Professional Resume Basics
A strong resume is one of the most important tools working professionals have to find jobs. Often, your resume will be the only thing a recruiter looks at to decide whether to call you for an interview. Even if you have excellent interviewing skills, you might not get the opportunity to use them if your resume is ineffective. Follow several basic guidelines when writing a professional resume.
Other People Are Reading
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Formatting
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The purpose of a resume is to give a potential employer all the information to decide whether you are the right candidate for a position. The resume should include your name, contract information, your education and your relevant work history. Keep your resume to one page unless you have an advanced degree and extensive experience. Text should be in an easily readable font and organized with bullet points.
Word Use and Content
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A professional resume must be clear and to the point. Eliminate unnecessary words and repeated or redundant phrases. CareerBuilder states that the following words are overused and add little to the actual content of resumes: go-getter, self-starter, multi-tasker, hard-working and goal-oriented. All professional candidates are assumed to have these qualities. Instead, focus on citing concrete examples that display your skills and accomplishments.
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Editing
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Editing and revision is an essential part of crafting a strong resume. Reread your resume several times to check for grammar and spelling errors and to consider changes to the content. Have at least one other person look at your resume for errors and to make suggestions before you send it out. It can be easy to glaze over mistakes in your own writing.
Electronic Resumes
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An electronic resume is a digital version of a resume that you store on a computer and submit to employers through the Internet. Even if you created your resume using a computer word procession program, you may not be able to immediately use the document for electronic submissions. Some employers require electronic resumes to be in a basic text format or to be copied directly into the body of an email. Research the resume submission instructions for each employer before applying for a job online.
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