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 Not only is this ancient history, but as technology is moving so quickly, many of these skills are unfortunately outdated.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.

Read more ...

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.

Read more ...

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.

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.

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

Read more ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Read more ...

Resume Writing Service - Resumes That Take You Ahead From Crowd

Currently with the downturn in economy and unemployment on the increase, it is significant if you are in search of a new executive placement in a reputed corporation, to confirm that your executive resume stands out away from the crowd. This is in addition applicable to all other facets of your job search, nevertheless more than ever for the executive resume that creates the first impression. As a speedy and simple resolution, a number of executive, contemplate using a professional executive resume writing services.

Resume writing services are not just being used by people who are new graduates and are on the lookout for their first job nonetheless, it is additionally being used by people who are discontented with their existing job and are on the lookout for a new job perhaps for better salary and so bettering their future. Of late, with so many options available we do not have to live with the same job that we have right now regularly. Presently, we have an option to change our jobs and it is realistic to find, a job that comes with a higher status than the existing one or a job that is completely different from the earlier one or a job with high wages. All you are supposed to do is appoint a specialist resume writer to write your resume for you and you will find your wish rewarded as it comes to intents fixed by you for your career.

A professional resume writing service confirms that the candidate's achievements are fully underlined. A well-written resume of yours is the one that will make you stand out between many other candidates who are just as talented as you are. Your resume will prove the employers that you are the right applicant for the post and they need not look any further. Professional resume writing service write your resume in such a way that you indeed get an interview call from every employer you apply. Next, you influence them with your interview this is how it is supposed to be done.

Your executive resume ought to correspond to your employer that you have knowledge of their business model and the requirements of that position and are equipped to meet or even surpass those requirements, and not just stating your own requirements. Currently, we are required to be a winner by hook or by crook. Hence, if you do not have any idea on the correct manner of presenting yourself by way of your resume, there are many resume writing service to assist you, seek one right away!

Read more ...