Did you go camping with your child's scout troop? Well then! You were improving your instructional techniques: Talk about how you taught 15 preteens to bake a cake using a cardboard box and some aluminum foil. Highlight the lectures you gave on finding edible plants in the woods.

Hitchhiked across Europe for a month? You researched foreign cuisines and discovered new ingredients. Describe the way your Italian aunt showed you how to drain the blood from a pig and make jelly. Rave about the hottest trend in Viennese pastries, pomegranate syrup.

Held five barbeques in your backyard? You sharpened your Mise en Place skills and learned time management. Explain how you cut each vegetable for your crudités platter into a different shape. Laugh about how your overly ambitious menu kept your guests eating for six hours.

Above all, be honest. You don't want to have to go through this all again after you're fired for lying. How would you explain that?

Attached resumes are convenient for you, because you use the same resume file for printing and attaching. However, virus-wary employers may delete your resume without even looking at it. Unless employers specifically ask for an attached resume, a better way to send your resume is via email.

Resumes included in the body of an email are great for employers. They don't have to open another document. They can easily forward your resume to a colleague. They can also print it for further review.

Storing your resume with online classified services allows a wide range of employers to easily review it. When selecting an online classified service, make sure to review their policies. Can you update your resume anytime? Do they notify you when your resume is reviewed by an employer? How long do they keep your resume active in their database? Can you remove your resume once you've found a job?

No matter which format(s) you choose, never forget basic resume standards. Always include a cover letter. Always spell check and have others review your resume before you post it. Always follow up on the submission with a hard copy and a phone call.

Don't focus on the way your resume looks at the expense of what it says. It's the content not the formatting that ultimately matters.
• Unless specifically asked, DO NOT send your resume as a file attachment. Instead, include your resume in the body of an email.
• Type all your information from left to right. Don't center or justify any text. To highlight items, capitalize them. Use lots of "white space" to ensure easy readability.
• Use a font, such as Courier, where every letter is the same size. Set your margins for a line length of 65 characters to fit most email programs.
• Save your resume as a "text only" file with "line breaks." This will make it simple to cut and paste your resume into emails. Don't forget to spell check before saving.
• Review your resume in a text editor, such as Notepad. Special characters, such as quotation marks or bullet points, will appear as strange unwanted characters. Replace or remove these characters.
• Once you're happy with your text resume, cut and paste it into an email. Send a test email to yourself and friends to check for mistakes.
• Be sure to include a specific subject line when sending an email resume. It should reflect the content of the ad.
• You must write a cover letter. Mention where you found the ad, what your qualifications are, and how you can help the company.
• Save a copy of your resume on your hard drive, on a disk, and as a hard copy. This will make it easy for you to reproduce, in case it gets lost or doesn't arrive. Also, it's still a good idea to bring a hard copy to interviews.

What position is right for you? Absolute beginners should try for plating assistant or dishwasher. Those with some food experience might try for line cook. Management professionals might find success as Front-of-House, Back-of-House, or even assistant managers. As you acquire knowledge, you will get more responsibility. What skills will I need to succeed? Research the position you choose by talking with professionals currently filling the role. Make a list of the specific talents they use on a daily basis.

What talents do I have that I can use? Motivational, budgeting, and training skills are always applicable. Other translatable talents include party planning, writing, and problem-solving.

How can I develop the talents I lack? Culinary schools are a great resource. Search StarChefs SchoolFinder to find the one nearest you. Network and talk with as many people working in the industry as possible. Consider taking an internship with a prominent local restaurant.

Where do I go now? Develop a set of realistic goals to meet as you transition into the culinary profession. Changing careers is not easy. It will most likely take over a year to complete the move.

• Correct contact information: make sure your name, telephone number, and email address are legible and clearly visible.
• Restaurant description: include the location, size, type of cuisine, average volume, and type of business.
• Your responsibilities: these might include
• Production responsibilities: average dishes prepared, prep tasks, service tasks, preparation style, form of presentation, and specialty work.
• Supervisory responsibilities: size of staff, who supervised, schedule tasks, training, and record keeping.
• Management responsibilities: ordering, purchasing, inventory, and payroll.
• Creative input: research, menu development or assistance, daily specials, and wine pairings.
• Your supervisor: you answered to general manager, pastry chef, or food and beverage director.
• Internal promotions: when, and from what - to what
• Length of employment: include months and years
• Specials skills: butchering, sugar pulling, sausage making, or languages spoken.
• Education: traditional degrees, culinary school, apprenticeships, nutrition classes, and labor relations.
• Associations or certifications: to what do you belong, for how long, and how involved are you.

Before writing a cover letter, you must answer a few questions.

• What need is the employer trying to fill?
• What am I trying to achieve?
• What skills can I provide to this employer?
• How has my experience prepared me for this position?
• Why do I want to work for this company?

The strength and complexity of cover letters lies in how these three simple sections are written. Your cover letter should not be a mere echo of your resume. It is a chance for you to show some creativity. You might tell a brief story such as "my most difficult dish."

The most important thing to remember is that your cover letter reflects you. Be sure you and a friend proofread and spell check it several times.

A thank you note should be short but structured. Start by thanking your interviewer for meeting with you. Next, reinforce your qualifications with a message. Finally, suggest a schedule for future correspondence.

There are several ways for you to emphasize your qualifications. You might highlight particular skills sought by the employer. You can expand upon or clarify a response covered during the interview. You can reiterate the talents which make you an excellent candidate. Or you can mention things your forgot during the interview.

When you send a thank you note, you also showcase your written communication skills. Furthermore, you demonstrate your predisposition to treat people with respect; something that's important when dealing with vendors, coworkers, and customers.

If possible, send your thank you note on the same day as the interview. It's ok to send it via email, but it would make a better impression by mail. Don't let common courtesy become rare, always say thank you. You might be surprised by the difference it makes.

• CV versus Resume: Europe's standard CV or curriculum vitae and a resume are very similar. A CV generally includes more detailed information, including personal information such as date of birth or marital status. CV's tend to be longer than resumes as they often include lists of published work, speaking engagements, affiliations and continuing education.
• Employment Chronology: In the U.S., reverse chronological order (most recent first) is the standard way to present your employment history. However, the standard in many countries is chronological order (oldest to most recent). Take the time to learn which format in preferred in the country to which you are applying.
• Specify your Education: Describe your educational background in detail to ensure it will be clearly understood. Make sure to include the university, program name, course highlights, and location.
• Check your terminology: Use industry-specific or job-specific language that will be understood anywhere in the world.
• Which English? Before submitting your resume in English, check to see if your prospective company uses American or British English. There can be significant spelling differences between them.
• Another Language: When preparing your resume in a foreign language, always have a native speaker of that language review it. Not only will they catch any spelling or grammatical errors, they can also provide valuable insight on proper formatting.
• Foreign Experiences: Include all of your foreign language skills and be sure to document any training, living, or educational experiences you had outside the U.S.
• Computer skills: These skills are important in any modern culture. Be sure to detail your knowledge.
• Paper size matters: Standard 8 ½" x 11" paper is not the standard abroad. Be sure to reformat your resume to fit the European standard A-4 paper (210 by 297 mil! limeters).
• Work Permits: Visas and work permits can take months to acquire. Contact the country's embassy in the U.S. for more information and application requirements.