Creating a Resume from Scratch
Are you creating a resume from scratch? Writing a resume is not that hard, but it does take a little time. Competition for jobs is fierce and you have to present your credentials in the most favorable light, so spend the time it takes to create an excellent resume. It will serve you well now and in the future when you need to add to it.
Employers want to read resumes that are professional, reflect your qualifications in a positive, energetic way and focus on the position you are seeking. The easier you make it for the employer, the more likely you will be called for an interview.
Everything about your resume is focused on the employer, not you. Yes, that seems backwards, but it’s true. Even though it is your skills and accomplishments that are on the resume, they are there to show the employer that you can meet all the requirements of the job in which you are interested.
Now, it’s time to focus attention on the resume itself. Think of the sections included in a typical resume. There is the heading, objective, education, experience and “other” sections. Each one needs to be written professionally and with attention to the employer’s needs.
Section 1: the heading. This is the easiest section to write. Make note of your current address, phone number and email address. If you are still in school, list both your home address and your school address.
Section 2: the objective. What do you want to do in your first or next job? Write down your goals and career plans. When you write the objective for your resume, remember that you are to focus on the employer’s needs, not your own. Show the employer what you intend to do for them.
Section 3: education. Make note of the school, city and state where you attended, the dates you attended, the courses you studied and your GPA if it was good.
Section 4: work experience. Think about what you have done in the past which could potentially influence an employer to want to hire you. If you are writing your first resume, include anything you have done for volunteer organizations, churches and school organizations, too. Remember, the focus is on accomplishments and skills, not always former employers. After you have done this, highlight anything that complements your career goals or the job you are seeking. If it is not directly related, then don’t use it.
Section 5: other. This could include: awards, honors, publications, activities and other such items. Use this section to emphasize your achievements, team sports and anything else that the employer might be impressed to learn about you.
You will need to select an appropriate format and the three most recognized are: Chronological, Functional and Combination. Tailor the information in your resume to the format that best suits your needs.
Once you have a working copy of your resume, proofread it and check for grammar errors, typos and other possible resume mistakes. The fastest way to get your resume thrown into the garbage can is to have misspelled words and/or typos on it. Revise your resume as much as necessary to ensure it is error-free.
Now you can see that writing a resume is not that hard. Yes, it does take a little time, but it is worth it when you are working in a great job doing something you enjoy doing.
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 outline, resume writing, writing a resumeIs 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 writingDoes Your Resume Have Any Personality
Sure, you have plenty of personality, but are you able to convey that in your resume?
Take a look at your resume and read it through like a professional hiring manager would. Is it interesting? Is it boring? Would you fall asleep if you had to read your own resume at 10:00 p.m. at night (like some human resource professionals have to do)?
Creating a resume that gets read from top to bottom is not easy. To do so means you have to interject active, vibrant language throughout your resume. That doesn’t mean you need to use a lot of jargon or slang; quite the contrary. Flowery speech will get your resume tossed out. Words that show enthusiasm, confidence, responsibility and accomplishments are what will keep a reader glued to your resume.
Let your personality show through your resume and your cover letter. So many resumes are dull and lifeless. No wonder they’re so painful to read sometimes. Let the prospective employer know that you enjoy your line of work and that you feel great about going to work each day. (If that isn’t the case, you probably need to evaluate the possibility of a career change).
Your resume has to be professional, but it does not have to be boring. Add some interest by changing out a few words here and there. Show some energy and excitement about your chosen career field. By doing so, you will let the employer know that you want the job and that, by inference, you’ll work hard and be successful.
After all, happy employees are productive employees. If you like what you do, you’ll probably do a much better job than someone who hates it, right?
So, show your personality in your resume. Make it interesting. The employer will thank you.
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, make a resume, making a resume, professional resume, resume, 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 resumeCV Resume NFR Test - Is your Job Application Prepared
CV Writing and Resume Writing demands a lot of though and planning each time you find yourself acting searching for a new post. Are you actively searching for a new post?, you may have put together a great CV or Resume using many sample CV’s or sample Resume help and formats.
But it is worth understanding that CV or Resume Writing takes much more nowadays.
In the recruitment /HR industry, there is something that subconsciously goes through the mind of every Recruiter or Employer every time they have to go through a bulk of application to find the best candidates to shortlist.
That subconscious Test is called the NFR Test- The “Necessitate Further Reading” Test. More often than not CV and Resume can take hours to go through, with so many other job duties to deliver and very little time, Employers and Recruiters find themselves spending 10-20 seconds scanning through a CV or Resume to find key skills to suit a job criteria.
Each and every time when this happens unintentionally the NFR Test is applied.
To make sure your CV or Resume passes the dreaded NFR test in your job hunting efforts feel free to review and Implement the following 7 core Tips:
(1) Make sure Your CV or Resume is targeted and written for a specific vacancy always.
(2) Try and ensure the layout of your CV or Resume is clear, extremely easy to read and follow.
(3) Use bullet points to enforce core strong relevant skills and make sure they are up front and easy to find.
(4) Do not let your CV or Resume be clowned with gaps, unclear information missing dates, too many fonts, and the like.
(5) List most Relevant information first. Let the first and Second Pages of your CV / Resume always be the strongest and most relevant.
(6) Consider how you word and display your past Job Titles - Are they similar or do they reflect, the Job Titles/functions you are now pursuing? the closer they are the stronger the chances for your CV or Resume.
(7) Let your CV or Resume portrait the fact that you belong to a specific Job Industry, such applications always warrant a further read, as suppose to a CV or Resume that has experience in 6 industries in only a very short space of time.
Upper Class CV Writing & Resume Writing Ltd. - Ola Philip King is a professional CV Writing & Resume Writing Consultant and Recruiter she has helped many job seekers secure their dream post across diverse job sectors through her CV /Resume Writing Services and Recruitment activities. Free advice and Personal Assessments are available through her CV Writing & Resume Writing Services.
Tags: Curriculum Vitae Writing, cv writing, How to write a cv, resume writing, sample resumeCV Writing & Resume Writing - 9 Strong Qualities To Boost Your Success By A Staggering 50%
CV Writing and Resume Writing is a serious part of starting the Job hunting process. In today’s competitive job market, were every candidate wants a recruiter or employer to give their CV or Resume the attention it deserves, if you want your application to be taken seriously and you want your CV / Resume to be separated from the bulk feel free to consider and include the following 9 qualities in your CV or Resume.
Your chances of securing interviews is likely to increase by up to 50% if you skilfully articulate these points However only include these qualities if you genuinely have them.
Industry Targeted/Job Specific Qualifications or Training -Recruiters and employers absolutely love this, candidate that do not require extra training and already has a catalogue of relevant job specific qualifications always stand out.
Evidence of adding to the bottom line of a company or business - If you can prove this and it is clear in your career track record, you will stand out.
Prove that you have always met and exceeded your job targets - If this is clearly show and outlined, you will be a winner in the job hunting market.
Figures, Figures, Figures! - Have you made money for past employers or companies, have you sold products or services, won contract or tenders, state this clearly on your CV particularly if you are in a sales, marketing, retail, real-estate or similar sectors. Stating Figures explicitly can make you stand out above the rest.
Industry Awards and Prizes for work achievement - Listing these (if you have any), always goes a long way in proving you are different, dedicated and special!
Staff Management Abilities - Skills and expertise related to dealing with people, this includes any experience of training, interviewing, company presentations, coaching, work delegation, appraisals etc. If you have these skills, summarise and list them for maximum results.
International, National or Local exposure - If you are going for a local Job in a particular area, a previous track record of working in that same area always appeals to Employers and Recruiters. Similarly if you have international exposure in a specific job market, for example the building and construction industry, this looks good too, Mention such valuable information and stand out.
Consistence Track history with fewer employers - Stable Job Seekers that have worked in a company for a years, always get their CV or Resume noticed - if this can be said of you (you have stayed in one firm for 6-10 years or similar), then bring this to the for front of your application, Recruiters and Employers favour such candidates.
Accuracy and relevancy to job post advertised - This is critical, if you have all or even some of the above criteria, do not forget to reflect your experience and abilities in line with the post you are pursuing, all these qualities can make you an immediate winner.
However l must admit, from experience l know it takes skills and someone with a recruitment HR background to skilfully assess job seekers expertise and help them put together the ultimate industry CV /Resume to secure interviews. If you fall into this category its worth getting your CV / Resume professionally written by an expert who knows how to help you.
Upper Class CV Writing & Resume Writing Ltd. - Ola Philip King is a professional CV Writing & Resume Writing Consultant and Recruiter she has helped many job seekers secure their dream post across diverse job sectors through her CV /Resume Writing Services and Recruitment activities. Free advice and Personal Assessments are available through her CV Writing & Resume Writing Services.
Tags: curriculum vitae, cv writing, how to write a resume, resume services, resume writingBefore 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.
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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
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Qualified Candidates - Poorly Written Resumes
ARE YOU JEOPARDIZING YOUR CAREER POTENTIAL?
You’ve sent your resume to dozens of potential employers yet you haven’t heard back from any of them. You were certain that your detailed work history would attract many bites - what went wrong?
The most likely cause of your predicament is a poorly constructed resume that reads more like a dull obituary than an attention-grabbing advertisement selling your skills and talent. Many potential employers are turned off by resumes that resemble carbon copies of Joe Schmo’s and will pitch these offenders into the trash bin.
10 STEPS TO A COMPELLING RESUME
Resurrecting your resume is not a lost cause; you can create an attention-grabbing resume that advertises your unique skills and experience in a professional manner.
As a qualified job seeker, you owe it to your career success to give serious attention to the first impression you make.
1. Create a career objective that is relevant to the position to which you are applying. You may have to create several versions of your resume if you are applying for different positions.
2. Summarize - don’t provide a word-by-word description - of your work experience. Make sure it includes any achievements and accomplishments you obtained.
3. Don’t leave out relevant coursework or projects. Many job seekers overlook these details, but they can add diversity and spice.
4. Similar to step #3 - include relevant school, occupational, and professional activities.
5. Use action words such as - accomplished, coordinated, and formulated - to describe your experience and skills. This type of wording keeps your resume interesting and compelling.
6. Try to keep the resume to one page. You never know, the potential employer may have attention-deficit disorder and become frustrated with a lengthy resume.
7. Use high quality resume paper that is white or cream in color. Black ink plays nicely off these colors by providing a nice contrast.
8. Exclude any reference to religious activities or affiliations because they are usually not relevant or helpful in getting that interview.
9. Make sure you have distinctive breaks between sections. This is visually pleasing and it makes the content easier to read by the prospective employer.
10. Highlight, highlight, and highlight your distinct talents throughout the resume. Don’t fall into the trap of regurgitating your old job descriptions. Make the resume your personal calling card.
STIMULATING RESUMES MATTER
Using the steps above will enable you to create a resume that stands out from the competition in a spirited job market. It is important that you also evaluate your unique needs and select a resume format that best represents your talents - be it a chronological, functional, or combination format. A resume is your first, or last, contact with a potential employer - make it your best.
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