Posted by ResumeHelp on June 29, 2009
Sometimes your resume can hurt more than help you. In today’s job-search market, you are often competing against large numbers of applicants, and your resume has to be good enough to make it past the first screening.
The first people to view your resume are often lower-level staff looking for a quick way to weed candidates out of consideration. You can minimize the chances of your resume being eliminated during this round by following three simple rules.
LESS IS MORE
Don’t tell too much. A good resume should leave the prospective employer with a whetted appetite, a desire to know more. They will be likely to call and phone-screen you. So don’t fill in all the details just yet. Save that for the interview. Do, however, paint a big picture of who you are and what you can offer.
For example, you may have worked several years at your present employer. Certainly you could fill up several paragraphs with all that you’ve done. Instead, think of the one or two most critical projects, duties or functions that you provide. List the most important and give them no more than a sentence or two each.
Here is an example:
EXPERIENCE: Mar 2003 to Present: XYZ Company, Their City, CA Senior staff design engineer. Products designed/Projects involved: A, B, C. Description of Most Important Project and why Description of 2nd most important project and why
Skip the hobbies and personal info. Avoid mind-numbing detail that will cause a reader’s eyes to glaze over. One page is ideal — two pages only if you are a 15- to 20-year veteran with a significant growth and promotion history.
MORE KEYWORDS
You want the computers to flag your resume for closer examination. Do this by including as many keywords as possible that are relevant to your job and your job skills, as well as specific industry words that may be appropriate. A convenient method to accomplish this is to include a separate “Keywords” section on your resume just below the “Objective”. Think of this as an important catchall specifically for the computers to “see”.
Here is an example from a candidate employed as a medical quality assurance auditor:
KEYWORDS: Quality System, QA, QS, Audit, Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), International Standards (ISO), Corrective and Preventive Action Programs (CAPA), training, QSR, Medical Device, calibration, 510K, TQM, PMA, FDA.
Also, include the names of major companies you worked with or for, as this often is important to employers. Include those in the “Experience” section.
BE SPECIFIC
Don’t just tell them what you did. Move beyond that and tell the benefit of your accomplishment. A good way to do this is to include several specific ways you helped your employer make money or save money. Remember, the only benefit you can bring to the table is past performance. When you interview (either phone or in person) this is what will be discussed.
Think of all your jobs in the past and bring forth examples of some of your best work. How can an employer think of you as a problem solver? If at all possible, try to “monetize” your accomplishments (state them in terms of money). At the interview, you will be prepared to enlarge upon these successes.
SUMMARY
Building an effective resume doesn’t have to be drudgery. Using the above three guidelines will keep your resume lean and to the point standing a greater chance of landing on the “to call” stack and getting you a phone screen. If your resume still looks like a jumbled mess I would invite you to contact one of our professional resume writers. We have screened them carefully and know they can help you get the perfect job even in today’s tight market. Here is our top pick; contact them today!
Authors Bio
As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of “Job Search Secrets Unlocked” and “Paycheck 911,” Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: www.jobchangesecrets.com.
Posted by ResumeHelp on June 26, 2009
“Everybody does it” as they say. The job market can be a very tough place to compete. If everyone inflates their experience then how can an honest person get a job?
Well, as tempting as it may be, you do NOT want to risk lying on your resume.
Whether it’s personal information, job experience, or schooling – employers are finding new ways to sniff out liars and you don’t want to be one of them. Misrepresenting facts on your resume is a giant No – No! Period!
PERSONAL INFORMATION
While some information may not be easily verified, information such as a criminal record, can be very costly to you in the event it is checked out. With sites like rapsheets.com you can never guarantee that an employer won’t be able to find the information.
JOB EXPERIENCE
Clearly this is not the place to boast about fake employment as you can be sure these are the first places they will call. If you were fired for some reason better to face up and explain it than let it be discovered later. If you have what the employer is looking for they will give you credit for honesty. So be honest.
EDUCATION
Do you really think that nobody will notice if you slip in an education you don’t really have? If you have the degree or certificates to back your claim then you have something to boast of. Even if you do have the skills, you can’t afford to claim education you can’t provide proof of. EmployAct.com is a new service that will allow employers to have background checks – similar to criminal or credit checks – to verify your claim.
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE
With all that said and done, how can you create a resume that will highlight your skills and abilities without needing to lie?
Give yourself credit. If you are not sure how to write a resume that will highlight your skills and training then hire a professional to write one for you. They will know exactly how to showcase your skills in the best light because that’s what they do. You may not know what an employer is looking for, they will. With many jobs that don’t require a particular expertise, you many find that they are looking for people who are able to learn on the job. Proof that you have gained skills as a worker (or even a volunteer if you’re just starting out) can be very valuable.
Be certain that you focus on skills. Expand your descriptions. Rather than say ‘I worked in an office’, say ‘I was responsible for answering the phones and directing calls to the proper departments. I also was able to multi-task by providing supportive administrative assistance to the head receptionist including maintaining a filing system, processing inter office memos, delivering documents in a timely manner, directing clients to their meeting appointments and providing relief reception.’ Also provide a list of computer programs you are proficient in — i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc. These are a real plus but make sure you don’t exaggerate your skills. If you know some of the lesser known computer programs list those as well.
As you can see from the above example, it is perfectly acceptable to elaborate on your skills, but do so in an honest and ethical manner. Have confidence in keeping the job you are sure to get by doing it right the first time.
About the Author
Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
Posted by ResumeHelp on June 25, 2009
Employers and recruiters from Fortune 1000 companies tell CareerWomen.com that candidates continue to make serious mistakes when submitting their resumes. According to a recent poll, candidates are sending resumes that are outdated, not tailored to open positions and even full of typos.
“Recruiters and employers continue to look at the quality of resumes with a critical eye,” said JillXan Donnelly of CareerWomen.com. “Our employer and recruiter partners tell us that a polished resume remains the entry ticket to getting an interview. This poll provides the guidance that candidates should take to get their resume to the top of the stack.” If you have never written a resume it’s a good idea to have one professionally written.
The Career Exposure NetworkT of sites asked recruiters and employers for their top tips to creating an eye-catching resume. Their recommendations include:
1) Send a cover letter and your resume. The cover letter should explain why you are a good fit for the position.
2) Use appropriate and professional email addresses. Never use addresses that are in poor taste such as hotchick@aol.com.
3) Be a qualified applicant. If you are over or under qualified for the position, beware of burning a bridge with a potential recruiter or employer.
4) Keep your resume factual not fluffy. Overstated accomplishments are a turn-off.
5) Attachments are acceptable, but with conditions. If you send an attachment, make sure it is a Microsoft Word’ document or send a plain text version.
About The Career Exposure NetworkT
The Career Exposure NetworkT is a women-owned e-Recruiting network of premier niche sites that has been helping Fortune 1000 employers find top quality Women, Diversity & MBA candidates since 1996. Sites include:
CareerWomen.com, DiversitySearch.com, MBACareers.com
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