The vast majority of career advisers express the importance of customizing your resume for each new job you apply for. But for many of us, the first question is “How do we make our resume stand out?”
It’s easy to get lazy when you’re working with a resume you know so well. So here are some ways to take a fresh look at revising your resume.
Always study the Job Post’s Wording
This is an easy way to ensure your resume gets you to the front of the queue for an interview. Base your resume around the language in the job post. Look for ways to use the words in the job post; remember a resume reader — human or software — may be screening for them. (If there isn’t a job post description available, check the company’s Web site, especially the About Us page and any corporate mission statements, for language you might adopt.)
So for example if your resume says “supervise,” but the job post says “manage,” change your resume accordingly. If your last job title was “Social Media Manager,” and you’re applying for a “Social Media Marketing Specialist” position, include the term “Marketing Specialist” in parentheses after your title (as long as you feel that this term could describe your past role).
Make sure you keep to the truth. Don’t stretch it!
Remove any ‘white lies’
It’s so very easy for little white lies to make their way into your resume. Maybe a few years ago you added a fictitious certification to your resume, just to help you get an interview at a new company. Or you said you were competent in a software program you figured you could learn if needed.
Then, each time you reviewed and modified your resume, those temporary white lies became set in stone. Now’s the time to send them packing! Any resume white lie, even a seemingly inconsequential one, can put your job search and your future job security in jeopardy.
All those lies now need to be replaced with. It could be as simple as putting the word “pursuing” before that imaginary certification on your resume.
Get Rid of Superfluous Information
Don’t waste your time telling hiring managers what they already know. Lots of people do this in their descriptions of past jobs. For example, if your last job was as a copywriter for an online bathroom retailer, saying something along the lines of “wrote marketing copy for a wide variety of bathrooms” is a waste of time. So don’t fill your resume with superfluous information no one needs, describe specific achievements which link to the job description. Think about your work, did it improve sales or get praise from management? Try to use your job highlights, not job descriptions.
Drop the Unnecessary Resume ‘Stories’
Remove items from your resume that are not directly related to the story you’re telling about yourself and the job you’re applying for. I’m sure we are all interesting as human beings, but employers just want to know if we’re right for their company and the job in question.
For instance, if you’re both a professional accountant and a certified lion tamer, you might want to play down your lion taming experience when you apply for jobs in finance.
Look for Ways to Use Exciting Language
Look at the verbs you use in your resume. Ensure you use strong verbs to make your resume more vibrant and interesting for the reader. For example, “responsible for daily bank deposits” (no verb) could easily be “oversaw daily bank deposits” (strong verb). And as you find each verb, look at its subject and ask “Is it you?” If not, should it be? For instance, in “duties included writing press releases,” the subject is “duties.” It would be much better to say something like “Wrote all company press releases.”
Take a Look at Your Resume Upside-Down
This is a good tip as it will help you analyze your resume’s appearance separately from its content. Take a good look and ask yourself “Does it look too dense?” Is it top heavy?
“Sometimes a resume will catch my eye simply because it’s formatted beautifully,” says the co-author of Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job. “I know the most important component is the content on the page, but you should also pay attention to the packaging. Trust me, hiring managers notice.”
Write a Draft in a Different Format
In his book The Overnight Resume: The Fastest Way to Your Next Job, career expert Donald Asher suggests writing a letter to a family member about your job accomplishments as a way to rethink your resume. (Go ahead, brag a little.) Then he suggests turning this into a resume draft by removing most personal pronouns (“I” and “we”), taking out articles (“a,” “an” and “the”) and cutting transition words like “and” (unless doing so would distort meaning).
Thinking of your resume as a letter or a story (in which you’re the hero), or some other medium, is a great way to start making it fresher, more personal and more effective.
Today, the economic climate is tough and competition for jobs is almost saturated. That is why it is important to understand the proper way to write a resume and to consider all the strategies that work!
Below are 5 resume tips that hiring manages believe are the proper way to write a resume
1. Understand the company you are applying to.
Research the company fully before you even begin to write or update your resume. This will give you a distinct edge, especially if you win an interview. Knowledge of the company will illustrate you are serious about working for them and give the managers a greater reason to interview you. Once you have enough information, certain key words should stand out. These key words can be used in your resume to illustrate your skills and accomplishments.
2. Use the industry language.
Understanding the industry language shows the prospective employer that you know what you’re talking about. Don’t over do it, but make sure you are familiar with the key terminology. All will also give you confidence too.
More and more resumes are now being scanned by employers (It’s quicker than reading through 100’s of similar resumes). If you post your online, possible employers may look for candidates who use specific key words in their resume. If you have them, you could find yourself getting that call for an interview!
3.Tailor your resume to each job.
If you are applying to a number of different positions, then make sure your resume is tailored and targeted to each position. Resume software can certainly help you with this.
Also mentioning the job or company in your resume shows you have taken time to focus on them and this will give you an advantage, especially if you have tailored your resume to the needs of the employer.
4. Make important information stand out.
Hiring managers are quite happy for important information that you want them to see highlighted. This is a useful strategy, as your resume is likely to be scan read so highlighting important information will grab their attention. You might want to highlight it by either bold facing it, underlining it, or italicizing it, thereby increasing the odds that the reader sees it.
5 .Tailor your resume to the job and salary you want.
Never downplay yourself. Usually it’s not intentional, but it is very common to see someone (especially younger, more inexperienced workers) say something like this: “Seeking an Entry Level Position in Marketing.”
Statement such as these tell the employer that the applicant is only worth about $7 per hour (or less), even if the position is slated to pay $18 per hour. It can also suggest the applicant is 1) inexperienced, 2) not confident, and 3) not qualified.
So, how do you word your summary statement or title at the top of the resume? Even if you are not terribly experienced or somewhat new to the job force, accentuate what great benefits you have that you’re offering the company! Don’t be afraid…
These tips on the proper way to write a resume should get you on the right track at least!
When you look at how to write a proper resume make sure you follow the advice below.
Make sure you spend time highlight your strengths that are most relevant to the potential employer. Then put your most strongest and relevant points first (use bullet points when writing. It is easier to read and allows the reder to scan too) where they have more chance to be read. Remember this is your bait for the reader and the rest of your resume reels them in.
Research job postings thoroughly online and in the newspapers for positions that interest you. Each position will normally have a brief outline about the company and the job on offer. Use the keywords listed in these ads, and match them to the bullet points in your resume. There’s a fair chance that you have some of these as key points already, however if you have missed any, add them to your resume.
Make sure your resume reflects a positive attitude. To do this leave out any negatives or irrelevant points. If you think your graduation date will leave you open to age discrimination, don’t put it in your resume. If you do some duties in your current job that aren’t relevant to you application, don’t include them. Focus on the duties that do support your application.
Remember you need to tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Learning how to do a proper resume takes time and effort, but if you use the above points your efforts will be rewarded.
Build A Resume – 3 Quick Tips!
Posted on: June 9, 2009
To start to build a resume, determine your objectives (do this before you write the resume). State the sort of a job you want and know what skill-set and experience you need to do well in that job. Once you have determined your objectives, prioritize the content of your resume to suit those objectives. To get the interest of the hiring manager, you will only have a small window of time so brevity and focus is essential.
Even though your resume is basically a marketing tool, it shouldn’t read like one. Try not to over-use industry jargon, be factual, concise and state compelling results. Don’t go into detail about every accomplishment in your resume but companies are looking for more than just training and education today… they are looking for a proven track record.
Remember: the interview is the place to expand on your accomplishments and evaluate work-style cultural cues. Not the resume.
1. Use Bulleted Sentences
When you begin to build a resume use bullets with short sentences to structure the body of your resume. The main selling points of your resume need to be clear and quick to scan. Don’t worry about the specifics; you will go into the details during the interview stage.
2. Use Action Words
Action words make your resume stand out. So use words like, prepared, managed, developed, championed, monitored, and presented. Don’t over use the same verb over and over. If your resume is scanned electronically, the computer will pick up on the words. Some companies now scan in your resume and have computers pull those that meet certain criteria. The computers are looking for one thing – the keywords that have been picked by the hiring manager. These are action keywords that relate to the position so not including them or using shortened acronyms could mean your resume is disregarded as a “non-match”.
3. Use Facts & Figures
When you build a resume, use dollar totals, numbers, and percentages. Theses stand out in the body of a resume and hiring managers like to see them in the resume. Look at the examples below.
Example 1
Bad: Account manager for building company. Good: Managed 15 strategic accounts billing in excess of $10 million annually.
Example 2
Bad: Sold chip sets to clients located in the Midwest. Good: Increased sales by 17 percent in a five-state territory.
When you build a resume the above will make your it stand out. Bear in mind the use of relevant keywords, especially if your resume is likely to be scanned.
Learning how to write a good resume will give you that competitive edge. Are you struggling creating a good resume that will highlight your skills and accomplishments to give you that competitive edge in the job market?
Remember, there is no right or wrong way when creating a good resume, but make sure the finished article is clear, well organized, professionally presented, concise and fits the requirements of the position you’re aiming for.
This article looks at some of the main points to consider if you want to learn how to write a good resume and get it to the top of the pile.
Before you begin creating a good resume, take step back and prepare properly. Grab a note pad and list down all the things you have achieved that are relevant to the job you are after. This can include achievements such as cost savings, improvements, outcomes and advancements your skills made possible. If your applying for a variety of jobs positions with different companies, each application will need a tailored resume. Your resumes will need to be customized, highlighting skills and experience relevant to the job descriptions.
Be economical with your work history and remember it is best to only list your most current positions you have held. It is also worth noting that employers prefer candidates who have been in their current position for more than three years. If your employment history consists of lots of short-term work, then use the functional format.
Resumes can take a variety of formats, so make sure the format you use best illustrates your skills and accomplishments. Try and keep your resume to one page and present it on white paper. Hiring managers like things they are familiar with, so don’t send in a wacky resume or one with differing fonts. If you are setting out on a new career path, add an objective, otherwise a summary will do.
Learning how to write a good resume takes time and effort, so learning how to re-write, edit and proof read the finished article is important. Get into the habit of asking a friend or family member to read your resume before you send it. Basic errors such as poor spelling, bad grammar and punctuation are common. Errors are easy to change if your resume is thoroughly checked. Even if you have edited and proofed your resume, still get someone else to read and review it.
Building A Resume The Easy Way
Posted on: June 6, 2009
Can you believe that most submitted resumes don’t make the grade? So when building a resume, make sure you don’t make the same mistakes as the vast majority of resume writers. Many resumes are rejected for making glaring mistakes which are fairly basic, but catch people out just about all of the time. This is the opinion of employers who spend time reading through 1000’s of resumes every day.
Research has show there are 3 key areas that should addressed if you want to be in with a chance of getting the job of your dreams.
The most important point is don’t one resume for every job you apply for. It’s amazing how many people bash out the same resume to different employers looking for different attributes from applicants. You really have no chance of getting through the door with this approach and you’ll look ridiculous too. Remember, hiring managers read through 100’s of resumes at a time and can easily detect a bog standard resume in seconds. You guessed it, in the trash it goes.
Look to tailor your resume every time you send it to a prospective employer and ensure it fits the job you are applying for. Hiring managers constantly complain that most resumes come across as generic with no consideration about a particular position or company.
So make sure you customize your resume before applying for a new job position. Building a resume properly will ensure you bring out the details of your experience that are most relevant to each opportunity and company you apply to.
Always keep your resume interesting. Write in bullet points and clear concise language that gets across all the relevant information quickly. One hiring employer stated that if they snooze you lose and your resume will end up in the trash!
When considering building a resume, keep away from jargon as this makes resumes hard to understand and boring to read. Most resume readers will not understand jargon and vague terminology, so if they can’t see what they’re looking for almost immediately, there’s a good chance you resume will be rejected.
To help make sure your resume is not boring to read or full of jargon read it aloud to 2 or 3 friends and get their honest opinions. If they look bored then they probably are and so will the hiring manager when they come to read it. Revise your resume until it holds the listeners attention.
Of course, building a resume and getting your dream job is not just about the above, but if you can eliminate these mistakes, you should be in there with a go
It’s very important in today’s volatile job market to understand that creating a good resume is vital to win that prized job interview. Hiring managers receive many 100’s of resumes for every job they advertise in the press. Can they possibly find the time to read and assess all of them? Probably not! Because of the vast amount of resumes they have to get through, it’s a well known fact that most hiring managers give each resume only a 20 to 30 second scan before they either trash it or continue reading.
Do you want all your hard work and time to pass the 20 – 30 second test and make it to the top of the pile? O course you do!
It’s important to understanding before you can begin creating a good resume, you will have to tailor your resume to each job advert you are applying for. This is a key ingredient for success. To allow you to do this, a certain amount quality research will have to be undertaken to find out what the prospective employer is looking for in their search to fill the advertised position. When they scan a resume, what the hiring managers are looking for are those key skills and accomplishments that will encourage them to continue reading. If they don’t find them quickly, your resume crashes and burns and doesn’t go any further.
The ideal place to start is the job advert itself, as most recruiting companies will outline in their advert what they want to see from the applicant in terms of skills, accomplishments and experience. For example, if you are looking at a graduate type of position, there is a fair bet the prospective employer will expect you to be skilled in a wide variety of analytical skills.
You will need to write down your skills and accomplishments and match them to the graduate skills required. If there is a suitable match (It’s best to have at least an 80% match between what the prospective employer wants and what you can offer) then you are in a position to begin creating a good resume for this job application. If not, don’t waste your time by creating a good resume for this post, as it will be unlikely to reach the required standards. Move on to another position that’s a better match for your skills etc.
Researching the post you are applying for is clearly important if you are creating a good resume to blow the competition away!
If you’re not sure how to do a resume , then folow this great advice -The Princeton Review asked 50 hiring professionals what they were looking for in a resume, and they offered the following tips: Make sure it is easy to read, well organized, professionally presented, concise, results-oriented and tailored to the requirements of the job being sought.
Here are some additional suggestions:
Make sure you prepare – Look to draw up a list accomplishments that you have achieved over the past 12 months. Record the outcomes and show improvements, possible costsvings and successes your efforts made possible.
Customize – Make sure you customize your resume for each job application you make. Your skills and experience will need to match that of the job description.
Format – Use a conventional format. Nothing wacky or over the top! If you’re not sure how to do a resume, especially the layout, the recommended format features work history, including skills, work experience (include accomplishments), education and professional certification. You can also put a career objective at the start of your resume if you feel it is beneficial.
Accuracy – Anything you put in your resume will be confirmed. Any errors will lead your resume to be dismissed. Make sure you check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Ask someone to proof read your resume for you before you send it off.
Work History – Only note the most current positions you’ve held. Any gaps on your work history will need to be documented and explained.
Understanding how to do a resume properly is critical to your future employment success. A professionally written resume is a crucial element in the job search process, which should not be overlooked.
Apostrophes
Apostrophes have two uses:
1. Apostrophes show you that some letters have been taken out of a word to shorten it.
Do not becomes don’t.
I will becomes I’ll.
Could have becomes could’ve.
The apostrophe goes where the letters have been removed. You use apostrophes this way in informal writing. You should not shorten words when you are writing formal letters.
NOTE – sometimes words are shortened in an irregular way. The apostrophe, however, is still used to show where letters are missing. E.G: Will not becomes won’t.
2. Apostrophes show you that something belongs to something else. To show belonging you add ‘s. The cat’s tail – says that the tail belongs to the cat.
The car’s lights – says that the lights belong to the car.
Tony’s hair – says that the hair belongs to Tony.
Usually the apostrophe goes before the s. If the owner already ends in s then the apostrophe goes after the s that is already there. You just need to add an apostrophe.
Eg: The dogs’ bowls – says that the bowls belong to some dogs.
The boys’ coats – says that the coats belong to some boys.
The cars’ wheels – says that the wheels belong to some cars.
Watch out for plurals that don’t end in s. Words like men and children don’t end in s, but they are talking about lots of people. These words use ‘s to show possession.
E.G: The men’s hats – says that the hats belong to the men.
The women’s house – says that the house belongs to the women.
How To Write Resume 