Looking for a good sample executive resume on the Internet is a little like finding the perfect piece of fruit in a huge supermarket. You need a guideline to help pick the best one. My suggestion is that you use two primary criteria, document organization and writing clarity, in making this decision. This article deals primarily with clarity.
Anyone who has read my book or articles on resumes knows that I consider the job search a sales process. You are the product, prospective employers are potential customers and your resume is your brochure. If your "brochure," your resume, does not create immediate customer interest in the "product," it has failed, and frankly, so have your interview chances.
The typical resume reviewer reads up to a hundred resumes each day. This can only be done by making a quick decision on each resume as to whether it is worth continued reading. The resume that creates immediate interest and is easy to read stays in consideration the longest. Here are three rules I consider primary for writing an interesting, easy to read resume.
First, be natural in your writing and write with a plan. A natural writing style does not mean you should write as you speak. For example, most people tend to use contractions like "don't" or "can't" when we speak. These come across as overly familiar and are best avoided in resumes and cover letters.
The natural writing style uses words that should be familiar to most readers. This makes the document easy to read. Let me demonstrate. Read the following two sentences, considering whether you would want to read more in this style.
"Utilized psychological profiling to ascertain the appropriate price point for eCommerce product placement."
"Used customer input to set prices for Internet based products."
The second sentence is far preferable because the reader receives the necessary information with little effort. Making it easy for the resume reviewer to do a good job should always be part of your writing plan.
Another important part of your writing plan is the order in which words appear. Since grabbing and holding the reader's attention is so important, put the most interesting and important information early in each sentence, each paragraph and, where possible, in each resume section. If you are describing your sales ability, write with something like, "Delivered highest sales increase..."
Lastly, avoid common idioms, clich?s and figures of speech. Idioms are terms like "brain drain" or "bottomed out." The use of idioms cheapens a professional resume or cover letter. The truly successful sales organizations put the customer first. Choose a clear, easy to read sample resume as our guide and you will help your "customer" make the right decision on your candidacy.
