How Do I Create an Excellent Resume?
An excellent resume will attract attention, create interest and generate results. It does more than simply list your work history, job duties and educational credentials. It distinguishes you from the other applicants and captures the immediate attention of hiring officers. You can produce a concise, powerful, accomplishment-focused resume that will be your ultimate marketing tool in the workplace.
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Instructions
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Examine Internet postings, company reports and newsletters that have been published within the past six months related to the industry and position you are applying for. Write down a list of frequently used keywords in these sources, and weave these keywords into your resume. This will improve your resume's ranking in database searches.
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Select the most appropriate format for your resume. The reverse chronological resume works best if you have an uninterrupted work history. This traditional format lists all employment and education, beginning with the most recent and working backward. If you are a recent graduate or have a few employment gaps, use the skill-based functional format. More informal in tone, the functional format highlights three to five skill areas and downplays employment history.
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Lead with a powerful performance profile or career summary. Located directly below the header, this short paragraph contains three to five of your greatest skills and achievements. In her book "30-Minute Resume Makeover," Louise Kursmark provides the following example: "Experienced sales manager with a 10-year track record of double-digit revenue and profit gains in highly competitive technology and telecommunications industries."
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Write specific and measurable accomplishment statements. Use comparisons, dollars and percentages to prove you have delivered value to your previous positions. Kursmark provides the following example: "Selected as department representative to restructuring team that implemented 37 enterprise-wide initiatives, added $17 million to the bottom line through waste reduction and efficiency improvement."
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Focus on education if you are a recent graduate. This is your strongest selling point and needs to be placed near the top of the resume. Mention your grade point average (GPA) if it is 3.5 or above. If you have considerable experience, place this section toward the end of the resume. If you lack a diploma or degree, focus on your experience and accomplishments.
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List any certificates, awards or volunteer activities that will distinguish you from the other applicants. Additional qualifications---proficiency in multiple languages, technology skills or published works---can be included in a separate section at the end of the resume. For example, Kursmark creates a section titled "Global Languages and Culture" followed by the description: "Proficient in Arabic and French. Widely traveled and conversant with business cultures in Asia, Middle East and Europe."
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Enhance the look of your resume. Be consistent in your use of fonts, boldface, underlining and tab stops. Add as much white space as possible to improve the resume's readability. Use high-quality white, eggshell, light gray or light blue paper. Keep the length under two pages. A longer resume suggests that you are unable to properly organize your accomplishments.
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Ask a colleague, mentor or reliable friend to proofread your resume. In addition to checking format, spelling, grammar and punctuation, have the reviewer check that your resume is meaningful and compelling. Take turns reading the resume out loud. Change any words or phrases that sound contrived or awkward. Replace all weak verbs and vague expressions with precise and action-oriented words.
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Use the right delivery method. Some employers prefer to receive resumes by email with the document attached as a Word file; others may want a text document pasted into the email message. Alternatively, a few may prefer mail delivery or drop-off. Call and check with the human resources office. Include a cover letter, regardless of your delivery method.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a header at the top of your resume that contains your legal name, full address, telephone number, ZIP code and email address.
Email your resume to yourself and a few friends as a final check before sending it to the employer.
References
- Photo Credit job image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
