Resume Writing Tips - Effective Resume Writing
- The resume is your calling card - your introduction.
- It needs to be clear, concise, crisp, and focused.
- It is your marketing piece.
- It can be your sales tool in your absence.
- And it can guide your interview.
The following are resume tips to keep in mind:
Most resumes are simply an historical account of where a person has been, and what they did while they were there. But keep in mind: a resume sometimes only gets ten to twenty seconds of perusal, and if the reader cannot imagine you working for his or her company, and what you could do for them - you're doomed. The reader has to get this message very quickly.
Your resume needs to be strategic and future-oriented, letting the reader know what you have to offer for their particular situation. What you write makes the reader think of you in a certain way. This is your story, and one you want to be proud of.
We start by doing a thorough assessment of who you are. This will give substance and detail to your depiction of yourself and add depth and detail in those areas you want to highlight.
Many people have only one resume, but understand that you can modify your resume to make it suitable for other targets. You need a chronological resume starting with your most recent job. Functional resumes are organized by type of work done, and often they are written to hide something. Such a resume is almost always looked upon with suspicion.
A summary statement at the beginning of your resume is an opportunity to dramatically influence the way a reader sees you. Crafting the very best possible summary statement is crucial to a good resume. Remember: if a resume positions you the way you want to be positioned, it';s good. If the positioning is wrong, it's not good. Never use a "job objective", because it makes it look as if you only want one type of job, ruling out other possibilities.
To have a good resume, one must have a job target firmly in mind. A great summary statement goes at the top of your resume and sets the tone for what follows. It brings all your accomplishments together.
Format is important. Lines that go all the way across the page, from margin to margin, are hard to read. You need white space. The resume has to be readable and attention getting in an understated way. Work with an expert in determining how to state accomplishments, when to use bold face and underlining, when to use bulleting, and how to create a format that is not only consistent but commanding.
The resume needs to be as long as it needs to be - and no longer. The days of a one page resume have long ended. There is a myth that a short resume is more likely to be read, and that is incorrect. Today people are changing jobs more and more frequently, necessitating longer resumes. So take the space needed to tell your story. Do what is appropriate at your level. Generally speaking, the more senior the individual, the longer the resume.
You decide whether to put something in the resume by asking the following question: does it help my case? If so, put it in; if not, leave it out.
Be sure to use the language of your target market. Make certain that your positioning statement is aimed correctly.
Never attempt to hide your age. They will find out, eventually, anyway. Never fail to include the graduation dates from schools, for it will be a red flag saying you are trying to keep your age a secret.
A great resume can make a real and positive difference in your job search. Make sure that your presentation presents the best possible picture of you and your accomplishments.
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