Below are key points to help write and outlay a resume that more effectively promotes your skills and experience.

Start with personal details ~ education ~ your skill set ~ outstanding achievements.
Date promotions. It makes it easier to see consistent progress.
Name employers in reverse chronological order.
Keep it under three pages.
If Companies ask for resumes in text format. It can be for two reasons.
1) Your resume will be compatible with the system they use.
2) They may use automated software that categorizes and searches (by key words. e.g. MBA, Manager, FP&A, Analyst, Programmer) for suitable resumes. So it is important to include all appropriate skills. (format your original resume to include no tabs, highlights, etc.)
If the company doesn't specify a format, the resume will probably go to a recruiting staff that may scan quickly due to time restrictions. Poor presentation enhances the possibility of the staff overlooking key points in your experience. So keep layout in mind (see example below)
There are templates to create resumes in most word processing suites (Microsoft Office, Star Office, etc)

Yoshi Takahashi
1-1-1 Nomu Heights,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 111-1111
Tel: (03) 3333-3333 Fax: (03) 3333-3334
E-mail: no_one@nobody.none

PERSONAL DATA

Date of birth : November 1, 1968 (31)
Nationality : Japanese

EDUCATION

Tokyo University : B.Sc. Electronic Engineering (1992)

SKILLS:

Operating Systems : Windows 3.1, 9X, NT Server, NT 2000, Netware, OS/2, OS/390, UNIX (SUN, HP), Linux.
DBMS : Microsoft Access and MSSQL, MySQL, IBM DB/2 and CS/2, Oracle 8, Informix, Sybase.
Languages : Microsoft Visual C++, C, VB, VBScript, JAVAScript, JAVA, IBM Visual Age for C++, PERL, PHP.
Hardware : Fujitsu, IBM, Compaq.

CERTIFICATIONS:

- Microsoft Certified Professional
- Microsoft Certified System Developer
- Certified JAVA Specialist

EXPERIENCE:

AAA Co., Ltd.
6/1996 - Present

1/1999 - Present, Development Manager
AAA Co., Ltd. is a contract software developer with 40 programmers and System Engineers. It primarily works on contracts with Japanese and foreign companies in Japan and supports their subsidiaries abroad. Since AAA is an outsourcing company I have worked on a variety of projects both as a Project Leader/Manager, Programmer and System Engineer. I am in charge of training all new engineers entering the company and managing the internal networks running 3 x NT 4.0 Servers, (mail, web and file servers) and maintain the company's web requirements. Current and previous projects are as follows:

(Project: HR-NET) 6 months.
As Project Manager I oversaw a group of 18 Programmers and System Engineers. The project is a complete revamp of large automobile’s Human Resource (HR) systems including; salary, social welfare, incentive programs, housing, expatriate support, company leave (sick, annual leave), etc. The system affects 9,000 client computers. The new system is running on an OS/390 IBM Mainframe with DB2. Used Batch Programming system, Visual C++, COBOL, and JCL.


(Project: Z80-Internal Procurement System) 1 year.

Worked as a group leader and managed 9 people. This system’s purpose was to allow CCC’s factories to purchase parts internally and to eliminate excess inventory and/or factory downtime due to lack of inventory. The system focuses on IBM’s PC and main frame factories for typical inventory like hardware, HDD, microprocessors, etc. The new system is running on an IBM Mainframe with IBM’s OS/390 and DB2. Developed using VC++, Windows Socket program feature, TCP/IP, DB Management and DB maintenance........................


INTERESTS:

Interests section is not necessary but if do include one keep it to a minimum of about three to five lines. Also include projects that emphasize your experience and charity and community work that shows character.