Resume Tips

RESUMES THAT GET RESULTS…

 YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO GET THE HIRING MANAGER’S ATTENTION!

The purpose of a resume is to get a job interview.  Begin with a strong and clear Career Summary or Career Profile in 25 words that captures the essence of you professionally and excites the employer to keep reading. It needs to be geared to the specific job to which you are applying.

You will probably create several variations of your resume.  Emphasize your recent experiences and don’t exaggerate or misrepresent your background.  If your education, rather than experience, is the primary selling point, you will find THIS ARTICLE very helpful.

Accomplishment statements show results.  Employers are not as interested in what you did as they are in what you accomplished in doing your job and what value you contributed to the company or organization.

Use a format that is easy to read and scan.  Over 90% of employers surveyed by the National Association of Employers and Colleges (NACE) say they prefer to receive resumes electronically (either on their web site or via email).  It should be visually appealing and have some “white space”.  A two-page resume is certainly acceptable for most applicants. 

Do’s and Don’t’s

• Do start with a first draft and expect to rewrite and edit several times
• Don’t leave gaps between employment dates
• Do focus on what the market is buying  … 40% of your accomplishments may reflect work you did only 10% of the time
• Don’t use words like “I”, “me” or “my" in your resume. Use “Action Words” to begin accomplishment statements
• Do prepare 1-4 accomplishment statements per job
• Don’t save your resume on your computer with a “cute” or unprofessional name.  If you send the resume electronically, this will show up as the file name and does not portray a professional image
• Do use plain, good quality paper when submitting your resume by mail or in person
• Don't use copy paper, typing paper or, 'horrors' -notebook paper! 
• Do include volunteer work, it is valuable work experience
• Don’t include reasons for leaving or salary information on resume
• Do list additional training that is relevant to the job you are seeking
• Don't list "references available upon request". Prepare a separate list of references, including how they know you and contact information and bring it to the interview 
• Do have someone else proofread your draft to ensure it is flawless
• Don't ever submit your resume without proofing!!

A HELPFUL RESOURCE

The Blue Book of Grammar is an excellent resource that can be found at www.GrammarBook.com.  Also on this site is a wealth of free resources such as quizzes, a grammar blog, an A-to-Z list of confusing words and homonyms, and much more!