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.