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
Get The Job! Improving Your Resume in 4 Easy Steps
Your resume is the key ingredients in your find-a-job soup. A resume can make or break your chances for an interview, so take steps to make sure your resume is top notch and points out your qualifications for the position. Here are a few resume tips to help you find your dream job.
1. State your objective.
If you don’t state an objective a sentence that states what position or role you are looking to fill, quite frankly the potential employer won’t know what you want without a clear cut objective. Once you determine your objective, you can tailor you resume based on your skills as they pertain to the company’s needs.
2. The employer’s needs come first.
Remember that you need to cater to the needs of the position, not vice versa. Therefore, your resume should reflect that you have the ability to adapt to what the company is looking for.
3. Find the perfect resume style.
A resume is not a one style fits all document, so make sure you adjust your resume to the style that world make your qualifications stand out the most. Whether it is chronological, functional, or a combination of both, your resume should be suited to it’s content.
4. Proofread.
Don’t rely on a spell checker to correct your resume. The spell checker can determine spelling errors in words it recognizes, but depending solely on it can get your resume thrown away. You don’t want to gamble on having a typographical errors or misspelled name, so keep a dictionary nearby and have someone else read over it before you submit it. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.
Tags: application, interview, job, job hunting, objective, resumeCV Lies and Fake Resumes
CV lies are apparently quite widespread. Some surveys suggest that as many as two thirds of all CVs and resumes contain CV lies because getting a new job can be highly stressful and some people feel the need to enhance their achievements and so present themselves in the most favourable, albeit dishonest, light.
In my experience as a Career Coach and Recruiter, I have seen people pushed into the deception of CV lies and fake Resumes in the mistaken belief that because everyone else seems to be doing it, it is OK.
It is not OK. You may get away with CV lies temporarily, but in a short while it becomes more than just CV lies, you end up living a lie and will probably get found out anyway. You may think it is worthwhile, as one inexperienced draughtsman told me, because you gain some extra experience before you are found out. Repeat often enough and you suddenly become qualified. I don’t think so!!
Every job-seeker must face the challenge of presenting their CV with qualifications and past experience as positively as possible. But where do harmless exaggerations end and CV lies begin? It is a difficult question to answer and the best answer is to be honest at all times. If you consult a professional CV writer or career coach, you will find that their skilled use of relevant vocabulary to describe your real attributes, is far better than telling CV lies. And it’s something you CAN live with.
Before you prepare your CV you should undertake a full skills audit by considering every aspect of your job; what you actually do to complete your tasks and how you manage yourself and maybe others while you do your job.
By analysing your skills fully you equip yourself and avoid any need to tell CV lies; remember if you have done it - “it ain’t bragging”. All the better still if you can use well chosen words to clearly describe the actions and results of your involvement.
So the best advice is not to lie to future employers with the potential embarrassment of being found out. At worst, it can cost you the job. Under the terms of your contract of employment, prospective employees are required to tell the truth. Many application forms require you to sign as a testament of having told the truth.
When you submit your CV, and a job offer is made on the basis of information contained in it, which the employer believes to be correct, then the employer is legally entitled to withdraw the job offer if they discover subsequently that your CV contains false information. CV lies are just not worth it.
Peter Fisher is an expert Author and Publisher of Your CV Coach Check here to see how you can avoid CV Lies and Fake Resumes
Tags: attributes, competence, cv lies, fake resumes, interview, skillsThe ONLY Purpose Of A Resume
The only reason you must create a knock-’em-dead resume is to get a job interview.
That’s it. Nothing fancy. If you don’t get an interview, your resume failed you. Specifically, if you don’t get an interview for each job you’re targeting seriously, your resume failed you.
So why is it important to create a resume? Because you won’t get an interview without a resume. It’s not the only thing you need (a laser-focused cover letter is most important), but you don’t even get in the door without one.
You have to understand how movers and shakers think. They want a solid team of key players. They don’t want to waste time on folks that “might” be good, one day, if given enough help. They usually don’t want diamonds in the rough. They’d prefer to nice shiny, extremely valuable ones, preferably for cheap.
When somebody opens the envelope with your cover letter and resume in it, he will
- Study your cover letter to see if you’re already a key player who understands his needs
- Glance at your resume to see if the raw material is there behind the cover letter highlights
- Decide to call you in for an interview or not
If there’s no resume behind the killer cover letter, the process short-circuits at step 2. Obviously, step 3 is the one you want to get to, but now the bridge is out!
Even though your resume isn’t the main attraction, you have to have one, and it has to prove you’re the best candidate for the job. It’s just how the game is played.
Copyright (c) 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: interview, job interview, resumeThe Dreaded One-Page Resume Rule
You’ve probably heard it since you were in college, writing your first resume:
“A resume should be only one page.”
Nope. Wrong. Dead wrong.
Having said that, the one-page rule IS a good rule of thumb for most resumes. But once you’ve been working for a couple years or more, one page simply isn’t enough to market yourself effectively. That’s what your resume is supposed to be about.
If you’re straight out of college and don’t have lots of experience yet, stick to a page. If you’re an experienced executive, one page is a joke. It’s time for a new rule:
“Make your resume long enough to cover everything, but short enough to be interesting.”
This is a general rule for writing (it’s called The Miniskirt Principle, actually), but it’s particularly important for resumes. And here’s a rule of thumb to go along with it:
“Limit yourself to two pages…unless you can’t.”
For most people, even executives, I recommend you do your best to fit the goods on two pages. You might not be able to. Trying to, though, forces you to be as concise as you possibly can without sacrificing marketing effectiveness.
That resume austerity plan is based on simple resume economics. When it comes to resumes, each word costs something, and your budget is low. The people who look at your resume probably have to look at LOTS of them. If yours is too long, it costs too much time. So keep it as short as you can.
There’s one exception. If limiting yourself to two pages will hurt your chances of getting an interview, add another page. But I’d be EXTREMELY wary of going beyond three pages.
Maybe there are some 70-year-old super-candidates that require more space than that, but very few. If you can’t present a compelling picture of the targeted highlights of your career in three pages, you’ve moved beyond the targeted highlights.
The one-page rule is bunk, but I recommend following the two-page rule strictly.
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: interview, resumeThe Purpose of a Resume To Win an Interview
Your resume must be better than anything your competitors have to offer if you are going to get an interview. A well-written resume generates phone calls. Those phone calls are from prospective employers who want to interview you for a job. If you are not getting phone calls and you are sending out resumes, then you need to take a closer look at your resume.
Any resume can list employment dates and job position titles, but only the best resumes speak the language employers want to hear.
THE LANGUANGE OF RESULTS
If you just list the job duties you performed and hope the prospective employer makes the leap that you are a good employee, you are probably going to be in for a big surprise. You see, they don’t have time to read your job responsibilities and then ponder how you managed to accomplish all that you did. Hiring managers simply do not have that kind of time. They are scanning a resume for the words that show results.
MAKE IT EASY FOR EMPLOYERS.
You have to show them that you are a cut above the rest of the crowd by providing concrete examples of your successes. Do the thinking for the employer and give them what they are looking for.
First, use action-oriented keywords that reflect your ability to solve problems, take initiative, are performance-driven and goal-based.
Second, quantify your statements with numbers that define your desire to affect the bottom line. Give examples of how you saved the company money or time (relates to money) or how you earned money for the company. Numbers have meaning and are easy to latch on to. Employers love to read quantifiable statements (that are truthful) as it paints a picture that SHOWS what you accomplished rather than the dubious joy of your words telling them what you did.
Resumes can work FOR you or they can work AGAINST you. When you list the information employers want to see, then you will have a great deal of success. You will be one of the ones to get a coveted phone call for an interview. If you don’t take the time to prepare a resume in a way that grabs a hiring manager’s attention, it is actually working against you.
Take the time to write an excellent resume. It may take a little longer to think of the right words to use, but in the end, when you are enjoying the benefits of an excellent career, you will be SO GLAD you did.
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 a book titled, “The Do-It-Yourself Resume Kit” soon to be available on her site.
Tags: employer, employment, example, hiring, interview, job, quantify, results, resume, resumes, searchOne 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/
Turn Your Lame Resume into a Blockbuster!
How important is a good resume . . . really?
Well, look at it this way. Often it’s the very first contact you have with a prospective employer. It could be the passport to your next job. It’s the gateway to your future. It can ramp up your job search!
And it better be a Blockbuster!
Why? Because you get only one chance at an employer. So you better make it your absolutely best shot!
For example, we know from studies that the average employer spends about 50 seconds scanning it. If you look like an exciting candidate and your capabilities pop off the page you may get a second, more thorough reading . . . and an interview.
But, if it is flat, uninteresting, too long, unfocused, or boring . . . well, you just lost.
You have to be head and shoulders over the competition. Your document has to stand out from the rest of the crowd. If it doesn’t, you’ll get eaten alive by the competition.
So, what’s the answer?
The secret to an extraordinary resume is the amazing marketing techniques perfected in the “bio-action” style.
A “bio-action” approach markets you as a high-value, exclusive product . . . just like a prized sports car or a fine watch.
That means your resume becomes a fabulous advertisement using the very latest promotional techniques:
* Bold, attention-grabbing headlines
* Persuasive summary testimony
* Easy-to-read, visually-attractive text
* Clear, concise promotional language
* Highlighting benefits you bring to the table
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the ability to step back and take a realistic look at ourselves. Or project ourselves in proven promotional ways.
That’s where professional service comes in . . . one that’s been writing award-winning resumes for thousands worldwide since 1985. You’ll get better quality interviews and land jobs faster by incorporating amazing “bio-action” techniques.
Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world class leader in alternative job search strategies and non-traditional career advancement since 1985. Check out THE WORLD’S FASTEST JOB SEARCH SYSTEM! Grab EEI’s stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!” http://www.fastest-job-search.com
Tags: career, employment, interview, job search, jobs, resumeWriting Your Technical Writing Resume A Practical Guide
If anyone in the entire universe ought to have a perfect resume, it’s a technical writer. Tech writers are supposed to be expert writers and fanatically obsessed with technical accuracy and relevance. Does this describe your resume?
A tech writing manager we know developed a 30-column spreadsheet to assess technical writing candidates. Three of the criteria are about resumes. Let’s talk about them:
Accurate and organized - as a document, a sample of your writing, is your resume scrupulously accurate, down to the smallest details, and organized in a clear and logical way? Is the writing really good, so that it grabs the reader’s attention without relying on empty buzzwords? Did you format it so that it looks clean and neat? Remember that tech writing managers know how to look behind the scenes into your document - they can run spell checks, view nonprinting characters, and even see whether you wrote it on your home computer or at the office.
Error-free - is your resume absolutely, without the smallest exception, free of typos, errors of fact, misspellings, and any other error that will proclaim to the reader, “I’m not as careful about checking things as I’d like you to think”?
Proper tool use - Did you format your document using spaces and extra carriage returns? Or were you able to use styles and other features of your authoring tool effectively and efficiently, as a mark of a pro? Does your document contain evident use of advanced tool expertise, such as macros or protection, to show that you really know how to get the most out of the tool?
Note that these are in addition to content. If the content of your resume shows no experience or aptitude for technical writing, never mind the above. The days when anyone who could open a Word file could get hired as a tech writer are, thankfully, gone.
Now, a word about content: remember that your resume is your initial sales opportunity. So sell! Keeping in mind all of the above - including the scrupulously accurate part - make your words show what you can do, based on what you have done. “Updated a manual using Frame” doesn’t tell a hiring manager much at all.
Why not instead say what you did to overcome the challenges of that project to deliver your updates on time, on budget, to user acclaim, or whatever scrupulously accurate measures of success you can legitimately claim? Remember that the hiring manager, and even more so the HR person who does the initial resume screening, may have no idea what Frame is. So don’t focus on the tools.
Mention tools in their proper context, but focus on what you got done. Show measurable achievements where you can. Show that you understand the business or scientific context in which you worked. There’s nothing more valuable, because this is a good indicator that you will understand a new business or scientific context if you get hired.
For more information and resources, see Tech Writing Jobs, from which this article is adapted. Reprinting is permitted provided that no changes are made to the article or to this bio.
Steve Schwarzman is a technical writing consultant with over 15 years of experience. Among the web sites he writes for are Tech Writing Jobs - a site devoted to tech writers and job searches, and Writers Book Mall, a site with resources for writers of all kinds.
Tags: advice, career, careers, hiring, hr, interview, job, jobs, resume, resumes, tech, technical, Tips, work, writerNext Page »