2. Write the First Draft

In this video, you will write a first draft of your resume.

This is just a *draft*.

It does not have to be perfect!

Later, you will share your resume with a partner, collect feedback, and revise it.

First, explore the sections of the template.

Select “Tools” and “Document Outline” to see the formatting of your template.

This resume template organizes information under headings with styles and fonts that complement each other.

There are separate sections for a summary of your skills; Your work experience; Your education; And any awards you may have won.

The information is organized in a table with transparent borders.

You may find it helpful to show the borders so you can see the template layout as you type.

To see the borders, right click inside the template.

Select “Table Properties.”

Change the line weight and the border color to make the lines visible.

You can change the color back to white later.

Now that you can see the formatting of the document, type your information into the spaces provided.

Highlight the placeholder text and replace it with your own.

Add your name and contact information.

Then, list your previous work experience with your most recent jobs first.

Include your dates of employment, but leave the descriptions blank for now.

In the next video, you will tailor this text and your summary for a specific job.

Include all the education you have received, from the highest degree to the lowest.

If you are in school now, include the degree you are working towards and indicate it as “in progress.”

As you work, change the headings if you’d like.

For example, if your previous jobs did not offer awards, you may want to change this section to “Certifications,” “Additional Skills,” or “Projects.”

When you have added as much information as you can to your resume, move on to the next video to add descriptions about your experience and tailor your resume for one specific job.

Now, it’s your turn: Show the outline of the template using “Tools” and “Document Outline.”

Use “Table Properties” to change the color and weight of the table lines.

Finally, add your contact information, work experience, education, and additional skills to your resume.