How to Write a Stellar Resume

Writing your resume is easier than you may think.

You may think you need to shell out hundreds of dollars to a fancy resume writing service to get a resume that lands interviews. Not so.

I write for a top resume writing firm, and can share some tips of the trade to help you get that resume together and get the job you want! The secret is to follow industry trends. By knowing what employers are looking for and incorporating those practices, you can have a great resume.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

How to Write a Stellar Resume

1. Go basic. Stick to no more than two fonts in the resume. It's okay to use a template, but try to avoid text boxes and tables. A good resume uses variations of simple functions--various sizes, capped letters, bolding and italics. Even the simplest font (I recommend Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman) can be modified to stand out. Consistency is key here. For instance, if you capitalize and bold the titles of the companies you've worked for, make sure to do it for all of them.

2. 

   Know the lingo. "References available upon request" is old news. Today, you don't even have to note that because it's assumed you have references. Another idea is to scrap that whole "Objective: To acquire a position that enables me to use my consultative sales skills and benefit an organization" type of thing. Instead, write a profile that highlights your skills. Phrases like "powerful consultative sales specialist" or "bolsters net profits via innovative sales initiatives" have more jazz to it. Also, never use the words "responsibilities" or "duties."

3. Highlight accomplishments. It's fine to discuss your duties but you should bullet some accomplishments, too. What did you do for the company? Even inventing a new filing system could "wow" your reader if you said something like, "Instituted filing system to foster productivity."

4. Use verbs. In addition to never using first-person tone, you should start each statement with a verb. Even if you answered phones, you can flush in the word "responded to inquiries" instead of saying "answered phones." Some other power words: collaborate, facilitate, orchestrate, spearhead, generate and revamp. The list goes on. Make sure to only use them in the present tense if you're talking about a current job. The rest goes in past tense.

5. Proofread. Nothing says slush pile like a big fat typo. So when you're done with the whole thing, print it out and let it sit for a day. Come back and give it a read. Better yet, have a friend give it a glance. But not a colleague--you should keep your resume work to after hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Look at samples on resume writing sites for tips.

• Read up on articles to find out more about writing a resume for today's work world.

• Have a friend proofread your work.

• Stick to a simple format.