Resume Writing Tips from Resume Pro Writers! Some characteristics a resume should demonstrate the following:
No graphics or pictures.
Easy to read fonts. (Not "Old English", for example)
Large text typeface (12 point)
If referring to a specific job opening, please refer to it in your cover letter.
Be specific when listing your expertise. What specific software, operating systems, CAD programs, application versions, etc.
A cover letter is not a requirement, but it can help a recruiter "read between the lines".
If you update our database with a new resume, please indicate that it is an updated resume.
It is a good idea to update a resume when you have received additional education, certifications or recent employment.
Writing an effective resume Your initial contact with future employers is almost always achieved through your resume, and with the high volume of resumes that most hiring managers must review for a given position, it is crucial that your resume clearly show how you will benefit the company. Most hiring managers spend 30 seconds or less reviewing your resume, so the resume must sell yourself quickly in order to be considered for a face-to-face interview. The interview is the real key to getting the job you want, but without an effective resume, your chances of success are greatly reduced. The appearance and content of the resume is a direct reflection on your professionalism, attention to detail and desire. It goes beyond just documenting your education, work history and contact information. What is an acceptable length of a resume? While the "old" rule of thumb was one page; two and even three page resumes are becoming more common and, for the most part, acceptable. With many professionals changing employers more often, growing numbers of contract professionals and all the additional software information and upgrades, it has become increasingly more difficult to produce a single page resume. Most employers, however, still prefer a one to two page resume. Much more than that will tend to lose focus and interest of the reader. Remember, you need to sell your value to the employer in 30 seconds or less! What information does or does not belong on a resume?
Summary of Qualifications (Optional. Normally placed right beneath your objective.)
Education - Include name of institution, degree, graduation date. If you are a recent graduate with little or no relevant work history, place your education history near toward the top of your resume. Otherwise, it should be located near the bottom. If you have a college degree, there is no need to list your high school or earlier education. Likewise, if your highest level of education is high school, then list only that information.
Work History - Start with your most recent or current position at the top and work backwards. List dates, employer name, position, and a brief description of your accomplishments. Do not use the word "I" (I did this; I did that), use action verbs such as initiated, accomplished, successfully completed, designed, reduced, improved, etc. This will show your potential value to a new employer, rather than just documenting your past tasks.
Additional Skills - This includes any special computer skills such as software packages (including release/version numbers), operating systems, programming languages, etc. Also include skills such as ability to read blueprints, SPC, CMM, calipers, QS9000, etc.
Additional Training - Relevant courses, seminars, or certifications. This should follow your education section.
Professional Affiliations - Include only those which support your career objective or which may be of interest to a potential employer.
Awards - Include relevant awards, special recognition or published works.
References - Some employers like seeing them included on a separate page and some don't like them at all. If you do include them, please make sure they are relevant to your work history. If you don't have any work experience, then they should be people that can attest to your character. Teachers, ministers, counselors, coaches, etc.
The "do nots"!
Don't be too wordy. Check your grammar. Use proper punctuation and be sure to use a spell checker or have it proofread thoroughly by others.
Do not include irrelevant information such as your height, weight, children, marital status or age.
Do not include activities or hobbies, unless you feel there is a direct benefit or relevance to the position you are seeking.
Do not include salary history.
Do not put anything negative on the resume.
Do not have unexplained gaps of time in your work history.
Remember! If you are successful with the resume and are able to secure an interview, it is very important that you research the company! Hiring managers are impressed with those who show the initiative to do their homework. Show them you want the job! The internet is a wonderful resource for corporate information, as well as public libraries.
Are you are working harder than you should be at your job search? And are your results are too low? Let me show you five ways to make it easier while ending up with better job offers for a lot more money. What I'm about to tell you has helped hundreds of job hunters who have been able to work smarter, not harder, and get better results in the process.
That's the key. You need to take steps to work smarter - to cultivate an attitude that makes things happen. Here are the five secrets:
1. Job Hunters who work smarter, not harder, position themselves as problem solvers.
How would you respond if you went to your doctor with a complaint and he or she immediately, without an examination or explanation, ordered surgery?
Sounds incredible, I know. But it illustrates a common mistake you may be making.
If you are marketing yourself to an employer, you are like a physician. You must first be credible. An important way to do that is to thoroughly "examine" your prospect - with intelligent questions - before you make a "diagnosis" - suggest a solution.
Remember, your interviewer is likely overwhelmed with a barrage of resumes, interviews, and more. They don't want mere information from you, they get plenty of that. What they really want is a problem solver who inspires trust.
As smart job hunter, you do everything you possibly can to win your client's trust by positioning yourself as an expert consultant.
2. Job Hunters who work smarter, not harder, realize that the smart way is the best way - 20 of their results, so by working smart - and actually working less - they can actually achieve much more.
Mass mailing and email blasting are tried and true methods of getting your resume out. But beware; you will get the chaff along with the wheat. Companies trolling for cheaper help will interview almost anybody while looking for people feeling desperate enough to work for less than they are worth. You may get also get interviews by companies always looking for help because they chew up and spit out management and sales people on a regular basis. Yes, there are a lot of low-level, poor quality interviews out there. If you are the type who doesn't like to spin your wheels on these things, there are other options.
One way to work smart is to stop sending you resume to anyone and everyone. Instead, concentrated on finding prospects that are, in marketing terms, ready to buy.
In the long run this is easier, less time is wasted in poor quality interviews, and the rate of interview offers will skyrocket. And with higher quality interviews, better job offers will follow.
3. A Job Hunter who is working smarter, not harder, will focus on reaching milestones rather than the overall result.
Much like an entrepreneur starting a new business, a job hunter can be overwhelmed. The key to getting through this is breaking the job search into a series of steps. The first step might be to go through the resume writing process. The second might be to find employers experiencing difficulties you can help them with. The third is contacting these employers by getting your resume in front of decision makers. And these steps can be broken down into smaller steps.
By having the first step completed, a job hunter is positioned to get those interviews that he really wanted.
By breaking the job search down into a series of discrete steps, and reaching milestones for each of those steps, the job hunter has taken control of the job search process. You need to do the same thing for your job search: break it down into small steps, and focus on reaching a do-able milestone in each step.
4. A Job Hunter who is working smarter, not harder, will do things differently than others in their field, especially follow-up.
A company I was working for put me in charge of purchasing what was for us an expensive computer upgrade including networking, broadband connections, software, etc. - about $30,000. We called the leading firms in the area and tried to get salespeople to visit us. We found it very hard to get a phone call returned. What was worse, the salespeople who eventually came out were poorly prepared. And when they promised us references and proposals, they rarely followed up.
But one salesperson broke the mold. He followed up. He spent time with us. He was knowledgeable about his competitors' as well as his own product.
One day when our company had opened a new office and it got a small notice in a business journal. He stopped in to congratulate us. We bought from him, simply because we did not have the time to figure out what the "best" solution was for our needs, and we trusted him. He did things differently from the rest and he got a sale as a result.
In my work with hundreds of job hunters, I find that the best ones ALWAYS do things differently than the rest. They get interviews differently, they network differently, they make their calls differently. In today's world, doing things differently will prove to be a major ingredient in your success.
One thing that stands out among the successful job hunters is that they consistently and sometimes creatively follow up. Follow up is rare. In fact, studies have claimed that only 1 of job hunters follow up. Therefore, when it is done, it gets noticed. Following up after an interview is a great way, and the smart way, to build trust.
5. A job hunter who is working smarter, not harder, will listen more than talk
Here is an undeniable truth of job hunting: The more your interviewer talks, the higher your chances are of getting a job offer.
It's really that simple. Sales people will tell you that even if they do a tremendous presentation, they seldom make a sale if they do all the talking. It is imperative that the prospect speaks -- and the more the better. If you do most of the talking, they will usually not offer you the job - and the irony is, you will never know why because you were too busy talking to find out!
Don't make the mistake of thinking that listening is a passive activity. It is not - it's active. And listening is not an easy habit to acquire, because we are all so preoccupied with our own concerns that we find it hard to shut our minds down and really listen.
But if you learn to listen, it will pay huge dividends, in a better job offer and in a better life.
The way to listen is to pay close attention to what is being said by using your whole being, not just your ears. You direct your full consciousness to the persons or people who you are with. When your mind occasionally wanders onto what you will do tomorrow, or what you did yesterday, or on some fantasy or problem, you simply direct your focus back onto what your interviewers are saying. There is a lot to listening and if you become a master listener you will become a master job hunter.
By really understanding these five secrets and acting on them, you will work less while achieving significant increases in your results, starting today.
Both Cokes Steven & Jay Edward Miller are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Cokes Steven has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter. Do not have time to write a professional and effective resume for a winning interview and job-hunting success? Let us help you provide you with these needs! visit Resume Pro writers today and see our exclusive features and affordable pricing in store for. Cokes Steven's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
Jay Edward Miller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, The Internet and Cover Letter. Information on Irresistible Resume, the definitive guide to writing your own resume, can be found at and. Jay Edward Miller's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.