| A resume is basically your entire working life | | | | (i.e. summer jobs at McDonalds, etc.) |
| summarized in one or two pages. Writing a good | | | | 5) Don't worry about listing skills like, detail |
| resume is difficult for most people which is | | | | oriented or work well with others. These are too |
| exactly why you should work very hard on yours. | | | | generic and employers will skip over them, so |
| If you have a good resume, a resume that | | | | don't waste valuable resume space with them. By |
| clearly stands out from the crowd, you won't | | | | not including those generic skills you can be more |
| have any problem getting interviews. In this | | | | specific about you previous job experience. |
| article, I'm going to give you some critical | | | | 6) Don't list personal interests unless they |
| formatting and wording techniques that will help | | | | specifically relate to the job you are applying for. |
| you learn to write a great resume. These tips can | | | | 7) Don't list your references unless they are |
| literally be the difference between your resume | | | | specifically asking for them and don't worry about |
| getting read or being tossed aside. | | | | putting "References available upon request" as |
| Employers are literally getting bombarded with | | | | that is a duh statement to the employer. They |
| resumes when they post for a new position. So | | | | will ask you for them if they want them. |
| your primary goal initially is to get your resume | | | | 8) Triple check your resume for grammatical and |
| looked at and get an interview. The interview is | | | | spelling errors. Don't just rely on spell check as it |
| where you are going to shine. Employers will scan | | | | is not perfect. Have a couple of friends or |
| the first page of your resume and if it doesn't | | | | relatives proof read it for you. The better your |
| make a strong first impression and/or is not easy | | | | grammar the greater chance you have for |
| to read (like within 10 seconds) you most likely will | | | | getting an interview. I've know employers who |
| be tossed aside. | | | | have round filed (trash can) good resumes on |
| Obviously your skills and experience are a major | | | | grammatical errors alone. I know because I've |
| factor, but if you have a well written and | | | | done it. This sounds harsh but it is true. Spelling |
| formatted resume, quite frequently an employer | | | | and grammatical errors annoy people especially |
| will be intrigued and may interview you anyway. In | | | | because they are so easy to catch if you have |
| many industries, employers feel like they can train | | | | others proof it for you. |
| anyone to do a job. What is more difficult is | | | | 9) Don't use fancy fonts, symbols or colors. Try |
| finding someone that has a positive attitude and a | | | | not to italicize and don't go overboard on the |
| willingness to learn and work well with their | | | | bolding. Try to stick to Arial or Times New |
| co-workers. | | | | Roman and a 12 point font. If you are writing |
| Here are some tips that will help you write a | | | | your resume in Word for instance, when you are |
| great resume and help you get the job of your | | | | done, copy it into the notepad program that |
| dreams: | | | | comes on most computers. This format is very |
| 1) Have an "Objective" at the beginning of your | | | | generic and recognized by most other computers. |
| resume and make it very specific to the position | | | | By doing this you are assuring that your resume |
| you are applying for. Research the industry a little | | | | will still be legible when the person on the other |
| and include a short term objective as well as a | | | | end is reading it. |
| longer term (such as becoming a manager) | | | | 10) Keep your resume to a maximum of two |
| objective. Employers like to see goals especially | | | | pages. Employers don't have time to read more |
| when they include staying in the type of work | | | | than that. Put your best stuff on the first page. |
| you are applying for. | | | | Like I said before, if your education is your strong |
| 2) List your education first if you have a | | | | point then list it first. |
| bachelors degree. If you don't have a degree then | | | | It takes time to write a great resume, but once |
| list it last. Don't put your GPA down unless you | | | | you have it completed all you really need to do is |
| are applying for a very specific job like accounting | | | | fine-tune it to specific jobs. Just remember that |
| or the FBI (I have a cousin in the FBI and know | | | | first impressions mean everything. If you don't |
| that they like having the GPA). Most employers | | | | get a job especially a job you really wanted, call |
| don't care about it and if they do they will ask in | | | | the HR department after the fact and just ask |
| the interview. | | | | them what you could have done better. Ask |
| 3) Summarize your professional experience in | | | | them if there was anything in your resume that |
| chronological order. Bold the Job title and list the | | | | they would have liked to see or not see. No one |
| dates of employment. Try to be specific but not | | | | does this so most HR departments will probably |
| too wordy. Don't embellish with big words. | | | | be impressed that you are taking the time to be |
| Employers are not impressed with big words. List | | | | improve yourself. You never know, they might |
| the skills from your jobs that are relevant in the | | | | even ask you to come in for an interview |
| new position. | | | | because you are taking initiative that most people |
| 4) If you have worked at a lot of jobs then | | | | don't. |
| leave out the ones that won't make a difference | | | | |