Write A Great Resume: 10 Strategies That Work
Learning to write an effective resume is a life skill most people cannot afford to ignore.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for most professionals is about 4 years. For employees between the ages of 25 and 34, the median tenure is only 2.9 years.
Since most of us will change jobs a number of times in our career, we need to become proficient at selling ourselves and writing an effective resume.
Consider this: According to Career Builders? Resume 2007 survey, on average, hiring managers receive 50 resumes for each and every job opening. Due to the sheer number of applicants, many managers skim and sort the resumes into ?no go,? ?maybe,? and ?looks promising? piles.
Only resumes that are well-organized, easy-to-read, and specifically targeted to the position survive the cut.
Assuming a candidate has the relevant job experience, professional resume writers know what it takes to keep resumes in the ?maybe? or ?looks promising? piles. Here are the ten strategies resume professionals use ? and you can too.
1. Resumes that make a good first impression emphasize specific accomplishments. Did you increase sales by 40%? Manage a team that introduced a profitable new product? Create and implement a money or time-saving process? Use specific examples to highlight your accomplishments.
2. Just as you would highlight your strongest points in an interview, do so in your resume. To catch the hiring manager?s attention, put your strongest achievements and qualifications at the top of your resume in a special highlights section.
3. Translate skills and prior job experience into benefits for the prospective employer. Example:
Job Description:
Responsible for buying ladies? accessories and jewelry.
Better Job Description:
Introduced line of ladies? accessories that increased department sales by 31%.
Negotiated exclusive contact with sought-after ladies? jewelry vendor that increased department sales by 28%.
4. Include only relevant job experience. If your resume is padded, most hiring managers will assume you aren?t qualified for the job.
5. Don?t try to be all things to all people. What are your top 3 skills? Focus on those.
6. Read the job description carefully. Note the keywords and use them to focus your resume. Example: If the job title is A/R, A/P Manager, don?t describe yourself as a bookkeeper.
7. Use an eye-catching, easy-to-read format. Include headings, bold print and bullets. Search online for free, downloadable, user-friendly resume templates.
8. Write a different resume for each job skill/position. Resumes are definitely not one-size-fits-all. Make sure both your cover letter and resume focus on the skill set highlighted in the job description.
9. To paraphrase JFK ? tell not what the company can do for you; tell what you can do for the company.
10. Finally, proof and double-proof your resume. Given the competition, just one or two typos may eliminate a candidate from consideration.
We?ve all heard it before: ?You only get one chance to make a first impression.? If you use the ten strategies outlined above, one chance is all you?ll need. Write a great resume and feel confident in your job search. Good luck!
Dede Perkins writes on a number of subjects for a number of industries. She also runs a copywriting business, http://www.afewgoodwords.com and helps her clients increase sales by clarifying and communicating their marketing messages.
Related Articles:
Job Interview - Tips to Ensure a Successful Interview Process
After sending a resume to a prospective employer, you may be called for your first of probably two or three interviews The initial interview is critical because that is when the employer will likely decide whether to hire you and how you might fit with the company
Resume Expert Launches New Online Resource and Resume Building Tools for Job Seekers
Resume and job search industry veteran, Carl Bascom, has launched a new resume writing and job search resource website at http://www.resumewinners.com Resume resources include a resume workbook series called the "You're Hired" Series.
Attention To Detail - Your Job Employment Interview Cover Letter
Preparing a cover letter for a resume that you will send out by email or perhaps fax can be a daunting or indeed difficult task What rules, procedures and advice are best given and followed
How To Write A Resume Using Your Resume to Secure Your Dream Job
Most of us have the misconception that our curriculum vitae or resume is just a simple document that lists our educational/work background and contact information. However, if you really want to land the job of your dreams, you must learn how to write a resume professionally.
Job Interview Techniques 3 Super Tips When Preparing For A Job Interview
Many people get anxious when theyre preparing for a job interview. But theres nothing to be nervous about if youre confident in your abilities. As long as you apply the 3 job interview techniques and tips below, securing your dream job can be as easy as pie.
Resume Editing Tips That Get the Job Done
When youýre looking for a new job, your resume is arguably the most important part of your application process Many job-seekers focus on interviewing skills, which are very important
Free Job Searching, Networking & Resume Tips for Job Seekers
Montgomery, Gray & Associates is a recognized authority on career transition for over 16 years. It has developed new and very successful job search, networking and resume strategies to accelerate the job search process and assist the job seeker to get in the doors for interviews.
Facelift for Resumes Offers Hope for Job Seekers, says Resume Writing Service
Professional Pixie Dust from Resume Writing Service Can Help You Land a Job
Resume Tips For Career Fairs And Online Job Banks
If you?re all set to attend a career fair ? or are looking to post your resume on an online job bank ? and are concerned about how to create a resume for companies you have yet to meet, you are not alone
Fortunately, there are ways to create great resumes capable of catching the eyes of potential recruiters no matter what venue you?re working with
10 Resume writing tips to land you your dream job
Imagine yourself sitting in an employer's desk with hundreds of resumes falling in on your desk against a vacancy declared by you in your company. Number of vacancy - 1, and number of applicants - innumerable. As an employer it is your responsibility to select the most deserving, suitable and competent candidate. So it is up to the candidate to snatch the employer's attention out of those hundreds of resume application. As such, writing a resume is all about knowing what employers specifically look for in an applicant's application. So, never make the mistake of underestimating the importance of a "good and eye-catching resume".
Be Ready And Prepared For The Job Employment Telephone Screening Interview
In a quest to save money, time and travel costs some firms and employment service agencies are now adopting ?Telephone Job Screening Interviews? as a more and more standard and accepted job employment screening technique If you expect to be interviewed by phone, prepare by getting a member of your ?network? to ?role-play? the interviewer
Get That Job: Mastering Job Interviews
I've heard it said..
Finding Casino Jobs - Las Vegas Casino Employment Tips
Conducting a casino job search is very similar to conducting any other type of job search The first thing you need to do is determine what kind of work you are looking for and where you would like to work
Resume Tips For Those Lacking Job Experience
Are you looking to acquire your first job in many years ? or your first job ever ? and have heard that without experience you have no chance of finding employment Well rest assured that this couldn?t be more wrong
How to Make A Resume - Resume-Writing Tips To Attain Your Dream Job
Would you like to make the best impression on your prospective employers concerning your competence and how you would be suited for the job you are applying for?