Resume Writing Tips & Examples
When searching for a new job, your resume is often the first thing a prospective employer sees. The hiring professional will form her initial opinion of you based on that important document. You can increase your chances for an interview if you take steps to write the best resume possible. You can use resume examples to guide you and incorporate specific tips to craft your own resume.
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Organization
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Your resume should be written with the most important information listed first. Daily Writing Tips says the body of your resume should start with your previous professional experience, since it is generally the most relevant for prospective employers. Describe your experience by listing your most important accomplishments and strongest skills first. This catches the potential employer's eye and quickly gives a positive impression.
Facts
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Prospective employers want to see facts rather than fluffy terms that lack objective meaning. According to Daily Writing Tips, you should include as many specific numbers as possible in your resume to quantify your achievements. For example, don't say that you substantially increased revenue in your department. Say that you increased it by 74 percent. Instead of saying you were the top salesperson on your team, say you averaged over a half-million dollars in sales each year.
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Lists
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Don't write long, detailed paragraphs. Break down relevant facts and figures into short sections and lists. Make your resume as easy to read as possible. Professionals who hire have limited time, so they may toss your resume aside if it is filled with too much text. Daily Writing Tips says that bulleted lists get more attention because they are easier to read.
Proofreading
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Daily Writing Tips says you should proofread your resume at least twice. Don't depend on your spellcheck, as it can miss words that may be spelled correctly but used in the wrong context. Have at least one other person proofread your resume. A fresh set of eyes can catch errors you might have missed.
Personalization
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Don't just have one resume that you send out to every prospective employer. Daily Writing Tips says you should prepare a basic resume that you can tailor to each individual workplace. Work in something that shows specific knowledge of the company, and demonstrate how your skills and experience align with that particular company.
Examples
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Review resume examples to help you write and edit. Many free examples are available on websites like Exampleresumes.org. These sites often have resume writing tips.
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