Résumé
A document summarizing background, skills, and accomplishments for job applications.
A résumé (or resume, resumé) is a document created and used by an individual to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. It is most often used to apply for a job, whether in the same organization or another. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education, and is usually one of the first items a potential employer sees before choosing to interview the job seeker.
- origin
- French word résumer meaning 'to summarize'
- field
- Employment and job seeking
- common_formats
- Reverse chronological, functional, hybrid/combination, blind
- typical_length
- One or two pages of size A4 or letter-size
Lore & Background
The word 'résumé' comes from the French word résumer meaning 'to summarize'. For the next 450 years, the résumé continued to be simply a description of a person, including abilities and past employment. In the early 1900s, résumés included information like weight, height, marital status, and religion. It was not until the 1970s, the beginning of the Digital Age, that résumés took on a more professional look in terms of presentation and content.
Reader's Guide
The résumé has evolved significantly over time, from a simple description of a person to a targeted marketing tool. In the early 1900s, it included personal details such as weight, height, marital status, and religion. By the 1970s, it became more professional, and the start of the 21st century saw further evolution with the internet and social media enabling faster distribution. Video résumés became more common after the launch of YouTube in 2005. Modern résumés are often tailored to specific job postings, using keywords and action verbs to appeal to applicant tracking systems. Different formats exist, including reverse chronological, functional, hybrid/combination, and blind résumés, each suited to different career situations. The blind résumé, used by some employers in the United States, removes personal identifying information to reduce bias.
Did You Know?
- In the early 1900s, résumés included information like weight, height, marital status, and religion.
- A blind résumé removes personal identifying information such as name, age, gender, and address to reduce bias.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Résumé in the labor & employment canon?
Résumé is a personal document that distills a job seeker's work history, education, and key skills into a concise presentation. It serves as the primary self-introduction a candidate sends to potential employers when seeking a position.
What formats can Résumé take?
The canon recognizes four common structures: reverse chronological, functional, hybrid/combination, and blind (no identifying details). Each format reorganizes the same core content—experience, education, and skills—to highlight different strengths.
How long is a typical Résumé?
Standard practice keeps it to one or two pages on A4 or U.S. letter-size paper. This brevity mirrors its French-rooted purpose of summarizing rather than narrating a full career history.
Why is Résumé considered important in the job-seeking process?
It is usually the very first artifact a hiring manager reviews before deciding whether to move a candidate to an interview. Because it frames the entire impression, its clarity and relevance can make or break a job application.
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