How to write a resume to get you an interview

Having a great resume can be the difference between getting the job or losing the position to another person.

Things You'll Need

• A computer or a typewriter (what's that).

Instructions

1. Be sure on the top of your resume you have your name, address and all your phone numbers. You want to make sure they can get in touch with you to set up an interview.

   The first part of any resume should be your schooling. Never lie on a resume. If you did not attend college do not put it on your resume. If you attended college, but did not graduate - put down the college you attended, without a degree or year of graduation. Those of you over 50, even 45 - never ever put the year you graduated. This is one easy way to try and figure out how old the applicant is. This holds true for the year you graduated from High School. If you are young - do not put your graduation year either, this will tell them how young you are. The secret is - keep it a secret. Get your foot in the door first, don't let someone discredit you before they even meet you. Yes, yes I know there are laws about not discriminating against you, because of your age. But lets face it, who would get the interview - someone who graduated in 1950, 1999 or 2007. I would pick 1999, they would be about 27. They were 18 when they graduated, they have been out of school for 9 years, so that makes them around 27.

   Don't be shy, put down all your education, and yes even technical school.

2. Put down all your job experience in the last 10 years. If you have been with the same employer for longer up to 20 years put that down also. But, watch out for aging yourself with too many years. It is fine to put down the years you worked for an employer, especially if you have more than three years with the same employer. This shows loyalty and longevity. Every employer wants to hire someone that does not job jump. It cost employers a lot of money to hire a new employee - they do not want to keep having to hire every year or two for the same positions.

   If you were at a job less than one year, leave it off. It will be a flag for job jumping.

   Always start with your most recent employer. If you are currently employed and do not want your current employer to know you are interviewing - I would only write the title of your current employer as "Current Employer" do not give their name.

   Give a brief explanation of your job duties. Be creative, if you are the secretary responsible for greeting clients, answering phones etc... give one of your job duties as communications. You are the first person a client speaks to when they call. If you are nasty on the phone, your employer may lose that client. If you were not good with communications you would not be in that position! Once again, do not lie and give yourself titles, just to give yourself titles. Think about what you really do and write about it.

   Be sure to include all the computer software you know how to operate.

   You do not have to include every single detail, summarize your job, (employee hiring, evaluations, payroll, taxes etc..)

3. The next part of your resume should include special areas in your life.
   No offense, but employers do not really care if you like to garden, read, etc... This area is for special qualities, awards or titles.
   If you are the President of an organization, put it down here.

4. On the bottom or your resume is the place for references.

   References available on request - is the safest way to give references if you are currently employed. Be sure to check with your references first, before you put their name down. Employers usually call your past employers, not the names you put down anyhow. They want to know your past work record from your employers, not your friends. Lets face it, are you going to put down the name of someone that will give you a bad reference?

   The final area on a resume is your salary. If the employer does not ask for salary requirements than don't put it down. Why shoot yourself in the foot. They will always start with the employee who is asking for the least amount. When an employer has 10 resumes which all sound promising, and then there is one that sounds great, but wants $10,000.00 a year more than the rest, they will probably start with the others first.

Tips & Warnings

• After you make your resume, be sure to make a cover letter also. Keep your cover letter short. Thank the person for taking the time to review your resume. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them soon. Sign your name, do not type it only. This of course only works if you are mailing the resume or faxing it.

• Do not be shy on your resume, you are selling yourself to someone that does not know anything about you.