Is This On Your Resume It Should Be!
One of the most overlooked ways in using a resume to sell yourself is failing to identify the companies for which you have worked.
“Identify the companies?” You say. “But I do! How could I write my resume and not name the companies?”
Right. But unless you worked for UPS or Macy`s or FedEx, the company name indicates nothing.
The majority of job seekers neglect to describe their employers. Even professional r
Resume Writing Guide
A well written and concise resume can dramatically improve your chances of landing that dream job. Before you write or update your personal resume why not follow this basic resume writing guide to get you started.
Resume preparation is key to success
Sit down in a quiet room with a pen and paper. Jot down a quick self-assement and highlight your skill strengths and abilities, be positive and relaxed and think of why you really want ths job and how this resume will help you get that all important interview.
Resume content - contact information
Your contact information is the most important area of your resume. That’s why it is placed at the top. Remember to include your name, permanent address, telephone number (mobile too if you have one) and an email address that is your primary online contact.
Summary of your Resume
This is your resume sales pitch. Objective targetting to the job your applying for is key to success. For example if you were applying for a job in the I.T. industry you would highlight keyskills as computers, problem solving, working as team etc. At the end of your summary include a short statement on personal goals you set yourself. This shows drive and the will to learn and succeed.
Education and Work Experience
A clear and easy to follow list starting with your most recent qualifications and educational details are included in your resume.
The work experience details are a big hit with employers. Use action words to describe your work duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order.
Other information and References
You might want to include any volunteer work or other out of work activities that you might think help your resume template. Pay particular attention to any “team” activities you take part in and give them priority listing, careful not to “waffle”, two or three out of work pursuits is about perfect to list.
Take time to think of usually two people you might want as your referrers. Reference details should never be listed in detail - a good example to use is:
“References are available on request“.
Important: Final check of your Resume
After completing your resume it is time to have it checked by someone else. A family or friend is a good choice, these final checks are of paramount importance. Do not forget to run a spell check of your resume template. Print your resume onA4/Letter white paper and clarity is key, no use of italics or underlined words and ideally keep your font size to about 12-14pt.
By following these guidelines on resume writing you will have a distinct advantage on your competitors and will set you on your way to your dream job.
Free Resume Guides at Resume Template: www.resume-template.co.uk
Tags: career, jobs, resume, reusme templateResume WorkShop — Resume Content Is King
We’ll now take a good look at how to build the heading, job objectives, summary of qualifications, and work history sections of a r
Tags: career, employment, hiring, job interview, job search, jobs, resumeResume WorkShop — Organizing Format
There are some fundamental rules for writing a r
Tags: career, employment, hiring, job interview, job search, jobs, resume, resume helpBuild A Resume Before You Write A Resume
Most people think the job search process begins when they need a job. No!
Your job search starts now, regardless of where you are in your career, regardless of how happy you think you are at your current job.
But that doesn’t mean you have to cheat your employer out of your time, or short-change your clients and customers (I certainly don’t recommend either one).
What you need to do is use your current job to prepare you for the next one. That next job could be within your current company, or elsewhere.
Regardless of where it is, if you don’t prepare for it now, you’ll find yourself unprepared for the opportunity when it comes along.
The best approach I’ve ever seen (and ever used) is to figure out the next career step you’d like to take, determine the requirements of that step, then start looking for opportunities in your current position to gain related skills and experience that will let you make the jump.
Acquiring those skills builds your resume. More skills, and especially more achievements are almost always good. You can choose to leave some off, if they don’t relate to a specific
target job you choose in the future. It’s simply wrong (and stupid, actually) to put stuff on your resume that you haven’t done. Look for ways to fill your resume with high-quality achievements that give you (and a future employer) lots of material to work with.
Those new skills will help you in your current job, of course, which is a win-win situation for you and your employer.
All of that may be easier to say than it is to do. That’s why it’s important to get help as your try to figure out your direction and what steps to take to start moving that way.
Borrow a principle from sports. You need a coach.
I know, I know. You think career coaching is a ridiculously expensive waste of time. Not necessarily.
I’m not suggesting that you flush money down the toilet. But a relatively small investment can save you years of frustration, and keep you from wasting time on a “career” you really don’t want.
So find a coach, and get moving!
Copyright (c) by Roy Miller
Roy Miller created http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com.
Would you like a “secret weapon” to crush your job search competition? Subscribe to Roy’s free newsletter and get a free report that shows YOU can win the job of your dreams in record time. Visit here to subscribe and claim your free copy: http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com.
Would you like never to need a resume again? Visit Roy’s new site http://www.resale-money-machine.com to find out how.
Roy will link to you if you publish this article! Publish with no changes (keep the bio box at the bottom) at your site or in your newsletter. Then email Roy here to let him know where you’re publishing: Editors@Job-Search-Guidepost.com. You’ll get a link at http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com, and maybe an ad in Roy’s weekly newsletter.
Tags: career, career coach, resumeCombination Resume Format - What Can It Do For YOU
In a combination resume you have the option of highlighting your skills and abilities, who you worked for, or your educational background.
This is a good style to use if you like to have the flexibility to put your information in a format that suits your background, your tastes and your style. It is also a good resume if you like to have the ability to tweak things easier for certain employment situations.
No two jobs are created alike, so no two resumes will likely be the same, either. Be sure to target your resume to the specific position you are seeking, too. State your job intent clearly in the Objective section, then follow through with every statement on the resume geared toward the position you are seeking.
Choosing the style of your resume is certainly important. As with any resume format, you have to make the best first impression possible. Just be sure it allows for you to accomplish what you need to.
You get - maybe - 30 seconds to make a good impression with your resume, right?. If you do not capture the attention of the reader FAST, you won’t catch it at all. A first impression is made very quickly.
Using the combination format, you have the ability to disguise certain parts of your personal history that you don’t want highlighted. You have a multitude of options to place the focus where you want it or shift the focus away from something that isn’t quite as vital (but still needs to be listed on the resume).
When designing your resume, be sure to clearly identify what each section is in regards to so that the hiring manager can identify pertinent information readily. He or she will want to hone in on information that is applicable to the particular position they have open.
Typically, most people who use this format detail their skills and achievements first, and then list their employment history and education in reverse chronological order.
Just be sure that you are speaking to the employer’s needs and not your own. How does your resume convey your desire to work hard and succeed? You have to use Keywords to stand out and show that you are a person of ACTION.
Give employers what they want: Results in a format that is easy to read and makes an impact.
Good luck!
Carla Vaughan
Owner/Webmaster
Professional-Resume-Example.com
To learn more about this resume format, click here: Combination Resume Format
Carla Vaughan is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.
Tags: career, combination, combination resume, education, employment, format, job, keywords, professional, resume7 Tips Toward Building A Successful Online Resume
As the manager of two aviation web sites, I have learned that one of the best ways to promote people who are looking for work is to allow for them to list their resume right online. Unlike a traditional resume, there are some things best left off an online resume. Let’s take a look at some of things you need to do as your craft your online copy.
1. Omit certain personal information. You must include your name, the area in which you live [for example, Chicagoland], a contact phone number, and an email address. Please be aware that your telephone number can reveal more to people about you than what you want them to know. Showing an unlisted phone number is preferable; only give out your cell number if you can reasonably see an advantage in sharing that information openly. Identity theft and stalking are persistent problems; be careful that your resume invites neither practice.
2. Your photograph. This is optional and not nearly as commonplace in the U.S. as it is in Europe. Still, in some fields it has become mandatory. Make sure you are photographed wearing suitable business garb. Your picture should be cropped and in the majority of cases be a headshot only. A *jpg or *png extension file looks much nicer than a *gif.
3. State your objective. A one sentence statement outlining what sort of position you want is best.
4. Work experience. Okay, now for a quandary. Do you really want to list information about a company online? Instead of mentioning companies by name and listing specific service dates, why not consider substituting that information with common details such as: “Five Year Position as an Accountant for a Prestigious Big Four Accounting Firm in Chicago.” You can then follow that declaration with the usual “duties and accomplishments.”
5. Education. List all relevant information with or without dates. Any schooling that is related to the position you are seeking should elicit a mention.
6. References. Only list “furnished upon request.” Better yet: leave that statement out as it is a “given.”
7. Layout and Display. Your online copy should also feature: a border, an attractive background, an attractive font [Arial or Verdana], font size should be 12 pt., your name should be listed in bold, and hyperlinks must be active [especially for your email address].
Just as with a hard copy of a resume, your online adaptation will get a quick look over by a hiring specialist. What they see and read in the first ten to fifteen seconds will go far in deciding whether you are contacted or not. Upon contact, offer to send a complete copy of your resume to them which you can forward as an email attachment or within the body of an email message.
The key to a successful online resume is to list as much information about yourself without giving away intimate details. Things like your home address, phone number, and references should never be listed online; instead give interested parties enough information about what you can do for them to pique their interest to the point where they will want to contact you for additional details.
Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.
Tags: Aviation Employment Board, career, employment, job boards, job hunt, networking, resumes, workYour Resume Design vs. Content
There are two basic components to a resume. The first one is CONTENT. The second one is DESIGN. Both elements are critical in determining the success of the resume.
What does the design component consist of? Quite a few aspects of the resume fall into this category. Here are some for you to peruse:
- type and color of paper
- format
- layout within the format
- font(s) used
- white space
Determining the design your resume can contribute a great deal to the impact you make to prospective employers. A resume must not only contain the right words and qualifications, but it must be easy to read.
When a pile of resumes are first taken out of their envelopes, the process of making a first impression begins. You can’t take a chance of being ruled out at any stage of the process, so your materials must be superior.
Do you know what your competitors are doing? If not, then you need to ensure you are doing everything possible to give yourself an advantage over them. Keep in mind that they could just as easily be reading the same information you are right now. How are you going to out-perform them?
You are going to ensure that each design component is outstanding!
The next component of the resume that you must strive to do well is the content portion. There is nothing of more important than speaking to a prospective employer’s needs. When you are able to communicate your achievements and abilities in a positive way, then you have a good chance of getting a call for an interview.
That means you must tailor the content to each employer’s specific needs for the position you are seeking. It is not difficult, but you will need to put some thought into it.
Think of it this way. We know very well that salespeople use our names whenever possible to make a sale. They know what people like to hear their names used. It’s personal and it adds a touch of authenticity to the salesperson. Why? Because they took the time to find out about us and then put it to use.
The same holds true for prospective employers. When you take the time to find out about them and then use that information in your “marketing materials“, you have a better chance of succeeding.
A hiring manager will know immediately if your resume is being mass marketed to dozens of organizations. If you are not making an effort to speak the language of each company you send your resume to, you will not find success in the job-search process.
It is a relatively easy process, but you have to put some time into the research aspect. It will pay off, though, when you get an interview!
Best of luck!
Carla Vaughan
http://www.professional-resume-example.com
Carla Vaughan is the owner of http://www.Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.
You can also visit her Professional Resume blog at: http://professional-resumes.blogspot.com/
Tags: career, components, content, design, employer, employment, job, outline, resume, resumes, sections, successOne Section at a Time Writing Your Resume
Your resume can be an awesome success.
It takes time and effort, though, if it is to win the approval of hiring managers (who ask you for a face to face meeting). Common sense would tell any person in the job-search process that writing an excellent resume is essential. But not everyone is willing to make the effort. There are several reasons for this, but for the purpose of this article, the focus is going to be on people who have never written a resume before.
Perhaps this is you:
Sometimes, it seems as though the task is simply too daunting. With no experience writing a resume before, you are fearful that the process will be very involved and time-consuming. Is it possible you simply don’t feel up to the task?
That is very understandable. There are ways to overcome your concerns, though. Think through each section of the resume and work on each one individually. Try not to think of the whole piece of paper. Just worry about one section at a time.
Writing a resume, like most things, seems more complicated than it is. Once you get into the rhythm of writing and reviewing your past accomplishments, it becomes a much easier task. There isn’t a steep learning curve involved such as in statistics, physics or writing a best-selling novel. It is simply a matter of taking it one step at a time.
Yes, of course you could hire someone to write your resume for you, but guess what? You still have to take the same amount of time to think through all of your past employers, your educational background, your objective and so on. You spend money and still have to do a huge amount of the thinking.
People who work for resume writing services are not in the habit of reading minds.
You would still need to write down all of the information that would have to be in your resume anyway. The only time you save is in deciding what goes where and which keywords best emphasize your abilities and achievements.
There are several sections to each resume. Take some time to learn what goes in each section and you will already be well on your way. Here is a list of the resume sections:
- Heading/Contact Information
- Objective
- Education
- Work Experience
- Honors/Activities/Achievements/Publications
- Other Sections
You can find more information about each section by clicking on this link: The Resume Outline. There is a page devoted to each section. The descriptions provide clear and concise explanations of each area and what each one entails.
The best person to write your resume is YOU! Take the time to write it yourself and you will be better off in several ways.
First, it will be just one more thing you have conquered in your life (and don’t ever discount the importance of such victories).
Second, you will have something that you can build on from this point on. You will not need to hire someone every time you want to make changes.
Third, and most important, you will be much better prepared when it comes time to interview. By taking the time to go through this process yourself, you will have the confidence it takes to answer the questions interviewers ask - because you will know the topic inside and out.
Go show ‘em what you’ve got!
Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster
When you are finished creating your resume, follow this link:
Resume Do’s and Don’ts. You can compare your resume to this list to make sure you have everything right.
Carla Vaughan is the owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process.
Tags: accomplishments, build, career, create, employment, interview, job, resume, sections, write, writingWhy is It so Important to List Accomplishments on Resumes
Your accomplishments are what distinguish you from your competitors in the job-search process. All things being equal, if a hiring manager were looking at two identical prospective employees who could handle the tasks of the job perfectly well, but one had accomplished more than the other, who do you think is going to get a phone call? Obviously, the person who accomplishes the most “wins”.
What exactly IS an accomplishment?
An accomplishment is when you do something successfully. If you make a positive difference at work, you are accomplishing something. From an employer’s standpoint, it is even better if you can state your achievements in a measurable or quantifiable way.
What does that mean? Use numbers whenever you can to state HOW you achieved the results you are affirming. Being able to quantify your skills and abilities makes other people perceive you in a very positive way. Why? Quantified accomplishments mean RESULTS.
Employers are all about results. Employers are all about the bottom line.
For instance, if you increased production of the best selling product at your company, by HOW MUCH did you increase it? 15% 20% 25% Quantify your statements whenever possible. Numbers SHOW results.
Remember being in kindergarten? Wasn’t it great when you could bring something to school for SHOW AND TELL? Lesson #1: It’s awesome to be able to bring something that no one else has. You get more recognition. Lesson #2: If you show your classmates something, it has significantly more meaning than if you tell them something. They literally have something to grab a hold of.
In your resume, you have to show the employer why you are the best person for the job. SHOW the employer that you have something to offer that no one else does. You have to be credible. You should never lie. You can, however, make yourself look better than your competitors. Use descriptive active language to engage the employer when reading your resume. Make your words jump off the page and grab the reader’s attention.
At the same time, you have to guide the employer through your resume clearly and eloquently so that only one conclusion can be reached: YOU are the best candidate for the job. if you simply state your previous job title and the duties you performed, you are not helping them to SEE who you really are. You’re just telling them. Quantify your accomplishments and let them see just what you can do for them.
Let your accomplishments sing your praises for you. When writing your resume, let yourself shine through the job duties in a way that resonates with employers. Show results by quantifying your accomplishments.
You will be the one getting the phone call for an interview - and isn’t that what it’s all about?
Carla Vaughan
http://www.professional-resume-example.com/accomplishments.html
Carla Vaughan is the owner of http://www.Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored a book titled, “The Do-It-Yourself Resume Kit” soon to be available on her site. Resume blog:
http://professional-resumes.blogspot.com/
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