A well-written resume does its job if it gets an employer's attention. That gives you a better chance of getting an interview. My Writing Resources provides writing and coaching to make your resume sparkle. Here are some ideas about what to place (and things to avoid) in your resume:

• Customize for every desired job
  Do not send the same old resume just because it worked once before. Focus your resume specifically to the position and the employer.

• One page or two?
  One page resumes are great but sometimes you need the second page if the format is chronological and you need to include additional information.. Your resume should never be more than two pages.

• Use the keywords in the ad job description
  Keywords include skills, titles, degrees, and occupational buzzwords. Keywords are especially important to use when you post your resume online.

• Professional Look
  The design of your resume is just as important as content. Your resume has less than 20 seconds to catch someone's eye, so it must be eye-catching and easy to read. We can suggest unique design ideas. Warning: Don’t use one of the pre-loaded MS Word templates. They will keep you from standing out from the 900 other resumes in the pile.

• Focus on the specific target: As you work on your resume, keep your reader in mind and remember his/her basic concern: will this candidate add value at our firm? If you answer effectively by highlighting relevant skills, personal characteristics and accomplishments, your resume will open the door and generate an interview.

• Remove silly content: Such as "team player, "highly motivated," etc. Chose action words to describe what you have done in past jobs. Boston College has a list of action verbs that gives resume readers a better sense of what you accomplished. The list

If any of the following challenges describes your situation, there are strategies you can use to show your experience in the best possible light.

• Changing careers: Highlight your transferable skills to show how well you’ll fit the new career field.
  
  
• Limited experience: Draw from skills you gained from classes, volunteering, extracurricular activities, internships, and other experiences to highlight skills identified in the job posting.
  
  
• Criminal record: Only convictions count as part of your record. Do not include your criminal record on your resume (but do be sure to report your history on a job application or in an interview when asked). Highlight any experience or training you received that's related to your career goal.
  
  
• Gaps in Employment: Highlight all your qualifications in the top portion of your resume and de-emphasize employment dates.

Take a Cut at Writing that Killer Resume
For some people, it might be easier to take an initial pass at building a resume using pencil and paper. Here is printable Resume Worksheet

Frequently Asked Resume Questions

Perhaps you already have a resume, but it needs updating and polishing. We are ready to help. Resume preparation fees generally begin at $120. Getting the new job....priceless.

Option 1: Open an e-mail request to polish my resume

Option 2: Request Express Turnaround on preparing my resume

Writing an Effective Cover Letter
If you are going to send your resume out to a prospective employer, remember that you need a cover letter that helps guide the reader to key facts in your resume. More

 

 

If you would like assistance on any topic covered on the site, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. My e-mail address is inquiry@mywritingresources.com.

Writing/editing services are also available at a reasonable price.