Follow these quick and easy tips to build yourself a better resume in under 10 minutes flat.
* Use strong, action oriented language that describes specific skills or accomplishments.
Go through your resume from top to bottom and eliminate weak language. Don't write "Was in charge of large graphic design department that increased company revenues" when you can say "Managed 12 graphic artists in major creative projects that increased revenues by over 3 million last year."
Whenever possible, eliminate all forms of the verb "to be" (is, are, was, am and so on), as demonstrated in the previous example. Instead, replace them with strong action words that paint a compelling picture.
* Add bullets.
Bullets are a great way to transform lists that would otherwise make tedious reading in paragraph form, or that would benefit by a cleaner layout. They make the job of reading your resume more pleasant for the reader. A perfect candidate for bullets is a list of accomplishments related to a single job. For example, "Postmaster, 1998 -2003" followed by 3 or 4 major accomplishments in bullet form.
* Write a specific, concise job description.
If the job you really want is "Director of Human Resources at a Fortune 1000 company," say so. Don't write "Middle management position at a large or mid-size company" or something equally vague. That covers a lot of territory. You need to help the company with the exact job you're looking for find you. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes. Would you call a candidate for an interview in the hopes that she is a good match, or would you call the person whose job description specifically indicates she wants the job?
* Don't include every single position you've ever held.
Your resume is a document designed to land you an interview, followed by a job offer. There will be times when omitting a position - especially if it has no relevance to the position you are seeking, may be in your best interest. This is easy to do where omitting short term positions or special projects conducted as part of an ongoing job assignment will not create an obvious "hole" in your background that you will need to explain.
(There are ways to avoid making an employer suspicious of resume rough spots, like gaps in experience or experience that lacks relevance to the position you are seeking. A professional resume writer can offer you specific advice on ways to do so, considering your unique background.)
* Spell check.
When you're finished improving your resume, run a final spell check. Your word processor's spell checker probably won't contain all the acronyms and specialized industry jargon that your resume likely contains. In that case, take the time to manually check each flagged item to make sure your resume is spelling error-free.
Follow these five easy tips for a better resume, fast!
Copywriter and consultant Vincent Czaplyski is founder of www.impressive-resumes.com, your online source for professionally written "industrial strength" resumes and cover letters guaranteed to land you an interview.
Copyright 2005 by Vincent Czaplyski, all rights reserved.
You may republish this article in its entirety, as long as you include the complete signature file above without modification.
Copywriter and consultant Vincent Czaplyski is founder of http://www.impressive-resumes.com, your online source for professionally written "industrial strength" resumes and cover letters guaranteed to land you an interview.
I'm the type of person that considers a healthy, enjoyable... Read More
Chances are you already have many ideas about what it... Read More
Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you... Read More
Why Do You Want This Job? Is it because any... Read More
Despite how important fair pay is to most of us,... Read More
Core value investing in your careerMany people walk through their... Read More
(DES MOINES, Iowa ? January 26, 2005) The fateful final... Read More
Is your current or most recent job truly what you... Read More
Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a... Read More
Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can... Read More
Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent... Read More
Sophisticated job seekers know and understand that sometime during the... Read More
Whether you are a person who is thinking about becoming... Read More
Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?Is everything... Read More
Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high... Read More
As an employer I receive many job applications each week.... Read More
May I clarify in this article what I believe to... Read More
If you are working for someone else, it is important... Read More
Planning and preparing before you begin to send out resumes... Read More
Have you been desperately looking for a job and keep... Read More
Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For... Read More
Is there a company in your area that you'd love... Read More
America may be the Land of Opportunity, but this is... Read More
The expense was substantial. An immersion workshop with twelve participants... Read More
Many people, under financial or other pressures to find work... Read More
Starting a new job can feel like moving to a... Read More
Your breath catches in your throat - at last, an... Read More
I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when... Read More
Negotiating a pay rise is not something many people do... Read More
In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More
For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any... Read More
Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening... Read More
More than four out of ten thirtysomething professionals want to... Read More
The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was... Read More
You have worked hard at finding your next job. You... Read More
Many young adults flock to bars, lounges and clubs on... Read More
Have you been desperately looking for a job and keep... Read More
You're pretty comfortable using the phone. It's something you do... Read More
Sometimes the freelance writing jobs available are those that no... Read More
Have you ever been on a date where you had... Read More
If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in... Read More
Sophisticated job seekers know and understand that sometime during the... Read More
Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you... Read More
In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More
If you've been in a job search for more than... Read More
The champagne corks have been popping to celebrate your promotion.... Read More
Figure out what you want to do.You can't write an... Read More
Use these interview tips for job hunting success!It's a tough... Read More
I've watched a few episodes of Nanny 911 and with... Read More
The successful job search is really just a personal marketing... Read More
I am in my mid-thirties, and, as you can imagine,... Read More
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More
Interviewing for a new job, or a promotion, can be... Read More
She was waiting for me when I returned from a... Read More
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, March 2004 had... Read More
Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting.... Read More
Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More
Whether you are an accountant, virtual assistant, or a corporate... Read More
Getting a job is not just about your performance in... Read More
Tips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV)... Read More
Your personal appearance is a critical component of that all-important... Read More
It's no secret that there is a lot of competition... Read More
Interning is about more than earning money during summer break.... Read More
For the person crafting their first résumé the task can... Read More
Nowadays we can expect to survive the second half of... Read More
You need to be the best you can at describing... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |