| 1. Review job description |
| 2. Focus your writing
efforts |
| 3. Choose the best resume
format |
| 4. Present the list
of your accomplishments |
| 5. Use keywords |
| 6. Consider a highlight
section |
| 7. Proof read your resume |
| 8. Have someone else
review your resume |
| |
|
|
| Review job
description |
It is often found that job seekers do not
read the job description. The result is a resume
that does not fit the recruiter's requirement neither
in skills nor in experience. Most recruiters do
not have the time or the patience to scan through
your resume. You will have to highlight the applicable
skills and experience you have, pertaining to the
job offered.
When a company does not offer a formal job description,
you could contact the hiring manager and find
what he is looking for in the position you are
interested in. In case that you cant reach
anyone, review the job listings with similar titles
for a group of core competencies. |
|
|
| Focus your writing
efforts |
| Be clear on what the employer is looking for
and what you have to offer before you begin writing your
resume. Write your answers to the question - what
would make someone the perfect candidate? |
|
|
| Choose the
best resume format |
You will have to make a choice between the
two basic styles of resumes. 1. Chronological
and 2. Functional.
A chronological resume organizes your work history
emphasizing experiences that precisely apply to
a particular position.
A functional resume is preferred when you have
little or no experience in an industry. It presents
your skills in categories that emphasize on
particular skills the job requires. For instance,
if the job description lays emphasis on strong
sales skills, dividing the resume into categories
such as "communication skills", "negotiation skills",
"persuasion skills" etc. could be considered. |
|
|
| Present the
list of your accomplishments |
| Most job seekers often fail to mention their
accomplishments, and the results of their accomplishments.
These details not only distinguish you from the
horde of others who seek the job, but also present
you a chance to negotiate your pay better. |
|
|
| Use keywords |
| If there are terms that show your competence
in a particular field, use them in your resume.
Marketing people might use "competitive analysis" while an software
professional could have "Java" or "ASP"
|
|
|
| Consider a
highlight section |
Recruiters and hiring managers seldom take
over a minute to read a resume. To make your minute
count, consider including a highlight section
at the top of your resume, directly below your
name, and, if you use one, your objective. Highlight
sections mainly benefit job seekers whose qualifications
do not exactly match the job description. You
are more likely to get the recruiter's attention
by emphasizing your transferable skills and exceptional
accomplishments at the top of your resume instead
of scattering them throughout.
The highlight section could be formatted in a
bulleted list presenting the following details.
| 1. |
Number of years'
experience in the field or line of work
|
| 2. |
Relevant credentials
or training. |
| 3. |
An accomplishment
that directly relates to the job. |
| 4. |
A personal "quality"
or "characteristic" that relates to the
job. |
| 5. |
Another accomplishment
or characteristic that relates to the job.
|
|
|
|
| Proof read
your resume |
| An elegant error free resume is fundamental
to a successful job search. Typos, misprints,
illegible text and grammar errors would almost certainly
land your resume into the trash basket. |
|
|
| Have someone
else review your resume |
| It is often easier said than done to find
one's own errors. It can also be difficult to
judge one's high points oneself and clearly convey
one's accomplishments. Have someone review your
job search objective, your resume, and listings
of positions that interest you. The reviewer's
questions can help you discover areas you unconsciously
left of your resume, or might provide you an insight
into what areas seem to be confusing. |
|
|