5 Tips On How To Tailor An Effective Resume

No two individuals are alike but when it comes to resumes, poorly written ones often come in batches and may just look the same to the disappointment of hiring managers and recruiters. If you're currently on the lookout for a job, drafting a killer resume may just be the key to being called for an interview. Find out below how exactly you should write and present a highly effective resume.

1. Give special focus on the format.

No matter how excellent the content of your resume, it won't really get noticed unless you format it in a way which will set it apart from the others. Recruiters will scan your resume for 25 seconds only, so the information should be organized and readable. You could pattern the format after the following:

-- use bold and italicized typeface to help guide the hiring manager's eyes;
-- utilize bullets to stress important facts such as quantified accomplishments;
-- use appropriate headings as well as sufficient margins.

2. Highlight accomplishments rather than job descriptions.

One common pitfall when drafting a resume is adding in job descriptions rather than using one's job accomplishments. This is particularly useful in jobs which require technical expertise like engineering, programming and electronics. Why not show to an organization how you can help them solve their problems by highlighting the following:

-- focus on what you actually did on your previous job rather than what you were supposed to do;
-- concentrate on individual achievements rather than group accomplishments;
-- make it a point to include instances when you received a letter of recommendation or any mention of recognition in your previous company's newsletter

3. Replace the career objective with a career summary section. While most career objectives exactly sound the same, you can easily get the attention of hiring managers by providing a summary of who you are and what you do.

4. Harness the power of keywords.

Each industry has its own set of jargon and you're likely come across these words amongst job advertisements. Drafting a killer resume involves incorporating these keywords. Apart from using industry-specific words and phrases, you might also want to include these general yet very powerful words: teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and business development. However, do not just litter your resume with these buzzwords; make it a point that these keywords perfectly mirrors your abilities, skills and personality.

5. Watch out for errors.

Be meticulous with your grammar, punctuation and spelling. Organizations and businesses will most likely weed out candidates who can't construct a proper sentence or differentiate a present tense from the past tense. Before sending in your resume, double check for errors by running it through a spelling and grammar checker.

Keep in mind that your resume is not just plainly a bio of sorts. It is a very powerful tool that you can use to sell yourself and get that job you've always wanted.

Your resume is an important document you submit to employers for career opportunities. In order for you to write it in a substantial and relevant manner, download CareerFact's comprehensive guide and read effective guidelines.

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Resume Secret: Tailor Your Resume Twice! Here's Why

Tailoring your resume is very important in your job search, but you need to remember to tailor each and every resume you send to potential employers. What is tailoring your resume? You want to be sure to use specific information from the online job description and update your resume with applicable words and acronyms from the description. Use only words and terms that fit your current skill-set and that you can back up with experience. To get ahead of the competition, you should tailor your resume for each and every job you apply to for employment.

Once you get a call to schedule your interview (and you will), I suggest asking the recruiter or HRM for a detailed job description (it will probably be little different than the online version you first tailored your resume with) and use this new, specific job information to update your resume...again. Yes, update your resume a second time for the position you are about to interview for, then ask the recruiter or HRM to use your new, even stronger worded, resume for the interview! This extra step will have your resume look hot and stand out from the competition even more! Have the recruiter or HRM submit this new and improved resume to the hiring managers. They will review this version of your resume and notice how well it stands out and you'll be remembered. This key step in your job search will definitely put you two steps ahead of the competition! I don't know many people, if any, who has used this resume writing secret! Getting a job takes a lot more time and energy on your part than it did just a few years ago. Are you willing to go the extra mile to get hired? Enjoy this resume writing secret and let me know if it works for you!

Here is quick checklist for you to use:

1. Find an online job and job description you want to apply for.
2. Use key terms from this job description in your resume.
3. Apply for the job.
4. Schedule your interview and ask if the HRM or recruiter has a better, more detailed, version of the job description.
5. Use this new, more detailed job description, to tailor your resume a second time.
6. Re-submit your newest resume version to the HRM or recruiter for the hiring managers to use in your interview.
7. Be sure to take 5 copies of this version of your resume to the interview. You never know who may drop in to talk with you and you don't want to leave them empy handed.

Using this resume secret in your job search will take time and extra effort on your job hunt. But it will definitely pay off!

Ben Rivera, using his 10+ years of job hunting experience, blogs about resume writing techniques and tips at http://www.fourhourresume.com/ and enjoys writing professional, tailored resumes for active job seekers. Good Luck!

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How to Tailor Your Resume for a Specific Job

In a difficult economy, you need to know how to tailor your résumé for a variety of jobs. In June of 2011, the United State's unemployment rate was roughly 9.2 percent, which equates to 14.1 million Americans. For a point of reference, the United State's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in February of 2008; nearly half of what it is today!

Because of those astonishing - and utterly disappointing - numbers, one of the most important skills you need is the ability to tailor your résumé for specific jobs.

1. Specify, with a bold heading, the job title you are pursuing. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Medical Transcriptionist, make sure that the title "Medical Transcriptionist" is at the top of your résumé. This will immediately inform the hiring manager what you are applying for.

Note: I advise NOT to include an objective statement. Why? Because the employer knows your objective is to become employed...

2. Write a specific, position-oriented summary of qualifications. The first section of your résumé (after your name, contact information and title) should be a detailed list of reasons why you are qualified for the position you are applying for. This is known as the "Summary of Qualifications," which you can use as the heading.

Including specific information can be difficult if you're not exactly sure what the requirements of the job are. In that case, visit Career Planner's Job Description Tool and make sure your qualifications match the position's requirements.

3. Do you need to highlight your education or work experience? This one is fairly easy to figure out. If you've just completed your education in a certain field and are applying for jobs in that field, then you need to highlight your education by placing it immediately after your summary of qualifications. If, instead, your work experience is more important, then place that after your summary of qualifications.

For your education: include your degree or diploma; year graduated; college, university or school; city and state; GPA (if you feel comfortable with it); any honors or awards accepted; and a sample of classes taken (if you need to take up some more room).

For your work experience: include your position, name of the company, city and state, time span of employment, and a bulleted list of responsibilities (or specific accomplishments, if applicable).

Note: Don't include work experience that isn't relevant to the position you're applying for. Put that experience under "additional experience."

4. Look over your résumé several times and revise anything you feel could be improved. You only get one chance at making an impression, so it has to be a good one. Every hiring manger I have ever talked to says that once they notice one spelling error, or sometimes even a grammatical error, they'll throw the résumé out, regardless of the candidates qualifications.

5. Seek professional help if you are unsure about your résumé. Although some people believe it's "cheating," hiring a professional résumé writer can have a huge impact on your job hunt. Just like every other profession, résumé writers are professionals at what we do.

So far, the economy isn't getting any better, which indicates that good jobs are only going to be harder and harder to get. Your best chance at getting more interviews is by having a professional write your résumé. It's a small price to pay for a huge advantage.

Good luck with your job search!

Jerad Maplethorpe is a professional resume writer with Hired Résumé Service. The family-owned and operated business offers resume writing advice and affordable resume packages.

Read more ...

How to Tailor Your Resume for a Specific Job

In a difficult economy, you need to know how to tailor your résumé for a variety of jobs. In June of 2011, the United State's unemployment rate was roughly 9.2 percent, which equates to 14.1 million Americans. For a point of reference, the United State's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in February of 2008; nearly half of what it is today!

Because of those astonishing - and utterly disappointing - numbers, one of the most important skills you need is the ability to tailor your résumé for specific jobs.

1. Specify, with a bold heading, the job title you are pursuing. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Medical Transcriptionist, make sure that the title "Medical Transcriptionist" is at the top of your résumé. This will immediately inform the hiring manager what you are applying for.

Note: I advise NOT to include an objective statement. Why? Because the employer knows your objective is to become employed...

2. Write a specific, position-oriented summary of qualifications. The first section of your résumé (after your name, contact information and title) should be a detailed list of reasons why you are qualified for the position you are applying for. This is known as the "Summary of Qualifications," which you can use as the heading.

Including specific information can be difficult if you're not exactly sure what the requirements of the job are. In that case, visit Career Planner's Job Description Tool and make sure your qualifications match the position's requirements.

3. Do you need to highlight your education or work experience? This one is fairly easy to figure out. If you've just completed your education in a certain field and are applying for jobs in that field, then you need to highlight your education by placing it immediately after your summary of qualifications. If, instead, your work experience is more important, then place that after your summary of qualifications.

For your education: include your degree or diploma; year graduated; college, university or school; city and state; GPA (if you feel comfortable with it); any honors or awards accepted; and a sample of classes taken (if you need to take up some more room).

For your work experience: include your position, name of the company, city and state, time span of employment, and a bulleted list of responsibilities (or specific accomplishments, if applicable).

Note: Don't include work experience that isn't relevant to the position you're applying for. Put that experience under "additional experience."

4. Look over your résumé several times and revise anything you feel could be improved. You only get one chance at making an impression, so it has to be a good one. Every hiring manger I have ever talked to says that once they notice one spelling error, or sometimes even a grammatical error, they'll throw the résumé out, regardless of the candidates qualifications.

5. Seek professional help if you are unsure about your résumé. Although some people believe it's "cheating," hiring a professional résumé writer can have a huge impact on your job hunt. Just like every other profession, résumé writers are professionals at what we do.

So far, the economy isn't getting any better, which indicates that good jobs are only going to be harder and harder to get. Your best chance at getting more interviews is by having a professional write your résumé. It's a small price to pay for a huge advantage.

Good luck with your job search!

Jerad Maplethorpe is a professional resume writer with Hired Résumé Service. The family-owned and operated business offers resume writing advice and affordable resume packages.

Read more ...

How to Tailor Your Resume for a Specific Job

In a difficult economy, you need to know how to tailor your résumé for a variety of jobs. In June of 2011, the United State's unemployment rate was roughly 9.2 percent, which equates to 14.1 million Americans. For a point of reference, the United State's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in February of 2008; nearly half of what it is today!

Because of those astonishing - and utterly disappointing - numbers, one of the most important skills you need is the ability to tailor your résumé for specific jobs.

1. Specify, with a bold heading, the job title you are pursuing. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Medical Transcriptionist, make sure that the title "Medical Transcriptionist" is at the top of your résumé. This will immediately inform the hiring manager what you are applying for.

Note: I advise NOT to include an objective statement. Why? Because the employer knows your objective is to become employed...

2. Write a specific, position-oriented summary of qualifications. The first section of your résumé (after your name, contact information and title) should be a detailed list of reasons why you are qualified for the position you are applying for. This is known as the "Summary of Qualifications," which you can use as the heading.

Including specific information can be difficult if you're not exactly sure what the requirements of the job are. In that case, visit Career Planner's Job Description Tool and make sure your qualifications match the position's requirements.

3. Do you need to highlight your education or work experience? This one is fairly easy to figure out. If you've just completed your education in a certain field and are applying for jobs in that field, then you need to highlight your education by placing it immediately after your summary of qualifications. If, instead, your work experience is more important, then place that after your summary of qualifications.

For your education: include your degree or diploma; year graduated; college, university or school; city and state; GPA (if you feel comfortable with it); any honors or awards accepted; and a sample of classes taken (if you need to take up some more room).

For your work experience: include your position, name of the company, city and state, time span of employment, and a bulleted list of responsibilities (or specific accomplishments, if applicable).

Note: Don't include work experience that isn't relevant to the position you're applying for. Put that experience under "additional experience."

4. Look over your résumé several times and revise anything you feel could be improved. You only get one chance at making an impression, so it has to be a good one. Every hiring manger I have ever talked to says that once they notice one spelling error, or sometimes even a grammatical error, they'll throw the résumé out, regardless of the candidates qualifications.

5. Seek professional help if you are unsure about your résumé. Although some people believe it's "cheating," hiring a professional résumé writer can have a huge impact on your job hunt. Just like every other profession, résumé writers are professionals at what we do.

So far, the economy isn't getting any better, which indicates that good jobs are only going to be harder and harder to get. Your best chance at getting more interviews is by having a professional write your résumé. It's a small price to pay for a huge advantage.

Good luck with your job search!

Jerad Maplethorpe is a professional resume writer with Hired Résumé Service. The family-owned and operated business offers resume writing advice and affordable resume packages.

Read more ...