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 writingCreating an Excellent Resume Ten Tips You Must Know
You have to create an excellent resume if you want to get a great job. There are so many job candidates vying for the same position that you want. You have to ensure your credentials are presented to employers in a way that reveals your ability to at least meet their expectations - and hopefully even exceed them.
Review these awesome resume tips and make sure your resume is the hiring manager’s dream resume.
Resume Tips:
- Do not think simply in terms of duties and responsibilities. You must also demonstrate accomplishments from your job history.
- Choose items from your work experience that show the employer that you can do the job you are applying for. If your work experience is limited, include volunteer work, school jobs, offices you have held and extracurricular activities where you were especially successful.
- Be consistent in your use of tense-specific statements (i.e. prepared, designed, and created).
- You want a resume that is bold and stands out, but not so much that it makes the hiring manager wary. You want to use active language to show the employer that you are achievement-oriented.
- Avoid being wordy.
- The length of your resume is important. Resumes should be no more than 2 pages long. Hiring managers do not have the time to spend reading anything longer than that.
- The overall appearance of your resume is also important. Keep everything aligned neatly and allow some room for white space. A hiring manager has to read a lot of resumes and their eyes get tired, too.
- Do not use wild colors, cute graphics, or odd colored paper. Nothing will rule you out faster than not adhering to the norms of resume writing.
- Use high-quality paper. Make sure the paper you use for your cover letter is the same paper you use for your resume.
- Proofread everything, even your contact information.
If you want a hiring manager to take more than 30 seconds to review your resume, you have to be willing to put in enough time creating it to make it a worthwhile read. When you follow the resume tips listed above, you will stand a much better chance of creating a resume that gets read from top to bottom. More importantly, you are more likely to get a call for an interview.
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, professional resume, resume keywords, 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 resumeBefore You Write an Effective Resume
The resume is the professional YOU on paper. It is not just your work history. Is not a story that tells how did you spent your last 2 or 5 or 15 years.
Now the employers are more selective and so are the employees. The average time your resume is read by the hiring manager or supervisor is around 30 to 45 seconds. Imagine that he has around 30 to 200 resumes for a certain position. The employer will not interview 200 people for a job, that is why they have to select 10 people that seem right for that position.
First let’s go through what is a hiring manager looking when he is looking at your resume:
- Do you have the skills required by the job?
- Do you have experience in performing similar tasks?
- Do you have what it takes to fit the role of the position?
- Do you have the ambition and the internal motivation to succeed?
- Have you succeeded before?
So, a employer is looking for people who already proved that they can be successful, they are looking for people who won’t offer them surprises after they land on the job.
So, before writing your resume you have to decide for what position application you will use it.
It is not ok to have a resume that looks like the room of a messy teenager, filled with all kind of jobs you did in your life. You need to know what kind of information you need in your resume.
And to know that, we must first decide for what position we will use the resume for.
After you know which is the required position, do some research over the internet to see which are the main qualities required for such a position. Of course that a store manager must be nice, have the ability to communicate with people and to be able to solve the conflicts.
A stock exchange broker must have the abilities to persuade and to have strong economic skills. He also has to be calm in extreme situations and also to have the ability to analyze information and to see the opportunities before others do.
So, let’s make a revision here.
To be able to write a resume we need to know:
1. The position we will apply for.
2. Which are the qualities required for such a position.
Once you have this info you can begin your resume.
================================
About the author:
OG is always looking for things and ideas to make his life better.
He works as an electrical engineer and is also an active online entrepreneur and investor.
In his personal Blogofog you can find tips and ideas on different topics from career management and finance to love and geting the best out of our lives.
http://www.blogofog.com
————————————————————————————–
Eight Essential Proofreading Secrets to Keep Your Resume Out of the Trash
Do you ever wonder why you did not hear back from an employer once you applied for a position? Is it possible that in your rush to get your resume sent, you made some errors that could have been avoided if you had taken time to proofread?
I estimate eight out of every 10 resumes that are submitted to me for review contain obvious errors. From a recruiter’s standpoint, those resumes immediately end up in the “no” pile. Follow the tips below and you just may find yourself one-step closer to gaining that interview.
1. Take a break between writing and proofreading.
Give your eyes a rest and let your information sit overnight. This will give you a fresh perspective on your work.
2. Print your resume.
When you print your resume, you will be able to determine if the formatting is consistent. You can also double check for potential capitalization and punctuation errors that may be less noticeable on your monitor.
3. Proofread more than once.
Each time you proofread your resume, look for something different. For instance, the first time you look at it, search for misspelled words. For the second review, look for grammatical foul ups.
4. Proofread aloud.
By reading your resume aloud, you will slow down and be more likely to catch errors you may not see when just looking. This will also give you a better idea of how the information flows from one section to another.
5. Take it apart.
Look at each word individually and not how they combine with the others. When you look at the document as a whole, your mind will naturally focus on what you meant to say, instead of what you actually typed. To stay focused, you can use two pieces of blank paper to cover everything except for the line you are reading.
6. Read it backwards.
By reading your resume backwards, you are forced to slow down and see each word individually.
7. Get help.
Ask someone else to proofread with you. An extra pair of eyes is always helpful when you are proofreading, especially if you have been working on it for a long time.
8. Avoid distractions.
Each time your proofreading efforts are interrupted, you are more prone to skip errors. If you are an e-mail addict, take your proofreading somewhere other than your desk to help keep those computer distractions from taking over.
Proofreading is an essential skill that should be used each time you apply for a position. If you take the time to carefully proofread your resume, your resume might just end up in an employee file, instead of the deep, dark depths of the trash can.
===============================
Jennifer Anthony is the Director of http://www.resumeasap.com/ offering professional and affordable resume writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional resume writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail at resumeasap@gmail.com.
** WEBMASTERS **
Feel free to use this article for content with no modifications and with full credit, leaving the hyperlinks functional. 
The 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 writerCan You Afford to Write Your Own Resume
Why would someone pay a professional resume writer to write their resume when they have a computer, can use resume templates, and can find resume samples online and in books to get ideas on setting up and composing their own resume?
The answer lies in what type of position they are targeting and their level of resume writing skills. Whether basic or complex, a resume must be attractive, focused, and interesting to read. Failing to achieve these objectives means failing to make a good first impression. Many things need to be taken into consideration in order to accomplish these goals. Here are five things to consider:
1. You must understand the technical aspects of resume development. This includes resume design (what fonts to use and spacing), use of industry specific key words, career synopsis and company profiles, appropriate resume style and formats (reverse chronological, functional and combination), and page length.
2. You must have good word processing skills!
3. You must understand what the hiring manager is looking for and what you’ve done so you can make a match between their needs and your qualifications.
4. You must have grammatically correct, creative writing skills to communicate what you have done in the positions you have held using a reasonable amount of detail.
5. You must avoid wasting the reader’s time by listing too much irrelevant information or going back too far if the position does not warrant it.
Some positions such as waitress, car wash attendant, and cashier might not require a resume. If they do, it would be a general resume with a traditional objective statement and chronological listing of jobs held with a sentence or two under each to indicate responsibilities, along with job-specific skills, and education. In a word: simple. However, sometimes a resume needs to be strategically developed to emphasize the value you offer a company, especially if the position is very competitive and you need to stand out from the rest of the potential candidates.
Often, a job seeker finds himself or herself in a pickle because they have held many different positions over the years and do not know how to keep the resume focused for a particular position. Maybe you are returning to the workplace after raising your children and are concerned the gap will put you at a disadvantage. Maybe you are just starting out in your career and do not think you have enough to offer a company. Or, maybe you are ready for a career change and do not know how to create a presentation that will position you for a new field.
If you have done your homework (which we believe you have since you are reading this article!), you know that a resume is often referred to as a “marketing tool.” No different than a commercial advertisement, your resume needs to entice the reader to buy the product (you) by grabbing their attention, listing the product’s benefits (your qualifications), and compel the reader to make a move - in this case, to invite you to an interview. As you know, time is money. The more time that passes after sending your resume out, the more money you lose if it is not generating responses. If you cannot afford to be out of work for several months, you should make the decision to have your resume professionally prepared. Here is a quick quiz to help you put things into perspective:
Client A: wanted to save money, so she prepared her own resume. She faxed and mailed her resume to over 50 companies over a period of six weeks, but nothing happened. While she kept her fingers crossed, she depleted half of her savings. She eventually landed an interview in the seventh week through someone she knew.
Client B: understood that having her resume professionally developed was a good investment. Without one, she knew she could not launch her career in the right direction. She faxed and mailed her professionally prepared resume out to ten companies over a two-week period. By the end of week two, she landed a great interview that resulted in a fabulous job.
Quick Quiz: who came out financially ahead in the long run?
If you answered the job seeker that invested wisely in consulting with a professional resume writer, you are 100% correct! So, in summary, the question is not whether or not you can afford to write your own resume. The question is whether or not you can afford not to have it done properly.
Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her role as former Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers‘ Association and published contributor to over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes of New York at http://www.e-bestresumes.com
Tags: resume service, resume tips, resume writingHow 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.
====PURPOSE OF A RESUME
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
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 don s, resume donts, resume sample, resume tipsNext Page »