How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top

By Julia Tang


Many people would love to get a better job. And most of these same people have the proper training and skills to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, so many job hunters have very poor communication skills. They are unable to clearly tell potential employers about their job qualifications. In short, they do not have good job seeking skills. In many cases, this prevents them from getting a high paying job that they could easily do. Often, the job will go to someone who is less skilled but who has written a eye-catching resume. Often, job seekers have a few mistaken opinions about potential employers. They believe that employers are able to easily separate the qualified job applicants from the less qualified applicants. But this is likely not true. Sometimes there are from 30 to 300 resumes for the same job. So the interviewer first does a fast screening of all the resumes to eliminate as many as possible. The "good" resumes usually make it through the screening process. Many times the best job candidate is screened out due to a poor resume. In today's business world there is often many qualified applicants applying for the same job. What if, out of all of those who apply, one job seeker turns in a skillful resume? Who do you think stands the best chance of getting the job? It's the one with the "best" resume, of course. This is so often true even through some of the other applicants may be better qualified for the job. In order to get a good job you must communicate to the employer that you are ready, willing, and able to do the job. So if you are capable of producing a top notch job resume, you definitely increase your chances of getting a better job. Virtually every potential employer will want to see a resume from you. The resume will determine who gets a job interview. Your resume is a mini-statement about yourself. After reading your resume the employer should have a better "feel" for you as a person and as a potential employer. It serves to get acquainted with the employer so that they can decide if they want to know more about you. The resume is the first step, your introduction to an employer. First impressions really do count. If you make a poor first impression, you'll never get to step two -- the job interview. To the purpose of your resume is to make a good first impression. In effect, your resume should tell the employer that you have good abilities and are truly interested in working. This report will help you make that good first impression. And it could very well help you to get the better job you're looking for. RESUME BASICS All good resumes follow the same general basic guidelines. While there is some flexibility in these guidelines, you don't want to stray too far from them. You want a resume that is bold, exciting, and enticing. But not too much so. You also want a resume that is somewhat conservative. In other words, it must be bold. Not flashy. You must show that you have confidence in your abilities, but not sound like a braggart. You must sound eager to do the job, but not desperate. So there is a fine line that you must walk in order to produce the best possible resume. You want to use intelligent language. However, you don't want to try and impress the employer with long, flowery, or uncommon words or phrases. Use everyday language whenever possible. Of course, if you are applying for a highly technical position, it's acceptable to use some of the special terms used in that particular profession. But as a rule you should keep it simple and straight to the point. The word resume comes from the French word "resumer" which means to summarize. So the exact purpose of a resume is to summarize your experience, knowledge, and accomplishments. Therefore, you must avoid being too wordy. Say exactly what you mean in the least number of words possible. The length of your resume is important. Resumes should be from 1 to 3 pages long. Don't be tempted to make your resume longer than 3 pages, even if you have a lot to tell. Remember, a resume is supposed to be a summary. A resume that is too long simply will bore the reader. There will be so much material that nothing will stand out and be remembered. RESUME APPEARANCE The overall appearance of your resume is also important. A sloppy looking resume will greatly lessen your chance of getting a job interview. The first thing that an employer, or personnel manager, evaluating your resume will notice is it's appearance. There are several different things that can be easily done to increase the overall appearance of your resume. The first of these appearance factors is the paper that your resume is printed on. There are many different kinds of paper other than regular typing paper. You could make an improvement by using a colored paper. I suggest a subdued color like brown, off- white, or gray. Next, you could use a better grade of paper. Go to a local office supply store and examine the different types of writing paper. You'll notice some big differences. Pick out a nice looking, more expensive grade of paper for your resume. The next thing to consider is the quality of the material that is typed onto the resume. Never use a low quality typewriter to type your resume. If necessary, rent a good quality typewriter. Then make certain that it has a fresh ribbon in it. It's very important that you make sure the writing on your resume looks good. This means clean, crisp, and sharp looking letters. Another good way to produce a top looking resume is by having it typeset. If your resume was produced using a computer and saved on a disk, you can hire a commercial typesetter who can use this file. Or, you can locate another computer user who owns a laser printer. Laser printers can produce a good grade of typeset documents. The other alternative is to find a local word processing service that can typeset your resume for you. You can use the typeset master copy of your resume to make more copies. But be certain that you use a top notch copying machine. Otherwise, you'll still end up with poor looking resumes. Another alternative is to have the typesetter produce as many original copies as you need to ensure that they all look good. A third aspect of your resume's appearance is more subjective. It takes into account such things as the letter spacing, how each section is arranged, and it's overall appearance. Some resumes simply look better because of the way they have been designed. At the end of this report, you'll see an example of a properly prepared resume. Never overcrowd the resume. Leave some "white space" so that important points can appear to pop out. Never submit a resume with handwritten corrections. You can highlight sections of a resume by using a different typeface or size or by using "bullets." If possible, use larger letters for the headings used in the separate sections of the resume. Never try to be too fancy by using wild colors, cute graphics, and so forth. Don't be overly creative. A simple, straightforward, factual resume will do nicely. Make it stand out, but stay conservative. Another phase of your resume's appearance is it's accuracy. Make sure there are no misspelled words! Mistakes will create the wrong image. Make sure that the punctuation is correct. And make sure that all of your columns line up. See that all of your facts are correct. Don't say you attended 3 years of college, but only show two years worth of grades. Potential employers will note all inaccuracies and wonder why they appear in your resume. OPTIONAL DATA There is a variety of personal data that may be somewhat controversial if included in your resume. In the past it was acceptable to include all kinds of personal data, but times and laws have changed. Affirmative Action laws have made it illegal to discriminate based on such things as age, sex, marital status, race, religion, and so forth. Therefore, most experts recommend against placing this kind of personal data into your resume. Your salary requirements should not be listed in the resume, if you can avoid it. The reason is that if you put too low of a salary, you might be paid less than the real value of the job. If you put down a figure that's too high, you may not get considered for the job. If an employer likes you, it may be possible to negotiate a higher salary during the interview stage. Another thing that your resume doesn't need is your photograph. Potential employers can decide if they are interested in you after reading your resume. They can see what you look like during the interview. RESUME STYLES There are several styles of resumes along with numerous variations. Your experience and the kind of job you are applying for will help to determine the style of resume you use. The two basic styles are: Chronological Resumes and Functional Skills Resumes. Some of the variations include the main themes of business, academic, general, student, standard, professional, or engineering. A Chronological Resume lists work experience in reverse chronological order (the most recent experience first). It includes some descriptive text about each position, usually described in about one paragraph. This type of resume offers several advantages: it is widely accepted, they are easy to read, and they show a clear pattern of your development. The disadvantages include: it does not highlight your major accomplishment(s), nor do they effectively show your other skills. Functional Skills Resumes highlight your skills and accomplishments rather than providing a chronological record of your job history. Your accomplishments and skills are listed at the beginning. Your job history is listed at the end of the resume. This type of resume allows you to call attention to your achievements. The major disadvantage is that employers may find it difficult to follow your work experience. Many people discover that a combination of these two kinds of resumes is the best way to go. You may want to try several different types of combinations before settling upon a final design. WRITING YOUR RESUME Some specific topics that your resume should cover are: (1) Job Objective -- lets the employer know that you are interested in a specific type of work. This can be done in 2 or 3 sentences. Example: work in an analytical chemistry laboratory that focuses on environmental samples. Oversee and coordinate the activities of other lab technicians. (2) Summary of Qualifications -- is a short paragraph that summarizes your experience and skills. Example: I have 8 years experience working on all p samples for metals C. Used CLIP and SW846 methods hases of analytical chemistry. Including work with a wide variety of instruments and computers. Was second-in-command of a lab with 8 technicians. (3) Professional Skills -- is the section where you give specific details about your qualifications. Example: INSTRUMENTS OPERATED A. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer B. Microwave Digestion System C. Polarograph D. Laser Fluorimeter E. IBM Computers ADMINISTRATION A. Supervised 8 technicians when the Department head was absent. ANALYSIS A. Waste oils for metals B. Water and soil (4) Work Experience -- in this section you give a one paragraph summary for each of your previous jobs. This should include starting and ending date, reason for leaving, job title and duties, and any special accomplishments for each of the jobs. (5) Education -- gives a summary of all schools attended, degrees earned, and special seminars or training courses that you have attended. (6) Honors and Awards -- it's a good idea to list any special awards you have received. (7) Personal -- information about your hobbies and activities should be included. (8) Others -- professional organizations that you belong to, computer or programming skills, articles or books published. (9) References -- you can state something like, "references available upon request," or list at least 3 on your resume. It's important to include all of the basic information on your resume. But, what is also important, is the way you say it. Don't use dull, lifeless statements. Instead use action words. Here are some typical action words: Accelerated, achieved, advised, approved, assisted, built, calculated, completed, conceived, controlled, coordinated, created, decreased, defined, designed, developed, directed, earned, edited, engineered, evaluated, found, generated, implemented, improved, invented, managed, operated, organized, planned, proved, revised, scheduled, tested, trained, verified, wrote. These words give the correct impression that you have been responsible for do different kinds of jobs tasks. In other words, you weren't just a follower. Of course, you should always be truthful. Don't try to oversell yourself by claiming you did things that you didn't do. As you can see, a resume is really a very simple document. It is not that difficult to produce a good resume, if you follow the simple steps outlined in this report. By dividing it into sections it becomes a much easier job. These different sections also help you to stay organized. If you have worked on a special project or had a lofty responsibility on a previous job, you may want to include that in a section all by itself. Example: "I organized a training department for AMCO Scientific and was responsible for overseeing the production of training lessons." Another good way to get familiar with proper resume writing techniques is to review a good resume. There's an example included in this report. You can use it as a model. Then produce several different resumes for yourself until you find the best possible combinations for your specific skills. You may also want to have a friend to read your resume and point out any problems. UNCOVERING JOBS Many people do not have good job hunting skills. They are not experts at locating job openings for which they may be qualified. Here are some ideas to help you uncover those jobs. NEWSPAPER ADS -- usually draw the greatest number of applicants, so you'll end up with a lot of competition. If you have no geographic restrictions, you may want to check out of state newspapers. Find a way to make your resume stand out so that it isn't lost among the many applicants. Here are a couple of ideas: (1) Send a customized cover letter with your resume. (2) Call before you send the resume in. If possible, talk to the person who will be doing the interview or who you'll be working for. If this isn't possible, talk to the personnel director about the job and let them know that your resume is coming. This will help them to remember your name and may help you get through the resume screening process. PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES -- these are agencies that try to match employees and employers. These agencies vary in the way they work. Some can be very helpful. Others are somewhat unscrupulous. Your best chance is to go with an agency that specializes in your field. Beware of agencies that continually run the same ad because, often, they are just trying to build a list of candidates. I recommend that you only use agencies that don't require you to pay a fee. TRADE JOURNALS AND PERIODICALS -- Are often the best places to look. This is one of the primary means of job advertisement for some types of professions. Example: The magazine Environmental Science continually carries ads for environmental professionals. Other good places to look include: trade shows and professional conventions, personnel offices, college placement offices, friends you have who are in the same profession as you. Another method is to simply go through the yellow pages and look for companies which may need a person with your skills. Then contact these companies by phone and follow-up by sending in your resume. Job seeking is a skill that requires persistence. You must not become discouraged. Keep making plenty of contacts. Sooner or later, you'll find the job that's right for you. THE JOB INTERVIEW Most people are nervous when they go to a job interview. However, by preparing beforehand you won't have anything to worry about. Believe it or not, occasionally the person conducting the interview is nervous, too! Most interviewers will make a decision within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the interview. There are a number of steps that you can take that will greatly improve your chances of getting the job. The first (and perhaps the most obvious) thing to consider is your appearance. No matter what type of job you apply for, you should dress appropriately. A nice suit is your best bet. Dark blue or a gray pinstripe are the best colors. Don't wear a loud tie. Make sure all of your clothes are wrinkle free and that your shoes are polished. Women should wear a conservative suit dress. Avoid excessive jewelry, make-up, perfume and bright nail polish. Interview do's and don'ts: (1) Arrive early. If you arrive late, you'll be rushed and the interviewer may consider you unreliable. (2) Walk briskly, with purpose, and stand up straight. (3) Don't smoke, chew gum, slouch, read a novel, or other similar activities while you are waiting in the lobby. If some of the company's literature is available, read that instead. (4) Give the interviewer a firm handshake, and don't be afraid to look him or her in the eye. (5) Be prepared. Carry an extra copy of your resume and academic record. (6) Don't talk too much ... or too little. (7) Above all, try to be natural and relaxed. Be yourself. Questions that the interviewer may ask you include: what are your career goals? How many sick days have you taken in the past two years? What are your strong points? Do you have any hobbies? Why do you want this job? Tell me about yourself. What did you like most or like least about your last job? Do you have any questions? She or he may also ask you some specific questions that relate to equipment or procedures you'll need to use on the job. This is a way of determining your overall knowledge and skills. Before and during the interview ... (1) Be positive and enthusiastic. (2) Try to focus upon your accomplishments and achievements in past jobs. (3) Find out as much as possible about the job duties and requirements of the position you are applying for. This will help you to be able to ask further questions. (4) Find out as much as possible about the company. (5) If you are really interested in the job, let the interviewer know about it. (6) Questions you need to ask include: when will the job start? To whom do I report? What would a typical day be like? (7) Don't be too concerned about salary and benefits at first. If you are selected, they will make you a salary offer. Toward the end of the interview you can ask about benefits. AFTER THE INTERVIEW There are a number of things that you can do after the interview that will make you an even more attractive job candidate. Here are a few tips: (1) Write a thank you letter. If you really want the job, say so in the letter. (2) If you have not heard anything within 8 to 10 days, you may want to call. Assure them that you are not trying to be pushy, but that you are just interested. If you aren't hired, you can still send a thank you letter to the company and ask them to keep you in mind for any other similar job openings. Also, you may want to ask the interviewer for a specific reason as to why you weren't hired. This information will help you as you search for other jobs. CONCLUSION Getting a good job that you want is not always easy. There are many qualified people after every top paying position that is available. But if you use the strategies described in this report, you'll stand a much better chance of success. Be persistent and don't sell yourself short. You could end up with a much better job in a very short period of time. AMPLE RESUME

Jerry Jobseeker
12345 Main St.
Anytown, U.S.A.
555-5555

SKILLS

Professional Skills: Experienced in operating a wide variety of analytical instruments including, Flame and Furnace AA, Microwave digestion, Laser flourimeter, and more.

Familiar with the full range of EPA and CLIP methods and protocols for inorganic analysis

Expert with IBM-PC computers and have over ten years of computer experience.

BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE

1971 to 1977 Austin Powder Company, McAuthur, Ohio
Chemistry
Chemist:
Performed a wide range of chemical analysis on raw materials, finished products and competitor's samples. Used classical wet chemistry methods.

1977 to 1982 Mead Paper Company, Chillicothe, Ohio Mead Research Paper Technologist: Worked to improve paper formulations, solve problems, and improve quality using pilot plant and mill studies. Performed a wide range of paper tests, wrote reports, and evaluated results.

1982 to Present Martin Marietta, Piketon, Ohio
Senior Chemist: Performed a full range of analytical methods for metals on all types of samples (soil, water, air, waste samples). Responsible for quality control and in charge of department supervising 14 technicians when supervisor was absent.

EDUCATION

Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
BS in Chemistry, 1971
Minor: History, Math
GPA: 2.4 Concentrated in inorganic chemistry

PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETIES

1975 to Present American Chemical Society

PERSONAL DATA I am very active with a number of hobbies including: golf, gardening, baseball, computers, and writing. I have authored a number of books about computers and various chemical related subjects.

REFERENCES Available upon request.

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Resume help: free cover letter samples and examples for human resources

Many people believe that when applying for a job, the cover letter is an optional addition to the resume. However, most hiring managers expect a cover letter and do not even consider resumes that do not come with one attached.

While the resume is in fact the meat and potatoes of your presentation to a potential employer, the cover letter acts as the spice that makes the meal worth sitting down to eat. Your resume is where your accomplishments are listed, but your cover letter is where you highlight some of the more relevant ones and pitch yourself as the person the company should hire. There may be hundreds of other candidates with equally impressive resumes, so use your cover letter to stand out.

Be original, but don't be "cute". To be original is to present your unique ability to handle the job requirements, whereas to be cute is to use the highly unprofessional "giggle factor", hoping your humor will get you a call back. It won't.

Your cover letter should be addressed to the person whose job it is to hire you for the position. If you do not know his or her name, call the company and ask. Make sure you have the correct spelling and title for this person. Of course, make sure you have meticulously checked your spelling and grammar.

The person who will hire you probably doesn't have much time for all the resumes on his or her desk, not to mention the other work that he or she needs to get done. Therefore, getting to the point and putting as much information as you can in as few words as possible will raise your letter's chances of being read in its entirety. An effective cover letter would read something like this:

DATE

Mr. John Doe

President

Big Company

123 Any Street

New York, NY 00000

Dear Mr. Doe:

Please find enclosed my resume for your consideration for the position of ____________.

Your ad in the New York Times specifies that the ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree or three years experience in ___________. I have recently completed my bachelor's degree, and I also have over two years of experience in the field.

My coursework in __________ has provided a solid foundation for work in _____________. Furthermore, my experience in ____________ began with my first job at Dynamo Company and continues into my present employment with ABC Corporation. I understand the importance of ___________ to Big Company, and am excited about the opportunity to help enhance it.

I have references available upon your request. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. I can be reached at (phone) or by email at (email address).

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Of course, you can't just take any cover letter, change the name and address, and send it off to every employer. Nor can you simply fill in the blanks in the suggested format shown above. The point of your cover letter is to let specific employers know that you have knowledge of their company and demonstrated skills that you can offer them.

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How to make a good resume from a bad one

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD RESUME OUT OF A BAD ONE

The three biggest mistakes that most people make when preparing their resume for a job search are (1) lack of good organization, (2) excessive wordiness, and (3) poor presentation. This brief overview will show you how to analyze your current resume and make the necessary corrections that will allow you to outshine the competition.

ORGANIZATION

A prospective employer shouldn’t have to peruse your bio with a thick magnifying glass in order to learn crucial information about whether your education and skill level would be a solid match for his or her company. Each category should stand out and allow for a quick read-through. Accordingly, you want a summary of your background and qualifications that can be neatly confined to one page.

At the top of the page and centered should be your name, address, phone number, and email address. If you have a website with content that is pertinent to the position for which you are applying, go ahead and list that as well. For instance, perhaps you are a photographer or artist and have an online portfolio of your work. Or perhaps you are applying for a job as a writer and have excerpts posted from different publications. Interestingly, this is the one section of a resume that prospective employees invariably forget to proofread. Why? Because they’re so used to the repetition of supplying this information that they assume they could do it in their sleep. I can’t tell you, though, how many resumes I’ve received wherein the person misspelled his or her own name or transposed numbers in the address or phone!

The next item in your resume, entered at the left-hand margin, should be your area of expertise. This can either be shown as “Specialization: Graphic Arts” or as a mini-summation of your talents which will encourage the reader to drop down to the next section in order to learn how you acquired these skills and/or expert knowledge.

The third section is devoted to your actual work experience. This can be categorized in one of two ways. The most common is a chronological listing, starting with your current or most recent position. If you’ve been in the job market for a long time, those experiences which were in the distant past (i.e. your first job after high school or college) can gradually be dropped off with the passage of years. If you’re a newcomer and your resume is a bit light, don’t forget that volunteer activities can count as experience, especially if they allowed you to demonstrate leadership, coordination, mentoring or participation in fundraising. The second format, especially if you have diversified experiences, is to separate them by headers such as “Writing, Publishing, Teaching” and list the specifics under each one. This is also an effective approach if you are applying for a variety of different positions because it enables you to move these elements around and put the one that is most relevant to a particular job in the top slot.

The next section of your resume is your educational information; specifically, your degree, major, and name of school. This is also where you will list any professional, fraternal or scholastic organizations you belong to.

BREVITY

Never mistake a resume as a forum to be chatty and conversational. You’re not writing a letter here. You’re advancing a written profile of who you are. Hopefully this door-opener will be of sufficient interest that you will be invited to come in and show them who you are in person.

What an interviewer is going to look for in your background experience is a brief summation of job duties as well as demonstrated results. You wouldn’t write, for instance, “My next job was at Black & Green which is a construction company that builds single family homes and apartments and where I was put in charge of the typing pool and did other office manager type things like deal with all the vendors and purchase orders and sometimes when it was really busy I was also asked….” Following the title of “Office Manager, Black & Green Construction,” you would identify your duties as: “Supervised pool of 15 typists, initiated and monitored vendor contracts, etc.” If you can show results or innovations, even better! For instance, “Implemented employee incentive program which cut absenteeism by 20% in first 6 months.”

The assumption will be made by most employers that each time you left a job it was to go to a job that offered more money, more responsibility or better benefits. Thus, it’s not necessary to delineate these reasons in your resume. It’s also taboo to cite reasons that either cast aspersions on your former employer(s) (i.e., “My boss was a real jerk”) or on you, (i.e., “I got bored out of my mind.”)

PRESENTATION

Remember back in high school when you figured out that a neatly typed term paper was sure to get a better grade than a handwritten one on binder paper with the holes ripped out? The reason it garnered a better grade was twofold: (1) it looked as if the student put more work into the paper and (2) it was easier for the teacher to read. The same holds true with resumes. This is, after all, the very first impression that you are going to make on someone. Would you show up at a first meeting wearing a stained T-shirt and old jeans? Of course not! So why should you send your resume off to represent you in anything less than its best look?

Your resume should be typed in an easy to read font. The most popular are Courier, Times New Roman, Bookman or Palatino. Yes, yes, I know there are lots of wonderfully creative fonts like Mistral, Sydnie, Rage Italic and Braggadocio that you’ve been dying to use but this isn’t the time to do it. Nor is it the time to pick out an exotic font color like Tangerine or Lime Green and add lots of eye-popping graphics to pep things up a bit. Basic black, please. Your font size should also be 12 point. Anything less than that will make the reviewer start squinting. The more they squint, the less they will like you and probably not call you for an interview.

It’s also recommended that you (1) not include a photograph unless one has been specifically asked for and (2) not include supplemental materials unless they have been requested as part of the application package.

The type of paper you use also says a lot about you. Invest in a nice batch of high quality paper in cream, ivory, pale blue or pale grey, along with matching envelopes.

Before you put it in that envelope, though, solicit a second or even third pair of eyes to proofread for you. This will ensure that the resume that is going out the door will guarantee that you will subsequently be invited in the door and offered the job of your dreams.

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Get help writing your resume

In this marketplace, a great resume can get you anywhere. The problem is, there are not that many great resumes out there. Most resumes contain at least one mistake, and most have more than one. The trick to writing a good one is to carefully craft each section to reflect your particular talents. Use the following steps to create a concise, inspired resume:

1. Heading

This is your name, address and telephone. Place your name in the middle of the page at the top in bold. Make sure it is larger than all of the other text. Give a permanent home address and a temporary one, if necessary, and provide all of the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses that you own. If you have a webpage, add the URL here. Employers will be looking to contact you, and don't make it harder for them.

2. Education

This is where you place your education experience, starting with the most recent. Carefully label your section, and include degree, date of graduation, major and minor. If you've studied abroad, add that here. Always place the name of an institution in bold, and if you've taken part in any special programs or workshops, indicate that here. Your GPA should be clearly noted here.

3. Work Experience

Again, place all work experience in order of the most recent to the least. Carefully label this section so that the employer will be aware that this is your work experience. The most important work experience that you can place here is a steady job held for some years, or for students, an internship at a major firm in your field. Basically, an employer is looking to see if you can handle the work environment that a regular job provides. Summer jobs can also be listed in this area, but be sure to provide only those jobs that are necessary to get across your experience to an employer. Include the number of years you've worked during each job, and a summary of your position and its duties.

4. Additional Interests and Information

Use this area to put down an volunteering work that you've done. List also any special talents and interests that you have. This area is important because it indicates to the employer that you have balanced, active lifestyle. It hints at good people skills, and diligence in certain areas. Therefore, if you are applying for a computer position, but sing opera as well, let them know! Chances are, they will be very impressed. If you are applying in computers, use this area to highlight all of the computer programs that you know, and familiar applications. In any case, make sure you use this area to list any awards and honors that you may have received.

5. References

Place in this area the names of at least two people that an employer can contact for a summary of your performance skills. Pick people that will give you a glowing reference, and include all details, such as e-mail, phone number and cell phone number. Make sure to clear this with the person that you are using as a reference, or you may not receive so glowing a reference as you expect!

6. Use Active Words

Use active words in your resume. Words like "created," "managed" and "achieved" will make you sound like an active, successful person.

7. Be Careful

A resume tells all about you, so be careful to check for mistakes and grammar before sending it out. For a general resume, get beige, card stock resume paper. For a computer resume, get thicker card stock white resume paper. Make sure to use the same paper for envelopes and cover letters.

8. Don't be Shy

When preparing to write, think of your talents. Don't hesitate to express them aloud to yourself and be proud. Employers are not looking for someone that is not interested in impressing. Be assertive about what you can do, and employers will want to use you. Good luck!

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How to Write a Resume

1. Step 1
   Write a cover letter. This is not a synopsis of your resume. Simply introduce yourself and say why you are the best candidate for the job.
   
2. Step 2
   Know what type of job you are applying for and what the qualifications are for employment.
   
3. Step 3
   Choose a design for your resume. You can search for samples that are specific to the job you are applying for, although it is more important to have an outline that best suits the job and fill in the blanks with your personal information. The outline could include objective, work experience, qualifications and references.
   
4. Step 4
   Put in the resume your objective, fitting the job description. This can determine whether you get the 10 to 30 seconds and if the reviewer will send your resume to the next round.
   
5. Step 5
   Use bullet points to convey information and strive to be clear and concise when writing the rest of the resume. Study the job qualifications and highlight any skills that meet those requirements. It is also best to use action words like prepared, directed, managed, developed, monitored, implemented, coordinated and presented. If you lack experience, focus on how your education has prepared you for the position for which you are applying.
   
6. Step 6
   Include symbols like %, $, and #. These symbols will save space, allowing you to include more information on your resume. A symbol like a dollar sign can also draw the HR manager's attention to a significant financial achievement. For example, "directed and closed first year with two million in revenue" should be changed to "directed and closed first year with $2M in revenue."
   
7. Step 7
   Highlight your strengths by putting the most relevant points first where they can be viewed quickly. Remain positive and avoid negatives such as reasons for leaving an employer and history gaps in employment. These can be discussed in person if necessary.
   

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Resumes & cover letter mistakes

Though the cover letter should be an exercise in attention to detail, there are far too many blunders that happen all too often in the job marketplace. The following are the top ten cover letter blunders that you should always make sure to avoid. Committing one of these all too common career crimes is the equivalent of telling the interviewer that you definitely don’t want the job.

Unattractive Layout

One of the first ways to get your resume noticed – for the wrong reasons – is to have a layout that is unattractive or inconsistent. For example, changing the spacing throughout the resume would be one way to achieve this; alternating between capital letters and boldface type to separate sections would be another way. Be sure that your resume is set up to look neat and sharp, and that you follow a consistent design scheme the whole way through.

Inappropriate Stationery

One of the great thing about having a great supply of stationery and writing paper is that it can really say something about who you are as a person. Though this is a great way to express yourself to friends and family, it doesn’t work as well with a potential employer. Save the cutesy flowers and animals for friendly correspondence; write all professional papers on a heavier stock of professional paper.

Too Fancy Fonts

Just like the elaborate stationery that can work against you in business correspondence, employing the use of too decorative fonts can also damage your reputation as a professional and business savvy job seeker. The best font to use is a Times or Arial font. Something basic, and that can be found on almost any word processing program.

Making Corrections

Perhaps it’s the fact that businesses themselves have been becoming more and more relaxed these days, but job seekers seem to take this philosophy to an extreme. Time and time again, candidates seeking employment think it’s okay to make a correction on their resume with white out or – even worse – a pen or pencil. Other candidates have opted for a quick Post-It note explaining the slip-up. If you make a mistake on your resume, go back and make the change directly to the document, and reprint it. There is no excuse for any resume to be less than perfect.

Incorrect Information

When sending out a cover letter, you should always have a specific name of the person to whom it is being sent. One common mistake – and it’s a mistake that can really bother a sensitive interviewer – is finding incorrect information on the cover letter. For example, if the cover letter send to “Chris Jones” reads “Dear Mr. Jones” when Chris is actually Christine. The same goes for incorrect information as it relates to the company name and address. The easiest way to avoid this mistake? Take a moment to give the company a call and double check the mailing address and name and spelling of the person’s name to whom you are sending the resume.

Typos

A major problem that is often encountered when an interview is reading one’s resume is a whole slew of typos. More and more, this type of error (even if the typo is one small one) is becoming enough a reason for interviewers to exclude someone from the running altogether. A quick spell check and a careful edit are two ways in which you can prevent this from happening to you.

Inappropriate Tones

In any sort of business correspondence, job seekers need to walk a distinct line between familiarity and professionalism. The tone of any cover letter should be polite without being obsequious, and professional without being too stiff. Don’t be afraid to show a little bit of your personality, just don’t show it all up front.

Comparisons and Clichés

In everyday language, it is likely that you will hear at least one overused cliché or obvious comparison come out of the mouth of someone you know. As is the nature of such phrases, they only serve to make you sound unoriginal. Avoid using clichés and obvious comparisons when writing a cover letter, as it’s likely that someone else is writing the exact same thing.

No Signature

One of the most important things employers are looking for nowadays is an employee with a great attention to detail. Sending off your cover letter without having signed it is one sure way to assure the interviewer that your attention-to-detail skills are certainly lacking.

Missing Resume

Another sign that a candidate is lacking in the attention-to-detail department: sending a cover letter without a resume. Though it seems like a ridiculous mistake to make, there are far too many people that send out a cover letter and forget to include what is really important here, their credentials.

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Resume writing tips: controlling exaggeration

The number one tool in the process of job hunting is the resume. This presents to the potential employer a brief documentation of your work history, your skills and abilities and your training. It could be said that the resume is the first impression that a potential employer gets of you, the job seeker.

At a glance, your resume tells the potential employer your possibility for being an asset to the company. Subsequently, you, the job seeker, have to sell yourself in the resume to the potential employer. Often, this entails a little exaggeration on your part as to your skills and abilities.

In almost all instances, the duties you've performed throughout your employment history will actually be a kind of index of what you're really capable of, whether you realize this or not. Here in comes the "exaggeration".

For example, say you were a childcare provider. The job description in its barest form is that you cared for the child or children in your charge. You made sure the child was fed, had a safe environment to play in, and in the case of older children, perhaps helped with homework and did some tutoring.

Now, when you stop to think about it, you actually performed other duties peripheral to your primary duty of caring for the child, such as cleaning up messes and organizing food preparation. These peripheral duties fall under the category of domestic services. So as a by-product, you have the skills necessary to clean homes on a professional basis.

So, even though you were not particularly paid to keep homes clean, should you decide to seek a job with a company that provides domestic services to customers, you actually have skills that would be usable in this endeavor. If you list these skills, though it is a stretch from your primary skill of child care, it is still a duty you can perform, hence you would put it on your resume as a viable skill.

The problem arises in the potential to "over-exaggerate".

For instance, if regular food preparation was part of your duties in your job as a child care worker, an exaggeration would be that you are a short order cook, able to prepare basic meals. An over-exaggeration would be if you put down on your resume that you are a chef (able to prepare full course, complex recipes) based entirely on your skill at preparing basic meals for the child you were caring for.

The key to controlling over-exaggeration in your resume is to be honest with yourself at what you are able to do beyond your primary skills with little or no additional training.

There is a useful tool to help you get a handle on this. It's called a Skill Tree List.

What this list does is categorize and extrapolates all of the skills you are capable of, branching off from the actually skills, your primary experiences, that you possess.

Using the child care provider example, here is what a Skill Tree List would look like:

CHILD CARE PROVIDER

Duties: Provide care and supervision for a child

DOMESTIC SERVICES

Household cleaning

Yard Cleaning (if part of your duties was maintaining a safe playing environment)

FOOD PREPARATION

Short order cook

TUTORING

Basic Math, Science, art, etc. (if you also helped the child with schoolwork).

Though each of these peripheral skills may not necessarily get you into the door of a company that outright performs these services, it may go a long way in either getting you hired at an entry level position or make you eligible for additional training the company may provide if they decide to hire you.

The thing you want to keep in mind as you prepare your resume in this manner is how capable are you in actually performing these exaggerated duties.

Another example would be if you were a word processor and possess good computer skills as well. Your Skill Tree List may look like this:

COMPUTING

Build and Repair Computers (this would apply if you actually built and maintained your own PC)

Software Installation

Software De-installation

Network setup

Database Entry

Word Processing

In closing, as you assemble your resume, think about your primary duties, skills and abilities you have listed in your work experience, then think about all the other little duties attendant to your main duties. Consider how they may be slightly exaggerated to show that you have the ability to perform these additional duties without having to "fake it".

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Creating a winning resume

The path of your career is greatly dependent on a single piece of paper: your resume. It is as important to a businessperson as a portfolio is to an artist. Very rarely do you get an interview before that piece of paper is assessed and approved. Your resume is a prospective employer’s first impression of you and it’s your strongest tool. Presenting a professional package is imperative and arming yourself with a refined resume is worth your time and effort.

Success begins with concise clarity. All of your experience, employment history, abilities and attributes need fit on one page. Gone are the days of lengthy objectives and summaries, so it’s a good idea to compile an outline of the information you wish to convey.

The first section of your presentation should be work history. Your last three to four jobs is adequate, but if you feel prior history is pertinent feel free to list it off. Your most recent employer is listed first, accompanied by the dates you worked with that firm. If you just moved or have lived in many places, it’s also good to include the location--city and state is all that’s needed. Under the heading for that employer state your job title and responsibilities.

The second section should include a summary of your education. College, trade school and technical training are accounted for here. You’ll want to list the name and location of the institutions, as well as your course of study and any degrees, diplomas or certificates attained. Refrain from listing your high school unless you’ve just graduated or it’s the highest level of education you have completed.

Lastly, the third section addresses skills, interests and personal achievements. Although this section should take up the least amount of space on your resume, it should be packed with information. Listing computer knowledge, activities and awards helps give your resume a face and demonstrates that you are multi-faceted.

In some cases it is appropriate to also state a career objective before job experience is listed. If used, the objective should be written in an active form like: “To obtain an entry-level position in the e-commerce industry”.

Getting your information organized can be quite a chore, but doing so will make writing your resume a breeze. Here are some points to keep in mind when composing the document.

Don’t go nuts with underlines, italics or fonts. Keep it simple with one style. You can bring attention to key factors like names, titles and dates by formatting the text in bold or by changing the font size.

Use active language when listing off job responsibilities. By using the present tense, you are communicating that you still have the ability to perform these tasks. For example, instead of saying: “Assisted customers and wrote reports”, try using: “To assist customers and write reports” or “Assisting customers and writing reports”.

Write the resume like it’s being read by a speed-reader because it will be. Doing this will help to keep the language concise and will prepare the document well for its purpose. Instead of using complete sentences or thoughts, whittle your words down to the most important statements.

Garnish your presentation with a logo or letterhead. This is how you give your resume personality. A little creative license can be used here, but remember you must still convey professionalism. Err on the side of caution--if you have to ask yourself if what you’ve concocted is appropriate, it probably isn’t.

By following these guidelines, you and your resume will be set for success and it won’t be long before you’ll be adding your dream job to the top of the page.

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Need help writing a resume?

The combination resume combines both your skills and your track record. If you are looking to change careers, and want to highlight your skills, a combination resume is a great way to look good on paper. Here is how to lay it out!

Summary

This is the first area on the resume. Highlight your general skills, such as creativity, independent working, deadline-oriented, etc. Emphasize your experience as well as skills. A good example of this would be “Designer with 15 years of experience, including freelance and advertising agency work. Extensive experience in meeting deadlines, creative interpretation, and graphic artwork. Proficient in a variety of software suites.” By writing a summary, you can press the reader to read further by highlight experience, skills, and specific background.

Experience

This is the second area on the resume. Write the job titles and duties here. Make sure that your job descriptions do not over lap. For example, if you are a career administrative assistant, make sure you list the job title as administrative assistant, and list EVERY duty you performed during your admin. career. This is great for lateral moves with changes in job titles, but not duties. List the titles! Also, add any volunteer experience, adult education, etc. to this area. If you are changing careers, DO NOT leave this information out! List all the software you are familiar with. Basically, every thing you feel that puts you as advantage should be listed in this section!

Work History

This is where you list your work history.

Education

List your college credits, and any certifications you may hold.

Other Information

List awards, hobbies (such as web page design, not baking!) and other important information.

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How to create a resume that an employer won't miss

Sending your resume to a potential employer is like saying a prayer: you have no idea what the odds are, but you hope against hope that something will go in your favor. With many big name companies, though, thousands of applications are received for every one open position. To make matters worse, many of these large corporations now use computer screening to weed out the majority of applications. So how do you create a resume that gets you in the door, at the very least?

The first step is to closely read the job description. Consider those few paragraphs to be clues as to how to get an interview. Generally, the job description alludes to three important factors in the hiring process: what the company will expect from you in the future, what they want you to have done in the past, and what qualifications you need to have at this moment.

These clues should be the outline of your resume. Since you always begin your resume with your most recent employment or skills, the first thing the employer will see is what you are doing at your present job. He or she wants to know if you can take these skills and apply them to the open position in the future. With this parameter in mind, figure out what the company is looking for. Use the job description as your starting point and then supplement what you know with information from the company’s website. For example, one job duty may be to “develop and implement internal and external public relations/communications strategies.”

Okay, so in this job, you would need to know what the company does and how the company wants to tell the public about it. But what kind of messages will you need to communicate? If you go to the company’s website, you can learn not only what field they are in, but what the precise competitive advantage is. Every company has things or products or ethics they are proud of – the key is to learn what they are. Once you figure out what makes the company different from its completion (and why, in theory, it is better) you can begin to make your resume the picture of who the company wants to hire.

Now it is time to think hard about what you have done in the past that sounds like what this company needs. If the company you are applying to is proud of its commitment to developing drugs for the elderly (instead of, say, pediatric medicines), focus on that angle. If you are applying for a job in communications, what experience do you have with publications whose demographic is the elderly? If you are applying for a job in marketing, what campaigns have you worked on that have targeted the elderly? A research position? Do you have any history with other geriatric drugs or studies?

Let’s say the company also differentiates itself from its competitors by its near-spotless record of safe drugs. Needless to say, maintaining good public opinion isn’t easy and takes a very concerted effort from everyone in the company. Again, what have you done in the past that sounds similar to this type of effort? Have you worked with a company that needed some crisis control in terms of their media relations? Have you developed a drug that encountered some controversy, and did you have a role in the aftermath? The point is to focus on your past experiences that match the company’s points of pride/competitive advantage.

After doing your research and mentally matching up your history to what the company is looking for, it’s time to tailor your resume. Since the potential employer is looking to see if what you have done in the past can translate into a good future with Company X, you need to spell it out in your resume. Begin with your most recent or current employment, and summarize what you have done in bullet points. Don’t overlook important tasks just because they may not fit the job description, but be sure to bold what fits with their points of pride. Bold, bold, bold, and be specific about those matching points of pride! The more specific you can be, the better it looks to your potential employer. List names clients you have worked with that would be familiar to Company X, or give names of projects or brands you have worked on. Do not simply say, “Created a campaign to garner interest in issues.” Instead, say, “created a campaign for Geriatric Inc to garner a 50% feedback rate on Medicare hot buttons, such as…” The more the employer can visualize what you actually did, the more impressed he or she will be.

So far, you have learned what the company wants the future employee to by reading the job description. You took your matching skills and paired them with the company’s competitive advantage or point of pride in order to look like an even better candidate. Now, you need to assure them that you have the basic skills required for the job. These types of skills usually aren’t acquired in prior jobs, but they are more like degrees, classes or languages. For example, if a company is looking for someone who speaks French and Spanish, you probably didn’t learn that in your cubical. Instead, you took a class or have your degree in those languages. The same is true for a skill like Quark or any sort of certification. The bottom of your resume is the place to list these skills. And, again, be sure to bold the skills you have that specifically match the ones they mentioned in the job description.

Of course, always proofread your resume as a last step and be sure to include your contact information. By now, you have a sheet of paper that lists your prior jobs and experiences, with the most recent being first on the list. Under each entry, you have bulleted the most important skills or duties, and you’ve bolded the ones that specifically match what the company is looking for. You’ve even incorporated key words from the job description, and you have been very specific and used names of clients or campaigns whenever possible. Not only do you look like an ideal candidate, but you’ve already done a lot of research for the interview that you are sure to get.

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Building a resume through volunteer opportunities and hobbies

Many people shy away from placing volunteer work and hobbies on a resume. While they probably think that the work they do is important, they may also feel that a potential employer will not. Many worry that employers will view placing these kinds of tasks on a resume as the sign of someone who lacks any real skills at all.

However, quite the opposite can be true. If an individual is performing volunteer work on a regular basis or has turned a hobby into a nearly full-time job, these tasks can actually help you land the job of your dreams. Knowing how to explain these duties on your resume will show prospective employers the true depth of your skills and talents.

Volunteer Work

Most people know that volunteering can be a great way to network. You meet people from different industries and fields that you might not usually meet. In addition, volunteering often exposes us to tasks and responsibilities that are different from our daily routine. It is these new tasks that are learned through volunteer opportunities that can expand a resume.

For example, someone who is an accountant but who also volunteers in a nursing home on a regular basis is expanding his resume and his range of potential employers at the same time. By simply putting on his resume that he volunteers 15 hours a week in the business office of a nursing home, he has opened the doors to jobs that otherwise might be closed.

This individual can explain his accounting experience on his resume, but he can also explain that he understands the intricacies and details of maintaining financial records in a medical facility—which are often much more scrutinized than in some other venues. This piece of information would probably open up job opportunities working in the financial sector of the medical industry simply because this person already has a basic understanding of the responsibilities involved. Many employers look favorably on a person with prior experience because they require less on-the-job training.

Hobbies

A hobby may seem a little more difficult to work into a resume. The idea of tinkering with old cars in the garage may not seem very important at all. However, the skills acquired from fixing up and showing old cars might be just what your next employer is looking for.

For example, if you regularly fix up and show antique cars, you learn the internal workings of the cars. You also learn how to work within financial and mechanical limits to get the cars running. Finally, you learn how to show the car to other car enthusiasts—especially if you have ever won any awards.

For a person working in mechanics or engineering, these skills can be invaluable. In addition, for a person working in marketing or public relations, the idea of knowing how to present your cars and actually win awards can certainly show you understand the nuances of grabbing people’s attention.

While restoring antique vehicles may bring enjoyment on the weekends, it could also help you land a job that you had never even thought about. The trick to using volunteer work or hobbies on your resume is to know how to explain them.

Writing the Resume

When placing volunteer work or a full-time hobby on your resume, include it in your work experience like any other job. Put the work in chronological order, listing your title (if any), along with your duties and responsibilities. Also, if you have received any awards because of your volunteer efforts or hobby, be sure to list those.

The real key to making your volunteering or hobby experience a part of your resume is to do just that: make it a part of your resume. Do not be ashamed of your volunteer work. The experience it gives you may just be what gets you the job of your dreams.

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Beyond resumes: when you need a portfolio, and how to keep one

Getting your dream job means showing a potential employer how you can help expand their organization. While many people think that a well-crafted resume will do the trick, this often doesn't get you past the first interview. Depending on the type of job you hope to land, you may need more than a stellar resume.

Being able to show a potential employer a portfolio of your work can certainly be an impressive way to get your foot in the door. In fact, having a portfolio is considered a requirement for many jobs. Knowing how to keep a portfolio and knowing when to actually use one can give you a head's up for that perfect job.

When you need a portfolio

For many, the idea of taking a portfolio to a job interview conjures up an image of a guy in a suit carrying a large case into an advertising agency. However, there are many other types of jobs where a portfolio can be a good thing.

Certainly, any position in advertising or marketing requires a portfolio. Even if the position that you want is not exactly designing million-dollar campaigns, being able to show a potential employer that you understand concepts of marketing will give you a leg up. Also, showing a potential employer what you have worked on in black and white, rather than in words alone, adds substance and legitimacy to your prior experience.

In addition to marketing or advertising, any position where you are designing something—from arts to industrial design—truly needs a portfolio. Again, showing a potential employer what you have done, from designing the layout of a room to designing the details of a home electrical system, can be used to impress your next boss.

What to keep in your portfolio

So, now that you realize that a portfolio may be what you need to land that dream job, you need to figure out what to keep in that portfolio. Knowing what is important for a portfolio will ensure that your portfolio looks professional, which can only serve to make you look more professional.

If you are doing anything where you design on paper, from being a writer to designing brochures or print layouts, you definitely need to hold on to everything you create. Now, this does not mean that everything you have done should be placed in a portfolio for display. This simply means that keeping all of your work will allow you to choose relevant examples of your work and tailor your portfolio to each situation.

If your profession requires you to work in the realm of 3-D, then having pictures of your work is a must. Take pictures of each job with a good camera. Showing employers a photo is not enough. Make sure that the photo is in focus, and that the image is pleasing to the eye. Don't make others have to turn the picture around and upside-down before they can figure out what they are looking at.

How to Display the Portfolio

Now, you know that you need a portfolio, and you have kept examples of your work. The final thing to be done is put together a professional way to show your portfolio. Even if you have examples of work that would impress the harshest critic, if it is displayed in an unappealing way, all of your trouble can be for nothing.

If your portfolio consists of print samples, the best way to display them is by mounting them onto hard black cardboard. Each piece should be mounted in the center of each board. Each board should be the same size regardless of what is displayed. This will create a uniform and professional look.

If you are using photos to show your experience, the same thing goes. However, each photo should be blown up to a size that can be viewed by everybody at once. You do not want to be passing individual photos around a room.

Of course, a more modern, trendy way to display your portfolio is on a web site. Using a web site can be great because a potential employer can easily visit your site even before they decide if they want to call you for an interview.

If you are going to use the web site, however, make sure that the design is professional and pleasing. A great portfolio can be made null and void by a bad web site layout. Also, if you use a web site, be sure that you use a domain name (www.something.com) rather than lower level web space (www.something.com/myspace). It will be easier for a potential employer to view and even remember a domain name—and it will look more professional.

Now that you know how to make and use a portfolio, get out there and let a portfolio help you land your dream job!

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How to write a resume that lands you the job!

A resume can be defined as a "chronicled account of your academic and employment history" that is of interest to potential employers. Since your resume is your initial contact with any employer, it can either make you or break you. You need to present a good impression in order to get the best chance at the job!

The first step in writing an effective resume is to make a rough draft of it. You'll need to first write down your personal information. This information will include your full name, home address, phone number with area code, cell phone number, (if applicable), and email address. This information will be included in the heading of your resume.

The second step is to write down your employment objective. Your "employment objective" states what type of position you are looking for. It also lists some of your talents. You may choose to write is as simply as, "Human Resources Manager" or "Entry Level Data Operator." However, these examples don't give the potential employer much information. It would be better to make your objective more detailed. A good example would be, "Seeking a position as a Human Resource Manager in a growing organization where my excellent supervisory skills can be utilized."

The third step is to make a list of every job that you have had that pertains to the position you are applying for. Mark down the employer's name, street address, phone number, the name of your supervisor, and a description of your duties. Use descriptive words when you describe your duties and talents. Instead of saying, "my organizing skills", say, "my efficient organizing skills", for example.

You'll also need to include awards, achievements, and accomplishments for each job. And, don't forget to mention any professional memberships you have that run parallel with the job you're applying for.

The fourth step is to mark down your education. This would include high school graduation, business colleges, technical schools, universities, et cetera. You don't need to include any education that doesn't pertain to the current position you're after.

The fifth step is to make a list of all of your skills, talents, and professional strengths. These could include organizational skills, supervisory skills, et cetera. This section is very important, so, leave no stone unturned! Can you program a computer? Are you efficient at certain computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or Corel's Quattro? Are you good at negotiating? Selling? Writing up proposals? Think of all of the skills that you possess and mark them down. Remember to use descriptive words to describe them too!

This section will be listed as "Professional Skills" on your resume. It will come before your employment history and your education.

The sixth step is to make a list of references and reference letters that you have. Before you use a person's name as a reference, you should check with them to make sure it's okay to do so. If you're at a loss for names, why not ask your minister, friends, and neighbors? If contacted by your prospective employer, these people will need to tell him or her about your character.

Ideally, a resume should be no more than two pages long. So, if you can fit a list of three names and their contact information, (street address and phone number) in your resume, that's fine. If not, then place this important section on your account. But, instead of making a list, simply write, "References Available Upon Request" beside the heading.

Finally, you'll need to proofread the information you have collected. Make sure the sentences aren't too long. Make sure that your resume is not too wordy. Be as descriptive as possible! Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors too.

Your header comes first, then your employment objective, skills, employment history, education, and references. But, if you have more education than employment history, emphasize that by placing it first. On the other hand, if you have had more jobs than class room learning, then emphasize your employment by placing it first.

Print your resume out on professional looking white paper. Stay away from flowered paper, smiley faces, and other "cutesy" tricks that will make you look like an amateur! Good Luck!

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Is This On Your Resume? It Should Be!

One of the most overlooked ways in using a resume to sell yourself is failing to identify the companies for which you have worked.

"Identify the companies?" You say. "But I do! How could I write my resume and not name the companies?"

Right. But unless you worked for UPS or Macy`s or FedEx, the company name indicates nothing.

The majority of job seekers neglect to describe their employers. Even professional résumé writers often fail to provide company descriptions in rewrites for their clients. And the only thing this accomplishes is to leave the interviewer with a big question mark about the context of your skills.

If you are working in a highly specialized, niche industry, perhaps each company knows the others. If you’re searching locally, a prospective employer may be aware of the company you are leaving. But don’t assume so. Your objective is to give an idea of the size of the company, what it does, and who its market is so that the hiring company can place your experience in relation to what they are looking for.

Failure to do this isn’t likely to get you screened out, as some other resume sins will. But part of the science of finding your perfect job is to stand out from the crowd. In the multitudes of job seekers who don’t provide a clue about their employers, a prospective employer will appreciate – and remember - that you did.

And if he chooses to bring you in, he won’t have to clarify the context of your previous experience - possibly finishing the interview on a courtesy basis only.

A company description should read something like any of these examples:

* Publicly held company with 400+ branch offices nationwide selling retail home furnishings

* Twelve-person consulting company serving primarily the high-end restaurant market within a 100-mile radius

* Leading manufacturer/distributor of educational toys for children with annual revenues of $1.5m

Unfortunately, inertia is often a big factor in resume screening. Contrary to popular opinion, every word of every resume is not read. First the resume gets a glance. Then it gets a skim. Then it gets a more detailed read. But every step is contingent upon the reader finding a reason to go the next one.

Here’s the truth: most hiring authorities screen out rather than screen in. Especially if they’re overwhelmed with resume responses. This means:

* if your resume looks like it needs to be deciphered – you’re out

* if they don’t see what they are looking for in a glance - you’re out

* if they don’t have all the information they need to know –you’re iffy

If you’re seeking something different, for instance a change from small to large or public to private, place the corresponding adjective in your objective, and briefly explain your reason in your cover letter. Eliminate the objection and pessimism before it arises by explaining the difference between where you’ve been and what you’re looking for – and putting it in a positive light, one that’s advantageous to the company, if you can.

Describing your previous employers is only one of easily a dozen ways to ensure your resume is read. Your resume is a screening tool, not only for the company, but for you. It’s the point man on your job search. It needs to screen you in for the opportunities you are targeting, and it needs to do that by being read, not ignored. If you want to get in the door, your resume is the only way to open it.

By Judi Perkins

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Writing A Resume: Tips For Your Success

Writing a resume - Let's be honest-nobody loves resume writing, especially their own! It's frustrating to string together all of those life "episodes" in a way that makes sense for the direction in which we are now heading. Then there are those questions we ask ourselves that distract us from the whole point of the resume writing process, like: "How much personal information should I include? How can I make mine stand out from other resumes? Should I include a photo?"

My experience in working with job-seekers has revealed a number of interesting observations. The first is that people seem to dislike resume writing because it means they have to edit their life. They fear leaving something out that could enhance their candidacy. The problem here is that too much information could cause the hiring agent to toss that resume in favor of candidates that have less complicated resumes. Resume how to can be complicated if you read a lot of the literature out there. However, I've found that the best results come from using a one page format that includes all the relevant information a hiring agent needs without all the time wasting fluff.

What I've shared may sound like a lot of common sense, but there really is a process to creating a good resume. Streamlining work history is usually the key concern for most people. Resume preparation becomes more difficult, however, for those who have problematic situations, but even those can be resolved. If you have limited work history, making your resume appear "thin," then add or elaborate on a "Special Skills/Training" section or "Special Skills/Experience" section. If you don't have a college degree or formal education beyond high school, you can still use your graduation from high school on your resume. Include other training, as well. For those with a long military background, make sure your duties are expressed in everyday language, and show a relation between that work and your new career objective.

The most important action to take when it comes to how to do a resume is to adopt a marketing mindset. With a basic format and the right mindset, that resume headache you started out with will never haunt you again. Some people would rather avoid dealing with how to write a resume altogether and seek help. If you plan to use a service for getting help writing a resume, it is important to know who is helping you. Check their credentials and background so that you can make sure you're getting someone helping that knows what he or she is talking about. Most of these services charge a fee, and it is obviously stupid for you to pay money to someone who doesn't really know what advice to give you.

Writing a resume is not an easy task but it is crucial to your job hunting success. Stand out from the crowd and get your dream job by finding out how to build a resume here: http://www.resumehowtoguide.com.

By Jill Brennan

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy