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How To Write A RésuméFigure out what you want to do. You can't write an effective résumé if you have no job target. What I mean by this is you need to tailor your résumé to the specific job you want to apply to. Gone are the days of sending out 400 copies of the same résumé. Make a list of the jobs you have held that have relevance to the new job target. If none exists, what skills did you acquire from those jobs that apply to the one you are seeking? For instance, if you are applying for an administrative assistant position, it is possible that your fast food job does not apply and should be left off. However, one exception would be if you were in a managerial position and had restaurant paperwork you were responsible for (like inventory, ordering, reports, and bank deposits). Know what things you should NOT put on your résumé. (See Common Résumé Mistakes - linked below). Make sure you stand out without being excessive. Start with a blank page (no templates) and work on a design. Now is not the time to be overly colorful or super creative. Put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager. Imagine you have received 345 e-mails from job seekers within 12 hours of posting a position. What would catch your eye? Think of what would be a refreshing change and go for it. Now for the actual résumé content. There are typically five basic sections in a résumé. * Contact Information - Powerful and complete. * Headline - State what you are offering. * Skills Summary - Quickly highlight your relevant skills. * Professional Experience - Relevant and accomplishment oriented. Use action verbs to start your sentences and avoid the word "I". * Education - List college or trade schools only. Leave off high school unless you are a recent graduate without experience. Notice I did not list objective statement. For the reason why, visit my section on common résumé mistakes (see below). Proofread it, have your friends proofread it, and then do it two more times. I want to stress how important it is to do this. Check for spelling errors that the spell checker missed. Print it out and review it, because this seems to make you read over it more thoroughly. Watch out for poor grammar, punctuation errors, and redundancy. Always send it with a cover letter. Address the cover letter specifically to the company and job posting. Make a note of how you heard of the opening and why you are the best candidate. Hit the highlights of what you have to offer them so they are intrigued and interested in reading your résumé. Jennifer Anthony is the owner ofResumeASAP, offering professional and affordable résumé writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional résumé writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail or by calling 1-888-722-5211. |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES Writing CVs and Resumes for Professionals with Examples Tips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV) by Mike Kelley at First Impressions Telecommuting Cover Letters Question: How do I market myself online? Stepping Stone Jobs What we name something matters. Writing A Great Resume, Part 2 TIP: Update your resume often. Be sure to add details of any training course, new interests and areas of responsibility. Gray Hair, Black Prospects If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that discrimination has become much more sneaky than in the past. No one comes out and say, "We're not hiring you because you're too old." Instead, discrimination is subtle and equally damaging. Top 10 Resume Writing Tips to Get You the Interview There are many reasons why you could be in the marketfor a new job right now. Perhaps... Interview Presentation Skills: Dealing With Your Nerves Sooner or later, the interview invitation is going to say you are required to give a presentation as part of the selection process. And like most people you may dread having to do it. You may think that you cannot speak publicly because of nervousness but all good speakers are nervous, and you can overcome those nerves. Staying In The Game The message came from Human Resources. There's nothing to worry about with the newly announced organizational changes and pending merger, it reassured. The changes will be good for the company and good for the people who work here it coached. Growing Up On A Delaware Farm Growing up on a Delaware farm was a wonderful and rewarding experience for me. Your Cover Letter MUST Ask This Question Imagine receiving a letter from a salesman who wants to sell you an exciting new widget. The letter focuses on all the reasons why this is such a great item. But nowhere does the man ASK for the purchase! You are not as likely to buy it. Can You Tell Me Something About Yourself! Interview Question, "Tell Me Something About Yourself?" How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's attention with the opening sentence. Nowwe'll get them interested, arouse desire, and get them to take action. Let's get moving. Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New Graduates Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New Graduates Why Do Interviews Die: That Sinking Feeling and How to Prevent it! Interviews die because a mistake occurred. Sometimes, you've made a mistake; sometimes they die because someone who screened a resume did. Interview Preparation The dreaded job interview is the Number 1 source of email enquiries to Confidence Club. The following email is typical: Occupational Health and Safety - Stress and Workaholism at Work There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the problems facing Australia in retaining talented workers and the subsequent pressure placed on those remaining behind in the workplace. 7 Deadly Cover Writing Sins Don't start off your job search with one (or more) strikesagainst you by committing any of these common cover letterblunders. Each is easy to avoid, but they can sink yourchances of an interview if you include them in your letter. No Degree, No Problem According to a recent survey, 52% of job candidates polled lied on their resume about having a college degree. Here are 3 brief horror stories: A new Director of Logistics and his family were actually loading the moving van provided by his new employer for relocation from California to North Carolina. The phone rang and it was the Human Resource Manager from his new company. The offer was being withdrawn. Through a routine degree verification check, the company learned the potential new employee did not have a degree. He was 3 hours short of graduating. Had the candidate been honest, the job was still his. It was an integrity issue. Five candidates for a high level software sales job were interviewing. After the face to face interviews, the candidates were offered a "grace period" to revise their application. The company was aware of a problem with one canddiate. The lead candidate changed his college degree information to "Did Not Graduate." He was dropped from contention. A candidate for a Vice President of Logistics position for a multi-billion/multi national company was offered the job. However, the background check could not verify the degree as listed on the resume. The stunned candidate said he could fix the problem. After one week, he called and faxed over the degree verification information. Only two blank pieces of paper came out of the fax. He said, "I must have faxed the wrong side." The offer was rescinded the night before his start date because of the integrity issue. The company would have hired him if he had been honest about not having a degree. Offers withdrawn because of "no degree" are not because the lack of a college degree was a "deal breaker." The issue was that each of these high level managers misrepresented themselves on their resume and during the interview. As a search firm, we always encourage candidates to be upfront and candid about the information on the resume, including whether or not they have a college degree. Don't try to hide it amongst several other educational courses you have taken. If you are hiring, ask the candidate directly. It's amazing how many hiring managers "assumed" the candidate graduated. The most deceptive piece on a resume is: University of Any State, 1986-1990. Listing the years but not if they graduated. Common oversight. Most times, if the candidate has a solid background and the chemistry is strong with the organization, the company hires the person. Remember 70% of hiring is Chemistry. Degree isn't the most important factor. Job Search Secret #1 The job search secret that is so powerful it will blow your socks off is simple - if you think you want or need a Career Change all you have to do is understand this Job Search Secret: Why Human Resources Are The Real Key To Success In This Information Age The rapid changes that have mainly been brought about by the information age are numerous and irreversible. They have affected our way of life on virtually every front and have left many old companies in ruins while causing other new ones to swiftly emerge and grow to great unprecedented profitability, literally overnight. |
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