Functional Resume: Highlight Your Skills to Edge Out Rivals

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, writing a resume is an opportunity to show jobseeker's best qualities and skills to the employer. It's like a brief statement of someone's personal background, professional experience, competitive strengths, and skills. The agency also states that a functional resume specifically highlights one's best skills and minimizes elaboration on employment record. It is usually recommended for students and those with no working experience yet. For so many years now, many job aspirants make use of this type of pre-employment document.

The basic resume is usually written in chronological format. But if you haven't got any professional practice at all, then a functional resume format is best for you.

Skills are very important in measuring hopefuls' qualifications. All hiring managers want to hire someone who can meet the qualifications and submit requirements based on the standards set by the company. If you're the applicant, emphasizing your skills can make you different from other aspirants. Whether these are communication skills, technical skills, or marketing skills, it is important to place only those relevant to the position you are applying for. Today, there is a tough competition in the job market and companies will search for the most qualified candidate by conducting a thorough screening process. The more competencies you possess, the more chance you'll get hired.

Types of skill

· Communication prowess

· Computer literacy

· Time and management capacity

· Problem solving ability

· Leadership capability

· Clinical proficiency

· Analytical expertise

Sometimes, a functional resume can really do wonders in an application. While some employers traditionally want to see dates to know how the applicant has improved and continued to develop through the years, there are also some who do consider new graduates to fill in vacancies.

Some tips

If you have attended seminars or trainings that are somewhat relevant to the job post, it will help as additional factors for your application. You may also take advantage of your previous school participations and extra-curricular activities. Include the accomplishments and awards you have received during your school days. Or instead, describe difficult situations you have encountered and how you managed to overcome them.

If you are shifting into a different career or field, then you should consider presenting a functional resume. This is also an ideal tool in applying for volunteer works and other freewill activities. If you are a career woman before but having a gap in your employment history because of family matters or other personal reasons, this format of pre-employment document suits you.

Other things to consider

In creating an application summary, consider including the following sections: Personal Information, Objective Statement, Summary of Qualifications, Employment History, Educational Background, Affiliations, Certifications, and other Activities and Involvements. Do not forget to include the contact details so that the hiring manager can contact you right away. Avoid giving unnecessary pieces of information, such as hobbies or interest, political views, and religious beliefs. Try to think of an objective statement that will help you stand out in the competition. Limit the objective to one sentence. Your qualifications summary must contain powerful descriptions about you as the most qualified candidate. If you have employment records, try to cut them down and write only those essential ones. The section allotted for your educational background will give the employer hints on what you have attained and earned. Do not forget to include the year you have completed your degree.

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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Proper Writing And Editing Skills Are Essential In Your Job Search

Approximately 80% of all business emails sent out by people in a job search have no automatic email signature with all the senders contact information at the end. That is a shame. These email signatures are a must because normally a discussion has to happen to set up employment interviews. Something like this, I have some time available on Tuesday to interview you. Do you mean this Tuesday as in tomorrow or next Tuesday the 15th? Tomorrow. That works for me if we can start any time after 5:30 pm or any night after 5:30 is ideal. I am only available between 12 noon and 2 pm tomorrow, after that I am on a business trip to Tuscon, Arizona. Can you get away from the office for lunch tomorrow?

Busy people tend to prefer brief phone calls (instant two-way communication) versus exchanging dozens of emails, texts or instant messages. Another thing, in business most hiring managers are older, well-educated and they are paid to make judgments that protect and contribute to their company's success. Therefore, you the job hunter must cater to their needs and always anticipate what they would want.

Your emails should always have an automatically added signature with your full name, phone numbers, your personal email address, your LinkedIn profile or other helpful website address. Employers will seldom communicate with you through a work email if they are recruiting (no work emails are private). Go to your email settings to set up one or more email signatures, so you can automatically stamp all your outgoing emails (personal and work).

Next, all business emails should be written in business style that shows the readers you are an intelligent, highly competent professional. Using text message style communication (SMH, Holla, st8, gr8, LMAO, 3rd, <3, b4, T1, #*@!&$#@ etc.), misspelling words, grammatical errors, punctuation errors, usage errors and logical errors paints an indelible picture in the employer's mind. Make sure your first impressions are all positive ones while you are in a job search. If not, it is likely that you will be ignored, deleted or removed from contention.

In general, avoid discussing politics, sex or religion in business or recruiting emails, interviews or communications. Make sure you show some intelligence by using strategy that would be viewed as favorable by employers (stalking is frowned upon). Any type of exaggeration or grandiose prose will repel business people like the plague. Avoid it. Portraying yourself as a victim, cursing/swearing, being too emotional or showing desperation is also counter productive. Humor is terrific of course because it makes people smile and laugh, however obscene, racial or political jokes are strictly forbidden when auditioning for a new job.

Never email or fax your resume, cover letters or follow-up letters from your current employer or your business email address. There is no privacy in any case, you leave a paper trail, and it is normally against the rules of employment. Most employers view this as a great offense, being paid to work does not include job hunting for a new job at the local competition. You are being paid to work and produce only for your employer. Thus, you should never list your work phone or work email on a resume, cover letter or email. Be discrete and avoid obvious conflicts of interest in your job search, so hiring managers will respect you more.

Did you know that hiring managers, HR managers and supervisors will review your Google search results on your name? Make sure that your Google search results are all favorable ahead of time.

Copyright 2012 by Darrell Z. DiZoglio. Great writing on demand. Accelerate your job search. Dream jobs do come true for my clients every day. Resume good => Job good => Life good. Click here => http://righteousresumes.com/ To see all the tools your competition used to earn the job you could have interviewed for with a big fat raise, click here => http://RighteousResumes.com/services.html

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It Takes More Than Price and Skills to Get Noticed

I recently received the following comment to one of my blog posts that I'd like to share with you:

"...If you want a position all you need to do is price yourself correctly and have the core skill sets. The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people. They can see beyond a spacing error. I believe the less you tell them the better. Make it short."

Other than the writer's misunderstanding of a correct expression of a common plural, this post is full of errors. I wonder how well her strategy is working for her.

If only it was so simple as to "price yourself correctly and just have the core skill sets"! Unfortunately for us all, you can be the cheapest candidate around, with every skill set known to Man, but if your resume doesn't reflect those qualities correctly, you might as well be shouting from a bell buoy in the middle of the ocean, for all the good it will do you. That's what this blog post the reader protested is all about. You need to know the right way to get that across to a reader who has at least 400 other resumes demanding his or her attention. You also need to get your resume through the resume-reading software most companies are using today. Those items on that list, the industry-specific language, the keywords, the design and writing that engage the reader at the outset and keep the reader engaged throughout; all those items are crucial to the success of a resume.

And that's where a professional resume writer comes in. Anonymous Reader, do you know how to write a C-A-R statement? Do you know why such a statement is important? A professional does, and will utilize those statements and more to demonstrate your VALUE to the potential employer.

"The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people... I believe the less you tell them the better." Where did you get these ideas? And how is that strategy working for you? How many interviews have you won with your "less is better" notion? How are employers supposed to know about the day you saved a $100,000 account by correcting the billing error that nearly made the account-holder choose a competitor if you don't tell them about it?

"Make it short," indeed. And spend a long, long time clinging to your buoy out on that cold, dark ocean.

Jack Mulcahy has written hundreds of resumes for people from all walks of life. Each resume he writes shows the unique selling proposition so necessary to market the job seeker. To learn more about Jack and how he can work to help your resume gain interviews, visit his website at http://www.resumesbyjack.com/.

Read more ...

It Takes More Than Price and Skills to Get Noticed

I recently received the following comment to one of my blog posts that I'd like to share with you:

"...If you want a position all you need to do is price yourself correctly and have the core skill sets. The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people. They can see beyond a spacing error. I believe the less you tell them the better. Make it short."

Other than the writer's misunderstanding of a correct expression of a common plural, this post is full of errors. I wonder how well her strategy is working for her.

If only it was so simple as to "price yourself correctly and just have the core skill sets"! Unfortunately for us all, you can be the cheapest candidate around, with every skill set known to Man, but if your resume doesn't reflect those qualities correctly, you might as well be shouting from a bell buoy in the middle of the ocean, for all the good it will do you. That's what this blog post the reader protested is all about. You need to know the right way to get that across to a reader who has at least 400 other resumes demanding his or her attention. You also need to get your resume through the resume-reading software most companies are using today. Those items on that list, the industry-specific language, the keywords, the design and writing that engage the reader at the outset and keep the reader engaged throughout; all those items are crucial to the success of a resume.

And that's where a professional resume writer comes in. Anonymous Reader, do you know how to write a C-A-R statement? Do you know why such a statement is important? A professional does, and will utilize those statements and more to demonstrate your VALUE to the potential employer.

"The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people... I believe the less you tell them the better." Where did you get these ideas? And how is that strategy working for you? How many interviews have you won with your "less is better" notion? How are employers supposed to know about the day you saved a $100,000 account by correcting the billing error that nearly made the account-holder choose a competitor if you don't tell them about it?

"Make it short," indeed. And spend a long, long time clinging to your buoy out on that cold, dark ocean.

Jack Mulcahy has written hundreds of resumes for people from all walks of life. Each resume he writes shows the unique selling proposition so necessary to market the job seeker. To learn more about Jack and how he can work to help your resume gain interviews, visit his website at http://www.resumesbyjack.com/.

Read more ...

It Takes More Than Price and Skills to Get Noticed

I recently received the following comment to one of my blog posts that I'd like to share with you:

"...If you want a position all you need to do is price yourself correctly and have the core skill sets. The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people. They can see beyond a spacing error. I believe the less you tell them the better. Make it short."

Other than the writer's misunderstanding of a correct expression of a common plural, this post is full of errors. I wonder how well her strategy is working for her.

If only it was so simple as to "price yourself correctly and just have the core skill sets"! Unfortunately for us all, you can be the cheapest candidate around, with every skill set known to Man, but if your resume doesn't reflect those qualities correctly, you might as well be shouting from a bell buoy in the middle of the ocean, for all the good it will do you. That's what this blog post the reader protested is all about. You need to know the right way to get that across to a reader who has at least 400 other resumes demanding his or her attention. You also need to get your resume through the resume-reading software most companies are using today. Those items on that list, the industry-specific language, the keywords, the design and writing that engage the reader at the outset and keep the reader engaged throughout; all those items are crucial to the success of a resume.

And that's where a professional resume writer comes in. Anonymous Reader, do you know how to write a C-A-R statement? Do you know why such a statement is important? A professional does, and will utilize those statements and more to demonstrate your VALUE to the potential employer.

"The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people... I believe the less you tell them the better." Where did you get these ideas? And how is that strategy working for you? How many interviews have you won with your "less is better" notion? How are employers supposed to know about the day you saved a $100,000 account by correcting the billing error that nearly made the account-holder choose a competitor if you don't tell them about it?

"Make it short," indeed. And spend a long, long time clinging to your buoy out on that cold, dark ocean.

Jack Mulcahy has written hundreds of resumes for people from all walks of life. Each resume he writes shows the unique selling proposition so necessary to market the job seeker. To learn more about Jack and how he can work to help your resume gain interviews, visit his website at http://www.resumesbyjack.com/.

Read more ...

It Takes More Than Price and Skills to Get Noticed

I recently received the following comment to one of my blog posts that I'd like to share with you:

"...If you want a position all you need to do is price yourself correctly and have the core skill sets. The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people. They can see beyond a spacing error. I believe the less you tell them the better. Make it short."

Other than the writer's misunderstanding of a correct expression of a common plural, this post is full of errors. I wonder how well her strategy is working for her.

If only it was so simple as to "price yourself correctly and just have the core skill sets"! Unfortunately for us all, you can be the cheapest candidate around, with every skill set known to Man, but if your resume doesn't reflect those qualities correctly, you might as well be shouting from a bell buoy in the middle of the ocean, for all the good it will do you. That's what this blog post the reader protested is all about. You need to know the right way to get that across to a reader who has at least 400 other resumes demanding his or her attention. You also need to get your resume through the resume-reading software most companies are using today. Those items on that list, the industry-specific language, the keywords, the design and writing that engage the reader at the outset and keep the reader engaged throughout; all those items are crucial to the success of a resume.

And that's where a professional resume writer comes in. Anonymous Reader, do you know how to write a C-A-R statement? Do you know why such a statement is important? A professional does, and will utilize those statements and more to demonstrate your VALUE to the potential employer.

"The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people... I believe the less you tell them the better." Where did you get these ideas? And how is that strategy working for you? How many interviews have you won with your "less is better" notion? How are employers supposed to know about the day you saved a $100,000 account by correcting the billing error that nearly made the account-holder choose a competitor if you don't tell them about it?

"Make it short," indeed. And spend a long, long time clinging to your buoy out on that cold, dark ocean.

Jack Mulcahy has written hundreds of resumes for people from all walks of life. Each resume he writes shows the unique selling proposition so necessary to market the job seeker. To learn more about Jack and how he can work to help your resume gain interviews, visit his website at http://www.resumesbyjack.com/.

Read more ...

It Takes More Than Price and Skills to Get Noticed

I recently received the following comment to one of my blog posts that I'd like to share with you:

"... If you want a position all you need to do is price yourself correctly and have the core skill sets. The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people. They can see beyond a spacing error. I believe the less you tell them the better. Make it short."

Other than the writer's misunderstanding of a correct expression of a common plural, this post is full of errors. I wonder how well her strategy is working for her.

If only it was so simple as to "price yourself correctly and just have the core skill sets"! Unfortunately for us all, you can be the cheapest candidate around, with every skill set known to Man, but if your resume doesn't reflect those qualities correctly, you might as well be shouting from a bell buoy in the middle of the ocean, for all the good it will do you. That's what this blog post the reader protested is all about. You need to know the right way to get that across to a reader who has at least 400 other resumes demanding his or her attention. You also need to get your resume through the resume-reading software most companies are using today. Those items on that list, the industry-specific language, the keywords, the design and writing that engage the reader at the outset and keep the reader engaged throughout; all those items are crucial to the success of a resume.

And that's where a professional resume writer comes in. Anonymous Reader, do you know how to write a C-A-R statement? Do you know why such a statement is important? A professional does, and will utilize those statements and more to demonstrate your VALUE to the potential employer.

"The reader's [sic] of the resume are intelligent people... I believe the less you tell them the better." Where did you get these ideas? And how is that strategy working for you? How many interviews have you won with your "less is better" notion? How are employers supposed to know about the day you saved a $100,000 account by correcting the billing error that nearly made the account-holder choose a competitor if you don't tell them about it?

"Make it short," indeed. And spend a long, long time clinging to your buoy out on that cold, dark ocean.

Jack Mulcahy has written hundreds of resumes for people from all walks of life. Each resume he writes shows the unique selling proposition so necessary to market the job seeker. To learn more about Jack and how he can work to help your resume gain interviews, visit his website at http://www.resumesbyjack.com/.

Read more ...

Stay At Home Mom Resume - Use Your Transferable Skills

Has it occurred to you that by becoming a Stay At Home Mom you may make yourself unemployable in the future? Do you wonder about losing your skills and experience in a career you've worked hard at for many years? Perhaps you are asking yourself these questions before you decide whether to become a Stay At Home Mom, or maybe you're asking these questions after being a Stay At Home Mom for 20 years! Either way, it is valuable to learn what mothers are putting on their Stay At Home Mom Resume when they want to head back into the workforce.

You've spent thousands of days changing diapers, dressing children, pureeing food, cleaning crayon off walls, wiping noses, building play houses, going through homework, attending school plays, driving to and from sports practice, generally picking up the pieces for the entire family but then one day you decide to go back to work. Sometimes it is a difficult decision and you have time to ponder your reasons for doing so. For other mothers it suddenly becomes a matter of necessity and you just have to get on with it without much time for thought. If you do need to get back to work, one of the most important tools for getting you the right job is your resume. You can debate the best interview methods until the cows come home, but unless your resume does a good job of getting you to the next stage you'll never need to worry about an interview. So at the beginning, just work on your resume.

There are different types of resumes and there are different approaches to resumes. If you have a solid work history you can present your resume in the classic chronological style. If you have gaps in your employment you can use a different method of presentation called the functional resume. Either way, you need to do a good marketing job to promote yourself.

A Stay At Home Mom can present many positive learning experiences from her time at home raising children. It is worth learning about the positives you should include on your Stay At Home Mom Resume. If you are struggling to understand what employers are looking for it is a great idea to do your research before you put pen to paper. Once you get a few ideas from other people you can start to piece together your own experience and remember things you'd never even think about including on a resume.

Being a Stay At Home Mom is one of the most rewarding experiences you will have in your life. Once you learn to translate this time into transferrable skills on your resume you'll be ready to apply for all those interesting jobs that are simply waiting for you to apply.

To apply for the best jobs you need the best Stay At Home Mom Resume, so don't delay and find out what you should put in your resume now. If you have a good resume then all you need to worry about is the interview! To find out how to lose weight after pregnancy before you start applying for a new job check out this link on the same website. The author, Nicole Wilston, is a Stay At Home Mom who writes from experience. She is the founder of StayAtHomeMomSecrets.com. Her suggestions are practical and realistic.

Read more ...

Stay At Home Mom Resume - Use Your Transferable Skills

Has it occurred to you that by becoming a Stay At Home Mom you may make yourself unemployable in the future? Do you wonder about losing your skills and experience in a career you've worked hard at for many years? Perhaps you are asking yourself these questions before you decide whether to become a Stay At Home Mom, or maybe you're asking these questions after being a Stay At Home Mom for 20 years! Either way, it is valuable to learn what mothers are putting on their Stay At Home Mom Resume when they want to head back into the workforce.

You've spent thousands of days changing diapers, dressing children, pureeing food, cleaning crayon off walls, wiping noses, building play houses, going through homework, attending school plays, driving to and from sports practice, generally picking up the pieces for the entire family but then one day you decide to go back to work. Sometimes it is a difficult decision and you have time to ponder your reasons for doing so. For other mothers it suddenly becomes a matter of necessity and you just have to get on with it without much time for thought. If you do need to get back to work, one of the most important tools for getting you the right job is your resume. You can debate the best interview methods until the cows come home, but unless your resume does a good job of getting you to the next stage you'll never need to worry about an interview. So at the beginning, just work on your resume.

There are different types of resumes and there are different approaches to resumes. If you have a solid work history you can present your resume in the classic chronological style. If you have gaps in your employment you can use a different method of presentation called the functional resume. Either way, you need to do a good marketing job to promote yourself.

A Stay At Home Mom can present many positive learning experiences from her time at home raising children. It is worth learning about the positives you should include on your Stay At Home Mom Resume. If you are struggling to understand what employers are looking for it is a great idea to do your research before you put pen to paper. Once you get a few ideas from other people you can start to piece together your own experience and remember things you'd never even think about including on a resume.

Being a Stay At Home Mom is one of the most rewarding experiences you will have in your life. Once you learn to translate this time into transferrable skills on your resume you'll be ready to apply for all those interesting jobs that are simply waiting for you to apply.

To apply for the best jobs you need the best Stay At Home Mom Resume, so don't delay and find out what you should put in your resume now. If you have a good resume then all you need to worry about is the interview! To find out how to lose weight after pregnancy before you start applying for a new job check out this link on the same website. The author, Nicole Wilston, is a Stay At Home Mom who writes from experience. She is the founder of StayAtHomeMomSecrets.com. Her suggestions are practical and realistic.

Read more ...

Top 3 Skills To List In Your Resume and Show In Your Interview

With the economy currently going through a recession, job markets are tough especially for graduates and student fees are at an all time high causing more people to enter the world of work earlier than expected. So how can you stand out better than your contemporaries? Better yet, how can this be illustrated on to your CV and in an interview?

The Meaning of Employability
Employability is an accumulation of everything desirable that makes an organisation want to hire you. This combines you experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, contacts and of course your personal characteristic. This is why it is becoming increasingly important to address and list the job skills skills on your CV that are relevant to the employer. For someone who has the desire to work for one of the top companies in any industry, you want to present yourself as the most employable and 'lucky-to-have' recruit. People's preference of what defines employability is constantly changing as the world embraces new technologies and innovations. 10 years ago, knowledge of Microsoft Word or how to use the internet wouldn't have been top of the list as a desirable skill for most organizations; now you'll find it extremely difficult to find a job if you don't possess these skills. Invest in your personal development and take every opportunity to build on your skills and add new ones

In this 2-part series, we will outline the top 10 skills to list on a resume CV. These skills present themselves time after time during the selection process. It is your job to prove to the recruiters that you can demonstrate these skills.

Team-work

Nowadays, there is nothing more important than demonstrating how valuable you are as a team member. Almost all recruiters and career coaches will tell you that having the ability to work effectively with or through others to achieve great things. Building empowering and positive relationships with your team members is what hiring managers want in their employers. This is where assessment centres come into play. This is the biggest opportunity you'll get to impress recruiters with your team working skills. You'll most likely have a group exercise in which you will have to demonstrate that you can work in and/or lead a team. Make sure you are ready with many examples of how you have demonstrated team working in the past. Reference any work experience where you have volunteered in a project or taken part in a team challenge. What about at uni? Have you worked on group projects/coursework/presentations? Are you apart of any social club committees? Think about all of these and come prepared with a list in your head.

Communication Skills

Communication skills - very essential in the running of day-to-day business. Employers need team members who are able to communicate their ideas or tasks clearly and concisely. They want all written work or reports to be structured and of the highest quality. This is a skill that you should have really worked on during your university years. Sadly too many recruiters are complaining that candidates (graduates or not) are unable to express themselves articulately, whether verbal or written. Grammatical and spelling errors are still very evident on many application forms or CVs. As a result, may recruiters have introduced literacy and verbal reasoning tests as part of their selection process. During an interview panel, recruiters know it is normal to be a bit nervous, but they still expect you to be able to confidently communicate your suitability for the job.

Problem Solving Skills

The ability to solve problems and provide efficient solutions is an excellent skill to have. Managers want to know that they can trust in their employees to always have the organizations best interest s at heart and continue to make it grow. Problem solvers need to be able to think analytically, strategically and logically. It is up to the recruiters to spot those with these skills at interview stage. So be prepared to have examples of how you have approaches problems and tackled them. Your degree subject may give you an edge over your contemporaries here, especially if you studied IT or the sciences.

For more tips on how to write a CV resume and preparing for an interview, visit our site by just clicking on the link.

For you to get started we have provided free CV templates and professional CV examples which can be downloaded and edited. So visit us and get some great ideas on presenting a winning CV.

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Resume Writing Tips - How to Highlight Your Most Beneficial Skills

Skills on a resume play an important role in getting attention from the employers. If you are a fresher, you will not have any work experience to convince the employer to hire you for the job. But if you possess the necessary qualifications for working in the job position, you can at least convince the employer that you are capable enough to handle the complex job responsibilities. No matter what set and how many skills you possess, it is important to list them depending on the job you are applying for. You cannot list accounting traits for technical jobs. Such information will unnecessarily increase the length of your CV and make no sense. Going through the resume tips, you will know how to highlight your most beneficial skills for any particular job.

Skills in Resume

It is known that this is the most vital section in any CV. Many people make a mistake of giving it least importance and they often lose the job opportunity. Remember that even if you are an experienced candidate, your job relevant qualities can make a difference in getting you the interview call. You may not know the employer's expectation from the candidate to be hired for the particular position. When you are listing your specialized traits, it is important to write all your strengths, whether relevant or irrelevant, on a piece of paper. Now you can see which of these traits match the requirements of the applied position. If there are very less relevant traits, you can include the ones that are nearly relevant to the work profile or that can help you in raising your efficiency in one way or the other.

Commonly Required Skills

There are certain skills that are required for all job positions. If you don't possess any job relevant traits, you can use these common strengths and explain to the employer how these will help you in your prospective work. They are also known as universal skills as they are required for almost all job positions. These are:

Communication abilityInterpersonal skillsDecision makingProblem solvingAnalytical and organizational traitsGood team playerLeadership qualitiesEffective listenerAttentive and flexibleMultitasking ability

How to highlight the most beneficial skills?
The best way to know what is the best skill for any job position is to put yourself in the shoes of the employers. Doing this, you will know the employer's expectation from the candidate and the necessary talent for the particular job
You will also know these requirements by going through the job description provided by the employer in the job advertisement
In this job description, you will also get the necessary keywords that you can include in your resume to highlight your particular qualities
Many companies, today, are performing the computer screening of the resumes to shortlist the candidates. These tests check the presence of job relevant keywords in the CV and shortlists them accordingly. Including the keywords representing your traits will definitely benefit you a lot in the recruitment process

Skills in resume can single handedly get you the job opportunity. Make sure to include them according to the position you are applying for and as expected by the employer. Resume tips also matters a lot. Success is surely yours!

Alan is an expert in the field of resume writing. Alan also written on resume cover letters and resume template.
You can visit his blog at http://resumecoverlettersandtemplates.wordpress.com/

Read more ...

Resume Writing Tips - How to Highlight Your Most Beneficial Skills

Skills on a resume play an important role in getting attention from the employers. If you are a fresher, you will not have any work experience to convince the employer to hire you for the job. But if you possess the necessary qualifications for working in the job position, you can at least convince the employer that you are capable enough to handle the complex job responsibilities. No matter what set and how many skills you possess, it is important to list them depending on the job you are applying for. You cannot list accounting traits for technical jobs. Such information will unnecessarily increase the length of your CV and make no sense. Going through the resume tips, you will know how to highlight your most beneficial skills for any particular job.

Skills in Resume

It is known that this is the most vital section in any CV. Many people make a mistake of giving it least importance and they often lose the job opportunity. Remember that even if you are an experienced candidate, your job relevant qualities can make a difference in getting you the interview call. You may not know the employer's expectation from the candidate to be hired for the particular position. When you are listing your specialized traits, it is important to write all your strengths, whether relevant or irrelevant, on a piece of paper. Now you can see which of these traits match the requirements of the applied position. If there are very less relevant traits, you can include the ones that are nearly relevant to the work profile or that can help you in raising your efficiency in one way or the other.

Commonly Required Skills

There are certain skills that are required for all job positions. If you don't possess any job relevant traits, you can use these common strengths and explain to the employer how these will help you in your prospective work. They are also known as universal skills as they are required for almost all job positions. These are:

Communication abilityInterpersonal skillsDecision makingProblem solvingAnalytical and organizational traitsGood team playerLeadership qualitiesEffective listenerAttentive and flexibleMultitasking ability

How to highlight the most beneficial skills?
The best way to know what is the best skill for any job position is to put yourself in the shoes of the employers. Doing this, you will know the employer's expectation from the candidate and the necessary talent for the particular job
You will also know these requirements by going through the job description provided by the employer in the job advertisement
In this job description, you will also get the necessary keywords that you can include in your resume to highlight your particular qualities
Many companies, today, are performing the computer screening of the resumes to shortlist the candidates. These tests check the presence of job relevant keywords in the CV and shortlists them accordingly. Including the keywords representing your traits will definitely benefit you a lot in the recruitment process

Skills in resume can single handedly get you the job opportunity. Make sure to include them according to the position you are applying for and as expected by the employer. Resume tips also matters a lot. Success is surely yours!

Alan is an expert in the field of resume writing. Alan also written on resume cover letters and resume template.
You can visit his blog at http://resumecoverlettersandtemplates.wordpress.com/

Read more ...

Is It Ethical to Claim You Have Strong Writing Skills If You Hire a Resume Writer?

How often have you seen "Strong verbal and written skills required" in a job description? It seems to appear on almost every job listing. If you are hiring a resume writer, is it ethical to say you have this important job requirement?

Different Set of Rules for Resumes

To answer that question we need to first understand that there is a difference between resume writing skills and other writing skills. There is a completely different set of rules that apply to resumes than to almost any other type of writing.

You can be a strong writer, with the power to move people with what you put down on paper, without having the skills to write a resume that presents yourself in the right light. You may ask how this can be. It has much to do with knowing the rules.

1) Avoid the use of full sentences on a resume.

Brevity is the watchword for resumes. This is one place where you ignore that rule about fragments. Instead of saying, "I am a motivated, results-driven sales professional," you'll say, "Motivated, results-driven sales professional." Generally, you always drop the subject. Often, you'll drop the verb as well.

2) Never use personal pronouns in a resume.

The above example also highlights another important rule. Never say "I" in your resume. It's an obstacle. Let the person reading your resume think in the third person. He or she will mentally think, "He is a motivated, results-driven sales professional." "She is a motivated, results-driven sales professional."

3) Avoid the use of articles such as "a" and "the" for the same reason you avoid full sentences.

This is a rule I occasionally break, yet I only do so in the objective section if I do. It requires skill to pull this off sometimes without leaving behind a stilted feel to the information.

4) Use bulleted lists to present your information.

Bulleted lists organize your information for quick scanning. When there are 500 resumes competing with yours, make it easy to spot the fact that you are a good candidate for the position.

5) Always use parallel form in any lists you create.

This is a skill that even experienced writers can struggle with. If you always start descriptions of your skills with a verb, then every bullet for that type of information throughout your resume should start with a verb. If you start with an adverb on one line, always use adverbs to start each line.

Parallel Verb Form 1 - For past positions

Developed marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionTrained sales personnel to raise sales performance of all team members within each sub-districtCoordinated marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Verb Form 2 - For present position

Developing marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionTraining sales personnel to raise sales performance of all team members within each sub-districtCoordinating marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Adverb Form 1 - For past positions

Actively sought cutting edge marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionCreatively found new ways to raise sales performance of all team members within their sub-districtsExpressly focused on better coordination of marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

Parallel Adverb Form 2 - For present positions

Actively seeking cutting edge marketing strategies to break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionCreatively finding new ways to raise sales performance of all team members within their sub-districtsExpressly focusing on better coordination of marketing events to improve lead follow up quality

The adverb from is more challenging to use. At the same time, it can be very effective at describing the way you approach your job. Adverbs add punch to the verb. They can help you project a picture of how you work and how you would benefit a future employer.

Parallel Transitive Verb Form 1 - For past positions

Transitive verbs, those verbs that show action and must be followed by something that you acted upon, can also be effective.

Demonstrated proposed marketing strategies would break through sales barriers within East Coast sales regionMotivated sales team to reach higher sales goals than ever before considered within each sub-districtProved that incorporating social networking into marketing events improved lead quality

Parallel Transitive Verb Form 2 - For present positions

Transitive verbs, those verbs that show action and must be followed by something that you acted upon, can also be effective.

Demonstrating effectiveness of new marketing strategies by breaking through previous sales barriers within East Coast sales regionMotivating sales team to reach higher sales goals than ever before considered within each sub-districtProving that incorporating social networking into marketing events improved lead quality

6) Avoid bullet lists that sound like a job listing.

As you create those bullet lists sharing your skills, inject a sense of how you have performed those primary duties of the jobs you've had in the past. Think beyond what you did, to how you accomplished what you did.

7) Focus on what you have to give.

Sure, there are things you need from the employer. There's time enough for discussing that later. Start from the position of "Here's what I can do for you." Let's face it, while you don't want an employer who is only what's in it for me focused, you can't know who you are dealing with unless you get your foot in the door for an interview. Focus your resume on what you have to offer.

In the end, a resume is more than just the ability to write. It also involves a level a design sensitivity. That line "strong written and verbal skills has a different definition depending on the employer.

If the job isn't asking you to prove your design skills as well as writing skills, you may be able to ethically claim you have the writing skills the company is looking for, even if you hire someone to help you with your resume. We're not all gifted in the same ways.

Denise Rutledge has provided resume and cover letter writing services for over three years through WritingasaGhost. Her clients have said things like: "I've always gotten an interview when Denise has written my cover letter." R.F. "You are the best money I have ever spent." K.S. She shares this information to empower others to write their own resumes and cover letters for successful job search results.

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Choosing Transferable Skills to Add to Your Resume

When you're in the midst of switching careers, you may feel a bit concerned about just how you can show that you are qualified for a new position with your old skills. Although it's true that you may not have all of the qualifications a company is seeking, you probably have some great transferable skills.

What are transferable skills? These are skills that can be transferred from your old career to the new one. The key is in identifying these skills so that you can add them to your resume. Here are some tips for getting this done:

1. Read the Job Posting Carefully

First and foremost, it's a good idea to sit down and really take a good look at the job posting to see what it is the employer is looking for in a candidate. Most job postings are fairly thorough, giving you a good idea of what you should bring to the table. Look at what they want from you, then think back through your job experiences to determine what aligns with their goals.

2. Make the Most of Close Matches

If you are trying to find ways to show that you're qualified for a position although you have no background in the field, you could benefit greatly from close matches. For instance, if you're a former travel agent and are now applying for an executive assistant position, make the most of your ability to understand booking flights since doing so for your new boss is one of the requirements of the job.

3. Try to Find Someone Who Works/Worked in the Position

In addition to looking at a job description, it's good to check through resume sites or LinkedIn to see if you can pinpoint the person who worked in the position before you. If they've left their resume open to the public, you have a great opportunity to gain insight into what the position entails and how your current skills relate to what the company is looking for.

4. Ask People in the New Field for Help

Take advantage of your networking skills to connect with people in your new field via LinkedIn or other networks. Find out which skills they need for their jobs, and ask how your current skills could apply to a new position.

5. Look for Skills Outside of Work

Your volunteer efforts and personal hobbies could help you immensely as you look for skills that apply to a new position. For example, volunteering as a Girl Scouts troop leader could make you a great salesperson because you're not only a leader but have the ability to sell some mean cookies!

Many people have switched fields over the course of their career-and you can too. By identifying the right skills to add to each resume you write, you can help place a greater focus on why you're qualified for the job-and less on the fact that you have little background in the field.

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.

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Resume Writing Skills: "The Power Is In the Details!"

We've all heard the saying, "The devil is in the details." Well, in effective resume writing you have to pay attention because, "The power is in the details."

First, it needs to be emphasized that typos, misspellings or grammatical mistakes should never appear in any written material you send out. From an email to your resume it all should be free from errors. Miss a mistake in grammar and your otherwise well written resume could never be seen again.

The second resume writing detail that you should pay particular attention to is how you list your employers. With no supporting information the name of your employer on your resume indicates nothing.

The goal of your resume is to create as complete a picture of your experience as possible. Failure to describe any of your employers diminishes the value of your resume and raises questions in the mind of the reader. The hiring manager is not going to connect the dots for you and questions leads directly to a rejection.

Don't assume one company knows what is going on in another company, even if both are in the same industry or are in the same general area. A customer service manager in one company may have 20 people working for them while in another similar sized company in the same industry may have outsourced the function.

You want the reader to understand your experience in the context of the size of the company, what business it's in and who are their customers. These details allow the hiring manager to understand your level of experience in relation to the needs of the position.

Even if you worked for a company with a household name, at a minimum you need to provide: How did your job fit in the employer's operations? Division or corporate? Size in sales or number of employees? Any subordinates? Their functions? Without providing details of the context of previous positions the prospective employer is left with questions, and your goal in writing a resume is to eliminate questions not create them.

Screening resumes is more of an art than a science. Rather than looking for reasons to put your resume in the interview pile more often the opposite is true. First it's skimmed. Hard to read with bad formatting doesn't make the cut. Don't immediately see needed skills another rejection. Questions are raised about your experience, depending on the job and number of candidates, you might move on but don't count on it.

In a competitive job hunting environment part of your overall marketing effort is to stand above the crowd of other candidates. Briefly describing the context of other jobs is just one additional way to stand out.

Another important detail that does not need to be included in your resume is the address of previous employers. Name and city will suffice in your resume. If you are required to complete a full application, store the information in your phone or blackberry so it can be easily retrieved.

A careful listing of previous employers is just one additional way to get your resume read. If your resume gets the hiring officials attention because you are paying attention to the important details you have a powerful document.

Read more ...

Choosing Transferable Skills to Add to Your Resume

When you're in the midst of switching careers, you may feel a bit concerned about just how you can show that you are qualified for a new position with your old skills. Although it's true that you may not have all of the qualifications a company is seeking, you probably have some great transferable skills.

What are transferable skills? These are skills that can be transferred from your old career to the new one. The key is in identifying these skills so that you can add them to your resume. Here are some tips for getting this done:

1. Read the Job Posting Carefully

First and foremost, it's a good idea to sit down and really take a good look at the job posting to see what it is the employer is looking for in a candidate. Most job postings are fairly thorough, giving you a good idea of what you should bring to the table. Look at what they want from you, then think back through your job experiences to determine what aligns with their goals.

2. Make the Most of Close Matches

If you are trying to find ways to show that you're qualified for a position although you have no background in the field, you could benefit greatly from close matches. For instance, if you're a former travel agent and are now applying for an executive assistant position, make the most of your ability to understand booking flights since doing so for your new boss is one of the requirements of the job.

3. Try to Find Someone Who Works/Worked in the Position

In addition to looking at a job description, it's good to check through resume sites or LinkedIn to see if you can pinpoint the person who worked in the position before you. If they've left their resume open to the public, you have a great opportunity to gain insight into what the position entails and how your current skills relate to what the company is looking for.

4. Ask People in the New Field for Help

Take advantage of your networking skills to connect with people in your new field via LinkedIn or other networks. Find out which skills they need for their jobs, and ask how your current skills could apply to a new position.

5. Look for Skills Outside of Work

Your volunteer efforts and personal hobbies could help you immensely as you look for skills that apply to a new position. For example, volunteering as a Girl Scouts troop leader could make you a great salesperson because you're not only a leader but have the ability to sell some mean cookies!

Many people have switched fields over the course of their career-and you can too. By identifying the right skills to add to each resume you write, you can help place a greater focus on why you're qualified for the job-and less on the fact that you have little background in the field.

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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Top 4 Mistakes Made When Posting Computer Skills On Your Resume

More and more employers are looking for computer skills as they are offering telecommuting, managing projects through new software, and adding social media to their marketing strategy. So, what do you put on your resume, and what do you leave off? If you want to get your resume noticed, here are the mistakes you want to avoid:

Mistake #1: Posting irrelevant computer skills on your resume

If you are applying for an administrative job, you don't need to list that you can use digital video editing software. Keep the computer skills section focused on the needs of the job. If they require knowledge of Microsoft Office products, list your experience with each one. Pay attention to the skills they "require" and which ones they "desire". If MSOffice skills are at the top of the "required" list, you want to elaborate on those skills and your proficiency with each. List the number of years you've used the programs and the types of projects you've completed with them to paint a clear picture of your experience.

Mistake #2: Lying

Seems obvious, but it happens. I once interviewed a woman who was applying for a customer service job, and she listed on her resume that she could use Excel. The last part of the interview included her doing some data entry on a spreadsheet, and she couldn't do it. She said she "never learned that part of Excel". My thought was that data entry is about as basic as it gets with Excel, so she had lied and said she knew the programs just to get the interview. If you are more familiar with one of the programs over the other, just say that. If you are trainable and a good match for the rest of the job, chances are, they will hire you and train you.

Mistake #3: Being vague about what you can do

Listing "Proficient in Photoshop" would lead me to believe you can work with photos and their layers, add text, and manipulate the images. However, you're interpretation of "proficient" may mean that you can resize and crop photos. In order to avoid confusion and give the necessary information upfront, list out what you can do with the program, especially if using Photoshop is a big part of the job you are applying for.

Mistake #4: Not digging deep enough

If you notice that a lot of the jobs you are applying for are asking you to be able to do more than you currently know how to do, search for places to get additional training. http://www.lynda.com is a good resource to do online tutorials at your own pace, or you can seek out inexpensive training at your local library, community access television station, or computer shop. There are also many freelance graphic designers who may be willing to train you on the pieces you need to learn. You can post an inquiry on http://www.Elance.com.

To recap: the keys to posting computer skills on your resume is clarity, listing the skills that are pertinent to the job responsibilities, and being thorough about what you're capable of doing. Skimping on this information requires the company do more work to find out more, which may lead to them sticking with the people who did take the time to follow these steps. Rather than be weeded out for too little information, do your homework and make the job easier for the company who could be your future employers.

Angela Lussier is an award-winning speaker, author of the Seth Godin recommended book The Anti-Resume Revolution, the alumni career programs coordinator at the UMass Amherst Alumni Association, and career consultant & owner of 365 Degrees Consulting in Springfield, MA. Her advice has been featured on Yahoo!, NBC, ABC, The Ladders, and in many career and business books. Angela is also a guest blogger for Virgin.com. A 2003 alumna of UMass Amherst, Angela strives to help professionals and UMass alumni to create success and happiness through their career. To learn more about her approach, go to http://www.antiresumerevolution.com/.

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

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Resume Writing Skills: "The Power Is In the Details!"

We've all heard the saying, "The devil is in the details." Well, in effective resume writing you have to pay attention because, "The power is in the details."

First, it needs to be emphasized that typos, misspellings or grammatical mistakes should never appear in any written material you send out. From an email to your resume it all should be free from errors. Miss a mistake in grammar and your otherwise well written resume could never be seen again.

The second resume writing detail that you should pay particular attention to is how you list your employers. With no supporting information the name of your employer on your resume indicates nothing.

The goal of your resume is to create as complete a picture of your experience as possible. Failure to describe any of your employers diminishes the value of your resume and raises questions in the mind of the reader. The hiring manager is not going to connect the dots for you and questions leads directly to a rejection.

Don't assume one company knows what is going on in another company, even if both are in the same industry or are in the same general area. A customer service manager in one company may have 20 people working for them while in another similar sized company in the same industry may have outsourced the function.

You want the reader to understand your experience in the context of the size of the company, what business it's in and who are their customers. These details allow the hiring manager to understand your level of experience in relation to the needs of the position.

Even if you worked for a company with a household name, at a minimum you need to provide: How did your job fit in the employer's operations? Division or corporate? Size in sales or number of employees? Any subordinates? Their functions? Without providing details of the context of previous positions the prospective employer is left with questions, and your goal in writing a resume is to eliminate questions not create them.

Screening resumes is more of an art than a science. Rather than looking for reasons to put your resume in the interview pile more often the opposite is true. First it's skimmed. Hard to read with bad formatting doesn't make the cut. Don't immediately see needed skills another rejection. Questions are raised about your experience, depending on the job and number of candidates, you might move on but don't count on it.

In a competitive job hunting environment part of your overall marketing effort is to stand above the crowd of other candidates. Briefly describing the context of other jobs is just one additional way to stand out.

Another important detail that does not need to be included in your resume is the address of previous employers. Name and city will suffice in your resume. If you are required to complete a full application, store the information in your phone or blackberry so it can be easily retrieved.

A careful listing of previous employers is just one additional way to get your resume read. If your resume gets the hiring officials attention because you are paying attention to the important details you have a powerful document.

Learn more about effective resume and cover letter writing, job hunting strategies, changing careers 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 tactics and mid-life career planning.

Read more ...

Resume Writing Skills: "The Power Is In the Details!"

We've all heard the saying, "The devil is in the details." Well, in effective resume writing you have to pay attention because, "The power is in the details."

First, it needs to be emphasized that typos, misspellings or grammatical mistakes should never appear in any written material you send out. From an email to your resume it all should be free from errors. Miss a mistake in grammar and your otherwise well written resume could never be seen again.

The second resume writing detail that you should pay particular attention to is how you list your employers. With no supporting information the name of your employer on your resume indicates nothing.

The goal of your resume is to create as complete a picture of your experience as possible. Failure to describe any of your employers diminishes the value of your resume and raises questions in the mind of the reader. The hiring manager is not going to connect the dots for you and questions leads directly to a rejection.

Don't assume one company knows what is going on in another company, even if both are in the same industry or are in the same general area. A customer service manager in one company may have 20 people working for them while in another similar sized company in the same industry may have outsourced the function.

You want the reader to understand your experience in the context of the size of the company, what business it's in and who are their customers. These details allow the hiring manager to understand your level of experience in relation to the needs of the position.

Even if you worked for a company with a household name, at a minimum you need to provide: How did your job fit in the employer's operations? Division or corporate? Size in sales or number of employees? Any subordinates? Their functions? Without providing details of the context of previous positions the prospective employer is left with questions, and your goal in writing a resume is to eliminate questions not create them.

Screening resumes is more of an art than a science. Rather than looking for reasons to put your resume in the interview pile more often the opposite is true. First it's skimmed. Hard to read with bad formatting doesn't make the cut. Don't immediately see needed skills another rejection. Questions are raised about your experience, depending on the job and number of candidates, you might move on but don't count on it.

In a competitive job hunting environment part of your overall marketing effort is to stand above the crowd of other candidates. Briefly describing the context of other jobs is just one additional way to stand out.

Another important detail that does not need to be included in your resume is the address of previous employers. Name and city will suffice in your resume. If you are required to complete a full application, store the information in your phone or blackberry so it can be easily retrieved.

A careful listing of previous employers is just one additional way to get your resume read. If your resume gets the hiring officials attention because you are paying attention to the important details you have a powerful document.

Learn more about effective resume and cover letter writing, job hunting strategies, changing careers 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 tactics and mid-life career planning.

Read more ...

Strengthening Your Resume Writing Skills - Objective Statement

A recent client had a resume I wrote reviewed by a competitor. He asked for my response to the critique. I had to admit that the critique included some very good points worth my paying attention to. I had opened the resume with an objective statement wasting, as the critique said, some very valuable real estate.

Value of an Objective Statement

This was the first item targeted. The critique questioned whether it should even be included. "In today's highly competitive job market, starting your resume with an Objective statement is a very weak marketing tactic."

I still feel that opening with an objective statement doesn't have to be a weak marketing tactic. In fact, most resume services recommend it as essential.

Focus of an Objective Statement

At the same time, I recognized that they had a valid point when they addressed the statement itself. "Recent college graduate seeking work in natural resources and environmental services."

This statement told the employer what my client was looking for. This was a weak marketing tactic, and I deserved to be called on it! As a resume writer, I needed to show what my client had to offer the potential employer.

Here are the facts I knew: He had worked his way through college, so he had many developed skills to offer. He had overcome many of the difficulties caused by dyslexia.

The objective statement would have been a much stronger marketing tool if it had been worded this way. "Recent environmental services graduate. Excited about prospect opening offers to transfer learning and experience into opportunity to grow your company's recognition as a leader in this industry."

When a client is just entering the market, it can be a strength to admit he/she is excited about learning and doesn't think he/she already knows it all. That can be refreshing. It could be the thing that makes the resume stand out (especially if the company is looking for young blood). Without a little research into the company culture, it can be difficult to know which angle is the best.

Often, after you have prepared a resume for a client, they will find the resume isn't producing the results they had hoped for. A poorly written objective statement could be the cause.

Learn from my learning process. Make sure you client realizes that the resume objective statement does need to be tweaked each time he/she submits a resume. It has to fit the employer and the job opening.

I'm very thankful that my client sent me the critique. It showed me some weaknesses in my resume writing skills. The process wasn't comfortable, I'll admit. Yet, strengthening my resume writing skills as a professional was worth the discomfort.

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