Is Your Resume Too Long
The length of your resume is less important than its substance. If your resume is properly worded, you can inject it with your accomplishments, expertise, skills and talents without having to wear out the reader with an abundance of unnecessary words.
What you write on your resume is more important than how long it is. Write what matters. Hit the employer between the eyes with your effective use of language. Convey your qualifications in vibrant prose so the reader cannot help but want to read more.
How long should your resume be? The length of your resume should be in direct proportion to your success in reaching your career goals and in pursuing related educational objectives. What does that mean?
Well, it means:
- Show your accomplishments
- Target your resume to the job and the company
- Don’t pad your resume
- Be honest
- Use action keywords
- Only list what applies to the position you are seeking
- Never use two words when one will do
- Add enough white space to allow natural breaks in reading
- Do not list references
Most experts suggest you keep your resume to two pages. If you can fit your skills and accomplishments on one page, that is even better. If you are a professional or executive, three pages may be required to tell the whole story, but be sure you are using only what best supports your career goals.
Write your resume in such a way that the reader knows exactly what you want and your credentials support that goal. Anything more becomes tedious and takes away from the impact of your true purpose. Anything less and your goal become unsubstantiated by your past experience and education.
The goal of the resume is to get the interest of the prospective employer to the extent that you are sought out for an interview. Whatever the length of your resume is, make sure that you are including the information that the employer needs in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to bring you in for an interview.
Remember that an employer doesn’t have a great deal of time to devote to reading resumes, so make it easy and include what matters most in your resume. This is a time to show off, ok?
Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com
Carla 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.
For more information about writing Professional Resumes, follow this link to: Resume Examples
Tags: make a resume, resume, resume advice, resume keywords, resume length, resume tips, resume writingResume Tips for Human Resource Assistants - What You Need to Know
If you are wanting to break into the field of Human Resources, you will most likely have to start at an entry-level position and work your way up. A Human Resource Assistant is a position that does not require a great deal of experience. Since the main focus of the job is maintaining records, there are many possible ways to gain this experience without having to be directly employed in an HR position.
For the purpose of this article, the resume tips listed below will help in writing a resume that provides prospective employers with the information they need to make a good decision about whether or not you will fit in with their organization.
In short: You will learn how to create a resume that employers WANT to read.
If you want to impress prospective employers, you have to make the most of your credentials. Here are some excellent tips for creating a resume that sells your skills and accomplishments to employers.
Human Resource Assistant Resume Tips:
1. Make sure you are include the main sections within your resume. Typically, they are: Heading, Objective, Education, Experience, Activities/Awards and References. Employers like to know where to find the information they are seeking. Choose a common resume format, such as: Chronological or Functional.
2. If you do not have much work experience, consider listing volunteer work and/or school-related experiences, such as laying out copy for a yearbook, tracking equipment for a sports team, creating programs for school event or something similar. Anything that might be considered a task associated with the work environment is fine to use on your resume.
3. Accomplishments are probably the most important things you can list on a resume. This is true regardless of how old you are or how much experience you have. The reason is that accomplishments show that you worked hard, were involved and got things done.
4. Proofread everything until you are certain that your resume contains no mistakes. Also, have someone else read your resume in an effort to ensure it is error-free. Typos and grammar errors are the first things an employer looks for when weeding out the good resumes from the bad ones.
These resume tips will not guarantee that you get a job immediately, but they will make it more likely that an employer will read your resume. That is the first step toward getting a call for an interview.
A resume is the one tool that can help you realize your future employment dreams. It does not matter if your first job is working for an automobile dealership or at a printing company. A good resume will lead you toward job success.
If you want to find a great job, do what it takes to ensure you are looked at more favorably than your competitors. Lead the crowd by using the resume tips listed above and make your career as fantastic as possible. You deserve the best, right?
Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com
Carla 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.
For more information about writing Professional Resumes, follow this link to: Resume Examples
Tags: creating a resume, hr, human resource assistant, resume, resume advice, resume tips, resume writingThe Four R’s of Resume Writing
If you want to get a prospective employer’s attention, you need to write a resume with the Four R’s of Resume Writing in mind. These tips will help you create a resume that conveys the appropriate information to an employer in a way that shows confidence and enthusiasm.
Remember that you are competing against a lot of other job candidates, so take the time to create an excellent resume and you will already have an easier time of landing that perfect job.
The Four R’s of Resume Writing are:
- Relate - Relate your skills in your resume to the position you are seeking. This is often called targeting your resume. An employer is less concerned about your job title and more concerned about what you did while you were on the job.
- Research - Research the company so that you can relate your skills in a meaningful way. If the company has been headed in one direction and is undergoing a shift in marketing, management or mission, then you need to be aware of this and create your resume to reflect the current company direction.
- Refresh - Refresh any tired old language with vibrant, energetic action words. This will attract the attention of the employer and make a much better impression.
- Read - Read your resume as many times as necessary to ensure there are no typos, grammar errors or spelling issues. You may only get one shot at a particular job, so make sure everything the employer sees is top notch.
If you want to get a great job, you have to have a great resume. Keep these resume writing tips in mind as you work on your resume.
Carla Vaughan, Owner/Webmaster Professional-Resume-Example.com
Carla 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.
For more information about writing Professional Resumes, follow this link to: Resume Examples
Tags: get a great job, great resume, resume, resume advice, resume tips, resume writing, writing a resumeThe 5 Essential Telecommute Resume Components
1. An attractive layout that is easy to read and follow.
Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people. They are often reading hundreds of r
Tags: resume advice, resume help, resume sample, resume tips, resume writerHow to Write a Better Resume
====INTRODUCTION
There are as many opinions on the subject of resumes as there are job seekers! Some of the more popular opinions are centered on the use of objectives, summaries, profiles, title headings, keywords, reference statements, personal interests, salary history, dates, graphics, fonts, and of course, the length of the resume.
Then there is the question of format. Should the style of a resume be chronological, functional or combination? One thing is certain - the resume should sell a candidate’s strengths and qualifications, and answer a hiring manager’s question, “How can you solve my problem?” It should also have full contact information, be organized, and provide specific information that a hiring manager needs to decide whether or not a candidate is well suited for a position. At the very least, it should list relevant experience and achievements.
A resume is a personal marketing document that communicates your career objective and value to a hiring company. A strong resume is carefully planned and developed (not quickly typed up) in an appropriate format (style) designed to showcase your experience and accomplishments in direct relation to a specific position.
====BASIC RESUME FORMATTING RULES
* Bold and enlarge your name at the top.
* Keep the sections lined up and consistent.
* Use an Arial or Times New Roman font (or similar).
* Font size shouldn’t be smaller than 11pt or larger than 12pt, except for your Name and Headings.
* Do not include pronouns such as “I,” company street addresses, salary, or reasons for leaving..
* Two-page resume: be sure to fill the second page at least halfway down the page.
* Place “Continued” at the bottom of page one, and your name and “Page 2″ at the top of page two.
* Use graphics sparingly unless you are in a creative field. It is safe to use a border and shading.
* Leave out personal data, photos, and unrelated hobbies, unless you are an actor/actress or model.
* If you spell out the state in your address, such as New York, spell out the states for your jobs.
* Proof, proof, and proof again! .
To help you understand the main differences between various resume styles, the following illustrates the same resume in chronological, functional, and combination formats. Also provided below is a comprehensive list of common mistakes to avoid and useful tips to help your resume to compete in today’s competitive workplace:
>>>>PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Tags: resume advice, resume help, resume sample, resume tips, resume writerResume Do Nots Avoid Resume Mistakes To Get More Interviews
Here are some tips and considerations to avoid making resume mistakes that can cost you.
1. Don’t obsess about the length of your resume, focus on the content but do keep in mind that most people will get by with a 2 page resume. A third page should really only be used when absolutely necessary.
2. Don’t include personal information in your resume such as age, hobbies or things of that nature. The goal of your resume is to get an interview not a date. Keep it professional.
3. Don’t include any references to salary - your current salary or desired salary - in your resume.
4. Don’t use personal pronouns such as “I” or “Me” or “My” in your resume.
5. Don’t simultaneously email your resume to multiple recruiters or hiring managers in the same email. Send emails to individual contacts, one at a time, addressed to the specific person you are sending it to.
6. Don’t “forget” that you no longer work for a company. If you have left the company, don’t make it look on your resume like you are still working for the company. Include accurate start and end dates for each job you have held.
7. Don’t embellish (ie. lie) on your resume if you’re not prepared to have to explain yourself when you’re caught.
8. Don’t ask a recruiter to submit your resume for a job that you’ve already applied to yourself or through another recruiter.
9. Similarly, don’t keep sending your resume to the same company over and over again. Observe their rules: if they say that they keep resumes on file for 6 months, then believe them. You don’t need to send your resume every 2 weeks.
10. Don’t apply for jobs you have no chance getting. There is a difference between submitting your resume to a company for consideration should a relevant job arise, and submitting your resume for a specific advertised job that you are not suited for. Learn to tell the difference otherwise hiring managers will be hitting “delete” the moment your emails arrive.
11. Don’t list your references on your resume. They can be provided to the employer when the time comes. Plus, if you are using recruiters, they will most likely make a note of your references and contact them if they have a job that might suit them.
12. Don’t send additional materials when submitting your resume for a job. If you need to supply educational transcripts or other materials, you can supply them when asked.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who wants to help you find your dream career.
Visit Carl’s website to separate yourself from other job searchers: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com
Sign up for The Effective Career Planner, Carl’s free 5-day course: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/effective-career-planner.html
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Tags: resume advice, resume don s, resume donts, resume sample, resume tipsResume Dos Writing A Resume That Gets Interviews
Here are some tips and considerations when putting your resume together and as you continually update it.
1. Keep your resume up to date in case that perfect job comes along and you don’t have time to write your resume from scratch.
2. Ensure your resume has no spelling or grammatical errors. Typos can be an instant turnoff for hiring managers as they indicate a lack of attention to detail.
3. Include a short statement at the beginning of your resume stating your career objective and include a brief mention of what type of job you are looking for.
4. Structure your resume’s bullet points by describing a problem, the action, and the result whenever possible ie. improved an under achieving division by upskilling a group of employees and increasing their work output by 25%.
5. Tailor your resume for the specific job you are applying for. You don’t necessarily have to list a specific job title but at least tailor it to the job you are applying for.
6. Type your resume using fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman or another popular font that is virtually guaranteed to be viewable by the person you are sending your resume to. Using obscure fonts only increases the chance that your recipient might not have that font installed on their computer.
7. Print your resume on plain white paper or off-white paper. Don’t bother with the fancy paper.
8. Use action words in your resume bullet points that describe your job tasks rather than just listing your tasks. When describing your role, consider using words like managed, maintained, saved, directed, supervised, achieved, improved, etc.
9. Keep your resume focused on the job you are applying for. Having unrelated job functions and skills can quickly make a hiring manager believe you are unqualified for a job and cause them to stop reading your resume.
10. Clearly highlight the special skills and experience you have that the hiring manager is looking for.
11. Prioritize your skills and experience and ensure that the most important information is visible at the top of your resume not at the bottom. The person reading your resume might skim resumes and not make it past the first page.
12. Explain gaps in your resume if you were between jobs for a significant period of time ie. more than several months. If you were traveling, taking courses, on maternity leave, etc then state this in your resume along with the specific dates when this occurred.
13. Clearly show your educational achievements including the date you graduated. If you are one or two credits short, you don’t have a degree. Lying about your educational achievements is normally a very serious problem if you get caught.
14. Include “Mr.” or “Ms.” in front of your name on your resume if you have a first name that could be male or female ie. Mr. Robin Jones, Ms. Pat Jones.
15. “Protect” the exclusivity of your resume. Mass emailing your resume to recruiters and employers either through a resume distribution service or on your own is a low impact job search method unless you really believe putting your resume in front of thousands of people who don’t know you can somehow be effective. Plus, if you’re planning on using a recruiter to assist with your job search, they generally won’t work with you if your resume is plastered all over the Internet already.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who wants to help you find your dream career.
Visit Carl’s website to separate yourself from other job searchers: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com
Sign up for The Effective Career Planner, Carl’s free 5-day course: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/effective-career-planner.html
Please feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website but please don’t change any of the content and ensure that you include the above bio that shows my website URLs.
Tags: resume advice, resume dos, resume sample, resume tips, writing a resumeResume Format Problem Action Result
What resume format should you use when putting your job accomplishment bullet points together?
Specifically, how should you structure the text in your resume to get the best and biggest positive impact that will result in more interviews?
Hiring managers hire someone because they have a problem that they need solved. Therefore your resume needs to clearly illustrate your accomplishments, proof of the problems that you’ve solved.
When you are putting your resume together and are typing your bullet points describing each job you’ve held, remember that you’re not putting together a job description.
You need to type your bullet points to describe your accomplishments and achievements, not simply state what you did in that position.
A good way to accomplish this is to structure each point with the following format:
Problem, Action, Result.
Here it is explained in more detail:
Problem: Explain a problem or situation that arose in your job.
Action: Explain the action that you took to deal with and solve the problem or situation described above.
Result: Explain the result of the action you undertook to solve the problem or situation described above.
Specifically, let’s say you are a sales manager and you have a group of sales staff who aren’t meeting their sales quotas. You decide to retrain the staff in sales techniques to improve their sales skills and as a result profitability increased by 15%. Here is how you could structure the bullet point in your resume:
The problem you faced was underachieving sales staff, the action you took was to retrain the staff, and the result was an increase in profitability of 15%.
Doesn’t this sound better and more impactful than simply saying “Managed sales staff” or something similar to this?
Not only does the first example contain far more detail, it uses action verbs such as “upskilled” and uses specific numbers to describe the number of staff in question and the specific result of the action, an increase in profitability of 15%.
In short, your bullet points should include as much detail as possible and should use action verbs that explain not what just what you did in the job, but what you accomplished.
Hiring managers want to read about your accomplishments not simply a rehash of your job description.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who wants to help you find your dream career.
Free newsletter: Separate yourself from other job searchers by signing up for his free monthly newsletter: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/dream-career-finder.html
Free 5-day course: Sign up for The Effective Career Planner, Carl’s free 5-day course: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/effective-career-planner.html
Please feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website but please don’t change any of the content and ensure that you include the above bio that shows my website URLs.
Tags: how to make a resume, resume, resume advice, resume format, resume help, resume style, resume templateReviving Your Resume
A resume may not be who you are, but to a potential employer, it may be all they see of you and make or break your chance for your next interview. While many of us either spend long hours crafting the perfect resume (or pay someone else big bucks to do it for you) and may not want to mess with perfection, not updating your resume may cause more harm than good.
If you are currently in the job market, evaluate your resume, and whether it’s been six months or six years since you dusted it off, chances are you’ve acquired a new skill, shown leadership in an organization, or somehow improved since you last met with your resume.
Add in anything new that will aid you in your job search, and as much as it hurts, delete anything that is outdated or is no longer applicable or important for the types of positions you are applying for.
Some experts suggest, in fact having more of a bare bones resume that you tailor, along with your cover letter, to the individual position and company you are applying for.
Universal resume advice includes being clear and concise, use verbs (power and action words) to describe you and your achievements or job responsibilities, and work from the vantage point of the company — what you’ll bring onboard to them.
Another common problem with resumes is that they are not prioritized — drawing attention to the most important or relevant skills and job titles first. The person going through dozens of resume sis more likely to have his or her attention drawn to one that immediately illustrates the skills for the position.
By crafting a strong resume and updating it frequently, you’ll be more than ready when an opportunity arises.
Amy Finley is a freelance journalist for Pulse Media International. To learn more about crafting the perfect resume, read her article on the
Tags: job market, resume, resume advice