When speaking with friends and family about work, most people can think of numerous achievements and significant accomplishments. Words flow freely, and the listeners are enraptured with stories of a career filled with great contributions. Then, when the time comes to write a resume, too many job seekers include the tasks that filled each day instead of the same great stories. In a difficult job market when competition is tougher than ever before, the resume is an opportunity to sell your abilities and win that coveted interview. Follow these tips to set your resume apart from the rest.
1. Tailor the resume - Print a copy of the job posting. Write specific examples from your own professional past for each bullet within the job posting. The posting describes a skill that you must possess. The resume you write for this job must show how you demonstrated that skill in one of your previous jobs. Think of the hiring manager asking you, "give me an example of a time when...." The best professional resume writer can draw some of these thoughts from your memory and articulate them impressively.
2. Include terms from the job posting - Use the specific terms from the job posting. As you work through each bullet of the job posting, write an example of a time when you used that skill. Describe the situation, your specific contribution, and the result. This review of your experience will create the input for writing the resume. Generate multiple examples if you can.
3. Use formal position titles - Every industry recognizes the scope of influence and duties associated with each job title. Each entry should begin with the job title followed by the company or organization name.
4. Consider a unique format - Instead of a chronological format, group achievements based on the job posting. Document specific examples for each job requirement. The resume will show the job progression, and the numerous examples will reveal the depth of experience.
5. Include facts and statistics - Be specific in your claims. Think back to t projects and contributions to teams. Find the information and include percentages and details that will answer the question for the hiring manager.
6. Prioritize the statements - After writing examples for each of the bullets in the job posting, prioritize the list. Important skills must be close to the top. Examples of your experiences in those skills must be easy to see at a glance. Hiring managers are reviewing dozens of resumes and will not read through an entire resume on the first pass.
7. Use keywords - Every profession uses specific words that are meaningful to others in the profession. Assume that the hiring manager knows those terms and use them appropriately throughout the resume.
8. Omit age-revealing dates - Education dates, project completion dates, award dates, and any other date that will reveal your actual age must be omitted from the resume. Age discrimination is a reality. Help limit it and protect yourself.
9. Cover 10 years - Include the positions you have had within the past 10 years. There are techniques to illustrate accomplishments on the resume that took place further in the past. In addition, during the interview, you can refer to jobs that you had further back.
10. Make the page visually appealing - Use white space and bullet points (but don't over-use) to make the resume visually appealing. If visual presentation is not easy for you, turn to a professional resume writing service, someone who can help you write a resume that will stand apart visually.
What should a resume look like? An achievement-based resume will win the interview. Then you must follow the paper version up with a professional image that will cause the interviewer to ask you to come back. Use additional examples of career achievements in response to each question during the interview, and your abilities will shine through.
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