Tips For A Sizzling Resume
Contributed by Elaine Landau
Want a resume that is enticing, noticeable, and “can’t-put-downable?” Here are some suggestions:
- The one pager. Limiting your resume to one page is smart. Interviewers are not impressed with a bunch of words and stapled pages. The problem is that you think that your particular accomplishments are fabulous. So you try to include every award, every hobby, every detail that makes you the dynamic person you are. You might try to actually reduce the typeface of your resume so you can squeeze that much more onto the page. Well, why not try editing a little? If you have been in the work force for a few years, do we really need to know you were President of the French club in High School? A future employer is trying to get a snap shot of you, not a miniseries. Be succinct, honest, and include current data that will intrigue a future employer.
- Keep your resume current. Even if you don’t have any plans on leaving your position, your company may lay you off unexpectedly. You may be offered a chance to interview for a better job out of the blue. Opportunities have a way of showing up. Be ready for them with a great, current resume. (Keeping a current resume is also a good idea to remind you of your strengths and why you are good at your job. Reviewing it right before you have a performance evaluation will help you present a better case for a raise or promotion.)
- Construct your resume like a billboard. Divide it in easy-to-find sections such as work experience, education, computer skills, and so on. If you know that you are applying for a position that requires computer expertise, sell yourself. Be sure that the prospective employer knows that you have more than a basic computer education or basic Internet training. You have completed advanced tutorials in Word, Excel®, PowerPoint®, and Photoshop®. You have taken online QuickBooks® courses. Don’t make it hard for the employer to find your talents. This is your shot. Use it.
- Present your credits in chronological order. The employer is probably most interested in your most recent accomplishments, so start with those.
- If you have many years of experience, do not include everything. That is to say, include the highlights, but dump the details. It is good to present yourself as experienced and versatile. It is not good to come off as somebody who has been around for centuries and will be a fossil in the office. Age discrimination is alive and well. Don’t give an employer a hint that you may have a few gray hairs. Let your resume excite that employer so you are invited in for an interview.
- Some experts suggest that one resume is good for all employers. Others suggest that you should rework your resume so that you appear to fit the requirements of the job perfectly. It really is a toss-up between which is most effective. By preparing a general resume, you are ready to be interviewed at the drop of a dime. But a general resume may lack the luster of a tailored effort. It is really a personal call.
- If you are changing industries, let your resume tell part of the story. It will probably reflect your accomplishments and promotions in one industry, but your hobbies and extended education may indicate a whole new direction. Any confusion could be clarified in a cover letter and in the interview.
Be truthful, but avoid being boring. Be proud, but not arrogant. Your resume is a reflection of you, your professional accomplishments and personal interests. If it is written well, the prospective interviewer will feel that he/she knows you before the both of you shake hands. Good luck!
Excel and PowerPoint are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Photoshop is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Incorporated, registered in the U.S. and other countries. QuickBooks is a trademark of Intuit Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
About the Author:
Elaine Landau is a freelance writer, publicist, web site editor, and produced television writer with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and publicity.
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