Resume Tips
A Few Helpful Pointers Before You Get Started On Your Resume:
A resume has one purpose- to help you secure that targeted position. A resume is the only tool used to market your skills, professional background, academic history, and future potential to a prospective employer. It’s a snap shot of your professional life and must be attractively packaged.
The single most important tip in resume planning and writing is to tell the truth. Aside from the moral issue, embellishing may prohibit you from employment or if you do become employed based on a falsehood, can get you fired, or at the minimum diminish your professional credibility. Present yourself in the best possible manner without exaggerating.
Get your FREE Resume just for registering.
Use Key words commonly used to describe your area of expertise. For example; a Network Administrator searching for a position might not only use the term “Network Administrator” but other terms that describe the nature of his or her position such as “Network or Computer Network or Microsoft Certified Professional”. Key words in resumes act similarly to key words on web pages. You want a potential employer searching for candidates to find you based on your key words. Remember that like in a web search the wrong key words will bring unproductive results. Too many key words can water down the effectiveness of your hits because your resume does not appear focused enough. Large companies such as Fortune 500’s often use a database to store resumes for future use. They will search those resumes by key words and you want to be considered not only today but well into the future.
Pick your format style carefully. There are three types of basic resumes. One is Functional Resumes which are written to organize your work experience by its functionality regardless of the date. This format highlights your skills and potential verses your chronological employment dates…the latter of which is geared to focus on skill and lessen gaps in work history. Second is Reverse-Chronological which arranges your experience and education in chronological order beginning with the most recent date. In this format it is typical for one to eliminate low level positions or positions that duplicate later experiences. The third is a Combination of the two, commonly used for a job scope that is not narrow or targeted.
Get your FREE Resume just for registering.
In formatting text, consider the font you use. An improper font may prohibit further review whereas the appropriate font may capture the reader’s interest right from the beginning. For example an executive resume format generally employs the Times New Roman font, which is universal on PC’s, easy to read, yet elegant in appearance. Designer fonts are best left for a graphic designer or someone in a graphic arts related field. (At fillthatjob.com when we create your resume we match the appropriate font to your position for maximum impact.) Never cram text into a one page document by eliminating the white space and reducing the font size. This resume will not be read easily if read at all.
What steps should you take in resume writing?
The basic steps in creating your resume are as follows:
Who is your Audience?
This means you should understand what your career objectives are and then construct your resume in a fashion that will be well received by the hiring manager or audience that you most want to connect with. Understanding what you want as well as what you have to offer a potential employer will allow you to focus attention on the skills you have to reach your goal! The real question is: What is it that you want and what do you have to offer an employer?
What format fits you and the position that you want to fill? By selecting the format that fits you and your career objectives you will yield Maximum Impact. Be cautious in your Template and Font choice, prioritizing data and data flow are keys to proper formatting. Consistency makes your resume easy to read.
What are your Skill Sets and Qualifications?
A Qualification Summary is a brief paragraph that highlights your skill sets and expounds your core competencies through a synopsis of your professional experiences. Personal pronouns are not used. In effective resume writing pronouns such as my, me or I are never used. The standard, accepted, summary is no more than 5 lines or about 45 words. Make sure you include the following in your summary:
Get your FREE Resume just for registering.
- First - give specific examples of tasks you have accomplished or areas in which you are proficient. These items are to be specific actions. If I was in the area of a Network Tech I might say “handled all maintenance on a 50 node network, Upgraded to MS 2003, trained 50 non-IT people on the use of 2003”
- Second - quantify who you are and what you’ve accomplished “Seasoned Network Professional holding MCSE, CCNA, CCSP, A+ and Network + certifications”.
Remember, your skill set is a list of your expertise as it relates to your career goals. You won’t be presenting all of your expertise in the 5 line summary so you want to emphasize your experience in the job title.
What are your Accomplishments?
This is the most important section of the resume because this section quantifies everything you have accomplished in your professional life. This is the area of the resume where you provide the proof in measurements that qualifies you for the position you seek. There are 2 types of accomplishments; one is fit for your resume and one is not. Following is a brief explanation of each:
- What is a Resume Accomplishment? The action behind the skill set that effects the companies production, enhances customer service, client retention, employee moral, retention of resources, identifying problems with qualified solutions, to name a few.
- What is not a Resume Accomplishment? Your daily job function, your job description, attendance at work, getting along with people, working with people, volunteering your time during non traditional work hours, performing community service.
What is your Experience Professionally?
In the Professional Experience section list your employers, job titles, and dates of employment in a fashion consistent with the format that you’ve chosen. This is the perfect place to use the 3 “B’s”. Use them on each of your accomplishments. The 3 “B’s” are:
- Be Bright – An eloquent statement of professional responsibilities such as: Network Administrator encompassing the implementation and maintenance of a 50 node network. The upgrading of that network from NT to 2003 and the training of all non-technical employees on its use.
- Be Brief - Define that eloquent statement such as: Responsibilities included the selection of the hardware and software within a strict budget. The design, formatting and installation of the network. The implementation of the training program for 50 functional employees.
- Be Gone – Place your dates of employment and then move on to the next accomplishment.
With regard to employment dates: Generally speaking, hiring managers prefer years of employment, rather than months and years (i.e. 1999 - 2003 as opposed to May 1999 - April 2003).
What is your Education and Training?
Prioritize your level of experience according to your career level (a general rule is as follows: entry level – 1 to 2 years, mid-level – 3 to 5 years, management level – experience at mid-level or above, executive management level – 8 to 10 years). For non-degreed applicants it may be accepted to substitute 3 years of industry experience or 5 consecutive years of job related experience at the discretion of the hiring manager. List your education beginning with the highest level attained. If you hold a degree lesser education is not generally listed. Be sure to list all of your certifications whether they are related to the exact job you seek or not.
Now you have some very useful tips for creating a professional resume. If you feel that you would like help with the creation or fine tuning of your resume, the team of HR professionals here at fillthatjob.com can take care of it for you starting at $149. Send your resume to resumehelp@fillthatjob.com with a brief explanation of your career objectives and you will be contacted.
