Resume: My Top 5 Elements to Eliminate

It's valuable to know the elements that make a resume attractive to potential employers in order to get the job interview. However, it's also important to know some details that may take away strength, clarity and credibility from a professional resume or CV. Before going into my list of pet peeves, let me emphasize two assumptions:

The main -if not the only- objective of a resume during the recruiting process is to get the prospect an interview with the potential employer, andThe HR personnel receive and review many resumes, so they need to dismiss large quantities in a practical manner.

Because of this last point, I believe you should avoid or carefully review the following details in your job search materials, based on my experience and listed according to my own criteria from least to most important:

5. Long descriptions of "standard" skills/ expect by the market. Unless the role you're after calls for specific technical skills, you don't have to enumerate all of the software packages and languages you know. For some positions, you should be punished if you mention Microsoft Office and Outlook as something distinctive, it's expected in many jobs as standard. In the language section you shouldn't add those that you barely know (e.g., "Two classes of Mandarin") or give out too much detail (e.g., where I studied, all of the tests I've done, etc.).

4. Information that is not relevant for the position. This is fairly frequent: there are many resumes that list every single course taken and certifications obtained throughout the candidate's life, from the Quality Seminar to the Football Clinic. It's also frequent to see interests mentioned having no relation with the job or the interview process. Your job search materials have limited space and if you use it in information that will not get you to the interview, it's wasted (or it becomes a fun story for the HR team). In addition, it's possible that these topics may come up during the actual interview, where you could give them more context and impact.

3. Descriptions of jobs (vs. achievements) or achievements from long ago. If recent skills are not highlighted, your resume won't catch employers' attention and may even raise suspicion (e.g., employment gap?).

2. Achievements or activities performed by a team (not by the owner of the resume). The recruiter is interested in knowing YOU as a potential employee. If the activities described in the experience section are not specific or have a scope that can't be attributed to you, they don't help to know you better.

1. Generic objective/ target or not related to the position. "Continue my development within a global institution in constant growth" may very well be a default text in word processors that I (fortunately) don't know given the frequency in which this phrase is used. The Objective or Summary section of a resume, and even more so for an experienced professional, is a vital component. The text should be specific to the match between the position and the potential employee. It's important to adapt the resume or CV to differ industries, companies, and positions; this is the section that should change the most.

In the job search, it's indispensable for the candidate to stand out. Having said that, this should happen for the right reasons: for his/ her skills and experience. Having some of the previous points in mind, the resume should not be discarded for communicating irrelevant or unprofessional topics. This way, it focuses the reader's attention on your achievements and skills as they bring value to the company you're applying to and will get you closer to the interview.

Hugo M. Breton is a business writer and job search coach specializing in resume writing, career coaching and B2B Copywriting. He holds an MBA and M. Eng. from the University of Michigan. Hugo shares his job search advice and provides services through http://www.resumesforimpact.com/, helping prospects improve the impact of their efforts.

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Resume: 5 Other Elements to Eliminate

In another article, I shared five elements that diminish the impact of a good resume. The following list has five other components that may not be as critical but you should consider when creating or editing your job search materials:

1. Unprofessional contact information. It should be obvious but worth reinforcing that even if the e-mail you provide is personal, it should still have a professional air to it (e.g., avoid teddybear82 at mail dot com). It's not necessary to provide multiple contact options, only the most effective one. If you want to add a long URL (e.g., a LinkedIn profile), only do so if it provides additional information that is critical. Finally, you don't have to provide contact information for past employers; if it's required, you'll be asked for it explicitly during the process.

2. Photograph. It should only be included for acting and modeling roles, in a very specific format. The rest of us have to fight the temptation of sharing our good looks. However, this is different for Internet profiles, where a picture is actually expected.

3. Personal data. If the employer needs this information, he will ask for it at some point in the process. You shouldn't point out in your resume your date and place of birth, marital status, number and name of your children, etc. It's important to mention that in some countries it's even illegal for a company to ask some of these elements.

4. Spelling errors. Unacceptable if you're looking for a job where the employee is expected to know how to write or if anyone can help you proofreading. Remember that the spelling correction in your word processor is not infallible. You should carefully review before sending out.

5. Unusual formatting. The resume should jump out due to its content and not because of an "attractive" font, special paper or inserted pictures. For candidates who are just entering the workforce, a single-page resume format should be enough, two or three for experienced professionals, and even longer for a technical resume or CV (e.g., including a list of publications). Be careful not to have too much or too little blank space, any of these extremes has its disadvantages. Although it's not common, you don't need to include an index. If the information is clear, labels like "Title" and "Company" are redundant.

Although the use of these elements may vary by industry or function, do assess their effect on recruiters as you build your job search strategy.

Hugo M. Breton is a business writer and job search coach specializing in resume writing, career coaching and B2B Copywriting. His objective is to help professionals become more effective during their search efforts. Hugo shares his job search advice and provides services through http://www.resumesforimpact.com/, helping prospects improve the impact of their efforts.

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The Elements of an Outstanding Cover Letter

Next to your resume, your cover letter is the second-most critical part of your employment-search package. It has been estimated that only about 50% of hiring managers or recruiters actually read cover letters, which might leave you asking, "Why bother?" But how do you know -- how can you know -- in which 50% the hiring manager you are targeting falls?

Play it safe. Write a cover letter for every resume you send out. And like the resume, tailor the letter to the company you're targeting. Nothing will shut down a reader's interest like a cranked-out, one-size-fits-all cover letter. And hiring managers and recruiters see so many of them, they can pick out the ones that are not tailored to them practically after they've read the salutation.

To understand a cover letter, it is necessary to understand its role. The cover letter's primary purpose is to illustrate the value you will bring to the company you are targeting. Think of the employer as having some problem or difficulty, and ask yourself what that difficulty is. Then ask yourself how you can demonstrate that you can help the employer resolve that difficulty. In so doing, keep in mind that what you say must always be relevant to that particular employer's needs. And finally, ask yourself the key question: Are you thinking of the employer's needs as primary? Susan Britton Whitcomb, in her book "Resume Magic", concurs: "Are you putting the employer's needs ahead of your own?"

Once you have defined the problem or difficulty the employer is having, illustrate from your professional history an instance where you resolved a similar problem. Suppose you were writing to a company that had seen its overall sales eclipsed by a rival. In your opening sentence, you could express your understanding of the problem's origins, and demonstrate that you had been following the employer's ups and downs for quite some time.

Your next paragraph could connect directly with your experience dealing with the same scenario at one of your own previous employers. What did you do to regain lost market share? How quickly did sales come back? What part did customer satisfaction scores play in the recovery, and how did you figure in that scoring?

Finally, show the employer that his/her needs are more important than your own by reiterating your successes in your field. Tell the employer how much you want to help turn those numbers around. Remind the employer how strong a fit you would be on the employer's team. And close with a suggestion to meet, either by your calling the employer or an invitation for the employer to call you.

See how long it takes before that employer contacts you for an interview.

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The Elements of an Outstanding Cover Letter

Next to your resume, your cover letter is the second-most critical part of your employment-search package. It has been estimated that only about 50% of hiring managers or recruiters actually read cover letters, which might leave you asking, "Why bother?" But how do you know -- how can you know -- in which 50% the hiring manager you are targeting falls?

Play it safe. Write a cover letter for every resume you send out. And like the resume, tailor the letter to the company you're targeting. Nothing will shut down a reader's interest like a cranked-out, one-size-fits-all cover letter. And hiring managers and recruiters see so many of them, they can pick out the ones that are not tailored to them practically after they've read the salutation.

To understand a cover letter, it is necessary to understand its role. The cover letter's primary purpose is to illustrate the value you will bring to the company you are targeting. Think of the employer as having some problem or difficulty, and ask yourself what that difficulty is. Then ask yourself how you can demonstrate that you can help the employer resolve that difficulty. In so doing, keep in mind that what you say must always be relevant to that particular employer's needs. And finally, ask yourself the key question: Are you thinking of the employer's needs as primary? Susan Britton Whitcomb, in her book "Resume Magic", concurs: "Are you putting the employer's needs ahead of your own?"

Once you have defined the problem or difficulty the employer is having, illustrate from your professional history an instance where you resolved a similar problem. Suppose you were writing to a company that had seen its overall sales eclipsed by a rival. In your opening sentence, you could express your understanding of the problem's origins, and demonstrate that you had been following the employer's ups and downs for quite some time.

Your next paragraph could connect directly with your experience dealing with the same scenario at one of your own previous employers. What did you do to regain lost market share? How quickly did sales come back? What part did customer satisfaction scores play in the recovery, and how did you figure in that scoring?

Finally, show the employer that his/her needs are more important than your own by reiterating your successes in your field. Tell the employer how much you want to help turn those numbers around. Remind the employer how strong a fit you would be on the employer's team. And close with a suggestion to meet, either by your calling the employer or an invitation for the employer to call you.

See how long it takes before that employer contacts you for an interview.

Read more ...

The Elements of an Outstanding Cover Letter

Next to your resume, your cover letter is the second-most critical part of your employment-search package. It has been estimated that only about 50% of hiring managers or recruiters actually read cover letters, which might leave you asking, "Why bother?" But how do you know -- how can you know -- in which 50% the hiring manager you are targeting falls?

Play it safe. Write a cover letter for every resume you send out. And like the resume, tailor the letter to the company you're targeting. Nothing will shut down a reader's interest like a cranked-out, one-size-fits-all cover letter. And hiring managers and recruiters see so many of them, they can pick out the ones that are not tailored to them practically after they've read the salutation.

To understand a cover letter, it is necessary to understand its role. The cover letter's primary purpose is to illustrate the value you will bring to the company you are targeting. Think of the employer as having some problem or difficulty, and ask yourself what that difficulty is. Then ask yourself how you can demonstrate that you can help the employer resolve that difficulty. In so doing, keep in mind that what you say must always be relevant to that particular employer's needs. And finally, ask yourself the key question: Are you putting the employer's needs ahead of your own?

Once you have defined the problem or difficulty the employer is having, illustrate from your professional history an instance where you resolved a similar problem. Suppose you were writing to a company that had seen its overall sales eclipsed by a rival. In your opening sentence, you could express your understanding of the problem's origins, and demonstrate that you had been following the employer's ups and downs for quite some time.

Your next paragraph could connect directly with your experience dealing with the same scenario at one of your own previous employers. What did you do to regain lost market share? How quickly did sales come back? What part did customer satisfaction scores play in the recovery, and how did you figure in that scoring?

Finally, show the employer that his/her needs are more important than your own by reiterating your successes in your field. Tell the employer how much you want to help turn those numbers around. Remind the employer how strong a fit you would be on the employer's team. And close with a suggestion to meet, either by your calling the employer or an invitation for the employer to call you.

See how long it takes before that employer contacts you for an interview.

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Resume Profiles: Elements of a Great Resume Profile

A resume profile is much like a resume objective in that it is a short statement that serves to grab the reader's attention and suck them in to read your resume.  However, while the objective serves to explain what your goals are in applying for the job, a resume profile (or headline as we call it) is focused on the employer.

A good profile statement explains the benefits of hiring you.  What will the company get out of choosing you for this position?  Resume profiles are considered more effective than standard resume objectives because they immediately summarize what the reader is trying to get from your resume: how will they benefit from hiring you?

The headline/profile is a critical part of the resume.  If you have a bad resume profile statement, the employer may never actually read the rest of your resume.  Conversely, a great profile will suck the reader in and compel them to read all about you - and I can assure you that if the employer doesn't read your entire resume, you won't be getting called for an interview.

The resume profile is entered on the Headline step of our free online resume builder.  If you are having difficulty coming up with the correct words for your resume profile, be sure to click the "Use A Template" button to access lots of great proven profile statements.  Choose one that gives just the right feel for you, then with a few clicks, edit it to fit your situation exactly.

Ready to write your resume in minutes?  Click here to get started!

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The Medical Assistant Resume - Nine Elements to Create a Winner

Medical Assistants are one of the fastest growing healthcare careers and there is a lot of competition for these job openings. So how you represent yourself on your resume is a prime opportunity for an employer to choose you for an interview over someone else.

Most current medical assistants, students and new graduates from a medical assistant training program can easily become nervous, flustered and unsure when it comes to writing an effective resume to apply for the numerous medical assistant jobs. Regardless, here are the most important elements that a job-seeking medical assistant should incorporate when constructing their resume:

Style
While it may be tempting to create a resume a little out of the ordinary to catch attention, remember the medical field is made up of professionals. It's best to stick to white, grey or crème resume paper and a standard, plain black font. Resist using bold graphics, colored papers or papers with designs on them. Remember that you're presenting yourself as a professional and need to be taken seriously.

Name and Contact Information
Make your name and contact information easy to find at the top of your resume. Include your address, phone number and e-mail address.

Strong Objective
When you apply for a position, you have something in mind - something that tells you this is a great position for you, or that the company just might be one you want to stay with for a very long time. So start your resume with a strong objective that demonstrates your knowledge of a particular organization or that of a specific medical assistant job opening.
What do you aspire to or what role do you want to play within an organization? The objective section on your resume should succinctly express your reasons for applying. To obtain a position as a medical assistant in pediatrics to meet my career goal of working with children, or To apply my versatile and competent medical skills in family practice with a reputable medical facility that offers career growth, are a couple of examples.

Education
Education is an important component in the job requirements for a medical assistant. List all the programs you've finished, ensuring you've included attendance dates and any honors or special recognitions.
If you have a certification such as Certified Medial Assistant (CMA) or perhaps Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), make sure to list these credentials.
Due to the constant updates and changes in the medical field, continuing education is vital for your career search or advancement. With extra training and education listed on your resume, you will definitely have an advantage over other people.

Work History
For most people, except for new graduates, this is the part that employers will ask questions about the most. Work history should be listed in reverse chronological order. That is, the most recent experience is listed first. Detail your achievements and responsibilities for each position in bullet form. Put more information on the most recent work experience in your medical assistant resume, making sure to also include employer name and dates employed.
Medical assistants are employed within numerous environments. There's a difference between working in small practices and large ones, as well as working in hospitals, clinics or ambulatory care centers. Be sure to specify the type of medical facilities you are experienced with.
If you haven't had much experience in a professional setting, highlight positions you've held as a medical volunteer. This may give prospective employers more confidence in your abilities.

Skills
Include clinical skills that apply to a medical assistant job such as: preparing patients, taking of medical histories, ability to take vital signs, preparing medication and treatments, basic first aid, CPR, infection control knowledge and assisting physicians with exams.
Stress administrative skills that you are experienced with. Some of these may include: general secretarial skills, including typing and transcription, answering telephones and making appointments, bookkeeping, computer expertise, particularly with medical office applications, medical coding, billing and insurance knowledge.
If you never worked in a medical office but have developed transferable skills in another similar job where you had to be responsible, punctual, organized, efficient and maintain a positive and professional disposition, had to greet people, keep them safe, make them comfortable, or address specific concerns (e.g. customer services department) don't think it isn't important to mention these only because it didn't take place in a medical office setting. Quite the opposite - it is important and does count toward the expectations that many employers have when narrowing down the most qualified job candidate from many applications they receive.

References
Provide 2 or 3 professional references. These can be past employers, teachers or people you've met through volunteer work.
References from healthcare providers or facilities are best.
Include references right on your resume if you believe they will help you, or simply write "References Available Upon Request." If you state that they are available, have a references sheet ready when you turn in your resume.

Stay Up-to-Date
Your resume will change over time as your professional career and education evolves. A resume is not something you create once and then forget about.
Update your resume at least once a year, reflecting any changes or additions. It's always a great idea to have a current resume on hand; you never know when just the right job opportunity will come along!
Add information such as completed internships, certifications, specialized training courses, continuing education programs or other relevant job experience.

Additional Tips
Keep your resume at 1 or 2 pages.Check carefully for grammatical errors.Ask for assistance from a career counselor. Most schools have a department or designated personnel to help students write a resume and refine job seeking skills.Ask another person to look over your resume for you, preferably someone in healthcare or recruitment, and ask for any advice they may have.Save your resume as a PDF so you can attach within an email and lessen the possibility of having it garbled due to different word processing programs or versions of the software.Always remember to be honest and stick to the facts, showing employers why they need you on board.

Looking for a medical assistant job can be a bit difficult or challenging. Just remember that your resume is a marketing tool and employers will use it to decide if they want to interview you for the job. If you are well-prepared and you have an impressive resume, then you won't have a hard time obtaining an ideal job!

Margaret Park is Managing Partner of Medical Assistant Jobs, a nationwide medical assistant recruiter and medical staffing agency.

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How To Write a Resume That Gets Results: The 5 Essential Elements to Focus On

On the surface it seems like it should be easy. But writing a resume that actually gets you interviews and draws excellent results can be a challenge. If you are trying to write your own resume, these expert tips on five essential elements that professional resume writers consider and include in every resume may help.

1) Clearly convey the aim and focus for the resume. Within seconds of picking up your resume, the reader should have an accurate understanding of who you are, what you have to offer, and how you would fit in their company structure. While objective statements are rarely used anymore and including one may make your resume look outdated, many professional resume writers use headline statements and qualification summaries to communicate the resume focus.

2) Incorporate data that makes it obvious that you both understand and have the capacity to meet the employer's needs. Everything in your resume should be pertinent to the position (or type of position) you are applying for. Extraneous content weakens the focus and makes it appear that you don't comprehend the nature of the job you are applying for. What are the aims for the position? What challenges are the company facing that you can help with? What problems do they have that you can help solve? Include content that illustrates how you have achieved these things for past employers as proof that you have the ability to do them for future employers.

3) Use industry-and job-relevant keywords and phrases in appropriate ways throughout the resume. This is important to do so that your resume is recalled from applicant tracking systems during keyword searches. But it is also a good way to establish credibility as a qualified candidate for the profession you are going after. Are you sending your resume in response to an advertised job announcement? Try printing the announcement and circling all the most significant keywords and phrases in it. Now make certain you use these same keywords and phrases in your resume and letter.

4) Brand your resume with content that sets you apart from other applicants, distinguishing you by showing how hiring you would be a better investment than hiring another applicant. Baseline qualifications are the qualifications that are required for the position. Most of your competitors for a position will have these qualifications. Your resume should briefly mention that you have these qualifications as well. But the majority of your resume should show how you surpass these qualifications, and what it is that you bring to the table that is slightly different and better than your competitors.

5) Focus on accomplishments and the results you have produced for past employers. The entire emphasis of your resume should be on accomplishments, and more crucially on the results of your contributions expressed as numbers whenever possible. Quantified accomplishments are eye-catching and compelling, not to mention that they add credibility to your claims. Many job seekers make the mistake of focusing on job responsibilities in their resume. It isn't what you know how to do (or what you claim to know how to do) that will interest an employer enough to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. It is what you do with what you know how to do, and the value and benefits you deliver as results. When you write your accomplishment statements, it is usually a good idea to "start with the sizzle." In other words, write about the result first followed by the action that produced it.

By showcasing these elements, you can help ensure that your resume gets attention in a crowded job market and produces interviews. But, if you still struggle to actually put these elements into practice, don't hesitate to confer with a professional resume writer. While hiring help to write your resume may seem like an unusual thing to do, more and more professionals are realizing that to do so is an investment that pays off big time, helping them to get back to work far more quickly and often at a higher salary than they would have achieved on their own.

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3 Critical Elements in a Job Winning Resume

Most resumes appear to be the same, but there are important differences between resumes that are quickly eliminated and those that catch the attention of employers. A resume designed for the job you are interested in should include the following:

a relevant resume stylecareer objectiveprofessional profile

Resume Style:

The arrangement and style of your resume are as important as the content included regarding your experience and qualifications. Two resume styles that are most commonly used are chronological and functional. The chronological resume is characterized by listing your professional experience in order and showcases your expertise. The functional resume lists your experience by the qualifications you possess and is used by those without much experience or by those seeking a career change.

The type of resume style you use is your choice, but you must realize that the style you choose can affect how you are presented to the prospective employer. You will want to pick the layout that features your experience and qualifications in the best light. Knowing which format is used in the career you are seeking will be very important, as well.

Career Objective:

Career objective is a significant part of your resume. Aside from the ongoing debate about whether the objective should be included, this statement gives the employer insight to the goals you desire to achieve. Your career objective will be the first impression the hiring manager and potential bosses will have of you.

Your goals should be specific and focused of the type of business, position title, and future professional goals your desire to achieve. A common mistake people make in their career objective is make general statements. Your statement should convince the employer that you know what kind of job you want, the experience you have for this position, and what you want to do to become a part of the employer's professional team.

Professional Profile:

While the career objective tells the employer why you applied for the job, the professional profile displays your expertise and shows the employer you are the best candidate for the job. This profile allows you to set yourself apart and give insight into who you are and what you have to offer.

Two common mistakes in this area are poor writing and irrelevant personal information. Age, race, religion, etc. should not be a part of any resume. Personal information does not affect how the professional performs their job. This section should be well written and without error.

Powerful positive statements regarding your expertise will make a lasting impression on the prospective employer. Proofread the entire resume with special attention to this section as it will be presented first. Your profile should express confidence and professionalism to make a good first impression to the prospective employer.

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Resumes - The Elements of a Good Objective

Resume objectives have evolved over the years. It used to be that the objective statement was one or two sentences that focused on the job seeker's expectations. A common objective was, "Seeking a position as (job title) where there is opportunity for growth." As you can see, the old objective statement is bland and a waste of space. It provides no valuable information except to mention the candidate's job title.

Fast-forward to the objectives of today and see how things have drastically changed. Today's objectives are more detailed and accomplishment-focused. For example, here is an appealing objective for a professional in retail:

Retail manager with success in doubling revenues by creating a customer-centric environment. Leads through example to motivate store associates to embrace a team-player mentality and outperform sales performance goals.

Let's compare the above objective and the objective discussed in the first paragraph. While both mention the job seeker's title, the contemporary objective highlights an accomplishment right off the bat. This teaser signals to the reader that there are additional successes in the rest of the resume so they should keep on reading.

Many job seekers are reluctant to include achievements in the objective statement because they don't want to repeat the same wording in the body of the resume. That's a legitimate concern. The way around that issue is to mention the same achievement with a different spin. For example, the mention of "doubling revenues" in the objective statement can be transformed into "Grew revenue 54%."

Another difference between the two objective statements is that the contemporary one highlights what the candidate can do, as opposed to what the candidate wants. For illustration purposes imagine you are meeting someone new, and all that person talks about is what they expect from your friendship. You'd be a bit put off, right? Well, hiring managers feel the same way. For that reason it is vital that you mention what you can offer in your objective statement.

The objective is the first piece of the resume the reader will see. And from there she will make a determination as to whether it is worth her time to read further. So after you complete your objective statement, ask yourself the following questions: (1) Does the objective statement speak to what I can contribute to an employer? And (2) if I were the hiring manager, would I be motivated to keep reading the resume solely based on the information in the objective statement? When you can answer "yes" to both of these questions, that's when you know your objective is perfect.

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