Note: This is an unsolicited guest article submitted to MCN for electronic publication without editorial input or remuneration--MCN Staff.
Just how do you put your skills and qualifications on paper? How do you describe your best work in ten words are less per bullet? What are a few good key words? Where should you list your education or licenses?
These are just a few questions that must be answered before starting your professional resume. We will start with a few simple techniques. Keep in mind that one resume does not fit all. In some cases, a one page resume may not be adequate enough. There are others who may have just started their career and one page is a cinch. But recruiters and hiring managers only take approximately 15 seconds to review at a glance. More than one page may narrow your chances of getting noticed, depending on the position.
Start by summarizing your best assets in approximately five lines. Jot down your abilities and brief career history without listing companies or organizations. Use expressive, action packed adjectives. Use this paragraph as your beginning summary. Examples are:
If licenses or education are key words in the job description posting, perhaps you may consider starting with that area first. If you are a recent grad, noting your scholastic achievements is a great idea. Never date yourself by placing graduation dates on your resume, unless required in the job spec. Hummm….graduated in 1968…Let's see…that means he/she is…ok, carry the one…. You get the picture.
When listing your career history, be consistent with style. If you use bullets with responsibilities, use this format throughout each position. There is no need to give your life's history in each position's detail. There will be a need to go into further detail during the interview, which can lead to building a relationship with the interviewer or hiring manager. See key words below: Key technique-lots of white space on the resume and white paper, please.
If you belong to organizations, please do place those points in your resume, preferably at the end of your resume. Companies are excited to see that you are doing something positive with your time-while avoiding statements such as, "Enjoy fishing."-Trust me.
Remember your technical skills. We live in a high-tech society. Being able to use email, word processing applications and spreadsheets is important when completing your resume. Be mindful of technical terms. There may be those who read your resume and find that understanding a particular lingo in your field of work may not be all so familiar. Just keep it simple. Now, if you are a techie and applying for a similar position-that's fine and dandy. Just stay focused on the job spec.
Word to the wise: If you must write your own resume, please do let someone else proof the final version for you. In fact, find several individuals who are good at proofreading have a final once over. And, yet another after edits. One of the most frequently misspelled words? Manger for manager. Spell check won't catch that one!
Altha Moore is a freelance writer and owner of Workshop Solutions, a Business Services and Resume Service Company. Contact workshop_solutions@yahoo.com.
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