The following resume tips will help you to refine and polish your resume, to give it impact, and make you stand out in the eyes of the employer
Positioning the Information
People read from the left to right, so by the time we read to the right our attention and accuracy is less
Place important or impressive information first, and on the Left of the resume
If you must say something which is not in your favour
- First if you can, put the bad news on the back page of the resume
- Second put it on the right-hand side of the resume
By doing this the employer will read all the good things in your resume first
Potential negative information can be put into its appropriate perspective
Powerful Words
Use short sentences and incorporate key words in your resume
- Limit points to about 12 words, this style gives your resume a real punchiness
- It becomes a dynamic document
- Words of more than three syllables are more difficult to understand at a glance
- Use short and simple words in your resume
Once the resume has been written every word needs to be examined carefully to see whether another more powerful or positive equivalent word can be used
For example:
- Negotiated is stronger than liaised
- Managed is more positive than supervised
- Controlled is better than responsible for
Generally speaking, the weaker words occur when the job holder is either passive or reactive to the work situation rather than in control of things
For example:
Maintained Prevented Ordered Provided Rejected Revamped
Performed Prepared Rectified Recommended Specified Supported
There is nothing wrong with these words. They just give the impression in the resume of a passive person, someone who responds to situations rather than initiating them
Look through key word lists to see if another, more powerful or positive equivalent word can be used
Always write, re-write, and revise your resume before applying for a job. Perhaps consider using a recommended Professional Resume Writing Service
Always try to target your resume to each prospective employer as much as possible by emphasizing goals and achievements that best fit the needs of the employer.
Read very carefully for clues of what the employer wants – underline the stated requirements for the job: keywords, skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience sought
When deciding what to include on your resume, always remember the purpose of your resume – to get an invitation to a job interview
- Don’t include lots of extraneous information
- When in doubt about what to include or exclude on your resume remember the purpose of your resume – to get a job interview
- You want to write persuasive ad copy that motivates the reader to take action
Avoid accentuating weaknesses on your resume
Always remember that employers want to hire strengths
Emphasize in your resume what you are good at and enjoy doing in relation to the employer’s needs
For example, an ad may read:
“Requires someone with excellent training & presentation skills”
1. reveal such skills
2. try to quantify your accomplishments related to these skills
“Trained 30+ resulting in a 97% outstanding rating.”
This validates your predictable pattern of performance
Therefore, employer is compelled to invite you to a job interview in order to hear your stories and what you will likely to do for them
Go to Great Resume Templates for examples of well written resumes
Follow the GESTALT RULES of resumes
- Grouping – people will assume things that are close together belong together. So if you are in a successful team it follows that success would be associated with you
- Closure – people look for closure on projects and activities – can you demonstrate that you have finished the projects you started?
- Continuity - people will assume that things that follow on closely in a similar pattern are part of a longer term logical development
Job Grouping
SIMILARITY – group together similar jobs and experience in your resume
By emphasizing the similarity of your previous jobs to the one you are applying for, you increase the fit between you and the job
Similarity – may govern which job to include and which to leave out
It may be sensible to concentrate on listing only those jobs you have done in the past 5-10 years
Go to Great Resume Templates for examples of well written resumes or visit a recommended Professional Resume Writing Service
Closure – moving between jobs
Show employers in your resume that you don’t quit when the situation gets tough
Show in your resume that you moved on because you needed a new challenge having mastered the old one
Show in your resume that you moved to the next job because the work or project was completed or that you gained all the personal development you could expect in the time employed
A resume is supposed to answer questions, not raise them in the minds of the recruiter
Continuity
Continuity in terms of work history indicates to an employer that you are stable and not inclined to “job hop”
Breaks or gaps in work history can raise Red Flags with an employer indicating a similar pattern. Be prepared to explain breaks or gaps openly and honestly at the interview.
Continuity in terms of Career progression indicates a dedicated attitude towards advancing a career path. An employer will assume that things that follow on closely in a similar pattern and are part of a longer term logical development