How to Write a Great Resume
Marie
Larsen | June 24, 2011 | inShare
Learning to write an effective resume
is a life skill most people cannot afford to ignore.
According to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, the median tenure for most professionals is about 4 years.
For employees between the ages of 25 and 34, the median tenure is only 2.9
years.
Since most of us will change jobs a
number of times in our career, we need to become proficient at selling
ourselves and writing an effective resume.
Consider this: According to Career
Builders’ Resume 2007 survey, on average, hiring managers receive 50 resumes
for each and every job opening. Due to the sheer number of applicants, many
managers skim and sort the resumes into “no go,” “maybe,” and “looks promising”
piles.
Only resumes that are
well-organized, easy-to-read, and specifically targeted to the position survive
the cut.
Assuming a candidate has the
relevant job experience, professional resume writers know what it takes to keep
resumes in the “maybe” or “looks promising” piles. Here are the ten strategies
resume professionals use for writing great resumes- and you can too.
How to Write a Great Resume
1. Resumes that make a good first
impression emphasize specific accomplishments. Did you increase sales by 40%?
Manage a team that introduced a profitable new product? Create and implement a
money or time-saving process? Use specific examples to highlight your
accomplishments.
2. Just as you would highlight your
strongest points in an interview, do so in your resume. Put your strongest
achievements and qualifications at the top of your resume.
3. Use a highlights section to catch
the hiring manager’s attention.
4. Include only relevant job experience.
If your resume is padded, most hiring managers will assume you aren’t qualified
for the job.
5. Don’t try to be all things to all
people. What are your top 3 skills? Focus on those.
6. Read the job description
carefully. Note the keywords and use them to focus your resume.
7. Use an eye-catching, easy-to-read
format. Include headings, bold print and bullets.
8. Write a different resume for each
job skill/position. Resumes are definitely not one-size-fits-all.
9. To paraphrase JFK – tell not what
the company can do for you, tell what you can do for the company.
10. Finally, proof and double-proof
your resume. Given the competition, just one or two typos may eliminate a
candidate from consideration.
We’ve all heard it before: “You only
get one chance to make a first impression.” If you use the ten strategies
outlined above, one chance is all you’ll need. Write a great resume and feel
confident in your job search. Good luck!
Resume Resources
- Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/564/1/
- Monster.com: http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-samples/jobs.aspx
- University of California San Diego (UCSD): http://career.ucsd.edu/undergraduates/prepar-resume-covlet/index.html
- UCSD You tube video, Writing a winning resume: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QfNkl--SO-Y#!
Job Search Resources
- Miramar College Job Placement Office: http://www.sdmiramar.edu/students/joboffice
- They offer resume critiques on walk-in basis, just bring a draft of current resume!!!!
- Linked in: http://www.linkedin.com/
- San Diego Craigslist: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/
- Monster.com: http://www.monster.com/
Using what you've learned about resume writing, see if you can spot what's wrong with these sample resumes.
