The 7 C's of a Successful Resume

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The 7 C's of a Successful Resume

Your resume may have taken long hours to be perfected. However, there is no excuse to double check everything after it has been finished. The important thing is that you edit it with a fresh eye, maybe a day or two after it was written. This will enable you to see it from an outsider's perspective. Every detail of the application paper is crucial. You never know what the HR will only see during the 20-second scan on your details.

Make sure that you edit your resume in such a way that your key competencies will be recognized and be seen easily. Moreover, you have to take note of the following qualities to assure that you're holding a successful resume:

1. Consistency

Everything should be consistent in the general view - from the layout of your copy to its grammatical composition. Consistency is a great virtue to nail the first impression even before the hiring manager reads your resume. It projects your credibility and trustworthiness. So if you don't want your application paper to end up in the trash bin for the first few seconds, then keep an impeccable grammar and professional image, even if it's just on paper.

2. Customized and specific

Never ever use the same resume for two different jobs. This won't give you a very good image for the hiring manager will think that you have included non-relevant background or skills because you have nothing else to write in your resume. You can never be successful in job hunting without tailoring your resume in a fashion that will exactly fit with the requirements and taste of your employers.

3. Complete

Never leave gaps on your history and background. Cover them wittily but truthfully. You can always write 'freelancer' or 'studying for a degree.' Or if there's no other possible way to compensate these gaps in your copy, candidly indicate that you're unemployed instead of not writing anything. The hiring managers know that lying applicants always have the cunning for hiding details, and they will get suspicious if you leave a long gap on your history.

4. Clean and professional

No, the job market is not a game show. It's definitely not the place for colorful gimmicks. So ditch out your urge to use flashy fonts and colorful borders and dividers. Yes, you will get noticed for such a show, but bet that it won't go any further than that great quagmire of HR office confetti.

5. Clever

If you continue to compare yours with average application papers, you will get what you want: a place in the middle, in the probationary, or in the who-knows-maybe list of the hiring managers. So if you're vying for excellent results, tailor it uniquely and impressively. All those people on top only settle for the kickass.

6. Considerate

Have some respect with your employer's time. Accept the fact that they can only give your resume a maximum of 30 seconds. In that way, you don't only give them their respective time, you're also maximizing the focus on what matters. Guess, it actually pays off.

7. Compelling

Good news: applicants naturally have the knack of guessing what the employer wants to hear from them. Bad news: they usually don't follow this instinct. So know the personality and culture of the company you're applying to, and obey your common sense. Write what you think they want to know about you. The only way to make an irresistible and successful resume is to say what is important to them, not what is important to you.

Melinda Edwards works as a career consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her roles both as a career woman and a mother.

Read more ...

Tips for Writing a Successful Resume

A resume plays a very important role when seeking employment. It shows your education, special skills and past employment history. You should take careful consideration when you are doing resume writing for yourself. It will be representing who you are and why you should be hired for a job you may be applying for. If you are currently looking for work, it is important to put together your resume (if you haven't already) or update it as needed. As you are creating or updating your resume, there are a few important tips that you should follow.

Proofread your resume

There is nothing that says "do not hire me" louder than a resume with many grammar and spelling mistakes. If English wasn't your high point, or you need help editing, then find someone to look over your resume to help proofread it. You shouldn't just proofread your resume once-but twice, or perhaps three times.

Bullet points are your friend

These days, employers want to read through resumes as quickly as possible. When the economy is down, many places of employment are swamped with resumes and job applications. Instead of writing long descriptive paragraphs, get right to the point by using bullet points.

Explain how your skills could benefit the company

As you list your special skills when writing your resume, also explain how they could benefit the company to whom you are applying. Just listing that you have skills isn't enough. Let the company know why they need you.

Create a custom resume for each employer

Do not just create one standard resume. Customize the resume to the job that you are applying. Include a cover letter that is customized for the company as well. Just giving one standard resume to several different employers gives it a good chance of being overlooked.

Do not list every single past job

It is not important for a company to know where you were working at your first job. Only list the most recent jobs that you have had. If you were at the same place for the past 10-15 years, then state so. This will show how dedicated of an employee that you are.

Keep your resume one or two pages maximum

No potential employer wants to read through a long resume. If possible, keep your resume just one or two pages long. An employer wants to be able to quickly scan a resume and pick out major points of a person's potential. Only list the most vital information on a resume.

Allow someone else to review your resume

Before delivering your resume to a potential employer, allow someone else to review it first. Sometimes we don't see the mistakes in our own writing. It also helps to see your resume from a different perspective too.

By following some of these tips, you can create a successful resume. While creating a resume can be somewhat tricky, it shouldn't be absolutely difficult. A resume is a piece of paper that will represent what type of employee you could be. You want to be able to leave a positive lasting impression with a prospective employer.

For more great information on some great resume writing tips we have a range of great tools and resources on our website http://cvwritingexperts.com/ so visit us today.

Read more ...

Successful Resume Writing Secrets

Want to know how to write a resume that separates you from your competition? Follow the guidelines in this article.

As a senior corporate leader for many years, and later, as a small business owner and management consultant, I have reviewed countless resumes, and I have also submitted resumes as a job seeker. I have learned that there are principles that must be included when writing a winning resume.

And, as you will see, free "cookie cutter" templates and samples that abound on the internet are only partially useful in writing a great resume. They will not differentiate you sufficiently. The real key is in constructing the resume as a strong sales and marketing piece.

Whether you are senior manager, a college graduate, own your own business, are looking to change careers; or are using a resume within your own organization, everyone will benefit from a current, well written resume. There are many different resume types and each is served by a slightly different format, but they all should follow similar principles.

Let's start with a question: what is the purpose of a resume? If you answered something that sounds like: "to capture all the things I've done in my career so an employer will see just how good I am and hire me for a zillion dollar salary", you would be wrong! If you answered, "the purpose of a resume is to get an interview" you would be correct! Your resume is a strategic marketing document that makes an employer want to call you in for an interview.

Mindset and Preparation

Before you pick up a pen to write a single word, you need the right mental preparation for writing a resume. Be thorough about this because many times people take important things for granted - we use a 21 point questionnaire to make sure we have captured all important information.

Organize all of the relevant information - write down a list of:

o Problems that you have solved

o Character traits that make you different and effective

o Work history

o Accomplishments..

Put yourself in the employer's shoes - Today an employer gets hundreds of applications for a single advertised job. So how do you think they will they make their choices of which person to interview? If you answered, the first lines of the resume, usually the objective, have to catch her eye very quickly, you would be right again! You want your resume to be remembered. Make it easy to see how you are a good candidate for the job.

Have a very specific objective in mind. The resume should be written for the specific job that you are trying to get. This will help you write a resume that includes keywords that match the job description, and makes you look like a tailor-made prospect for the job. Always remember though to be truthful in whatever you say.

Be ruthless about excluding, or de-emphasizing job experiences that are not relevant, or not helpful, as long as it doesn't create a large gap in employment history. For example, a part time job at McDonald's may not be helpful in landing a statistician's job after graduation.

If you are over 50, you may want to exclude very early jobs that are less important. This strategy can make your resume look more current, minimize any obstacles, and increase the probability of getting the interview. As an alternative, extract the skills that you learned from the excluded jobs and put them in a qualification statement. Be selective about what you include, but be truthful.

Plan to include a "Power Cover Letter" that is addressed to a specific person in the company, and in it, highlight the most impressive parts of your resume that are important to your employer. Since many people do not do the cover letter, doing so, can set your resume apart, communicate why you are different, and enhance their interest in your resume.

Style

With these principles in mind, you need to also write a resume with style.

For resumes that are submitted electronically on job boards, some of these style points will not apply since they force you to squeeze your information into a specific, impersonal electronic format. And because of that it is even more important to write your resume using the above principles in mind, and then format it especially for electronic submission.

Resumes submitted online are usually parsed and read by computers that look for specific information. They score these resumes and reject those that do not meet certain criteria. All this is done before the resume is read by any human.

These software systems - Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) ignore some of the creative formatting, and subheadings that are advantages in hard copy resumes. It is therefore important to format these in a way that is optimized for computer scoring.

We use the Preptel System to test our version of the electronic resume for computer compatibility before submitting it.

I would recommend that you avoid these electronic formats if you can. Do some research and send a hard copy resume on quality paper and matching envelope, directly to the individual in the department where you are seeking a job. It helps if you know someone employed there, that is willing to be positive about you, and that you can reference in your cover letter.

In any case, when they receive it, they will forward your resume on to the right people. If the company insists that you follow their electronic submission guidelines, do so, but you may have already succeeded in establishing yourself as a person who takes initiative - a nice little character builder image boost. Submit both a paper version and an electronic version if you can.

Hard Copy Style Points:

· The basic components of a resume include:

o Job objective (what you want to accomplish)

o Experience (where and when you worked what jobs)

o Accomplishments (what you achieved)

o Capabilities (your skills)

o Education (your schools, majors, thesis)

Format these components so they fit your personal experience, e.g., a college graduate with little experience should highlight his education first. Generally, Job experience in a chronological format works best if there is uninterrupted employment. If there are interruptions you may want to change the format to highlight your accomplishments and capabilities first, and then an experience summary.

Be specific throughout - include concrete, quantifiable information particularly in the accomplishment summary

Use action verbs, not passive verbs wherever possible, i.e. use: "trained sales people to increase revenue" instead of "my department's revenue's increased"

Use white space to focus the reader's attentionUse Fonts that are easy to readSpell and grammar check your documentUse bullet format to highlight the most outstanding achievements

Use small blocks of text (A guideline is no more than two lines in a bullet or four lines in a paragraph)

Don'ts

Never do or include this stuff:

Bright colored paper (white, off white, and light gray are fine) Cheap paperSmall fonts (less than 12 pt.)Multiple fontsTyposYour pictureSalary expectations Personal dataReasons for leaving last job

Finally consider getting a behavioral style assessment that will highlight characteristic traits that will give you something to talk about either in the resume or in the interview. A DISC assessment highlights your traits in leadership, working with others, steadiness, and how you deal with rules and regulations. They are inexpensive and give you great insights into your own behavioral style.

Learning how to write a resume is an exercise in personal marketing, and it can give you an edge over your competition that could mean getting that job you've always wanted - you know - the one that also earns you more money to do the things in life that you want to do.

I hope you have picked up a few ideas for how to write a resume. If you are feeling like you need additional help in writing your resume, you can always have a professional resume writer write your resume or bio.

Greg Jordan is a trainer, consultant and business copywriter who has been in senior leadership roles for two Fortune 500 Companies.

His site - http://www.b2bcopyworks.com/ is a resource for business growth through marketing and best practices. Professional resume writing services are handled as a personal strategic marketing document and are very effective.

Read more ...

Tips for Writing a Successful Resume

A resume plays a very important role when seeking employment. It shows your education, special skills and past employment history. You should take careful consideration when you are doing resume writing for yourself. It will be representing who you are and why you should be hired for a job you may be applying for. If you are currently looking for work, it is important to put together your resume (if you haven't already) or update it as needed. As you are creating or updating your resume, there are a few important tips that you should follow.

Proofread your resume

There is nothing that says "do not hire me" louder than a resume with many grammar and spelling mistakes. If English wasn't your high point, or you need help editing, then find someone to look over your resume to help proofread it. You shouldn't just proofread your resume once-but twice, or perhaps three times.

Bullet points are your friend

These days, employers want to read through resumes as quickly as possible. When the economy is down, many places of employment are swamped with resumes and job applications. Instead of writing long descriptive paragraphs, get right to the point by using bullet points.

Explain how your skills could benefit the company

As you list your special skills when writing your resume, also explain how they could benefit the company to whom you are applying. Just listing that you have skills isn't enough. Let the company know why they need you.

Create a custom resume for each employer

Do not just create one standard resume. Customize the resume to the job that you are applying. Include a cover letter that is customized for the company as well. Just giving one standard resume to several different employers gives it a good chance of being overlooked.

Do not list every single past job

It is not important for a company to know where you were working at your first job. Only list the most recent jobs that you have had. If you were at the same place for the past 10-15 years, then state so. This will show how dedicated of an employee that you are.

Keep your resume one or two pages maximum

No potential employer wants to read through a long resume. If possible, keep your resume just one or two pages long. An employer wants to be able to quickly scan a resume and pick out major points of a person's potential. Only list the most vital information on a resume.

Allow someone else to review your resume

Before delivering your resume to a potential employer, allow someone else to review it first. Sometimes we don't see the mistakes in our own writing. It also helps to see your resume from a different perspective too.

By following some of these tips, you can create a successful resume. While creating a resume can be somewhat tricky, it shouldn't be absolutely difficult. A resume is a piece of paper that will represent what type of employee you could be. You want to be able to leave a positive lasting impression with a prospective employer.

For more great information on some great resume writing tips we have a range of great tools and resources on our website http://cvwritingexperts.com/ so visit us today.

Read more ...

Seven Aspects of Highly Successful Resumes

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Read more ...

Tips for Writing a Successful Resume

A resume plays a very important role when seeking employment. It shows your education, special skills and past employment history. You should take careful consideration when you are doing resume writing for yourself. It will be representing who you are and why you should be hired for a job you may be applying for. If you are currently looking for work, it is important to put together your resume (if you haven't already) or update it as needed. As you are creating or updating your resume, there are a few important tips that you should follow.

Proofread your resume

There is nothing that says "do not hire me" louder than a resume with many grammar and spelling mistakes. If English wasn't your high point, or you need help editing, then find someone to look over your resume to help proofread it. You shouldn't just proofread your resume once-but twice, or perhaps three times.

Bullet points are your friend

These days, employers want to read through resumes as quickly as possible. When the economy is down, many places of employment are swamped with resumes and job applications. Instead of writing long descriptive paragraphs, get right to the point by using bullet points.

Explain how your skills could benefit the company

As you list your special skills when writing your resume, also explain how they could benefit the company to whom you are applying. Just listing that you have skills isn't enough. Let the company know why they need you.

Create a custom resume for each employer

Do not just create one standard resume. Customize the resume to the job that you are applying. Include a cover letter that is customized for the company as well. Just giving one standard resume to several different employers gives it a good chance of being overlooked.

Do not list every single past job

It is not important for a company to know where you were working at your first job. Only list the most recent jobs that you have had. If you were at the same place for the past 10-15 years, then state so. This will show how dedicated of an employee that you are.

Keep your resume one or two pages maximum

No potential employer wants to read through a long resume. If possible, keep your resume just one or two pages long. An employer wants to be able to quickly scan a resume and pick out major points of a person's potential. Only list the most vital information on a resume.

Allow someone else to review your resume

Before delivering your resume to a potential employer, allow someone else to review it first. Sometimes we don't see the mistakes in our own writing. It also helps to see your resume from a different perspective too.

By following some of these tips, you can create a successful resume. While creating a resume can be somewhat tricky, it shouldn't be absolutely difficult. A resume is a piece of paper that will represent what type of employee you could be. You want to be able to leave a positive lasting impression with a prospective employer.

For more great information on some great resume writing tips we have a range of great tools and resources on our website http://cvwritingexperts.com/ so visit us today.

Read more ...

Seven Aspects of Highly Successful Resumes

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Read more ...

Successful Resume Writing Secrets

Want to know how to write a resume that separates you from your competition? Follow the guidelines in this article.

As a senior corporate leader for many years, and later, as a small business owner and management consultant, I have reviewed countless resumes, and I have also submitted resumes as a job seeker. I have learned that there are principles that must be included when writing a winning resume.

And, as you will see, free "cookie cutter" templates and samples that abound on the internet are only partially useful in writing a great resume. They will not differentiate you sufficiently. The real key is in constructing the resume as a strong sales and marketing piece.

Whether you are senior manager, a college graduate, own your own business, are looking to change careers; or are using a resume within your own organization, everyone will benefit from a current, well written resume. There are many different resume types and each is served by a slightly different format, but they all should follow similar principles.

Let's start with a question: what is the purpose of a resume? If you answered something that sounds like: "to capture all the things I've done in my career so an employer will see just how good I am and hire me for a zillion dollar salary", you would be wrong! If you answered, "the purpose of a resume is to get an interview" you would be correct! Your resume is a strategic marketing document that makes an employer want to call you in for an interview.

Mindset and Preparation

Before you pick up a pen to write a single word, you need the right mental preparation for writing a resume. Be thorough about this because many times people take important things for granted - we use a 21 point questionnaire to make sure we have captured all important information.

Organize all of the relevant information - write down a list of:

o Problems that you have solved

o Character traits that make you different and effective

o Work history

o Accomplishments..

Put yourself in the employer's shoes - Today an employer gets hundreds of applications for a single advertised job. So how do you think they will they make their choices of which person to interview? If you answered, the first lines of the resume, usually the objective, have to catch her eye very quickly, you would be right again! You want your resume to be remembered. Make it easy to see how you are a good candidate for the job.

Have a very specific objective in mind. The resume should be written for the specific job that you are trying to get. This will help you write a resume that includes keywords that match the job description, and makes you look like a tailor-made prospect for the job. Always remember though to be truthful in whatever you say.

Be ruthless about excluding, or de-emphasizing job experiences that are not relevant, or not helpful, as long as it doesn't create a large gap in employment history. For example, a part time job at McDonald's may not be helpful in landing a statistician's job after graduation.

If you are over 50, you may want to exclude very early jobs that are less important. This strategy can make your resume look more current, minimize any obstacles, and increase the probability of getting the interview. As an alternative, extract the skills that you learned from the excluded jobs and put them in a qualification statement. Be selective about what you include, but be truthful.

Plan to include a "Power Cover Letter" that is addressed to a specific person in the company, and in it, highlight the most impressive parts of your resume that are important to your employer. Since many people do not do the cover letter, doing so, can set your resume apart, communicate why you are different, and enhance their interest in your resume.

Style

With these principles in mind, you need to also write a resume with style.

For resumes that are submitted electronically on job boards, some of these style points will not apply since they force you to squeeze your information into a specific, impersonal electronic format. And because of that it is even more important to write your resume using the above principles in mind, and then format it especially for electronic submission.

Resumes submitted online are usually parsed and read by computers that look for specific information. They score these resumes and reject those that do not meet certain criteria. All this is done before the resume is read by any human.

These software systems - Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) ignore some of the creative formatting, and subheadings that are advantages in hard copy resumes. It is therefore important to format these in a way that is optimized for computer scoring.

We use the Preptel System to test our version of the electronic resume for computer compatibility before submitting it.

I would recommend that you avoid these electronic formats if you can. Do some research and send a hard copy resume on quality paper and matching envelope, directly to the individual in the department where you are seeking a job. It helps if you know someone employed there, that is willing to be positive about you, and that you can reference in your cover letter.

In any case, when they receive it, they will forward your resume on to the right people. If the company insists that you follow their electronic submission guidelines, do so, but you may have already succeeded in establishing yourself as a person who takes initiative - a nice little character builder image boost. Submit both a paper version and an electronic version if you can.

Hard Copy Style Points:

· The basic components of a resume include:

o Job objective (what you want to accomplish)

o Experience (where and when you worked what jobs)

o Accomplishments (what you achieved)

o Capabilities (your skills)

o Education (your schools, majors, thesis)

Format these components so they fit your personal experience, e.g., a college graduate with little experience should highlight his education first. Generally, Job experience in a chronological format works best if there is uninterrupted employment. If there are interruptions you may want to change the format to highlight your accomplishments and capabilities first, and then an experience summary.

Be specific throughout - include concrete, quantifiable information particularly in the accomplishment summary

Use action verbs, not passive verbs wherever possible, i.e. use: "trained sales people to increase revenue" instead of "my department's revenue's increased"

Use white space to focus the reader's attentionUse Fonts that are easy to readSpell and grammar check your documentUse bullet format to highlight the most outstanding achievements

Use small blocks of text (A guideline is no more than two lines in a bullet or four lines in a paragraph)

Don'ts

Never do or include this stuff:

Bright colored paper (white, off white, and light gray are fine) Cheap paperSmall fonts (less than 12 pt.)Multiple fontsTyposYour pictureSalary expectations Personal dataReasons for leaving last job

Finally consider getting a behavioral style assessment that will highlight characteristic traits that will give you something to talk about either in the resume or in the interview. A DISC assessment highlights your traits in leadership, working with others, steadiness, and how you deal with rules and regulations. They are inexpensive and give you great insights into your own behavioral style.

Learning how to write a resume is an exercise in personal marketing, and it can give you an edge over your competition that could mean getting that job you've always wanted - you know - the one that also earns you more money to do the things in life that you want to do.

I hope you have picked up a few ideas for how to write a resume. If you are feeling like you need additional help in writing your resume, you can always have a professional resume writer write your resume or bio.

Greg Jordan is a trainer, consultant and business copywriter who has been in senior leadership roles for two Fortune 500 Companies.

His site - http://www.b2bcopyworks.com/ is a resource for business growth through marketing and best practices. Professional resume writing services are handled as a personal strategic marketing document and are very effective.

Read more ...

Successful Resume Writing Secrets

Want to know how to write a resume that separates you from your competition? Follow the guidelines in this article.

As a senior corporate leader for many years, and later, as a small business owner and management consultant, I have reviewed countless resumes, and I have also submitted resumes as a job seeker. I have learned that there are principles that must be included when writing a winning resume.

And, as you will see, free "cookie cutter" templates and samples that abound on the internet are only partially useful in writing a great resume. They will not differentiate you sufficiently. The real key is in constructing the resume as a strong sales and marketing piece.

Whether you are senior manager, a college graduate, own your own business, are looking to change careers; or are using a resume within your own organization, everyone will benefit from a current, well written resume. There are many different resume types and each is served by a slightly different format, but they all should follow similar principles.

Let's start with a question: what is the purpose of a resume? If you answered something that sounds like: "to capture all the things I've done in my career so an employer will see just how good I am and hire me for a zillion dollar salary", you would be wrong! If you answered, "the purpose of a resume is to get an interview" you would be correct! Your resume is a strategic marketing document that makes an employer want to call you in for an interview.

Mindset and Preparation

Before you pick up a pen to write a single word, you need the right mental preparation for writing a resume. Be thorough about this because many times people take important things for granted - we use a 21 point questionnaire to make sure we have captured all important information.

Organize all of the relevant information - write down a list of:

o Problems that you have solved

o Character traits that make you different and effective

o Work history

o Accomplishments..

Put yourself in the employer's shoes - Today an employer gets hundreds of applications for a single advertised job. So how do you think they will they make their choices of which person to interview? If you answered, the first lines of the resume, usually the objective, have to catch her eye very quickly, you would be right again! You want your resume to be remembered. Make it easy to see how you are a good candidate for the job.

Have a very specific objective in mind. The resume should be written for the specific job that you are trying to get. This will help you write a resume that includes keywords that match the job description, and makes you look like a tailor-made prospect for the job. Always remember though to be truthful in whatever you say.

Be ruthless about excluding, or de-emphasizing job experiences that are not relevant, or not helpful, as long as it doesn't create a large gap in employment history. For example, a part time job at McDonald's may not be helpful in landing a statistician's job after graduation.

If you are over 50, you may want to exclude very early jobs that are less important. This strategy can make your resume look more current, minimize any obstacles, and increase the probability of getting the interview. As an alternative, extract the skills that you learned from the excluded jobs and put them in a qualification statement. Be selective about what you include, but be truthful.

Plan to include a "Power Cover Letter" that is addressed to a specific person in the company, and in it, highlight the most impressive parts of your resume that are important to your employer. Since many people do not do the cover letter, doing so, can set your resume apart, communicate why you are different, and enhance their interest in your resume.

Style

With these principles in mind, you need to also write a resume with style.

For resumes that are submitted electronically on job boards, some of these style points will not apply since they force you to squeeze your information into a specific, impersonal electronic format. And because of that it is even more important to write your resume using the above principles in mind, and then format it especially for electronic submission.

Resumes submitted online are usually parsed and read by computers that look for specific information. They score these resumes and reject those that do not meet certain criteria. All this is done before the resume is read by any human.

These software systems - Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) ignore some of the creative formatting, and subheadings that are advantages in hard copy resumes. It is therefore important to format these in a way that is optimized for computer scoring.

We use the Preptel System to test our version of the electronic resume for computer compatibility before submitting it.

I would recommend that you avoid these electronic formats if you can. Do some research and send a hard copy resume on quality paper and matching envelope, directly to the individual in the department where you are seeking a job. It helps if you know someone employed there, that is willing to be positive about you, and that you can reference in your cover letter.

In any case, when they receive it, they will forward your resume on to the right people. If the company insists that you follow their electronic submission guidelines, do so, but you may have already succeeded in establishing yourself as a person who takes initiative - a nice little character builder image boost. Submit both a paper version and an electronic version if you can.

Hard Copy Style Points:

· The basic components of a resume include:

o Job objective (what you want to accomplish)

o Experience (where and when you worked what jobs)

o Accomplishments (what you achieved)

o Capabilities (your skills)

o Education (your schools, majors, thesis)

Format these components so they fit your personal experience, e.g., a college graduate with little experience should highlight his education first. Generally, Job experience in a chronological format works best if there is uninterrupted employment. If there are interruptions you may want to change the format to highlight your accomplishments and capabilities first, and then an experience summary.

Be specific throughout - include concrete, quantifiable information particularly in the accomplishment summary

Use action verbs, not passive verbs wherever possible, i.e. use: "trained sales people to increase revenue" instead of "my department's revenue's increased"

Use white space to focus the reader's attentionUse Fonts that are easy to readSpell and grammar check your documentUse bullet format to highlight the most outstanding achievements

Use small blocks of text (A guideline is no more than two lines in a bullet or four lines in a paragraph)

Don'ts

Never do or include this stuff:

Bright colored paper (white, off white, and light gray are fine) Cheap paperSmall fonts (less than 12 pt.)Multiple fontsTyposYour pictureSalary expectations Personal dataReasons for leaving last job

Finally consider getting a behavioral style assessment that will highlight characteristic traits that will give you something to talk about either in the resume or in the interview. A DISC assessment highlights your traits in leadership, working with others, steadiness, and how you deal with rules and regulations. They are inexpensive and give you great insights into your own behavioral style.

Learning how to write a resume is an exercise in personal marketing, and it can give you an edge over your competition that could mean getting that job you've always wanted - you know - the one that also earns you more money to do the things in life that you want to do.

I hope you have picked up a few ideas for how to write a resume. If you are feeling like you need additional help in writing your resume, you can always have a professional resume writer write your resume or bio.

Greg Jordan is a trainer, consultant and business copywriter who has been in senior leadership roles for two Fortune 500 Companies.

His site - http://www.b2bcopyworks.com/ is a resource for business growth through marketing and best practices. Professional resume writing services are handled as a personal strategic marketing document and are very effective.

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Seven Aspects of Highly Successful Resumes

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Successful Resume Writing Secrets

Want to know how to write a resume that separates you from your competition? Follow the guidelines in this article.

As a senior corporate leader for many years, and later, as a small business owner and management consultant, I have reviewed countless resumes, and I have also submitted resumes as a job seeker. I have learned that there are principles that must be included when writing a winning resume.

And, as you will see, free "cookie cutter" templates and samples that abound on the internet are only partially useful in writing a great resume. They will not differentiate you sufficiently. The real key is in constructing the resume as a strong sales and marketing piece.

Whether you are senior manager, a college graduate, own your own business, are looking to change careers; or are using a resume within your own organization, everyone will benefit from a current, well written resume. There are many different resume types and each is served by a slightly different format, but they all should follow similar principles.

Let's start with a question: what is the purpose of a resume? If you answered something that sounds like: "to capture all the things I've done in my career so an employer will see just how good I am and hire me for a zillion dollar salary", you would be wrong! If you answered, "the purpose of a resume is to get an interview" you would be correct! Your resume is a strategic marketing document that makes an employer want to call you in for an interview.

Mindset and Preparation

Before you pick up a pen to write a single word, you need the right mental preparation for writing a resume. Be thorough about this because many times people take important things for granted - we use a 21 point questionnaire to make sure we have captured all important information.

Organize all of the relevant information - write down a list of:

o Problems that you have solved

o Character traits that make you different and effective

o Work history

o Accomplishments..

Put yourself in the employer's shoes - Today an employer gets hundreds of applications for a single advertised job. So how do you think they will they make their choices of which person to interview? If you answered, the first lines of the resume, usually the objective, have to catch her eye very quickly, you would be right again! You want your resume to be remembered. Make it easy to see how you are a good candidate for the job.

Have a very specific objective in mind. The resume should be written for the specific job that you are trying to get. This will help you write a resume that includes keywords that match the job description, and makes you look like a tailor-made prospect for the job. Always remember though to be truthful in whatever you say.

Be ruthless about excluding, or de-emphasizing job experiences that are not relevant, or not helpful, as long as it doesn't create a large gap in employment history. For example, a part time job at McDonald's may not be helpful in landing a statistician's job after graduation.

If you are over 50, you may want to exclude very early jobs that are less important. This strategy can make your resume look more current, minimize any obstacles, and increase the probability of getting the interview. As an alternative, extract the skills that you learned from the excluded jobs and put them in a qualification statement. Be selective about what you include, but be truthful.

Plan to include a "Power Cover Letter" that is addressed to a specific person in the company, and in it, highlight the most impressive parts of your resume that are important to your employer. Since many people do not do the cover letter, doing so, can set your resume apart, communicate why you are different, and enhance their interest in your resume.

Style

With these principles in mind, you need to also write a resume with style.

For resumes that are submitted electronically on job boards, some of these style points will not apply since they force you to squeeze your information into a specific, impersonal electronic format. And because of that it is even more important to write your resume using the above principles in mind, and then format it especially for electronic submission.

Resumes submitted online are usually parsed and read by computers that look for specific information. They score these resumes and reject those that do not meet certain criteria. All this is done before the resume is read by any human.

These software systems - Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) ignore some of the creative formatting, and subheadings that are advantages in hard copy resumes. It is therefore important to format these in a way that is optimized for computer scoring.

We use the Preptel System to test our version of the electronic resume for computer compatibility before submitting it.

I would recommend that you avoid these electronic formats if you can. Do some research and send a hard copy resume on quality paper and matching envelope, directly to the individual in the department where you are seeking a job. It helps if you know someone employed there, that is willing to be positive about you, and that you can reference in your cover letter.

In any case, when they receive it, they will forward your resume on to the right people. If the company insists that you follow their electronic submission guidelines, do so, but you may have already succeeded in establishing yourself as a person who takes initiative - a nice little character builder image boost. Submit both a paper version and an electronic version if you can.

Hard Copy Style Points:

· The basic components of a resume include:

o Job objective (what you want to accomplish)

o Experience (where and when you worked what jobs)

o Accomplishments (what you achieved)

o Capabilities (your skills)

o Education (your schools, majors, thesis)

Format these components so they fit your personal experience, e.g., a college graduate with little experience should highlight his education first. Generally, Job experience in a chronological format works best if there is uninterrupted employment. If there are interruptions you may want to change the format to highlight your accomplishments and capabilities first, and then an experience summary.

Be specific throughout - include concrete, quantifiable information particularly in the accomplishment summary

Use action verbs, not passive verbs wherever possible, i.e. use: "trained sales people to increase revenue" instead of "my department's revenue's increased"

Use white space to focus the reader's attentionUse Fonts that are easy to readSpell and grammar check your documentUse bullet format to highlight the most outstanding achievements

Use small blocks of text (A guideline is no more than two lines in a bullet or four lines in a paragraph)

Don'ts

Never do or include this stuff:

Bright colored paper (white, off white, and light gray are fine) Cheap paperSmall fonts (less than 12 pt.)Multiple fontsTyposYour pictureSalary expectations Personal dataReasons for leaving last job

Finally consider getting a behavioral style assessment that will highlight characteristic traits that will give you something to talk about either in the resume or in the interview. A DISC assessment highlights your traits in leadership, working with others, steadiness, and how you deal with rules and regulations. They are inexpensive and give you great insights into your own behavioral style.

Learning how to write a resume is an exercise in personal marketing, and it can give you an edge over your competition that could mean getting that job you've always wanted - you know - the one that also earns you more money to do the things in life that you want to do.

I hope you have picked up a few ideas for how to write a resume. If you are feeling like you need additional help in writing your resume, you can always have a professional resume writer write your resume or bio.

Greg Jordan is a trainer, consultant and business copywriter who has been in senior leadership roles for two Fortune 500 Companies.

His site - http://www.b2bcopyworks.com/ is a resource for business growth through marketing and best practices. Professional resume writing services are handled as a personal strategic marketing document and are very effective.

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Seven Aspects of Highly Successful Resumes

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12 Top Tips to Write a Successful CV in English

Writing a CV in your own language can be a difficult task. Writing it in another language will be ten times harder. A different language, recruitment culture and regulations will have to be taken into account before sending your cherished CV.

If you are applying for a job with an English speaking employer, you will need to follow certain rules.

1- Find a Native English speaker. Even if you are fluent in English, always ask someone who is a native English speaker to check your CV. Grammar and spelling are of paramount importance in an English CV so ask for help.

2- American or UK English? As an example, if you apply for a job with a British company, make sure that you are using British English.

3- Make your CV short and concise. English CVs should be no longer than one to two pages.

4- Unless it is requested by the employer, do not include any photo in your CV. Photos are fine if you register your resume on a job board, but they should not be sent with your CV when you apply for a job.

5- In the UK and the US in particular, some personal details should not be mentioned. Date of Birth should be removed due to age discrimination laws. However, do include your email address, postal address, telephone and mobile phone numbers.

6- Avoid writing CV or Curriculum Vitae at the top of your CV. It would be stating the obvious.

7- Write a summary describing your profile and objectives in a few sentences at the top of your CV. Make sure that you include some of the words stated in the job advert.

8- Use action words such as "implemented", "created", "organised" throughout your CV. Mention facts, figures and any result that you have achieved. Make them relevant to the job you apply for.

9- They are different CV formats that you can use; chronological or functional CV are the most common ones. The key is that, whatever format you use, your CV should be easy and quick to read. Whether you describe your work experience chronologically or around your main skills, you should also always match it with what the employer is asking for: what skills, what behavioural traits, what work experience.

10- Always try to find your qualifications' equivalent in your employers' country and state them on your CV. If you cannot find equivalent qualifications, try to explain them.

11- Include your level of English and of any other languages that you possess. Add any English tests that you have taken.

12- Finally, always send your CV with a cover letter!

Your CV is one of your main selling tools. As in any sales situation, you must meet your customer's needs and give them what they want. Ensuring that your CV will meet local recruitment habits is important. Following the tips stated above will help you. However, you must also remember that adapting your CV (and your cover letter) to the job advert is crucial. It will differentiate you from the pack and make it easier for the recruiter to invite you to an interview. Good luck!

Ivone is the Business Development Manager at EnglishPortugueseJobs.com, a job board specialised in English/Portuguese Bilingual job seekers.

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Resume Critique: Key to Successful Employment

People always have the tendency to become mediocre and complacent. They settle for the ordinary and they remain just the same each day for the belief that they can be happy and blessed while they are at their comfort zones. Unfortunately because of this, many people never get to explore options to improve themselves. Putting this situation in the case of getting employed, only a few out of a thousand get an interview and only one or two move to the last stage because many others fail to exhaust their efforts in writing their resumes and preparing for the interviews.

Though it is never wrong to get satisfaction on things, it is also never wrong to leave your comfort zone and expand your horizon. Through self-development and professional assistance of others, people can do more and attain more than just being a second-rate unemployed human being.

Speaking of employment and recruitment, it follows then that career aspirants should not underestimate the power of a well-written and organized application. They should not feel easily content with how their copies look at first sight and they must spend time getting other people's help for further improvement. In this case, what they could do is to have their colleagues or a professional career specialist conduct a resume critique.

How Can a Critique Help?

Even if hopefuls are already assured of the effectiveness of their own resumes, there is still a great tendency that their applications are not what most employers prefer. And even if their applications are accepted, there is also the possibility that they might not be the exact application that best exemplify the candidate's capabilities.

In order to achieve excellence in any document, it is very much advised to have a just and non-discriminatory review of it. A specialized third-party point of view from a skilled critic, apart from being capable of seeing the copy in full view, can also provide additional instructions to the aspirant. They would not only make the application effectively targeted to the needs of the employer, but they would also be able to transform the application in a way that best suits the applicant's capacities and competencies.

Is Resume Critique an Assurance to Employment?

More often than not, people take chances only if they are already assured of the positive outcome of their efforts. They fear taking risks because they are afraid to fail.

Same with employment, people often probe into the effectiveness of a particular service because they want assurance. Sadly, in terms of career and success, this is never possible. In taking risks, there is always the possibility of succeeding or failing.

Resume critique, though not an absolute assurance to employment, is a key toward successful employment. Since people are advised of the most effective ways to advance and fortify their content and are likewise warned of the possible errors on their applications, they increase the chance of getting employed and decrease the tendency to be rejected and overlooked by employers. With the help of expert opinions and recommendations from top career specialists, they are also given additional tips on getting into the final list and later provide pieces of advice on guaranteeing their presence in the last round of the recruitment process.

In any given situation, it is very vital to have someone evaluate and assess one's goings-on. Not only will it assure a route to perfection, but it will also warrant the least possibility for disappointment and failure.

Melinda Edwards works as a career consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her roles both as a career woman and a mother.

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The Best Resume for a Successful Job Hunt

In this difficult time when there is ultra-tough competition in the job market, people's careers depend on the strength of their resumes in order to obtain the desired job. Potential employers or hiring managers use it to decide whether to schedule them for an interview or not. With this, it is important that you, as a job aspirant, should provide directed and captivating reasons for them to give you a call.

If time and time again employers receive application documents that tell the same boring things, the tendency is to have very little patience to delve into it. Readers are looking for something that makes a certain applicant different from everyone else. Being a job seeker, what should you do about it? You definitely don't want to be one of those candidates with "trashed application." Highlight your potentials and be ahead of the competition.

Make sure that your copy quickly communicates who you are. That defines the value you can bring to your prospective employer. Hurry up and go with the best resume that will give the overall impression of you being the most suitable candidate for the position.

Highlight your potentials

Let the reader know about your specific work, industry experience, and position you have held for these will be the bases of your competitiveness. This is also the reason why it is vital to have your professional summary, with the purpose of summarizing your experience and highlighting the extents of your background. Make this part easily seen (place at or near the beginning of your document) to entice its reader at once.

Be ahead of the competition

Current research proves that for every 200 application documents submitted to a typical employer, just one interview is granted. The same study reveals that applications are quickly skimmed rather than thoroughly read. Given this, it is important that your reader's interest is initially focused on the top half of the first page. Let your personal strength and relevant professional experiences occupy the main features to instantly make a hit to its reader. Make sure to reveal your potentials in a short and concise manner to avoid boredom on the part of its reader.

Be the best candidate

Remember to focus your objectives on what the employer really wants. For this reason, it is significant to know the needs of the company or the group you hope to join. Tell that you are a potential partner for the company in achieving success for this will give you an edge over the other candidates. Keep in mind that employers usually look for a candidate who describes his great abilities and personal strong points that are relevant to the position.

Furthermore, always remember that your copy should be thoroughly edited to ensure that it is free from misspellings and grammar mistakes. Indeed, strong language, powerful key words, and dynamic phrasing are what will compose an effective application document.

As a final note, if your document captures the attention of the hiring manager at a glance, you are half way there! Certainly, you will have the best resume that will make your job hunt a successful experience.

Kate Ross-Myers works for a New-York based human resources magazine. She has a broad experience in preparing resource materials on hiring, recruitment, and training. Kate also speaks on forums and conventions on employee wellness and growth.

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Laying the Groundwork to Successful Resume Positioning

To lay the groundwork to position your resume with an employer, you must identify your resume's preliminary audience and tailor your resume accordingly. This step lays the groundwork for successful appraisal and an interview. Resumes are typically screened as follows:

1. Initially, your resume will probably be scanned by a lower ranked employee within the human resources department, the company president's office, or the recruiting office of the firm or organization you are applying to. Since your resume has only approximately 15 seconds to make it through this screening, it is important that you make your resume easy to review, fully demonstrate your targeted goal, summarize your unique qualifications, and use strong supporting keywords to demonstrate your core abilities.

2. A keyword scan is often then performed by the employer as a time saver. This is accomplished by scanning your resume into a special database system, such as Resumix, for relevant keywords. By using a keyword scan, a company can locate candidates that possess the particular talents and abilities they are in search of. The more your resumes keywords match those of the employers, the higher your placement on the created "preferred" list of resumes. Equally as important to placing the correct keywords is ensuring that your font is also acceptable to the scanning process. This means not using non-stylistic fonts, underlining, fonts under 10 pts., or tables.

3. After the initial scan process has occurred, the resume will typically go to the hiring manager for a final review. This is the part where your resume must shine and be fully unique! The hiring manager knows what he/she is looking for and if you have a strong, well written resume then you will stand out from your competition. To achieve this, It is important to avoid being too wordy and to use concise, well written statements. Your resume should tell a story to the hiring manager about how you have arrived where you are, what you have done in your career, and what you can do for their organization.

Thoroughly review your resume including how you have put forth your information, and how it represents you as a potential employee. Think of your competitors. What makes you stand out? What added value are you bringing to the employer? Through a dynamic, strategically written resume, you can demonstrate you are ready to interview with the employer's decision maker and land the job of your dreams!

C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional career consultant, mentor, and résumé/ biographical writer. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ © Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.

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Attorney Resume Writing Service - Your First Step to a Successful Legal Career!

What is an Attorney Resume Writing Service? In today's market the resume has become one of the most quintessential job tools. Sure, it never helps to have a parent or family relative who is a partner at an AMLAW 100 firm, or a best friend who works at a firm and has the inside track about a new position. But, unless you graduated in the top 10% of a top 10 law school, in this economy, you will be fighting amongst the masses for one of the limited positions available in today's market.

Think of it like this: There are at least 250 - 300 law schools in the United States - each one with at least 100 students in the graduating class (Though most have more). That is at least 25000 new graduates you will be competing against for the very limited number of jobs. That is why it is crucial that you have a streamlined, concise, and creative resume to assist you in your job search. Here are some tips to help you.

What is an attorney certified professional resume writer? In order to become a certified professional resume writer, the writer must pass a series of grammar, spelling, and writing tests. Is it as hard as passing the bar exam? No - BUT, it lets you know that the person you are hiring to write your resume is at least proficient to do so. For the legal field, it is important that you have a writer who understands the legal field and preferably has practiced law. Otherwise, you might have a resume with word "judgement" instead of "judgment" or someone who thinks "Discovery" is "a really cool station on cable.

Work with your writer: Be sure to interview your writer. I understand you are busy, and life moves pretty fast, BUT if you want to make sure that your writer is a good fit, then you have to communicate with him or her. This might mean speaking on the telephone or communicating by email, but do not forego this step.

Due Diligence: Do some research on the writer and the company. Are the writers certified? How many years of experience do they have? Have they been published? Not every resume writer needs to write articles or have 20 years of experience to be effective - but remember the old adage "You get what you pay for."

Stay away from large companies: Most large resume companies retain part-time, contract resume writers without any true resume writing experience. They will rush through your resume, like a factory or a mill law firm. Research the smaller companies, and again be sure to interview your writer - in the end you will thank me for it.

Good Luck!

Matthew S. is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, former practicing attorney ( and Member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and National Resume Writer Association. He is a nationally renowned resume writer and has worked with top companies, law firms, Fortune 50 Executives and federal agencies. He is the owner of http://www.bestattorneyresumes.com/ and http://www.bestparalegalresumes.com/

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3 Strategies for Writing a Successful Six-Figure Resume

At some point in every executive's career, they've had to write their first six-figure resume-or at least the resume they hoped would win them a six-figure income. If you are working on your first executive resume, then this is undoubtedly a great time in your career. Make the most of it by taking the right resume-writing steps.

Show You're a Great Return On Investment (ROI)

Probably one of the biggest investments an employer can make is in taking on a new worker, especially one who is earning a high income. They expect a lot from you and hope you will be a great return on their investment. It's up to you to prove that you are.

A great way to do so is by quantifying how you've made a difference with past employers. By showing how many people you've managed, how much money you've earned for the company, how many weeks or months that you managed specific projects, etc., you not only quantify your results but help the prospective employer to envision how you can do the same for them.

Research the Company to Which You're Applying

When applying for an executive-level job, it's important to know as much as possible about the company in which you're interested. And getting your hands on the job posting is just the beginning.

Once you have gained insight into the job position, it's time to conduct research on the company. Try looking for current news to see if the company has encountered any struggles. If it has, you could think of ways to solve their problems by showing how you've addressed similar issues in the past.

Prove Your Knowledge of the Industry Through Branding

As a beginning executive, it's important to prove to an employer that you have a vast knowledge of your industry. How better to do that than by branding yourself as an expert in your field.

If you already have an industry-related blog, then add the URL to your resume. Also, list speaking engagements, publications you've been quoted in, organizational affiliations, etc. It's great to show how much you know about your industry and how you're respected for your wisdom. The more information you can add to your resume to prove it, the better.

It's a great feeling to know that you're taking great strides in your career-especially if you're stepping into the six-figure realm. With the executive-level right in your sights, it's important that you do what it takes to show that you're definitely in the right place.

An exceptional resume authority, Jessica M Holbrook and her team of credentialed writers partner with professional- and executive-level candidates to open doors to jobs at prestigious corporations, achieving over a 99% interview-winning success rate. For examples of branded resumes and Great Resumes Fast's blog on resume writing tips, visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

Jessica M Holbrook, expert resume writer, is a nationally-recognized resume authority and former HR Manager who has achieved over a 99% success rate securing interviews with prestigious organizations through exclusive, personal branding strategies. The President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast, she and her team partner with professional- and executive-level candidates.

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

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Successful Resume Writing Tips For Job Seekers

Dear job seekers, do you know that your resume is actually your personal calling card? In general, most of the prospective employers in the job market "meet" the job applicants' resume first before meeting up with them in person. In other words, your resume plays an extremely important role in your job search process.
Here are some great tips which you can apply to produce outstanding resume for yourself.

Tip No.1: State your objective clearly

The very first thing you need to do is to make your objective specific. What is the job position you are applying? State it clearly at the first place.

Tip No. 2: Include positive information only

If you are a fresh graduate, let me tell you this. Your resume is not a job application. You don't need to request for anything from the potential employers. What you need to do is to include all the positive information about yourself, such as your personal background, your highest education level, your strengths and your competencies. If possible, you are advised not to include the expected salary in the resume because if you request for high salary, the prospective employers may exclude you immediately from their lists. If you are suffering from poor credit scores, you are reminded not to include such negative information in your resume. Bear in mind that the items you include in your resume are able to show that you are the best person for the job.

Tip No. 3: Choose the right font for your resume

Your resume must be readable. No handwriting is allowed. When you are preparing the resume, you are advised to use one type of font only and make sure that the font size is easy to read. The layout must be tidy and attractive. Avoid fancy design.

Tip No. 4: Keep your resume short

Your resume is not a life history. Do not produce a lengthy resume because nobody is interested to go through it completely. Keep it within 3 pages. Make sure you don't produce it in essay format. You are suggested to use bullets wisely.

Tip No. 5: Proofread your resume

After you have got your resume done, you are reminded to proofread it. You must make sure that your resume is free from spelling errors. In order to provide good impression to the new employers, you must produce high quality work.

Last but not the least, being a good job seeker, you are reminded to prepare a separate cover letter and send it together with your resume. Sending a resume without a cover letter shows that you don't respect the potential employers. It also shows that you are not serious in searching for jobs.

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