How to Write a Good Resume Profile
A Resume Profile is also called a "Career Summary" or a "Resume Opening Statement." In a Resume Profile--the section at the very beginning of a resume--you must either highlight your strengths in three to four sentences or summarize your skills in fewer than seven bullet points. Easyjob.net recommends that you do not use more than eight lines for this section.
Your Resume Profile must be precise, representing your professional skills and abilities. It informs a prospective employer that you can benefit their company's needs over other applicants. This requires adapting your Resume Profile to a company's job description.
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Instructions
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1
Use the computer to research job descriptions that describe the position for which you will apply. This will enable you to identify employers' general expectations in your field of work.
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2
On the top half of the paper, write down key words or phrases about the required and preferred skills from each job description that you research. You should discover and document at least five or six key words or phrases. For example, an administrative assistant may write: "Meet deadlines, using various tax and billing software programs." You should list the name of the software programs.
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3
Select a specific job opportunity, and focus on the required, preferred and additional skills listed for that particular job. Compare these job requirements with the list of key words or phrases that you discovered in Step 2. Are the key words listed in the job requirements? If so, continue on to Step 4. If not, add key words or phrases from the selected job description and continue.
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4
On the bottom half of the paper, write key factors about your past responsibilities at work--specifically, your workplace successes. Begin each factor with an action verb, describing what you can do or what you have done. Action verbs that you may use include--Built, Create, Develop, Examined, Evaluated, Executed, Improved, Increased, Managed, Performed, Designed, Improved, Organized, Supervised, and Trained. For example: "Improved client base for information technology departments" or "Design training for large and small organizations, including the government."
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5
You are ready to finalize your Resume Profile. Using your key words or phrases as a guide, finalize three to four sentences. This can be written on the back of your sheet of paper or typed in a document on your computer. Be sure to include at least one sentence that differentiates your skills from those of other applicants. For example: "Develop and maintain hundreds of satisfactory client relationships with excellent communication skills." This would refer to a current position.
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Tips & Warnings
Review job descriptions on sites such as CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Indeed.com, JobBank.com, JobCircle.com, ConstructionJobs.com, Dice.com, HotJobs.com and/or CollegeRecruiter.com.
References
Resources
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