Gauging the Effectiveness of Online Resume Building

During the time when the World Wide Web wasn't yet around or at least wasn't known for its various purposes, job seekers had no other options but to create their own resumes. But now, they can easily produce one in an instant. Through the use of the Internet, applicants have a lot of options on how they want to have their important pre-employment documents. These choices include sample patterns, templates, or online resume building.

How does each of these options work?

Patterns and Templates

With patterns and templates, aspirants can be guided as they write their application tools. One important reminder to effectively use these online resources is by simply looking for the ones relevant to the position being applied for. In doing so, one should not be tempted to copy the exact words written on these sample patterns. Aside from the fact that this is a form of plagiarism, doing such unethical practice can lead to a more risky situation where the one who copies from the Internet source may not be aware that those copied words do not actually reflect his qualification. This incorrect information can mislead the hiring manager who may soon talk to the applicant face-to-face. During the interview, when there are inconsistencies between the information written on the application and the things being uttered by the aspirant, the hiring manager may find him liar or unreliable. For this reason, applicants should make it a point that they do not just duplicate others' work but should exert effort in crafting an outstanding application document.

Resume Builders

I assume that not all are familiar with this term or at least don't know how to use this.

Here's what it is all about:

Basically, it is an Internet-based software application program used to generate an application tool. Many websites offer this resume building mostly for free. All the user has to do is to create an account with a particular site and sign in there. There are various types of application builders and all may have different processes. Generally, however, these software applications work when the user inputs answers on the questions.

First and foremost, the user will have options on the template he wants to use. He will then fill-out either the questionnaire or the form. In answering, the applicant should include factual pieces of information because these will appear on the final output to be generated by the software application program. When the user is done in answering, it's time for him to go back to the entire answers and review to ensure that there is no wrong entry. He can arrange the sections on how he wants it to appear when it's printed. He can also customize the document. It's done! The user may now save the file and print it.

Despite its usefulness, many are still unconvinced because they are thinking about the issues on reliability and effectiveness.

Are they really effective?

Only those job seekers who once tried to use online resume building can measure if the generated result is really effective. In gauging the effectiveness, applicants should be able to answer the following:

- Is the output appealing to reader's eyes?

- Did it catch the attention of the hiring manager?

- Did it bring the applicant to his dream career?

Nelson Mullins is a former corporate hiring and recruitment expert who regularly writes articles on resumes, resume writing, personality development, and career in general. He is a father of three who also enjoys photography and biking. Nelson believes that while the employment world continues to be a rat race for applicants, it is important to always be equipped with new ideas on sustaining career growth and opportunities.

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How to Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Resume

The professional arena is a highly competitive one and when it comes to searching for jobs, you really cannot leave any stone unturned. You must make a constant effort to stand out from the crowd, to be unique, to have that extra something that will make an employer choose you over somebody else. The resume is the place to start. It's your foot in the door, so to speak, to landing an interview and possibly the job!

In a concise document, you must convince a potential employer you are a perfect fit with the company. It is the first impression your employer has of you. When it comes to constructing a resume there is no stereotype or standard format. However there are several things that need to be considered.

Some helpful tips for resume writing are-
Ensure that your qualifications match the needs of the employer.Your resume needs to be short and to the target, with correct grammar and spelling.It is not necessary to include your marital status in a resume these days or your birth date but you may feel that this is helpful information for your potential employer.Make sure your contact details are up to date and clear and that your email address name sounds professional.Make it simple, easy to read without fancy fonts, colours and busy pages. Use dot points and bold type to emphasise but don't overdo it.Start with your most recent place of employment and work backwards. State your employer, job title, dates and be specific with the responsibilities and roles you had whilst working there.It is not necessary to go back to your very first job if you have been in the workforce for some time, unless you think it may be of relevance.Unless you have just recently graduated you do not need to include your school details but do include your tertiary studies and any relevant courses or seminars you have attended.Include any memberships of relevant organizations.Referees can be added at the very end of your resume and should include their role and a contact phone number (make sure your referee is aware that you have included them on your resume.) Indicate that a written reference can be produced if necessary.Say a lot about yourself - in a few but powerful and impressive words that will leave a definite impression on your potential employer. Include any achievements or extras you have done whilst employed at your previous jobs.

You are what the company wants, so go ahead and make your resume get that job for you!

This article has been viewed 39 time(s).
Article Submitted On: April 16, 2011

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Testing Your Resume Effectiveness

Today, we are giving you an opportunity to rate your own resume. For that, you would be required to ask yourself what your resume says about you; is your resume outdated; does it "sell well" against the competition; and, is your resume compelling, attractive, and easy to read.

You can find our suggestions helpful, or you may disagree with them completely. Whatever the case, it is important that you remember that the perfect resume does not exist. However, the aim is to have a resume with as few mistakes as possible while conveying engaging content about a career of a person. Remember it is not a novel; hence, the information should be concise and accurate statement of professional accomplishments. Here, we offer a short quiz that you can take to check the effectiveness of your resume. This quiz can help you give an idea how your resume falls short and how you can make improve it to have a head start on your job search process.

To find the effectiveness of your resume, answer the following questions:

1. Did you create your resume with your reader in mind?

Yes

No

The very first rule to find out about the effectiveness of your resume is to construct it keeping your audience in mind and writing to them. Whether you are applying for a job as a vice president of marketing or to recruiters in marketing positions, your resume must be able to showcase the exact skills that are required to be successful in the particular job.

2. Is your resume beginning with an objective statement?

Yes

No

Most objective statement begin with the same "I want"; whereas, employers are more interested in what you offer than what you want. Having an objective statement at the top of the resume, it can tend to be too broad, too narrow, or too self-serving. Things that you are seeking can be customized and addressed more effectively in the cover letter than at top f your resume.

3. Does your resume have a summary of four-to-five sentence summary at the top of your resume?

Yes

No

A summary statement acts as a positioning statement which needs to be strong as well as set the tone of your resume.

4. Have you created a too vague resume?

Yes

No

If your resume is too vague, chances are your resume will fail just like numerous resumes. Hence, make sure your resume is not too vague.

5. Is your resume too short?

Yes

No

The length of the resume is important as it no longer required cramming up all your accomplishments in one page. Furthermore, excessive editing can result in only company names and job titles, and do not say what you actually did.

6. Have you overstated your personal contributions?

Yes

No

It is important that you do not overstate your personal contributions, as fewer contributions does not diminish your potential and does not necessity mean you will get the job.

7. Does your resume lack in numbers?

Yes

No

It is important that you quantify all your accomplishments whenever it is possible, in dollars, ratios, and percentages.

8. Have you mentioned bonuses and awards?

Yes

No

It is more important that list company-wide productivity and quality awards, but do not mention employee of the month awards. The latter are viewed as something more suspicious; hence, should be avoided.

9. Is your resume a result-oriented one?

Yes

No

The resume should be focused on the results. Remember not to be too general; it should be well-stated accomplishments which describes what you did.

10. Have you thoroughly edited and proofread your resume?

Yes

No

Proofread your resume obsessively, especially with fresh eyes. You can use your computer's spell checker but do not rely on it.

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Seven Steps for Testing Resume Effectiveness

How do you know if your resume is going to wow employers and provoke a callback or an interview? When you finish working on a resume, it is important to put it through a test run before you send it out to represent you. This list of seven tests will determine whether your resume is ready for prime time or whether it needs a little more work.

1) What's Your Text-to-Blank-Space Ratio? - The ideal ratio is 50-50 - too much text makes your resume feel cluttered, but too little text makes it feel sparse and unqualified. You should divide your resume into quadrants and ensure that each quadrant has approximately a 50-50 ratio. If one quadrant feels too cluttered or too sparse, play with your formatting or add / remove content to make it more readable at a glance.

2) The 20-Second Test - Have a friend or family member read your resume for twenty seconds, then take it back and ask them to describe everything they remember upon reading it. Most employers will only look at each resume for about twenty seconds, so this is a good simulation of what is actually going to happen. If you wanted certain information to stand out but your test subject didn't mention it, the information must not have stood out strongly enough. Conversely, if a minor detail seemed major in your reader's description, you might want to tone down that text in your resume.

3) Results Orientation Test - When an employer looks at a resume, he or she is thinking, "How will this employee support my company's bottom line?" Employers are not interested in whether you're a nice guy or gal, a hard worker, or even an experienced professional - they want proof that you will bring results to the company. By emphasising the tangible results of your previous employment to your previous company, you will cause the dollar signs to light up in employers' minds.

4) Specificity Test - Do you make claims that can't be verified? Specific numbers are always better than vague qualitative analyses. Go through your resume with a fine-toothed comb and cross out anything fluffy or unfounded like, "good interpersonal skills," and "conscientious." Nobody can prove or disprove that, and it means nothing to someone who is about to risk money on their payroll to take a chance on your skills.

5) Branding Test - Someone should be able to know who you are and what you want within five seconds of looking at your resume. This is often accomplished by means of a summary statement in a prominent place about a third of the way down the first page, but other elements such as layout and length can also have a huge role in branding who you are as a person. You want your personal brand to mesh with the company's brand, but in order to do that you have to have a brand in the first place. What's the overall feeling you get when you look at your resume for two seconds? Give it to friends and ask them what they think.

6) Growth Test - We all have a hodgepodge of employment records, but the trick in a resume is making it look as though your employment has shown a consistent pattern of growth and increased responsibility over the course of your career. Oftentimes the actual truth of what you did is less important than the general story of the arc of your career that your resume presents. If it looks as though you've steadily grown, you're more likely to get a job with opportunities for advancement.

7) Grammar and Spelling Test - Obviously, you can't turn in a resume with spelling mistakes. Once you've made all the style changes that you need to make after following the above six tests, you have to finalize the package. Every awkward statement, every misspelled word, and every incomplete sentence will be held against you in comparison with other resumes on the market. Many employers simply don't have time to deal with poor grammar and spelling.

These tests represent the unconscious judgment factors that run through employers' minds as they scan over your resume. By tailoring your resume to pass these tests, you will significantly improve your chances of getting the job.

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