Create a Resume Employers Read
Steps to Develop a Winning Summary of Employment History
Aug 18, 2009
The resume is one of the most important business documents all job seekers must have in their portfolios. It's the summary of pertinent work history. Often though, the resume is created as an after-thought, with little attention paid to how it will get the job seeker an interview and eventually, the sought after employment position.
Content Counts
Spend more time on not just what the position entailed, but how personal efforts helped the overall company goals. Were business goals attained due to personal achievement within the particular position? How? Don't just assume the recruiter will understand what is meant – spell out exactly how duties pertained to getting ahead, or how the company benefitted by these efforts or achievements. This is not the time to be shy, but don't get caught in a trap of overemphasizing or stretching the truth.
Always think in terms of the company. What can be offered to the potential company, and what proof is there this can be accomplished.
Strategic Key Words
Read the advertisement for the desired job carefully. Circle the key words/abilities the job ad seems to be looking for in candidates. Check over the resume to ensure these key words do appear and are used appropriately. The more these key words and abilities are used appropriately in the resume, the better chance of getting an interview. And remember, the resume and cover letter are designed to get that interview!
If these key words or abilities are not in the resume, should they be? Does the experience match the job advertisement? If yes, then consider creating different resumes for each advertised position with appropriate use of the desired key words and qualities/traits. If not, perhaps there is a better match will be found with another job.
Strategic Placement of Information
The idea here is to tailor the resume to better "fit" the job position as described. If the chronological history does not fit with the emphasis of the ad, then consider creating a summary before employment history which better describes particular talents to the advertised job. This would be more along the lines of creating a hybrid of both Functional and Chronological formats of a resume. Check out the course Writing Letters/Resumes for a more complete description of different types of resumes.
Pay Attention to Details
Most important though, is that the resume (and cover letter) is free from typo and spelling errors. Ensure grammar and punctuation are appropriate, and that the resume looks clean and neat. Don't try to fit in too much information by using a smaller font. Make sure the resume is readable by using a 12 point font, and stay away from "cute" fonts.
Bottom Line
Use individualized resumes for each potential job position. Use the key words or desired traits/abilities found in the advertisements and place them in the resume appropriately. Keep the resume neat and clean to the eye (no errors, use of white space). Following these tips will help ensure an invitation for a job interview.
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