Human Resources: Tips for a Better Resume
Here are some tips for a better resume. The goal of a resume is to get you to the interview, so you can make a personal impression. You want the resume reader to visualize the moment they meet you (and of course, you want them to like you). - Write your own resume
- Let the resume reflect you, yet be professional.
- Be neat and error free
- Read, read-read, and have somebody else read the resume. Catch all typographical and grammatical errors.
- State specific objectives
- State clearly your objective that summarizes your skills, strengths and accomplishments. It should tell the employer why he/she needs you.
- Make a dramatic first impression
- Employers scan a resume in under 30 seconds. Catch their attention with compelling facts at the beginning (highlight career achievements rather than listing jobs or education)
- Be organized, logical and concise
- Your resume shows employers your ability to be organized, logical and concise. Make your resume neat and visually appealing, using both section headers and white space.
- Use common section headings
- Use common section headings like: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History, Skills, Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Accomplishments, Strengths, Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Licenses and Certifications, Honours, Personal, Additional, and References.
- Emphasize your skills
- Use a skill-based resume format that is organized around the main talents you have to offer. Highlight any special or natural talents
- Use action verbs
- Make your life seem active by starting each line with an action verb (heck,look at this page of suggestions). For example, "Managed team of 6 people"
- Avoid personal pronouns
- Avoid personal pronouns such as 'I' or 'me' in your resume (its o.k. in your cover letter). Use punchy action-oriented phrases, not complete sentences
- List only recent information
- Focus on work experience for only the last 10 to 15 years
- Quantify your experience
- Numbers add realism to your resume. "Led sales team" becomes "Sold $... each year", "managed purchasing efficiently" becomes "Saved $... in purchasing". Numbers tell an employer you can handle a job THEIR size.
- Communicate simply
- Skip the use of exorbitant, extensive vocabulary. Use simple words everyone can understand..if they have to run to a dictionary, they'd rather toss your resume!
- Use buzzwords
- Use industry jargon and acronyms only to reflect your familiarity with the employer's business. Recruiters, though, may not be! If in doubt, write it out in full.
- Use keywords
- In an electronic resume, used by employers to search for skills or experience, include very specific key words and phases that describe your skills and experience, including any software packages (make sure capitalization is exact, like "WordPerfect").
- Summarize information
- Resumes should not exceed one or two printed pages, or three if sent in electronic form.
- Show consistency
- Cover gaps in your work history by using a functional resume, focusing on skills and accomplishments, instead of a chronological date-order format.
- Be positive
- Edit out any negative comments or feelings conveyed in your resume. Restate things in a positive, can-do way.
- Omit salary information
- Never mention salary in your resume. Save that for the interview, once you have a better idea of what they expect from you.
- Avoid questionable subjects
- An employer is not allowed to ask, and you are not required to give personal information such as race, religion, marital status, age, political party affiliations.
- Be honest
- Do not lie or exaggerate because employers will check out the details, or you may end up in a position with unrealistic expectations of your abilities.
|
