15
Golden Tips
The thought of writing a resume
intimidates almost anyone. It's difficult to know where to start or what to
include. It can seem like an insurmountable task. Here are 15 tips to help you
not only tackle the task, but also write a winning resume.
1.Determine
your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have
determined your objective, you can structure the content of your resume around
that objective. Think of your objective as the bull's-eye to focus your resume
on hitting. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind,
it will likely come across as unfocused to those that read it. Take the time
before you start your resume to form a clear objective.
2.Think of
your resume as a marketing tool. Think of yourself as a product, potential
employers
as your customers, and your resume as a brochure about you. Market yourself
through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What makes you
unique? Make sure to convey this information in your resume.
3.Use your
resume to obtain an interview, not a job. You don't need to go into detail
about
every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose of your
resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you
for an interview. Use the interview to provide a more detailed explanation of
your accomplishments and to land a job offer.
4.Use
bulleted sentences.
In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than
lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted sentence format
makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb
it.
5.Use
action words. Action
words cause your resume to pop. To add life to your resume, use bulleted
sentences that begin with action words like prepared, developed, monitored, and
presented.
6.Use #'s, Rs. and %'s. Numbers, dollars,
and percentages stand out in the body of a resume. Use them. Here are two
examples:
* Managed a department of 10 with a budget of Rs.1,000,000.
* Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.
* Managed a department of 10 with a budget of Rs.1,000,000.
* Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.
7.Lead
with your strengths.
Since resumes are typically reviewed in 30 seconds, take the time to determine
which bullets most strongly support your job search objective. Put those strong
points first where they are more apt to be read.
8.Play Match Game. Review want
ads for positions that interest you. Use the key words listed in these ads to
match them to bullets in your resume. If you have missed any key words, add
them to your resume.
9.Use
buzzwords. If there
are terms that show your competence in a particular field, use them in your
resume. For marketing people, use "competitive analysis." For
accounting types, use "reconciled accounts."
10.Accent the positive. Leave
off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your date of graduation will
subject you to age discrimination, leave the date off your resume. If you do
some duties in your current job that don't support your job search objective,
leave them off your resume. Focus on the duties that do support your objective.
Leave off irrelevant personal information like your height and weight.
11.Show
what you know.
Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight your
breadth of knowledge. Use an interview to provide more detail.
12.Show
who you know.
If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or
department manager, say so in your resume. Having reported to someone important
causes the reader to infer that you are important.
13.Construct
your resume to read easily. Leave white space. Use a font size no smaller than 10 point.
Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages. Remember, resumes are reviewed
quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively.
14.Have
someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be
difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your
accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume,
and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions.
Their questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your
resume. Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also
point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your
resume based on this input.
15.Submit
your resume to potential employers. Have the courage to submit your resume. Think of it as a
game where your odds of winning increase with every resume you submit. You
really do increase your odds with every resume you submit. Use a three-tiered
approach. Apply for some jobs that appear to be beneath you. Perhaps they will turn
out to be more than they appeared to be once you interview for them. Or perhaps
once you have your foot in the door you can learn of other opportunities. Apply
for jobs that seem to be just at your level. You will get interviews for some
of those jobs. See how each job stacks up. Try for some jobs that seem like a
stretch. That's how you grow -- by taking risks. Don't rule yourself out. Trust
the process. Good luck in your job search!
THANKS
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