How to Build a Better Résumé so You can Get a Better Job

Follow these résumé-writing tips and you'll be seven steps closer to getting the job you really want . . .

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Good dictionary and thesaurus
• Information about potential employers
• Résumé Builder Workbook and Guide

1. Not your whole life story, please. You're more likely to attract a recruiter's favorable attention when you keep your résumé's content to one well-written and well-presented page. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should trim your résumé to the bone; there has to be some meat for the recruiter to chew on.
2. Stick to employment-relevant information. Your résumé is a sales tool that will simply lose its effect when it's cluttered with too much unnecessary information. Who needs to know your birth date, kids’ names, or how much you weigh?
3. Quantify your results and accomplishments whenever possible. Numbers get attention! Employers want to know that you can "Save department $3,600 annually with revised purchasing policy."
4. Make sure your format is consistent. When you keep your document’s format consistent, the recruiter will find it easier to recognize things and to find information quickly. When you make it easy for the recruiter to find information, you increase the chance that your résumé will make it to the short-list pile.
5. Forget the fancy covers and shocking colors. Instead, use good quality white or off-white paper for your résumé. You want the hiring team to pay attention to the information in your résumé – not to the fluorescent pink paper.
6. Use words that convey action at the beginning of short sentences. Words like advanced, built, created, documented, and expanded demonstrate your experience and achievements in active rather than passive language.
7. Check your spelling and grammar. Then check it one more time. A misspelled word can get your résumé tossed into the reject pile. You're right...it’s not fair. But that doesn’t keep it from happening.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to tailor your résumé to each employer.
• Craft a killer cover letter to go with the résumé.
• Use the employer's own language within your documents.
• Talk to someone who already works where you want to work to see if you can get a sense of the corporate culture.
• Get the name of the person to whom you need to send your résumé.
• Simply following the preceding seven steps and tips does not guarantee you'll get your dream - or any - job. You will, however, increase your chances!