Five Tips for a Strong Resume
Five Tips for a Strong Resume
The path to a finished resume is often strewn with many versions (usually crumpled) of the work in progress. You can get it right the first time with these tips.
1. Review the job description
Many job seekers write their resumes without first reading the job description. The result is a resume that doesn’t strongly highlight applicable skills and experiences. Most recruiters don have the time or patience to search your resume for the required qualifications. If you don make them obvious, you may not get an interview.
If the company doesn’t provide a formal job description, contact the hiring manager to obtain a list of the required qualifications. If you can reach anyone, review job listings with similar titles for a group of core competencies.
2. Choose the best resume format
There are two basic resume styles: chronological and functional. A chronological resume organizes your work history by date and is best for emphasizing experiences that directly apply to a particular position.
A functional resume works best if you have little or no past experience in an industry. It presents your abilities in categories that showcase the particular skills the job requires. For example, if the job description emphasizes strong sales experience, consider dividing your resume into such categories as communication skills, negotiation skills, and persuasion skills.
3. Present the tangible results of your accomplishments
Many people forget to explain how their past employment contributed to their companies bottom lines.
It is important not only to just express what you have done, but also describe the results of your actions. The best resumes I see do this," says Amy Driscoll, the director of human resources at Next Door Networks. Reading a context will make your efforts more powerful to the person reading your resume."
Answering the questions how much and how many? will also distinguish you from the pack. For example, if you implemented a new accounting system at a previous job, instead of merely referencing the accomplishment, explain the amount of time and money your actions saved the company.