How to Create the Right Resume

The right resume creates a good first impression.

Considering the number of resumes a prospective employer receives in response to an advertisement, it is highly unlikely that he will read all of them completely. In that moment when his hand hovers over the rejects pile, it is not just your qualifications and skills, but the manner in which you present these, that is often the deciding factor. It is therefore important to craft the first part of your resume to grab the attention of the reader and persuade him to continue till the end. Keywords, action words and numbers are important tools you need to convince a prospective employer of your capabilities.

Instructions

1. Draw attention to your skills and convince the potential employer of your suitability for the job in the first one-third of your resume. If you have a credential that is relevant to the job you are applying for, display it next to your name. For example, if you are an attorney, put the word "Esq." after your name as in "Jack Cranson, Esq."

2. Be specific about your expectations when framing your job objectives. Phrases such as "opportunity for growth" or "challenging position" are not specific enough; instead write "opportunity to work on new business development" or "challenging position in research and development."

   Consider substituting the job objective with a skills statement that shows the reader how hiring you can benefit the company. For instance, for a job opening for a middle school science teacher, consider stating: "Enthusiastic and articulate teacher with 10 years of experience teaching science to middle school students. Passion for developing innovative lesson plans using interactive software. Adept at handling classroom and administrative responsibilities and possess excellent people skills." This clarifies your unique qualities that may be of use to your employer.

3. Include keywords to give your resume a better chance of being selected by employers who use search engine optimization features to screen resumes. Pay attention to the job descriptions and titles a company uses in its advertisements because these are the keywords that may be used to narrow the field. For example, if you are applying for a stores job, use keywords such as procurement, allocation, stock level, and distribution control.

4. Provide all relevant information. This may include freelance projects you did or internships or even volunteer experience. Mention your memberships and affiliations with institutions specific to your industry. For example, if you are applying for a career counselor job, highlighting your experience as a volunteer with the placement department at college may give you an edge.

5. Create a vivid picture of your abilities by using positive action words and numbers wherever possible. Words such as identified, created, developed, planned, organized, and implemented convey that you take an active role in performing your job. Similarly, using numbers to quantify your ability can convince the reader of your suitability for the job. For example, when applying to a customer service position, saying "served 100 customers over a five-hour shift" is more specific than "served several customers a day."

Tips & Warnings

• After you finish drafting your resume, show it to someone else -- a close friend, parent or a spouse. Ask for their feedback and make the necessary changes.

References

• Jobseekers Advice: How to Create the Right Resume
• Powerful Sample Resume Formats: Understanding Resume Formats
• Street Directory: How to Make Your Resume Specific and Results Oriented