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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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!
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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.
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.
6.
Use #’s, $’s 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 $1,000,000.
· Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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