Showing posts with label Three. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Three. Show all posts
2/6/13
Is My Resume Outdated? Three Checkpoints
I have been writing resumes off and on for over 30 years. During that time, I have seen many changes. Today's professionally written resumes are job marketing documents that are highly crafted. They are written using principles of marketing and professional writing and include information that meets the needs of prospective employers. Have you wondered, "Is my resume outdated?"
If you have not updated your resume in more than 5, 10, 20, 30 years - trust me, it likely needs a radical overhaul. Every week, I see a resume that contains information that is irrelevant, outdated, or a total waste of valuable resume real estate space. This is part one of a four-part series that tackles the myths and faux pas of resume writing for today's technologically advanced job market.
Myth 1: The purpose of a resume is to get you a job.
This is clearly untrue. The purpose of a resume is to get you an INTERVIEW! Your resume must provide the information that prospective employers want to see because you only have 10 to 30 seconds to grab their attention. You must get this information across quickly and with dynamic phrasing that grabs their attention, and gives them the desire to read more and to call you to schedule an interview.
Myth 2: Always include all of your education the more you know the better.
This is "false". Everything that you put on a resume should be relevant to the specific job for which you want to apply. If you graduated from high school or college Magna Cum Laude 15+ years ago, no one cares. If you took a college level floral arranging course but are applying for an accounting job with a publishing company; that information is irrelevant. However, if you are applying for a position as an accountant in a floral business, it may be a good thing to include. That decision would depend on what other relevant information you have that could be incorporated into your resume.
Myth 3: Never put an objective statement on your resume.
The answer to this myth could be true and false, it all depends on what you mean by an "objective statement". All resumes should have an objective, a purpose or target tied to a specific job title such as; receptionist, sales manager or dental hygienist. This objective or target should be prominently positioned near the top of the resume where it is clearly visible and clearly states the job title you are applying for such as; Receptionist | Administrative Assistant.
However, if you are using one of the tired, old, self-centered objective statements that were popular in the eighties-it's got to GO! Phrases similar to the following example are what I referred to, above.
"I am seeking a position that will utilize my skills and experience in a position that will give me the opportunity to grow and develop within a stable company."
Prospective employers do not want to know what you want in a job; they want to know if what you have to offer will make their business better, make them more money or save them money.
To get the best result, a request for an interview, you need to have a focused resume with a clear job target right at the top of the resume. Remember, prospective employers are only interested in what you can do for them.
If your resume clearly communicates what you can do for them - you will get interviews. If you are struggling to write your resume, contact a professional resume writer who can help you to focus your resume information to the job/s for which you intend to apply.
Radiant Resume Services can write your resume and cover letter. We will help you shine brighter and reach your job search and career goals faster. Radiant Resume Services
8/10/12
Resume Mastery - Using the Rule of Three
There's a reason why people like to be presented with three choices rather than two or five. When it comes to pleasing the human brain, it seems like three is a magic number to help us master the technique of resume success. Many also believe that a set of three bullet points is the most effective use of the format within a resume.
Can you remember a time you went to the store to buy a number of things you needed but you could only remember three of the things you went to get? That is the Rule of Three. Lists of three have been used for years, and are particularly popular with politicians and advertisers who know the value of using the rule to sell their ideas. An example: "Stop, Look, and Listen." Another would be Julius Caesar's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen."
Aristotle wrote the Rule of Three in his book of Rhetoric, reaffirming that, for the most part, people have a propensity to easily only remember three things. When you send out your resume, chances are that the reader will only remember three things from it. So, before you start preparing for a possible interview, you need to plan what your three key items are going to be on your resume.
In resume creation, less is always more. The three major parts of the resume are the heading, the summary, and the experience/skills section. Plan out what you are going to say in each of these three parts to grab the viewer's attention. Contrary to the SAR or OAR interview methodology, make your first part of each section the most positive and powerful one. And, if you have four main points in a section, cut one of the responses out. The reader probably wouldn't remember it anyway.
Keeping your resume detail interesting is a much more difficult task than most people realize. There is a very delicate balance between statements so boring that people start to doze off and those that are so complicated that the interviewer can't keep up with it any longer and gives up. Therefore, a resume's success could result if you constructively structure your resume around the rule and then use the rule to the fullest by coming out with positive results rather than structured job duties. Once you have created your outline, let someone review it. The more you have people review your resume, the more you can hone in on the right wording and have a significant advantage over your competitors.
C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional resume writer, career consultant, and career coach. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.
6/7/12
Resume Mastery - Using the Rule of Three
There's a reason why people like to be presented with three choices rather than two or five. When it comes to pleasing the human brain, it seems like three is a magic number to help us master the technique of resume success. Many also believe that a set of three bullet points is the most effective use of the format within a resume.
Can you remember a time you went to the store to buy a number of things you needed but you could only remember three of the things you went to get? That is the Rule of Three. Lists of three have been used for years, and are particularly popular with politicians and advertisers who know the value of using the rule to sell their ideas. An example: "Stop, Look, and Listen." Another would be Julius Caesar's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen."
Aristotle wrote the Rule of Three in his book of Rhetoric, reaffirming that, for the most part, people have a propensity to easily only remember three things. When you send out your resume, chances are that the reader will only remember three things from it. So, before you start preparing for a possible interview, you need to plan what your three key items are going to be on your resume.
In resume creation, less is always more. The three major parts of the resume are the heading, the summary, and the experience/skills section. Plan out what you are going to say in each of these three parts to grab the viewer's attention. Contrary to the SAR or OAR interview methodology, make your first part of each section the most positive and powerful one. And, if you have four main points in a section, cut one of the responses out. The reader probably wouldn't remember it anyway.
Keeping your resume detail interesting is a much more difficult task than most people realize. There is a very delicate balance between statements so boring that people start to doze off and those that are so complicated that the interviewer can't keep up with it any longer and gives up. Therefore, a resume's success could result if you constructively structure your resume around the rule and then use the rule to the fullest by coming out with positive results rather than structured job duties. Once you have created your outline, let someone review it. The more you have people review your resume, the more you can hone in on the right wording and have a significant advantage over your competitors.
C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional resume writer, career consultant, and career coach. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.
5/5/12
Top Three Negatives of Reading an Example of a Resume
Custom-tailored copies can kill a career in an instant
The Internet has become an open-ended, bottomless reservoir of information for people looking for quick fix deals. From the cheapest, second-hand cars in Alabama to expensive and top-of-the line designer shoes, name it the Web has it stored and sorted for you. With a long line of web sites offering either useless or practically empty paragraphs of search engine optimization (SEO) junk, it seems but natural to see writers offering various writing packages online.
As part of the online revolution commandeered by the pioneers of new age technology, many hiring managers find it very disturbing to actually witness the growth of job applicants who are using online example of a resume and application templates culled from images and other online resources. A typical sample retrieved from a legitimate (and sometimes illegitimate) writing mill contains incomplete anatomical structure that normally ranges from the conspicuous absence of a job objective or career profile highlight. Thus, many job applicants are left in the dark of understanding the basic tenets of writing an application document.
The following are just some of the negative consequences aligned in viewing samples for personal use.
1. Custom-tailored resumes may appear obsolete in structure
Writing mills use a particular strategy of using samples and templates that may be classified as an effective format during the 90's. Hiring managers change their approach in inviting applicants for an interview, and so does the skeletal framework of job application documents.
Hiring managers are quick to criticize that "there is no such thing as the perfect resume, although there are numerous ways to write a failed, unreadable one." A sample copy extracted from writing depots represents the logic behind this statement.
2. Lack of originality equates lack of job opportunities
An application document is considered as the great equalizer in progressing an individual's professional career. Hiring managers do not simply look at the document as a black and white document coated with words, phrases, and more words. HR practitioners are slowly embracing a thorough search and inquiry of copies that have incorporated the rare elements of creativity and ingenuity.
Sadly, pre-constituted copies found on writing businesses offer little or no space for originality. Samples exist for the sole reason of marketing or advertising. They do not promote excellence or raise the importance of authoring an application based on the reader's personal understanding of "winning the interview with a potent application document."
3.Samples are polluted with grammatical flaws and archaic formatting styles
An example of a resume embedded on a writing mill or Google's unlimited imagery storage is the perfect example of an application gone stale. Garnished with some of writing's most obvious mistakes, free samples are not that credible in guiding applicants in creating a noteworthy application. Hiring managers or recruiters ridicule copies that lack grammatical accuracy and sense. As such, it results in the applicant losing all the momentum needed in surpassing tough job applications.
Nelson Mullins is a former corporate hiring and recruitment expert who regularly writes articles on resumes, resume writing, personality development, and career in general. He is a father of three who also enjoys photography and biking. Nelson believes that while the employment world continues to be a rat race for applicants, it is important to always be equipped with new ideas on sustaining career growth and opportunities.
3/16/12
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
11/20/11
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
9/4/11
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
9/3/11
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
9/2/11
Cover Letters - The Three Different Kinds
A cover letter is an important part of your job application package. The employer will not be able to tell from your resume what position you are applying for. A dynamically written cover letter will let the employer know what vacancy you are applying for and how you are suited to that position. There are three kinds of covering letters:
1. Direct response to an advertised vacancy. These vacancies can be advertised in print or online. The employer will state what kind of qualities, experience and skills they are looking for. When replying to these kind of adverts you need to offer what the employer is looking for.
2. Uninvited or cold calling letters. These are when you write to several companies that you are interested in working for. You let them know how your individual skills and experience could benefit their company. This is an effective way to apply for jobs as you may be offered an interview for a vacancy that has not yet been advertised. If there are no vacancies, you may have made such a great impression with your letter that when a vacancy does open up you will be contacted immediately. A further advantage is that the employer may refer you to another company where there is an opening.
3. Referral letters. These are where a friend, acquaintance or former colleague lets you know about a vacancy, possibly one that hasn't yet been advertised. If you are looking for a new job or career change let people around you know. You never know the contacts that others have. A referral letter gives you the edge over the other kinds of letter as the employer is more likely to ask you to an interview if you mention someone who works at the company (make sure this mutual person is a respected member of staff!)
With all cover letters, make sure you address it to the right person. Remember that this letter is a sales letter and you are the product. So make yourself sound as wonderful as you are.
7/14/11
College Student Resume - Three Tips To Get You Started
Resumes are a necessary part of the job search process and as college students are preparing to graduate or enter the work force, their first resume needs to create a powerful first impression. College student resumes are going to differ slightly from a resume of a person who has been working for several years and is changing careers or positions, as their work experience and employment history will be showcased more prominently. So can a college student resume still create that strong impact and get those interview calls coming? Absolutely! Here are some tips to consider when creating your resume right out of college.
Tip #1 - Format Is Everything. If you have never written a resume before, you might think that there is only one resume format available and that you must write your resume to that exact format. Wrong! There are several resume formats available and they each have their own pros and cons. The three standard resume formats that are widely used in the job market today are the chronological, functional, and combination (or hybrid) formats. Choose a format that compliments your prior work history during college or one that focuses more on showcasing your skills and achievements during your time in school. Extra tip - We've written hundreds of resumes and our most popular format for college student resumes is the combination resume format.Tip #2 - What's Your Objective? Starting your resume with a plain and boring resume objective statement is not going to make the impression that you need to stand out from the crowd. Everyone knows that you are hard-working and they expect you to be a team player and so on. What you need is a powerful paragraph that sets the stage for the rest of your resume. That type of a paragraph is known as a skill summary or a summary of qualifications. A summary of qualifications can effectively present your college experience in a way that's attractive to your potential employer, by focusing on your skills and what you can bring to the table.
Tip #3. - Fill Their Needs In Your Resume With Your Skills. When you are first coming out of college, most employers will see that you do not have a wealth of employment experience. This does not mean that your resume can't be just as effective in demonstrating what you can offer your potential employer. If you do not have a wealth of employment experience under your belt, then we recommend selecting the combination resume format and really showcase your skills up front in your resume. What skills do you include on your college student resume? All of the skills you've been acquiring during your college education! There are many that you many not have even thought of so here's a quick way to being listing some of them with a simple brainstorming process. Begin by writing a list of all of the associations, organizations, activities, clubs, events and more that you have ever participated in during your college career. Next to each item, try and list some of the skills that were needed to perform any of the functions or if you lead the event, what was required of you? For Example: If you were a member of a fraternity or student council, did you hold any offices or chair any committees? Did you assist with planning or organizing any events? If so, then list those great skills such as communication, coordination, leadership, organization, time management, and others on your brainstorming sheet an include them in your resume.College student resumes can be powerful and effective when they demonstrate a graduate's skills and ability to make an immediate impact for a company. So take time to review what you've accomplished over your college education and the skills you've acquired and make that the start of a great resume.
Here's to success in your job search!
- Scott
Scott has been writing resumes and cover letters for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his free resume help website.
7/7/11
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
7/4/11
College Student Resume - Three Tips To Get You Started
Resumes are a necessary part of the job search process and as college students are preparing to graduate or enter the work force, their first resume needs to create a powerful first impression. College student resumes are going to differ slightly from a resume of a person who has been working for several years and is changing careers or positions, as their work experience and employment history will be showcased more prominently. So can a college student resume still create that strong impact and get those interview calls coming? Absolutely! Here are some tips to consider when creating your resume right out of college.
Tip #1 - Format Is Everything. If you have never written a resume before, you might think that there is only one resume format available and that you must write your resume to that exact format. Wrong! There are several resume formats available and they each have their own pros and cons. The three standard resume formats that are widely used in the job market today are the chronological, functional, and combination (or hybrid) formats. Choose a format that compliments your prior work history during college or one that focuses more on showcasing your skills and achievements during your time in school. Extra tip - We've written hundreds of resumes and our most popular format for college student resumes is the combination resume format.Tip #2 - What's Your Objective? Starting your resume with a plain and boring resume objective statement is not going to make the impression that you need to stand out from the crowd. Everyone knows that you are hard-working and they expect you to be a team player and so on. What you need is a powerful paragraph that sets the stage for the rest of your resume. That type of a paragraph is known as a skill summary or a summary of qualifications. A summary of qualifications can effectively present your college experience in a way that's attractive to your potential employer, by focusing on your skills and what you can bring to the table.
Tip #3. - Fill Their Needs In Your Resume With Your Skills. When you are first coming out of college, most employers will see that you do not have a wealth of employment experience. This does not mean that your resume can't be just as effective in demonstrating what you can offer your potential employer. If you do not have a wealth of employment experience under your belt, then we recommend selecting the combination resume format and really showcase your skills up front in your resume. What skills do you include on your college student resume? All of the skills you've been acquiring during your college education! There are many that you many not have even thought of so here's a quick way to being listing some of them with a simple brainstorming process. Begin by writing a list of all of the associations, organizations, activities, clubs, events and more that you have ever participated in during your college career. Next to each item, try and list some of the skills that were needed to perform any of the functions or if you lead the event, what was required of you? For Example: If you were a member of a fraternity or student council, did you hold any offices or chair any committees? Did you assist with planning or organizing any events? If so, then list those great skills such as communication, coordination, leadership, organization, time management, and others on your brainstorming sheet an include them in your resume.College student resumes can be powerful and effective when they demonstrate a graduate's skills and ability to make an immediate impact for a company. So take time to review what you've accomplished over your college education and the skills you've acquired and make that the start of a great resume.
Here's to success in your job search!
- Scott
Scott has been writing resumes and cover letters for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his free resume help website.
2/9/11
Three Surefire Steps to Write a Splendid Resume
Some candidates hire a skilled resume writer to design their resume while others shape up their own resume. People who are familiar with business writing usually succeed in forming a polished resume. But anyone can learn how to string together a successful resume through some guidance.
What differentiates an exceptional resume from just an average resume is:
1. Formatting and final presentation
The mediocre resume grabs the attention of the employer for a span of only a few seconds. It is immediately cast aside if it fails to leave a strong impact. Treat your resume with the same amount of care and consideration you will give an interview. Don't treat it with a casual approach.
Choose the right kind of format. If you have relevant experience, use a chronological format. This format begins with your current job and builds backwards. If you are new to the job market or reinventing your career by joining a new industry, use the functional/combinational form of resume. This means assembling your skills and attaching a short chronological work history in the end.
Other points that you need to consider include:
The removal of errors: Utilize the spell check tool and get your resume reviewed by someone for sentence structure and any other errors
Consistency: The format should be kept consistent and the use of capitalization and punctuation should be maintained throughout
Use of white spaces: Use white spaces to highlight core parts of the resume
Correct use of fonts: Don't use more than 2 fonts
Inclusion of important details: Enclose your name, address and contact details
The quality of printing: Use a laser printer and quality resume paper
2. Accomplishments and Responsibilities
Your accomplishments demonstrate how you managed to perform your responsibilities.
Accomplishments can just be the simple details of what a candidate continually achieved in the course of their job. Many of your common job activities can be specified as accomplishments.
While naming accomplishments, be sure to answer these questions:
Did you save company resources?
Did you improve the sales?
Were you productive and efficient?
Were you instrumental in implementing new systems?
Did you contribute to new products or services?
Did you solve a major issue with little resources?
Were you responsible for any technical/operational development?
Did you exceed expectations regarding quality?
Were you the author of original reports or studies?
Did you make a discovery regarding the need for a new program?
Were you part of any committees?
Did you solve customer issues?
Were you termed as outstanding?
2. Most common resume errors
The inclusion of some items is a complete no-no. These include:
The use of "I", "me" and "my" structures; Drop the pronoun to make it sound more appealing.
Use of words like "responsible for" and "duties included"
Use of unnecessary personal information; Remove your age, health, ethnicity and marital status
Use of photographs unless you are an actor/model
Use of unneeded reasons for unemployment periods
Extra documents such as certificates or work samples
Salary information
List of references
1/14/11
Does Your Resume Have The Three Criteria All Winning Resumes Share?
Does your resume have the three criteria all winning resumes share? As a former recruiter and now career coach I have seen thousands of resumes over my career. For each career level, from student intern to rainmaking partner, there are specific nuances that make winning resumes stick out. However, at all levels, winning resumes always demonstrate these three criteria:
No mistakes. This means no typos, no spelling errors, and no grammatical mistakes. Watch out for homonyms that won't get caught by a simple spell-check. You don't "meat" clients (hopefully!). Check proper names for exact spelling (e.g., PowerPoint, not Powerpoint or Power Point).
Quantitative results. If you sold business, how much in revenues exactly? If you cut costs, by how much in dollars or percentage? If you managed a division, how large was it by either number of staff or budget or both? Even non-profits or public sector jobs have tangible metrics you can cite. If you solicited grants, how much grant money did you raise? If you organized a conference, how big was the audience, budget, participant list?
Compelling career progression. The resume should tell your story, and the ideal career story has a successful ending. Your most recent job should be the peak of your career to date. Your past jobs should show an upward trajectory, in terms of responsibility and/or expertise. Of course, those starting out in their careers may have only junior jobs on the resume, but each successive job should show growth in some area.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine helps people find fulfilling jobs and careers, as the co-founder of SixFigureStart?, career coaching by former Fortune 500 recruiters. Caroline has recruited for leading companies in financial services, consulting, media, pharmaceutical/ healthcare, and technology. She is the co-author (along with Donald Trump, Jack Canfield and others) of the best-selling "How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times" 2010; Two Harbors Press. Visit our web site to see how you can get free coaching advice and access to coaching workshops for your job search and career success.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caroline_Ceniza-Levine
This article has been viewed 6 time(s). Article Submitted On: January 04, 2011
12/8/10
Three Essentials of Writing Resume Title
Resumes play an important role when it comes to applying for a job position. Whether the first job or a change in job, resume helps to showcase an individual's skills and potentials to employers in a convincing manner.
There are many components of an effective resume like the title, objective, summary qualification, professional history, and skill summary. All these components have their unique sets of strategies and significance but the resume title stands above the all.
Resume title is the first thing that an employer looks at. Just a few words in the title delivers sufficient amount of information about the applicant based on which an employer either reads further or it directly goes in the midst of waste paper bunch.
Here are the three essentials to keep in mind when writing the resume title:
Know Your Purpose
You should always keep your purpose in mind and only then you'll be able to write a good and effective resume title. For example, if your purpose is to secure a job interview in an IT company, make sure that you specify the same in the title. Don't let the key reason for writing the resume wander here and there. Be straight and specific with what you want and what you expect.
Showcase your Key strengths
Your skills and abilities are the important components of an attention grabbing resume. Obviously not all can be described in a title but a reflection or gist of the same can certainly be showcased. You have to be smart enough to pen down your key strengths in a way that it does not take much of words and space in the resume but definitely draw employer's attention.
Be Clear and Concise
Describing your responsibilities, skills, abilities, and talents does not mean that you have to write down pages and pages to show what you possess. You should concisely explain your key qualities and strengths in a clear and straightforward manner. There should be no guessing game or twisters in your words and statements. Be very clear of what you are and what you are delivering to employers.
To know more on specific resume types, check Estimator Resumes.
12/6/10
Top Three Resume Builder Version 2.0 Features
After nearly three months in development, we're proud to announce the release of version 2.0 of our online resume builder! By taking all of your comments and suggestions, we've created a one-of-a-kind tool that we feel no other resume builder even comes close to. So what's so great about version 2?
1) Phrase Builders - One of the biggest problems people seem to have in writing a resume is articulating the experience that they've gained over the years. A lot of people have a hard time describing their accomplishments with the proper amount of fanfare. When writing a resume, you need to be sure that your description pays proper tribute to your past experience. You may have spent the last 15 years doing exactly what's needed to prepare you for that dream job, but if you can't properly articulate that experience on your resume, you may never even get your foot in the door.
2) Templates, Templates, Templates - Writing a resume the old fashioned way is hard - formatting a resume the old fashioned way is excruciating. With version 2.0 we've reduced the act of formatting your resume down to a single mouse click. No need to play around with tables and borders in Word only to find out that you can't export to some other format that's required for the next job you want to apply for. Simply click on the template you think works best for you and it's ready to download in multiple formats.
3) Context Sensitive Tips - One common request we received was more help with what types of information to enter into specific fields. Now on each page, and in some cases each field of the resume builder, you'll get handy tips on how to fill in the blanks.
We've worked hard to build a tool that makes writing a great resume as effortless as possible. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you give it a go. If you have questions or suggestions, you can always click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send us a quick note. It's your feedback that drove this latest release and it's your feedback that will continue to make it better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)