Book Loving nerd that I am, I spend a lot of time in book stores and my favorite online book stores perusing different subjects and categories. While my ‘me time’ literature is mostly the stuff of fantasy and science fiction, occasionally I meander over to self help sections and the ‘how to’ sections to see what’s there. After all, maybe I need help and haven’t realized it!
As a professional resume writer, staying ‘on top’ of the industry is paramount; and while most of my research is through the internet, colleagues and other sources, I decided to see what book publishers thought about the matter of resume writing. Perhaps I should write a book, because the six shelves of books in the store blew my mind away. No wonder my clients are so confused when they call me!
So, in a thinly veiled altruistic manner, I’m going to help you write your resume.
What is the purpose of a resume?
The SOLE purpose of your resume is to get an interview- NOT get you a job. Your interview skills will do that, but before the Hiring Manager even shakes your hand, you have to get through the door. And the resume is your key.
You have less than 20 seconds!
If the person reading your resume can’t tell what you do in less than 20 seconds, you will not be called! You need the KISS method- KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID! This old time sales technique works even better on resumes than on vacuum cleaners! Tell them what they need to know in a concise manner, and SHOW them; don’t TELL them you are the right person for the job!
And your objective is?
It better not be anything. An objective tells the hiring manager what YOU want. To be perfectly honest, they don’t CARE what you want- they care about THEIR needs, and what you can do for them! Everyone wants a ‘challenging position in a stable organization with opportunities for advancement.’ Turn off the light, will you? I’m taking a nap now… and if you lead your resume with an objective statement, the hiring manager will drop your resume in the trash can before passing out on their desk! Modern resumes contain a professional statement, career summary- or other lead section to that effect that shows them what you can do in a dynamic manner! A few sentences and bullet points targeted to the position is all it takes for them to know you are THE person for the job!
And the rest of the story…
For most careers and industries, your employment history should be formatted as follows:
JOB TITLE, COMPANY, LOCATION, DATES
DESCRIPTION
The dates should be to the far right of the page.
Your job description should capture your accomplishments in the position. Begin your statements with action verbs (do we need to replay the schoolhouse Rocks Verb episode for you?) Here’s a refresher- verbs ending in ‘ing’ or ‘ed’. Communicated, drafted, managed, coordinated, scheduled… have the idea now? And in resumes, for consistency everything should be in past tense. Yes, even if you are still doing it. Okay, technically, you could put everything in present tense, but that would just look strange. So stick to past tense!
I went to school!
Terrific, but do you realize how many of my clients don’t include that information on their resumes? So please, put it on there! Your highest degree should be first. You worked hard for your MBA in Finance, show it off! Generally your degree should go first, but if your school is more prestigious or well known than your degree field, put it first. After all, Harvard and Notre Dame are well known and admired schools!
I Like Reading, Shopping, and Long walks on the Beach
HR professionals don’t care. Unless the job you are applying for involves reading a book while strolling down a beachfront shopping center, don’t include it! For any volunteer or personal information, if it doesn’t directly relate to the position or field, do not include it! And whatever you do, never include any activity involving religion or politics. Unless you are in the religious or political field! But for most of you… LEAVE IT OFF!
Are you lost yet?
For most people, writing a resume is not easy. It is hard work, especially if you do not do it everyday! Sometimes, it is better to hand it over to the professionals! How do you know who to hire?
Choose an experienced online resume service that has great resume samples, excellent credentials, and communicates with you to answer any of your questions via phone or by email within a few hours. Don’t let the fact they are in another state bother you, as long as you feel comfortable with their communication and work. Working by email and telephone is a convenience that you should embrace. The main thing to consider is their ability to write a strong resume for you and the price. Be wary of any resume writer charging less than $100. They most likely are using software to ‘write’ your resume, and don’t even look at it other than a cursory proofread. And large agencies charging hundreds of dollars does not mean anything either. Many independent professional resume writers who charge between $100-$200 for a resume also work for these large firms. Same writer, same service, lower price! No need to pay the middle man!
www.Fishbowlresume.com offers affordable, custom written resumes with free revisions. With over 20 years combined experience as a Human Resources Director and Full Time Resume Writer, they will work with you to create an attention getting resume that results in more interviews!
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