A resume is a tool used to demonstrate your suitability for the job-specific requirements of a career. This holds true with policing. Few people have received instruction on building a resume, or had much experience writing them. They don’t understand what should or should not be included to present themselves in the best manner they can.

Resume building does not start at the writing stage. If you are serious about becoming a police officer, you should have a long list of volunteer experience, academic achievements, languages, computer skills and other highlights to place on your resume. If you don’t, begin today. Many organizations, including food banks, charity organizations and Children's Aid Societies are desperate for volunteer help. Languages are vital to police forces, as are computer skills and any other life skills.

The main purpose of your resume is to frame your experiences, skills and knowledge in a manner relevant to the police service to which you are applying. You have to not only demonstrate what you've done, but also show that you have done it well. It is crucial to present information clearly and concisely so the person reviewing your resume can quickly find what they require. Three principles should be followed:

Principle One: Relevance

Police forces want to fill positions with people who fit their needs. It is important to determine what competencies are required for the job. Below is a list of core competencies that police forces are searching for.

Many people squeeze everything into a resume hoping that something will click. Any material on your resume that does not exhibit traits from the list of core competencies the police service is looking for is a waste of space.

Do not include every employer on your resume unless you are specifically asked to provide that information. Many police services require an employment history application. Pick out the most relevant positions you have had and focus on demonstrating the qualities. Any additional information such as Activities, Volunteer Experience, Education, or Special Skills should also demonstrate your competencies.

Principle Two: Highlight Accomplishments

Accomplishment statements should give the police service an indication of how well you performed. It should reveal not only what you did, but also how well you did it. Each statement should include the following:

Each accomplishment statement should describe skills relevant to the police service. Practice writing these statements. Typically, accomplishment statements fall under the Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, or Education sections of your resume.

Each statement should use action verbs that emphasize and empower your accomplishment statements. Quantifying your results when you can will add impact.

Example Action Statements

1) Day Camp Counselor

Core Competency	Situation / Task	Action	Result
Developing Others, Cooperation, Concern for Safety, Assertiveness, Community Service, Communication.	Field trips as a day camp counselor.	Instruction and supervision.	Ensured safety of 60 children with fellow counselors.

"Supervised and instructed 60 young children on field trips ensuring their safety and enjoyment with a team of fellow counselors."

2) Retail / Grocery

Core Competency	Situation / Task	Action	Result
Work Organization, Communication, Negotiation / Facilitation	Controlling Inventory.	Organized units and placed orders (quantified)	Diverse customer's needs anticipated and satisfied.

"Organized shelving units and placed orders in excess of $20,00 ensuring diverse customer needs were anticipated and satisfied."

3) Post-Secondary Education

"Developed analytical, presentation, computer and XXXX skills, studying sociology and graduating with a 75% average."

4) Volunteer Work

"Organized and implemented with a team of volunteers a Food Drive at work effectively raising $2,000 for needy people in the community."

Action Verbs to be used for your Accomplishment Statements Accelerated, Accumulated, Accomplished, Acquired, Analyzed, Applied, Arranged, Assessed, Authorized, Approved Began, Bought, Budgeted, Coached, Collected, Combined, Communicated, Conducted, Convinced, Coordinated Developed, Directed, Discovered, Documented, Effected, Enforced, Engineered, Evaluated, Facilitated, Filed, Financed, Founded Generated, Hired, Identified, Launched, Learned, Led, Made, Maintained, Managed, Marketed, Minimized, Monitored Negotiated, Observed, Ordered, Performed, Perpetuated, Planned, Prepared, Presribed, Presented, Processed, Produced, Promoted, Provided Questioned, Raised, Read, Realized, Reorganized, Repaired, Researched, Revised, Risked, Saved, Scheduled, Selected, Separated, Served, Set Shared, Showed, Solved, Strengthened, Succeeded, Supplied, Taught, Team Built, Trained, Translated, Tutored, Uncovered, Unified, Utilized, Won, Wrote

Principle 3 - Make it Easy to Read

Police recruiters look at thousands of resumes each year. They do not necessarily spend a lot of time on each one. This means your resume has only a few minutes to prove that you are a good fit for their police service. The information presented has to be immediately pertinent and easy to read. Key things you should be mindful of when finishing up your resume are:

• use high quality paper
• incorporate as much white space as possible so the reader is not overwhelmed
• highlight only key words or positions to attract attention
• use bullet points rather than paragraphs
• keep font sizes between 10 and 12 pt