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American Family Insurance currently serves 18 states; however, not all products are available in all states.
Please select your location below to view the products American Family Insurance offers in your area.

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We will be making enhancements to our billing system from Friday, September 5, 2008 through Sunday, September 7, 2008. As a result, Pay by Phone, Pay Now and Online Billing may be unavailable during this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Interview & Resumé Tips - Write a Resumé

Your Resumé

Before you apply for a position (with us or with any employer) make a small but important investment in your future - take the time to write a resumé that clearly and effectively communicates what you have to offer to prospective employers.

Need some help? We're happy to share a few tips on preparing an effective resumé:

Keep in mind that a resumé should let an employer know who you are - your education, experience, skills, abilities and achievements. Think of it as a written sales presentation about you! It's intended to quickly give employers a sense of your skills - and to share the story of where you've been and where you're going. Hiring professionals use your resumé to determine how your background compares with the needs of the job they're filling, as well as what strengths you have to offer compared with other candidates.

Your resumé should be organized and easy to read and understand. Above all, grammar and spelling should be perfect! Below is a sample resumé.

employee image
Carl, Claims

Elements to Include in Your Resumé

Personal Data

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • E-mail address

Employment Objective

An optional statement indicating what position you are seeking and how your background suits that position.

Work Experience

List your current position first and work back in time. Include:

  • Job title
  • Employer
  • Dates of employment (month and year)
  • Description of your duties and responsibilities
  • Professional achievements

Education

List your formal education, including degrees and certificates. Also be sure to list any courses you've taken since leaving school that are related to the position you're seeking.

Skills

  • Typing/keyboard words per minute
  • Knowledge of equipment operation (Can you drive a forklift? Pilot a helicopter? Or most complex of all, un-jam a copier?)
  • Software proficiencies, especially those related to the job you're seeking

Professional Affiliations & Achievements

  • Memberships in professional organizations
  • Job-related extracurricular activities
  • Job-related certifications
  • Volunteer work and activities related to the position you're seeking

Here's an example of a resumé format you might consider:

Terry B. Smith
1313 Mockingbird Ln.
Your Town, WI 53783
(608) 242-4100

Career Objective: Administrative Assistant

Professional Experience
08/86 - Present    Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Claims
American Family Insurance, Madison, Wisconsin
Description of the position, including job skills and knowledge, actions and results.
   
06/84 - 08/86 Secretary to Sales Manager
Blardy Company, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Description of the position, including job skills and knowledge, actions and results.
   
02/81 - 06/84 Clerk Typist
W.T. Rogers, Inc., Saint Joseph, Missouri
Description of the position, including job skills and knowledge, actions and results.
   
Education  
 

Continuing Education:

  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Advanced Microsoft Access
  • Speaking to Persuade
  • Customer Service Skills
   
  Madison Area Technical College, Madison, Wisconsin
Associate Degree - Office Mid-Management
   
Skills Microsoft Office Suite
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Outlook 2000
Internet Explorer 5.5
   
  Words Per Minute: 95
   
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
1995 - Present Member, National Association of Administrative Assistants
   
1990 - 1999 Member, Optimist Club
Actively involved with many community projects.

Please remember that this resumé format is only an example of a style you might use. There are many others and you may choose any that you like!

You should also know that American Family Insurance, like many employers, strongly prefers to receive resumés electronically rather than in paper form. This can actually save you time and money as well - no need to spend hours formatting your resumé and no need to spend your hard-earned cash getting it printed and mailed! Just be sure it's clear, concise, truthful and accurate (and don't forget to spell-check!).

Important tips for job seekers:

 

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