Build a Resume, Get an Interview
How to Create the Kind of Resume that Recruiter’s Love to Read
Jan 25, 2008
Tired and boring resumes that put recruiters to sleep need to be tossed in a pile somewhere and set on fire. That’s that only spark they will ever see.
Candidates that want to really set the world on fire as well as their careers, need to rethink what they can do to add sizzle to their resumes without going up in smoke.
Here then are the three primary sections of a resume and how to build them.
Resume Opening
Like a Broadway show, a new store or a newly published novel, there needs to be a grand opening that catches everyone’s attention. The opening of a resume introduces candidates by name and briefly sells what they have to offer.
Contact Information
As long as the candidate’s name and phone number are clearly visible and legible (no smaller than 12 pt.) at the top of the resume, the remaining contact information can be either at the top or in a footer at the bottom.
Like the front of a newspaper, a headline is meant to capture the viewer’s imagination and invite him in to learn more. The best headlines sell and tell by communicating what the candidate has to offer the employer.
Avoid using an objective. No matter what anyone says, they are obsolete, passé, old school, and worn out. They do not help candidates get their foot through the door for the interview, though they often times turn the recruiter off if they are not worded properly.
Summary
The summary is a succinct paragraph or bullet-point list of the key areas of knowledge or skills and abilities the job seeker has to offer. It further embellishes what the headline has suggested and typically includes years and field of experience, technical abilities and soft skills.
Resume Body
The body of the resume is the heart of the matter where employers learn all about the job seeker’s background in order to determine if he has the right work history.
Work Experience
This should include the last ten years, more or less, of the candidate’s employment history. Along with the name of each employer, be sure to include the years of employment (i.e. 2003 to 2007) or the month AND year of employment (i.e. 5/03 to 5/07). It is important to choose one or the other and then be consistent. Inconsistency in regard to this or any other step can make the resume look sloppy.
Experience is best viewed as action-oriented sentences in bullet point format. Start with action words like created, developed, and coordinated among others. Accomplishments (sometimes listed as Achievements) can be listed separately or as part of the work experience.
Education
Unless a job seeker has recently graduated, education is typically listed after Work Experience and should include degrees, certifications, and licenses.It is generally recommended that the degree obtained be listed above the institution, since the degree received is more important than the college or university attended.
Skills
This is a list of all technical skills – computer programs, office equipment and machines, field or manufacturing equipment or any others.
Resume Closing
The final portion of the resume is for incidental information about candidates that is usually specific to an industry or profession. These may include affiliations, memberships and awards.
In addition, candidates may want to consider adding a list of keywords not shown elsewhere on their resume that will help recruiters during a database search for appropriate candidates.
Developing a great resume is really all about focusing on what recruiters want to know and then making sure the information provided is easy for them to read and understand.
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