Resume Tips

Resumes have evolved over the years as technology has become more prevalent in the hiring process. Because of that, never has it been more important to spend the proper time preparing your resume to potentially compete with dozens if not hundreds of other resumes all competing for the same position.
A well done resume can get you noticed amidst the clutter and result in an interview or even facilitate a promotion from your current position. So how do you create a winning resume?

First, be willing to invest the time in research and preparation. There are a variety of resources on the web or at your local library or bookstore that can facilitate the process. Recruiters and HR personnel often use scanning software to comb through the resumes so you’ll want to incorporate certain keywords into your resume based on the position you’re applying for.

You will hear varying theories on whether you should have one resume that highlights skills and accomplishments versus multiple resumes that are tailored to fit the individual position you seek. You’re best off starting with a generic resume and tailoring the skills, accomplishments and experience to the post you seek. Try to determine which keywords will be used by the company to scan resumes and incorporate these into your resume.

The keywords to use are often found in the job description that’s provided in the ad or listing. Be careful not to incorporate too many and also be sure they accurately describe your accomplishments, education, experience or skills. These should be listed in either your objective or in the description of your accomplishments/experience portion of the resume.

Your resume should start out with an objective statement that outlines the value you bring to the organization along with your career goals. This is a good place to insert a couple of the keywords referred to previously.

Depending on the position you seek, the next section should be about your work history in chronological order from present to oldest. This is the most important section of your resume as it gives you the opportunity to sell yourself and your accomplishments.

With each position, you need to focus on your accomplishments, not tasks, and quantify what these accomplishments meant to the company. Keep this clean and utilize bullet points to separate accomplishments, incorporating keywords into the description. What you want to accomplish here is to demonstrate you could be of great value to their organization based on your previous experience. The number of accomplishments listed for each position should diminish in number the farther back you in time you go and include only the two or three most important in the oldest position listed.

It is customary to include educational background along with any certifications earned. Depending upon the position applied for this can often make a difference and is another way to separate like candidates. If you’re a new graduate, consider including your GPA (if it’s impressive) along with the courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the position. Sometimes including your volunteer activity can be beneficial if there is room in your resume to do so.

In general, keep your resume to no more than two pages. Highlight your objective statement as well as your accomplishments utilizing keywords. Keep your resume uncluttered and if you’re asked to copy and paste, strip out any formatting (bullet points, italics, bold face, etc.) to make it easier to read. Different computer systems can render resumes almost unreadable.

Finally, and this can’t be emphasized enough, proofread your resume multiple times. In addition have others proofread it as well. You’ll be surprised at how many mistakes can be found with a second or even third set of eyes. The majority of employers will not even consider hiring someone who has made even a single mistake or typo on their resume.