for a business that has now been sold. Her position has been made redundant.

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PurposeShe has seen an advertisement for a senior clerical / administrative position with a local training organisation and she has developed this résumé for her application. Although the advertisement does not ask for training skills, she has included her experience in this area because she believes it could give her a competitive advantage.

Style
The style and layout is clear and simple – and it reflects the style of the advertisement. She has used Californian FB for the entire résumé. This font is similar to that used in the ad and it also she feels that it reflects her slightly old-fashioned commitment to customer service and to ‘doing things right first time.

Order & content
Marie-Louise has used the standard order for a chronological résumé. Because she has had only two positions since 1984 (with a break for raising her son) she has filled out each position with some detail of her tasks and responsibilities but has avoided the long lists of formal duties that are sometimes used and which are so boring to read.

To show that she has kept up to date, she has given a fairly full outline of her on-going training and development – again avoiding the long list approach.

Because of her active role in the school P&F Association, including the role of Treasurer, she has included this in the section on community involvement. Voluntary roles such as this are a valuable indication of work-related skills. Community organisations often provide the opportunity to take on greater responsibility than that which may be offered in paid employment. An employer who sees that you are able to work effectively in such positions may feel more confident about your overall abilities, and see you as someone who could make a strong contribution to the team.