How To Gain Attention In A Crowded Job Market: 7 Fundamentals To Make Your Resume Stand Out

"Good enough" efforts are not "good enough" when it concerns your resume. You have one chance to make a positive first impression in a job market that's swarming with skilled candidates. Your resume has to wow the reader, grab attention, and persuade the employer to pick up the phone and call you. Any less and you may miss out on the scarce, perfect employment opportunity. To help you, here are seven trade secrets that professional resume writers use to help craft a resume that is irresistible to employers.

1. Write a resume with the ideal job in the forefront of your thoughts.

This is not the time to be generic or broad, as an unfocused resume makes you appear as if you don't even know what you want and instantaneously loses the attention of the recipient. Be confident and create a resume that shows how you are the ideal candidate for your ideal job. Don't waste the 15 seconds that you have to get your pivotal points across, or you will be passed over.

2. Summarize your credentials with the focus on the employer.

Don't just use an outdated, self-serving objective statement. Write a profile section that tells the reader what you offer to them. This component of the resume is "above the fold" and all the most applicable and important details should be here at first glimpse. Bring in your most engaging and essential qualifications and load the summary with examples that show the recipient you have the ability to add value, instead of just telling them. Precisely convey how will deliver that extra value to the organization and how you have the capability to do so in a way that sets you apart from other job applicants.

4. Stress accomplishments throughout the resume.

Don't emphasize routine job responsibilities, as these don't reflect how you actually performed and delivered value and benefits for the company. Instead, express how you provided that value by creating an achievement-focused resume, to demonstrate your future potential. Accomplishments are quite often linked to how you dealt with a problem, how you rose above a challenging situation, how you made money, how you save money, or how you strengthened efficiency.

3. Provide proof that you will deliver value and benefits.

An accomplishment is great, but it is only a component of the story. You need to also summarize how that achievement added value in some tangible way. Did it make additional money, conserve time, or did it aid in productivity? Use numbers to impart your results whenever possible.

5. Create a standout design.

Steer away from making use of a template when you create your resume and conceive an individualized design that helps to put accent on the unique aspects in your background. Don't go for an ineffective "one size fits all" approach. Your goal is to stand out. Not to blend by using a resume that looks like 99 % of the resumes that are out there.

6. Prioritize and emphasize your most pertinent experience.

It's typical to go back about 10 to 20 years and no more. But the real key is to keep in mind you are creating a marketing document and not an autobiography. It is perfectly acceptable to exclude unrelated information and experiences and to structure your resume so that it strategically underscores the most relevant and impressive qualifications you offer.

7. Comply with the prevailing best standards and practices.

Remember that standards, expectations, formats and styles change over time. The old resume format you were shown in college 10 years ago is likely no longer up to date and adequate. Do your research or seek the advice of a professional to make certain your resume format is up to date.

After reading these tips, if you still feel that you would benefit from help to improve your resume seriously consider consulting a professional resume writer. This is an investment that will pay you back many fold, by dramatically slashing the time it takes you to search for the job, by putting you in a position to get the job that you always wanted, and by furnishing you with a framework to negotiate great compensation.

Michelle Dumas runs of one of the longest-standing and most respected professional resume writing firms on the internet. Since 1996, Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals with resumes that get results and win jobs fast. Get insider resume writing tips that you won't find anywhere else at her website. Go now to http://www.distinctiveweb.com/

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How To Gain Attention In A Crowded Job Market: 7 Fundamentals To Make Your Resume Stand Out

"Good enough" efforts are not "good enough" when it concerns your resume. You have one chance to make a positive first impression in a job market that's swarming with skilled candidates. Your resume has to wow the reader, grab attention, and persuade the employer to pick up the phone and call you. Any less and you may miss out on the scarce, perfect employment opportunity. To help you, here are seven trade secrets that professional resume writers use to help craft a resume that is irresistible to employers.

1. Write a resume with the ideal job in the forefront of your thoughts.

This is not the time to be generic or broad, as an unfocused resume makes you appear as if you don't even know what you want and instantaneously loses the attention of the recipient. Be confident and create a resume that shows how you are the ideal candidate for your ideal job. Don't waste the 15 seconds that you have to get your pivotal points across, or you will be passed over.

2. Summarize your credentials with the focus on the employer.

Don't just use an outdated, self-serving objective statement. Write a profile section that tells the reader what you offer to them. This component of the resume is "above the fold" and all the most applicable and important details should be here at first glimpse. Bring in your most engaging and essential qualifications and load the summary with examples that show the recipient you have the ability to add value, instead of just telling them. Precisely convey how will deliver that extra value to the organization and how you have the capability to do so in a way that sets you apart from other job applicants.

4. Stress accomplishments throughout the resume.

Don't emphasize routine job responsibilities, as these don't reflect how you actually performed and delivered value and benefits for the company. Instead, express how you provided that value by creating an achievement-focused resume, to demonstrate your future potential. Accomplishments are quite often linked to how you dealt with a problem, how you rose above a challenging situation, how you made money, how you save money, or how you strengthened efficiency.

3. Provide proof that you will deliver value and benefits.

An accomplishment is great, but it is only a component of the story. You need to also summarize how that achievement added value in some tangible way. Did it make additional money, conserve time, or did it aid in productivity? Use numbers to impart your results whenever possible.

5. Create a standout design.

Steer away from making use of a template when you create your resume and conceive an individualized design that helps to put accent on the unique aspects in your background. Don't go for an ineffective "one size fits all" approach. Your goal is to stand out. Not to blend by using a resume that looks like 99 % of the resumes that are out there.

6. Prioritize and emphasize your most pertinent experience.

It's typical to go back about 10 to 20 years and no more. But the real key is to keep in mind you are creating a marketing document and not an autobiography. It is perfectly acceptable to exclude unrelated information and experiences and to structure your resume so that it strategically underscores the most relevant and impressive qualifications you offer.

7. Comply with the prevailing best standards and practices.

Remember that standards, expectations, formats and styles change over time. The old resume format you were shown in college 10 years ago is likely no longer up to date and adequate. Do your research or seek the advice of a professional to make certain your resume format is up to date.

After reading these tips, if you still feel that you would benefit from help to improve your resume seriously consider consulting a professional resume writer. This is an investment that will pay you back many fold, by dramatically slashing the time it takes you to search for the job, by putting you in a position to get the job that you always wanted, and by furnishing you with a framework to negotiate great compensation.

Michelle Dumas runs of one of the longest-standing and most respected professional resume writing firms on the internet. Since 1996, Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals with resumes that get results and win jobs fast. Get insider resume writing tips that you won't find anywhere else at her website. Go now to http://www.distinctiveweb.com/

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Use These 5 Points When Writing Your Resume To Make It Stand Out From The Crowd And Get You Noticed

With the current job market being so tough, it is important for your resume to stand out from the competition. There is one easy way to help you in this process and that is to avoid the types of common errors that get most of these pages tossed in the round file.

There are at least five different areas that you can use to gain a competitive advantage over the competition and make your paper stand out from the crowd.

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that your most recent accomplishments are listed. Most employers don't care about what happened a dozen years ago. Not only is this ancient history, but as technology is moving so quickly, many of these skills are unfortunately outdated. Focus on the most recent employment and use bullet points to highlight these areas.

Next, make sure to focus on the advertisement that listed the job posting. Your resume is likely to be skimmed anyway, so it is important to get the most important items at the top of the page. Since you should already be a good match in some ways, be sure to include what the employer is looking for as the first or second item on this document. That is more likely to stick in the reader's mind and get you the chance for that all important interview.

It is also important to stress your positive attributes and qualities. Almost every other resume will have such things as "hard working" or "self starter". It no longer means anything to include such phrases. In order to be unique, you must demonstrate these qualities to a prospective employer. Be sure to include some good examples of how you have used these skills to benefit a previous company.

Another good tip is to make sure that your very best accomplishments are included. The reader will want to know how these can benefit their company. You should be able to provide proof in a concrete fashion of how a previous firm achieved something tangible from these kinds of efforts. This may be in the way of numbers - such as sales figures or possibly repeat customers.

Writing from the viewpoint of the human resources person who will read your resume will greatly enhance the chance of making the cut into the favored pile. These are the only people who will get called for that all important face to face meeting.

Proofreading is the one item that most people seem to neglect. Although this doesn't cost anything but time, it is the single most overlooked aspect when submitting a resume. Research done in this area indicates that as much as 20% of papers are sent off with errors in their content.

Get somebody else to proofread and check this all important document before putting a stamp on it. One simple mistake can mean the difference between getting noticed and getting laughed at. A human reader is the best bet her as automated programs will only say if a word is spelled incorrectly but not used incorrectly.

These are just a few of the tips that you can use to improve your resume and land that new job! Please visit Amazing Resume and see more great ideas to help you write the perfect page.

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Make Your Resume Stand Out From the Crowd - With Solid, Quantifiable Achievements

Your resume has to stand out on a first read through to get a second read, and the critical call back for an interview.

From my years as a recruiter, and as a professional Resume Writer, I don't believe that flashy formatting or tricks will accomplish that. What made me stop and give a resume a second look when I was recruiting - and what I strive for in every resume I write as a professional Resume Writer - is strong, deep content.

Your achievements - what you've produced or delivered that impacted bottom line - is what will make a hiring authority read your resume with care, and impel the hiring authority to give you that crucial first call.

So make those achievements clear, and include numbers whenever you can - numbers make achievements concrete and memorable. The more you can clearly and accurately quantify your achievements, the more your resume will "pop" - and stick in the mind of the hiring authority.

Here are 3 important tips on ways to quantify, and communicate, the achievements that make your career unique.

1) Be certain to clearly quantify your results. This is often more challenging in a technical career than in a more sales oriented role, so here are a few questions to help focus your resume writing process.

Did the projects you delivered save money? If so, how much? Was this a one time cost savings, or year-over-yearDid you improve processes, streamline efficiency, or reduce time to market? If so, then give adequate detail on those improvements. Every hiring authority is interested in bottom line (especially in the current economy), so efficiency is more crucial than ever before.Did you build products that increased revenue, market share, or contributed to bottom line growth? Again, be as specific as possible. If you designed and launched a product that grew market share by 33% (for example), that's a valuable differentiator.

Once you've determined the quantifiable results you've delivered throughout your career, here are a couple of tips to communicate those results rapidly, for maximum impact.

2) Always find - and lead - with your "wow" achievements. Needless to say, I read a lot of resumes in the course of a week. Many have a simple, easily repaired issue.

The achievements are placed randomly.

If you catch the hiring authority's attention with big achievements, the smaller add to your image of effectiveness. But if you lead small, the reader may not get to the big ones! Always organize your achievements with the most dramatic first, and then place the others in descending order.

As an example, if you have had projects that delivered $2M, $500K, and $100K in cost savings, include the achievements in that order.

3) Use the larger number. If the percentage improvement is huge, but the dollar number is small, use the percentage. On the other hand, if you've saved hundreds of thousands - or millions - of dollars, put that front and center.

So remember! Numbers count - quantifiable achievements are much stronger, and more memorable. And you do want your career to stick in the Hiring Authority's memory!

My goal is to help technology's "best and brightest" take their careers to the next level.
As a technical resume authority and former recruiter, I am committed to crafting compelling resumes, cover letters, and other career documents that capture your career essentials, seize and hold the hiring authority's attention, and open the door for the 1st interview.
For more information, please contact me at http://www.quantumtechresumes.com/.
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/QuanTechResume.

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Resume Cover Letters: Stand Out From the Crowd!

In effective resume cover letter writing you need to stand out from the crowd. Too often because they are lazy, not paying attention or both; job candidates send in a generic resume cover letter and call it a day.

What a waste of time and effort. Anytime, in a job search, that you take a one size fits all approach you get categorized with the crowd. Those in the crowd do not get the job but someone who stands out and is unique will be the successful job candidate.

You are trying to impress an employer with your skills at effective communication. A well written resume cover letter, carefully formatted with no errors of any kind will go a long way to make you stand out.

In writing your resume cover letter, your first goal is to get the reader's attention with the letter's first sentence. Do not start letter like everyone else. To often the average letter starts with, "I'm responding to the Customer Service position I saw advertised in the Milwaukee Journal last Sunday." Wow, this will sure get their attention.

How about putting a reference line about the salutation (please address the letter to a real person like, Dear Mr. Smith and never to whom it may concern or Dear Mr./Ms Hiring Manager) where you indicate; "Re: Customer Service Manager/Milwaukee Journal 5/8/11".

After study of the employer's needs for the position you find they are looking for someone who can make a dramatic improvement in the company's customer service. Now for a strong attention-getting first sentence, "I'm an award-winning customer service manager who in one year vaulted our company from the bottom quartile in customer service satisfaction to the top 5%." Now you've got something going for you as you are clearly demonstrating what you would bring to the job.

Now in the balance of the first paragraph discuss, as in this example, your other customer service management strengths.

You should not use the resume cover letter to copy what is in the resume. Give them something that directly relates to the needs of the job. Perhaps it's supervisory skills, or the ability to manage a complex program or project, or maybe its building productive relationships with vendors and suppliers.

Highlight your background as it relates to the listed qualification for the job. Bullet points seem to work best at this effort.

End with a strong call for action. Indicate you would like the opportunity to discuss their needs in greater detail how you could make a valuable contribution to their organization.

In summary your well written resume cover letter, to stand out, should include the following:

1. Address the letter to a person. Make every effort to find out the name of the hiring manager.
2. Never use business phone numbers or email addresses as your contact information.
Get a special email address for your job search efforts. Be sure the message on your answering machine is professional and upbeat.
3. Use a reference line to indicate the job applied for.
4. Open with a strong statement addressing the employer's main need.
5. Add one or two more results driven statements in the first paragraph.
6. Highlight your other strengths in the second paragraph as they relate to the needs and qualification of the position. Use bullets to make the information easier to read.
7. In the third paragraph tell the employer what value and benefits you would bring to the company.
8. End with a strong call for action.
9. Always keep the resume cover letter to one page.

Now you have a resume cover letter that stands out from the crowd, makes you unique and motivates the employer to read your resume and call you in for an interview.

John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers, resume and cover letter writing tips and career planning at http://careersafter50.com/. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by effective job hunting after 50.

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2 Simple Tips To Stand Out With Your Resume

If you're looking to receive any interview calls, your resume needs to stand out. However, it doesn't mean you have to try out any gimmicks to capture the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Seriously, no pink paper, perfumed paper, or cramming too many font styles into one sheet of paper! Simply try out these 2 simple tips to stand out with your resume:

1. Use Keywords.

Keywords are basically words and/or phrases related to the job title and description you're designing your resume for. For instance, if you're applying for the job of a database programmer, the following are some of the keywords you should include in your resume:

database programmer(of course!)
star schema
snowflake schema
database optimization
database schema

Now don't include all the above-mentioned keywords, just a few will do. And do keep in mind not to throw around these keywords randomly. Use them only when it makes sense to you as a reader.

What happens is reading each resume individually is not an option for recruiters, or hiring managers. So your resume is probably being scanned electronically, or manually. In either case, the relevant keywords will stick out in such a scan, and hence, you'll definitely receive a call-back, maybe even an interview-call.

2. Learn Self-Promotion.

To stand out among the scores of resumes competing against yours, you need to do a little self-promotion. It's not arrogance, it's a necessity. You have to "sell yourself" to let the other person know what a great candidate you are for the proposed job.

For instance, don't just say - "Conducted online sessions to train sales personnel."

Instead, say - "Coordinated webinars (online seminars), designed to train sales personnel for higher lead conversion."

If you compare the two statements above, it says the same thing but the latter sounds more impressive than the former, don't you think?

Using these two tips will guarantee you a good resume. I mean, you'll definitely receive an interview call for such an eye-catching resume. How you manage the interview is a whole different story.

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How to Write Great Sales Resumes: What You Need to Know to Stand Out From the Crowd

Sales professionals have a significant advantage over other job seekers, in that they have a terrific opportunity to display their value on resumes through quantifiable results. Whereas most other professionals have difficulty expressing their achievements tangibly, sales professionals can use hard numbers to demonstrate how well they have performed in their jobs.

Statistics are very effective on sales resumes. Since there are so many ways that sales professionals are measured, they are able to pick and choose the numbers that work to their advantages. When creating your resume, choose only the metrics that work to your advantage. If you did not hit your sales goal but you were able to increase your market share, highlight only the latter statistic.

Here are a few key performance measurements you can use to show off your accomplishments:

* Percentage-to-plan: Out of all categories, this is often the clearest indication of superior performance. If you have consistently exceeded your quotas, provide the specific data on your resume. Phase the achievement as a percentage (e.g., "Achieved 121% of sales plan."), and use data for entire years whenever possible. If the length of employment is brief or if you are writing the resume well into a year, you can use quarters or half-years.

* Ranking: Your standing among your peers is a great way to illustrate your worth. You can list your ranking by team, office, level, district, region, nation, or other geographic grouping. You can also include ranking by product, service, or division if those numbers work to your advantage. If you excel in one specific category, then focus on that statistic when you list your ranking. Categories can include sales volume, units sold, units-per-transaction, and percentage-to-plan. Take a close look at your performance numbers and see where you rank among the top.

* Growth: Your percentage of growth is a good performance indicator, especially when the growth is consistent or when you compare the growth to a predecessor's numbers. If you can show a significant year-over-year increase in volume, market share, or goal attainment, you can make a powerful point on your resume. This statistic is helpful in cases where there has been impressive growth, but the sales goal is unattainable or has been elevated due to your excellent performance the year before.

Sales resumes without quantifiable results lack impact and often fall to the bottom of the stack. Simply listing your job responsibilities is an outdated approach and will not impress a prospective employer. Instead, show hiring managers how well you've performed your job by providing accurate statistics that portray you as the superstar you are. Don't sell yourself short!

Robert Mandelberg is the owner of http://greatsalesresumes.com/. For more than 20 years, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches and the Career Directors Institute. He is also the founder of the Job-Search Summit, a career education program featuring national industry thought leaders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Mandelberg

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Resume Cover Letters: Stand Out From the Crowd!

In effective resume cover letter writing you need to stand out from the crowd. Too often because they are lazy, not paying attention or both; job candidates send in a generic resume cover letter and call it a day.

What a waste of time and effort. Anytime, in a job search, that you take a one size fits all approach you get categorized with the crowd. Those in the crowd do not get the job but someone who stands out and is unique will be the successful job candidate.

You are trying to impress an employer with your skills at effective communication. A well written resume cover letter, carefully formatted with no errors of any kind will go a long way to make you stand out.

In writing your resume cover letter, your first goal is to get the reader's attention with the letter's first sentence. Do not start letter like everyone else. To often the average letter starts with, "I'm responding to the Customer Service position I saw advertised in the Milwaukee Journal last Sunday." Wow, this will sure get their attention.

How about putting a reference line about the salutation (please address the letter to a real person like, Dear Mr. Smith and never to whom it may concern or Dear Mr./Ms Hiring Manager) where you indicate; "Re: Customer Service Manager/Milwaukee Journal 5/8/11".

After study of the employer's needs for the position you find they are looking for someone who can make a dramatic improvement in the company's customer service. Now for a strong attention-getting first sentence, "I'm an award-winning customer service manager who in one year vaulted our company from the bottom quartile in customer service satisfaction to the top 5%." Now you've got something going for you as you are clearly demonstrating what you would bring to the job.

Now in the balance of the first paragraph discuss, as in this example, your other customer service management strengths.

You should not use the resume cover letter to copy what is in the resume. Give them something that directly relates to the needs of the job. Perhaps it's supervisory skills, or the ability to manage a complex program or project, or maybe its building productive relationships with vendors and suppliers.

Highlight your background as it relates to the listed qualification for the job. Bullet points seem to work best at this effort.

End with a strong call for action. Indicate you would like the opportunity to discuss their needs in greater detail how you could make a valuable contribution to their organization.

In summary your well written resume cover letter, to stand out, should include the following:

1. Address the letter to a person. Make every effort to find out the name of the hiring manager.
2. Never use business phone numbers or email addresses as your contact information.
Get a special email address for your job search efforts. Be sure the message on your answering machine is professional and upbeat.
3. Use a reference line to indicate the job applied for.
4. Open with a strong statement addressing the employer's main need.
5. Add one or two more results driven statements in the first paragraph.
6. Highlight your other strengths in the second paragraph as they relate to the needs and qualification of the position. Use bullets to make the information easier to read.
7. In the third paragraph tell the employer what value and benefits you would bring to the company.
8. End with a strong call for action.
9. Always keep the resume cover letter to one page.

Now you have a resume cover letter that stands out from the crowd, makes you unique and motivates the employer to read your resume and call you in for an interview.

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When Creating a Resume, Your Personal Brand Should Stand Out

Your resume is a powerful self-marketing tool. It's your calling card - your first opportunity to impart a lasting impression of yourself. Hiring managers will typically extend only 10-15 seconds to glance at your resume and make a judgment call as to whether or not to read the entire document.

With such fierce and daunting competition for quality jobs during these difficult economic times, a resume must immediately inspire and grasp the attention of the reader, positioning you above the competition. The secret is to define your unique brand in your resume.

Your Personal Brand

Branding is best defined as a promise of value - a consolidation of the key strengths and benefits you bring to a prospective employer. It's a combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that defines your unique image, one that differentiates you from other candidates. Your branding statement should sum up your value proposition, encapsulate your qualities, showcase what sets you apart from others and describe the added value you bring to the organization.

Your personal brand is comparable to a sales pitch and will make you positively stand out in your job search. Consider celebrities Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. Their names communicate a clear message about who they are, what they represent and what makes them unique.

Starting from the Top!

Since the top part of the first page of a resume introduces the candidate, it should pack a powerful punch to quickly draw-in and seize the reader's attention. It encompasses your branding "title" (e.g., registered nurse), and your profile. Your profile should contain promotional "ad-like" comments that immediately convey what you bring to the company. Some of the vital elements the job seeker should consider when crafting a branding statement are:

The qualities or characteristics that differentiate youYour consistent track record of growth and accomplishmentYour most noteworthy personal traitsYour problem-solving attributesYour passion, energy and innovation

The branding message at the top of your resume should be woven into the fabric of the resume with the same consistent theme to avoid any ambiguity or contradiction. Every subsequent word and bullet point should support the branding boldly conveyed at the top.

The most effective way to prove your value to prospective employers is to provide three or four bulleted points under each employer in the "Experience" section. These should demonstrate what you have achieved, in terms of measurable results, if possible:

"Captured unprecedented market share in poorly performing territory, achieving 110 percent of quota""Developed innovative training manuals and programs to streamline employee orientation"

Your Payoff

A well-branded resume often means the difference between landing just another job and winning a dream job at the salary you deserve. Investing the time and effort to ensure your resume is personally branded will pay dividends. It's your opportunity to be pre-qualified by hiring managers as a good fit for their organizations and gain a competitive advantage over other job candidates. A winning resume always stands out from the crowd.

Contact us for a free copy of our "Interview Tune-Up Guide". Lenny Keitel is a former Director of Professional Services and Information Technology with Fujitsu. Lenny runs Hudson Valley Resumes ( http://www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com/ ) in Monroe, NY, a premier resume writing and consultancy service with a penchant for crafting impressive resumes that inspire and motivate the hiring manager through its inspirational content, clarity, and visual appeal. Email: info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com, Phone: (845) 782-6714, Mobile (914) 391-5300.

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How to Write Great Sales Resumes: What You Need to Know to Stand Out From the Crowd

Sales professionals have a significant advantage over other job seekers, in that they have a terrific opportunity to display their value on resumes through quantifiable results. Whereas most other professionals have difficulty expressing their achievements tangibly, sales professionals can use hard numbers to demonstrate how well they have performed in their jobs.

Statistics are very effective on sales resumes. Since there are so many ways that sales professionals are measured, they are able to pick and choose the numbers that work to their advantages. When creating your resume, choose only the metrics that work to your advantage. If you did not hit your sales goal but you were able to increase your market share, highlight only the latter statistic.

Here are a few key performance measurements you can use to show off your accomplishments:

* Percentage-to-plan: Out of all categories, this is often the clearest indication of superior performance. If you have consistently exceeded your quotas, provide the specific data on your resume. Phase the achievement as a percentage (e.g., "Achieved 121% of sales plan."), and use data for entire years whenever possible. If the length of employment is brief or if you are writing the resume well into a year, you can use quarters or half-years.

* Ranking: Your standing among your peers is a great way to illustrate your worth. You can list your ranking by team, office, level, district, region, nation, or other geographic grouping. You can also include ranking by product, service, or division if those numbers work to your advantage. If you excel in one specific category, then focus on that statistic when you list your ranking. Categories can include sales volume, units sold, units-per-transaction, and percentage-to-plan. Take a close look at your performance numbers and see where you rank among the top.

* Growth: Your percentage of growth is a good performance indicator, especially when the growth is consistent or when you compare the growth to a predecessor's numbers. If you can show a significant year-over-year increase in volume, market share, or goal attainment, you can make a powerful point on your resume. This statistic is helpful in cases where there has been impressive growth, but the sales goal is unattainable or has been elevated due to your excellent performance the year before.

Sales resumes without quantifiable results lack impact and often fall to the bottom of the stack. Simply listing your job responsibilities is an outdated approach and will not impress a prospective employer. Instead, show hiring managers how well you've performed your job by providing accurate statistics that portray you as the superstar you are. Don't sell yourself short!

Robert Mandelberg is the owner of http://greatsalesresumes.com/. For more than 20 years, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches and the Career Directors Institute. He is also the founder of the Job-Search Summit, a career education program featuring national industry thought leaders.

Read more ...

How to Write Great Sales Resumes: What You Need to Know to Stand Out From the Crowd

Sales professionals have a significant advantage over other job seekers, in that they have a terrific opportunity to display their value on resumes through quantifiable results. Whereas most other professionals have difficulty expressing their achievements tangibly, sales professionals can use hard numbers to demonstrate how well they have performed in their jobs.

Statistics are very effective on sales resumes. Since there are so many ways that sales professionals are measured, they are able to pick and choose the numbers that work to their advantages. When creating your resume, choose only the metrics that work to your advantage. If you did not hit your sales goal but you were able to increase your market share, highlight only the latter statistic.

Here are a few key performance measurements you can use to show off your accomplishments:

* Percentage-to-plan: Out of all categories, this is often the clearest indication of superior performance. If you have consistently exceeded your quotas, provide the specific data on your resume. Phase the achievement as a percentage (e.g., "Achieved 121% of sales plan."), and use data for entire years whenever possible. If the length of employment is brief or if you are writing the resume well into a year, you can use quarters or half-years.

* Ranking: Your standing among your peers is a great way to illustrate your worth. You can list your ranking by team, office, level, district, region, nation, or other geographic grouping. You can also include ranking by product, service, or division if those numbers work to your advantage. If you excel in one specific category, then focus on that statistic when you list your ranking. Categories can include sales volume, units sold, units-per-transaction, and percentage-to-plan. Take a close look at your performance numbers and see where you rank among the top.

* Growth: Your percentage of growth is a good performance indicator, especially when the growth is consistent or when you compare the growth to a predecessor's numbers. If you can show a significant year-over-year increase in volume, market share, or goal attainment, you can make a powerful point on your resume. This statistic is helpful in cases where there has been impressive growth, but the sales goal is unattainable or has been elevated due to your excellent performance the year before.

Sales resumes without quantifiable results lack impact and often fall to the bottom of the stack. Simply listing your job responsibilities is an outdated approach and will not impress a prospective employer. Instead, show hiring managers how well you've performed your job by providing accurate statistics that portray you as the superstar you are. Don't sell yourself short!

Robert Mandelberg is the owner of http://greatsalesresumes.com/. For more than 20 years, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches and the Career Directors Institute. He is also the founder of the Job-Search Summit, a career education program featuring national industry thought leaders.

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When Creating a Resume, Your Personal Brand Should Stand Out

Your resume is a powerful self-marketing tool. It's your calling card - your first opportunity to impart a lasting impression of yourself. Hiring managers will typically extend only 10-15 seconds to glance at your resume and make a judgment call as to whether or not to read the entire document.

With such fierce and daunting competition for quality jobs during these difficult economic times, a resume must immediately inspire and grasp the attention of the reader, positioning you above the competition. The secret is to define your unique brand in your resume.

Your Personal Brand

Branding is best defined as a promise of value - a consolidation of the key strengths and benefits you bring to a prospective employer. It's a combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that defines your unique image, one that differentiates you from other candidates. Your branding statement should sum up your value proposition, encapsulate your qualities, showcase what sets you apart from others and describe the added value you bring to the organization.

Your personal brand is comparable to a sales pitch and will make you positively stand out in your job search. Consider celebrities Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. Their names communicate a clear message about who they are, what they represent and what makes them unique.

Starting from the Top!

Since the top part of the first page of a resume introduces the candidate, it should pack a powerful punch to quickly draw-in and seize the reader's attention. It encompasses your branding "title" (e.g., registered nurse), and your profile. Your profile should contain promotional "ad-like" comments that immediately convey what you bring to the company. Some of the vital elements the job seeker should consider when crafting a branding statement are:

The qualities or characteristics that differentiate youYour consistent track record of growth and accomplishmentYour most noteworthy personal traitsYour problem-solving attributesYour passion, energy and innovation

The branding message at the top of your resume should be woven into the fabric of the resume with the same consistent theme to avoid any ambiguity or contradiction. Every subsequent word and bullet point should support the branding boldly conveyed at the top.

The most effective way to prove your value to prospective employers is to provide three or four bulleted points under each employer in the "Experience" section. These should demonstrate what you have achieved, in terms of measurable results, if possible:

"Captured unprecedented market share in poorly performing territory, achieving 110 percent of quota""Developed innovative training manuals and programs to streamline employee orientation"

Your Payoff

A well-branded resume often means the difference between landing just another job and winning a dream job at the salary you deserve. Investing the time and effort to ensure your resume is personally branded will pay dividends. It's your opportunity to be pre-qualified by hiring managers as a good fit for their organizations and gain a competitive advantage over other job candidates. A winning resume always stands out from the crowd.

Contact us for a free copy of our "Interview Tune-Up Guide". Lenny Keitel is a former Director of Professional Services and Information Technology with Fujitsu. Lenny runs Hudson Valley Resumes ( http://www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com/ ) in Monroe, NY, a premier resume writing and consultancy service with a penchant for crafting impressive resumes that inspire and motivate the hiring manager through its inspirational content, clarity, and visual appeal. Email: info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com, Phone: (845) 782-6714, Mobile (914) 391-5300.

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When Creating a Resume, Your Personal Brand Should Stand Out

Your resume is a powerful self-marketing tool. It's your calling card - your first opportunity to impart a lasting impression of yourself. Hiring managers will typically extend only 10-15 seconds to glance at your resume and make a judgment call as to whether or not to read the entire document.

With such fierce and daunting competition for quality jobs during these difficult economic times, a resume must immediately inspire and grasp the attention of the reader, positioning you above the competition. The secret is to define your unique brand in your resume.

Your Personal Brand

Branding is best defined as a promise of value - a consolidation of the key strengths and benefits you bring to a prospective employer. It's a combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that defines your unique image, one that differentiates you from other candidates. Your branding statement should sum up your value proposition, encapsulate your qualities, showcase what sets you apart from others and describe the added value you bring to the organization.

Your personal brand is comparable to a sales pitch and will make you positively stand out in your job search. Consider celebrities Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. Their names communicate a clear message about who they are, what they represent and what makes them unique.

Starting from the Top!

Since the top part of the first page of a resume introduces the candidate, it should pack a powerful punch to quickly draw-in and seize the reader's attention. It encompasses your branding "title" (e.g., registered nurse), and your profile. Your profile should contain promotional "ad-like" comments that immediately convey what you bring to the company. Some of the vital elements the job seeker should consider when crafting a branding statement are:

The qualities or characteristics that differentiate youYour consistent track record of growth and accomplishmentYour most noteworthy personal traitsYour problem-solving attributesYour passion, energy and innovation

The branding message at the top of your resume should be woven into the fabric of the resume with the same consistent theme to avoid any ambiguity or contradiction. Every subsequent word and bullet point should support the branding boldly conveyed at the top.

The most effective way to prove your value to prospective employers is to provide three or four bulleted points under each employer in the "Experience" section. These should demonstrate what you have achieved, in terms of measurable results, if possible:

"Captured unprecedented market share in poorly performing territory, achieving 110 percent of quota""Developed innovative training manuals and programs to streamline employee orientation"

Your Payoff

A well-branded resume often means the difference between landing just another job and winning a dream job at the salary you deserve. Investing the time and effort to ensure your resume is personally branded will pay dividends. It's your opportunity to be pre-qualified by hiring managers as a good fit for their organizations and gain a competitive advantage over other job candidates. A winning resume always stands out from the crowd.

Contact us for a free copy of our "Interview Tune-Up Guide". Lenny Keitel is a former Director of Professional Services and Information Technology with Fujitsu. Lenny runs Hudson Valley Resumes ( http://www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com/ ) in Monroe, NY, a premier resume writing and consultancy service with a penchant for crafting impressive resumes that inspire and motivate the hiring manager through its inspirational content, clarity, and visual appeal. Email: info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com, Phone: (845) 782-6714, Mobile (914) 391-5300.

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How to Write Great Sales Resumes: What You Need to Know to Stand Out From the Crowd

Sales professionals have a significant advantage over other job seekers, in that they have a terrific opportunity to display their value on resumes through quantifiable results. Whereas most other professionals have difficulty expressing their achievements tangibly, sales professionals can use hard numbers to demonstrate how well they have performed in their jobs.

Statistics are very effective on sales resumes. Since there are so many ways that sales professionals are measured, they are able to pick and choose the numbers that work to their advantages. When creating your resume, choose only the metrics that work to your advantage. If you did not hit your sales goal but you were able to increase your market share, highlight only the latter statistic.

Here are a few key performance measurements you can use to show off your accomplishments:

* Percentage-to-plan: Out of all categories, this is often the clearest indication of superior performance. If you have consistently exceeded your quotas, provide the specific data on your resume. Phase the achievement as a percentage (e.g., "Achieved 121% of sales plan."), and use data for entire years whenever possible. If the length of employment is brief or if you are writing the resume well into a year, you can use quarters or half-years.

* Ranking: Your standing among your peers is a great way to illustrate your worth. You can list your ranking by team, office, level, district, region, nation, or other geographic grouping. You can also include ranking by product, service, or division if those numbers work to your advantage. If you excel in one specific category, then focus on that statistic when you list your ranking. Categories can include sales volume, units sold, units-per-transaction, and percentage-to-plan. Take a close look at your performance numbers and see where you rank among the top.

* Growth: Your percentage of growth is a good performance indicator, especially when the growth is consistent or when you compare the growth to a predecessor's numbers. If you can show a significant year-over-year increase in volume, market share, or goal attainment, you can make a powerful point on your resume. This statistic is helpful in cases where there has been impressive growth, but the sales goal is unattainable or has been elevated due to your excellent performance the year before.

Sales resumes without quantifiable results lack impact and often fall to the bottom of the stack. Simply listing your job responsibilities is an outdated approach and will not impress a prospective employer. Instead, show hiring managers how well you've performed your job by providing accurate statistics that portray you as the superstar you are. Don't sell yourself short!

Robert Mandelberg is the owner of http://greatsalesresumes.com/. For more than 20 years, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches and the Career Directors Institute. He is also the founder of the Job-Search Summit, a career education program featuring national industry thought leaders.

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One Resume Technique Makes You Stand Out

For many job seekers, writing a resume is the most challenging task of the whole job search process. Numerous of these job seekers are concerned as they have a difficult time in writing the resume which leads to results they are not expecting. It is important to remember that your resume, in today's' job market, is not only a piece of advertisement, but it is an important piece. For any job, it plays the most critical part of you getting the job position that you have always wanted.

According to various statistics, it has been observed that hiring managers give only about fifteen to twenty seconds to glance at each of the resume. It is important that your resume should be able to capture some attention and interest of the reader, within these fifteen to twenty seconds, to make them call you for an interview; otherwise they will just pass you by.

Still, there is an effective technique which you can use to improve your resume drastically. A survey which is done of hiring managers from all across the country, states that the SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATION section is the most important part of your resume. Employers reported that this section is one of the first areas that they read in a resume. If the summary is able to demonstrate solid ability to be efficient at the job position it catches their attention. They will then slow down to carefully consider the applicant and would like to call the candidate for an interview.

Also reported by hiring managers is that this key section is found in only about five percent of all resumes. You should remember that it is a powerful section which should not be left out of your resume at all. In this section, there will be about four to six sentences which states an overview of all your past experience, accomplishments, talents, work habits, and skills. It can also be thought of as an outline of you or a more highly influential summation of the specifics that you can bring to the particular job position.

The SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS should be able to speak volumes by consolidating the best which you can bring to the particular job. This will make you stand out from your competition and makes the hiring manager to have a closer look at your resume. You should always make sure you have this important section in your resume. It is best when it is placed right after your name, address and career objective. A word of caution here that many hiring managers complain is that many people lie on their resumes. Hence, exaggeration, misrepresentation, and lying should be avoided at all costs; it is a deadly error in a resume. Nowadays, more and more employers are doing background checks than ever done before. So, when you get caught, which you will eventually, most likely your get fired. For this reason, use only solid facts and verifiable experience which should highlight your experience and accomplishments.

Bryan Goldberg is a professional writer who has helped numerous applicants with their resumes, CVs and cover letters.He is a regular contributor to online article directories for instructional articles about resume, CV and cover letter writing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_W_Goldberg

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How to Make Your Legal Resume Stand Out?

The contents in the legal resumes should be well-organized. It should contain all the details in a well-organized way to grab the attention of the employer. The layout is the most important aspect for a legal resume.

A resume should clearly highlight your key skills, achievements and work history. You have to take into consideration some important guidelines which will help you to write a legal resume which will stand out from all the other resumes in the competition to secure the job.

These guidelines mentioned below will help you to draft a unique legal resume that would increase your chances of getting a job.

? The first step that an individual should undertake before writing a legal advisor resume is to research and collect information about the layout and sections to be utilized in it. Browse different websites which provide the resume writing tips and sample legal resumes. These sample legal resumes will illustrate the layout and sections to be included while drafting your own resume.

? Avoid writing a long resume. Ideally, the length should not be more than two pages. The content included should be concise and focused to the job post that you wish to apply for. Highlight the important skills and achievements in it.

? The formatting should be consistent for the content in your resume. The font size should be simple. The font size should be selected such that it is easily readable. Avoid including any stylish fonts or graphics in the resume. The law related action words or keywords should be utilized in the legal resume.

? You should not include personal details and references in the legal resume. The references included should be professional.

? You should revise the content included in the resume and do the required corrections in it. It is essential to make the resume error free to create the right impression on the employer.

? The resume should contain the sections such as contact details, objective, summary of your achievements, educational qualifications, skills and work history.

? The resume should begin with the personal details which would help the employer to get back to you after an interview. The details included in this section are full name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

? The objective section should include information such as the post that you wish to apply for. It should be short and focused to the field that you are applying for.

? The skills section should summarize your skills and strengths in it.

? The information in the sections such as skills, summary of your achievements, education and work experience should be listed using bulleted points.

? The educational sections should be listed in the chronological order. Include information such as degree, date of graduation and name of university or college. You can also include information about the certifications and licenses in it.

? The experience section should include information about your work responsibilities undertaken in the previous one. This section should begin with the most recent experience.

Thus, you can use the above mentioned guidelines to draft your own legal resume which will stand out and grab the attention of the employer.

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