Writing a Great Resume Made Easy
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Features Of A Winning Resume

Posted September 2nd, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments
Online Resumes, Resume Tips |

By Sarika

Typically yours is one of dozens (if not more) resumes that a potential employer is sifting through to short list candidates for the interview for any job. So if your resume is not able to say anything special or if it does not set itself apart from others on a qualitative basis, then chances are you're never going to get that interview call. So what are the features of a winning resume that you should adopt in order that your resume doesn't end up with all the others in the 'discarded' pile?

1. The resume should be clearly printed and easy to read and skim information from. Make sure the font is large and clear (Arial 12 point makes for easy reading). Even if you are emailing your resume, make sure that the formatting is clear and not crowded.

2. Use good quality stationery. Don't use your current employer's writing paper or envelope. Don't use metered postage. It's just cheap and will send out a bad message about you as an employee; that you are the sort of sponge the office can do without.

3. Proof read your resume, or have your resume sample proof read by someone else. Make sure no spelling errors have crept in, that all the contact details and personal details and dates are accurate. An error free resume points to a worker's work qualities such as meticulousness and attention to detail. A resume with typos, grammatical errors will simply give the impression of the person being careless, and someone who cannot be bothered to produce quality work.

4. Also errors in contact information may prevent a prospective employer from getting in touch with you! And make sure that your contact information makes it simple to access you. Don't give an email address that you don't check regularly. Also don't offer a switchboard number with an office extension; offer a cell phone number instead. No employer is going to be willing to be put in hold while trying to get in touch with you.

5. Create a 'career highlights' sub section in your resume template. This offers a comprehensive, at–a-glance look at the experiences and abilities of a prospective employee. What are the qualifications, job experiences and other things that set one apart from all other applicants? A gist of your special qualifications should find place in your resume.

6. Don't forget educational qualifications. These are of course important when a person is entering the job market; but they do not cease to be important later either; they can be as important for a prospective employer as your on job experiences.

7. Include mentions of awards or special recognitions you may have won. They will add to impact that your resume formats make on prospective employers. All other things being equal, they may be more inclined to a higher achiever.

8. Having a general resume is a good idea, but it must be customized to dovetail with the precise requirements of each different job that you apply for. Appropriate modifications/changes must be made as required.

Resume Writing Tips To Get You That Dream Job

Posted August 20th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments
Resume Tips |

Resume writing is an art. But, fortunately, you can learn this art and develop the skills necessary to write a winning resume. First off, be sure to have a proper format. This will go along way towards landing that job you desire. Be careful not to use flashy symbols or images, and do not highlight any portion of your resume. The reader already knows what they want, and they will see it when looking for it in a resume and will quickly find that without you having to draw attention to a particular portion of the resume.

There are tools available to help you write your resume. Always check the Internet first when needing information or programs to use to construct your very own resume. Once you have created your masterpiece, it is time to contact companies that are hiring for the position you are seeking. Some companies prefer that you mail in your resume and others would like you to fax it today.

There are even websites devoted to job hunting, which will provide you with tips and tricks to get your foot in the door. Doing a search on the Internet will provide you with the most popular websites that are focused around jobhunting. The information that these sites provide are designed to help you write a better resume.

Jobhunting is not an easy thing to do. You must do your due diligence research into the companies are hiring and also find out about the benefitsoffered in the company to see if that is one company you would like to work at. Most companies offer 13 or 12 paid holidays. Some companies do not pay for holidays. Be sure to match your skills with the requirements of the job you are seeking in order to be the best candidate available at the time they are interviewing for new personnel.

Always send a cover letter with the resume to ensure a proper introduction to your prospective employer. They cover letter should be distinct and different for each company that you are applied for and is directed to the manager in charge.

I have tried different color paper and have not seen any significant increase in getting a job, because of the paper color. Be somewhat creative but don't overdo it. You must balance professionalism with an original interest in the position they are offering. Use the Internet as your personal research guide when learning to produce that piece of paper that will land you your dream job

How To Avoid Resume Format Rejection and Survive the First Big Test!

Posted August 17th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments
Formatting |

You can't afford to have your resume trashed just because you didn't understand the basic rules for a successful resume and suffer "resume rejection!"

Your resume is often the very first contact a decision-maker has with you. So, it better be a blockbuster! You better make a big impression. And fast! Otherwise your prized resume is headed for the waste basket.

Resume rejection starts with a misunderstanding about what a resume can do for you. First of all, a resume doesn't get you a job. Only decisions by hiring managers can get you a job. Therefore, the best a resume can do for you is getting a hiring manager's attention. And that's how it has to be written.

If you think you're going to get ahead by loading up your resume with every conceivable detail about your work history, you just lost. Resumes are first scanned in less that 50 seconds. If something pops off the page to grab the reader's attention, then your resume may survive the first test. It gets put on the "keeper" stack for later review and more careful reading.

The very first rule of a successful resume is that it must be readily scanable in 50 seconds or less. Do NOT write more than two pages. And make them very readable with wide margins and good spacing.

The second rule is that your resume must have a headline. It's a lot like reading a newspaper. You're attracted to an article if there's a headline that grabs your attention. The same is true of a resume. Your headline is an attention-grabbing statement that states very directly what you have to offer the reader.

The third rule is to avoid an "objective statement." This self-serving announcement has little or no meaning to a decision-maker. He/she could care less about what you're looking to get out of this job. The reader is interested in learning only two things: what can you do for my bottom line? . . . And what can you do to make my job easier?

Instead of an objective statement you want to make a "summary statement" in which you lay out in assertive language what you bring to the table that can make a difference.

There are many more pointers that can help you improve your resume and give it a stronger impact. But if you observe these three basic rules you'll survive the first big test and avoid resume rejection.

Resume Cover Letter – Prepare the Best Page

Posted August 10th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments
Cover Letter |

By Daniel M. Hall

Grabbing the job is another competitive task which can bring you close to some tricky situations. Resume cover letter are another options which can bring you close to some unbeaten job offers. Every job seeker is given negligible moments to display the skills and tempt the companies. Recession has amplified the competition and made the situation worse. So, if you are trying to use your skills in composing an effective and fresh format of resume document, you must pay attention at the tips which are enlisted below.

Do not be lazy when you are composing this document. You can take the help of your friends and relatives to prepare a successful resume cover letter. Apart from all this, you must avoid the use of words and phrases which can sound difficult. By this statement I mean to say that you must avert the content of your document from high-sounding words. Avoid this priceless document from any grammatical mistakes. Grammar issues, spelling errors and other small blunders can cut the interest of your reader. I am sure that you cannot afford this situation. Thus, stay alert with the content which is provided by your cover page.

Any misdirected mistake or honest keyword can diminish the interest and turn off the curiosity of the job provider. Grammar is an important feature which can manage the curiosity of the administrative officers which are reading this page. You cannot afford the blunders in the content of this text. Format of your resume cover letter is another essential feature which can build the interest of readers. Pay heed at the objective and skills which are mentioned by you.

Avoid this page from any humorous content which can offer a waffled tag to your resume document. Make sure that you are preparing this document in a fresh format. I am sure that you will enjoy the benefits of implementing this suggestion. Use a supreme paper which can give a smooth touch to your reader. A rough and unhealthy texture of page can ruin your reputation and screw up your probabilities.

A paper which is good in quality can stand up to your expectations. If you are on any online site then you must make only those suggestions which can increase your possibilities. Switching over any unnecessary tip can ruin the value of this resume page. I hope that you are gratified by the content of this article. So, do not wait and compose the best resume cover letter.

Top 10 Resume Killers

Posted August 9th, 2010 by Administrator | No Comments
Mistakes |

By Gavin Davis

My philosophy is simple: Stick to the facts. If in doubt, leave it out!

  • Abbreviations

Avoid abbreviations! They are unprofessional and not universally accepted. Trust me; nothing looks worse on a resume than seeing sentences resembling the following: "duties included answering the fone and going 2 c clients." This is a resume, not a text message. Make sure you use correct words and proper sentences.

  • Personal Information

Leave off anything related to hobbies or personal interests. If it doesn't relate to employment it doesn't belong on a resume. Information such as weight and height is irrelevant (unless of course you're trying out for basketball team). I have seen resumes where people include their eye colour and comments about their skin ("glowing skin"). Do not give the reader a reason to eliminate you because of your personal characteristics. Again, stick to the formula – if it does not relate to the job it doesn't belong on the resume.

  • Graphics / Artwork

People feel that in order to be noticed they need their resume to look like a piece of artwork. This perception is wrong and has the opposite effect of appearing unprofessional and amateur. At the end of the day, the employer only wants to see skills, duties, and achievements. He or she is not interested because your resume is shaded yellow with a butterfly in the top right-hand corner.

  • Negativity

Never, never, never be negative on your resume or cover letter (and most importantly, in your interview). If you left your previous job because you hated your boss, keep it to yourself. Do not try to explain this on your resume because you cannot explain those reasons in writing. Remember, a resume's job is to promote and sell. Do not get eliminated immediately for being negative.

  • No Dates

DO NOT MAKE THE READER HAVE TO GUESS! This is such a killer on any resume. INCLUDE DATES. What years did you go to high school? How long did you go to university? When did you graduate? How long did you work at your current job?

Do not make the person reading your resume have to ask these questions. The minute this happens, your resume is going to one place—the trash bin! Make sure your resume flows and you have no gaps in your dates. If you took a year off to go travelling, include this. When you include dates DO NOT just include years. For example, "I worked at McDonalds from 2006-2008"– what does this mean? Did you work for 3 from January 2006 to December 2008, or for a little over 1 year from December 2006 to January 2008.

  • Long-winded

Long long long long long resumes are boring!!!! If an employer sees an extremely long resume, they will immediately develop a negative frame of mind. Remember, resume readers tend to have little patience, especially when they need to read 100 resumes. You do not gain extra brownie points for writing the longest resume—enough said!

  • Lack of achievements / highlights

I never understand how people get this wrong, but so many times people fill up their resumes with irrelevant information, and they leave off the most vital part of a resume—showing off your highlights and achievements. Think about it—most people who apply for the same job can all do the standard day to day duties. So what separates the good resume from the bad resume? It's the one that includes achievements and highlights. It includes how they were an asset at their previous job. Employers want to see not that you just worked and did a good job, but that you added value to the company. Leaving off your achievements is the best way to get your resume tossed in the bin. Alternatively, including value-added achievements is the best way to get your resume put on the top of the list.

  • Irrelevant information

Everyone is proud of achievements they have accomplished throughout their life. Finishing second place in the 100 metre sprint final in my first year of high school was a great thrill, but is it relevant on my resume? Does it add value to it? Use common sense when including "extra information." Receiving your CPR certificate is relevant when you're applying for a job that requires this, such as a lifesaver or swimming instructor. It isn't so relevant if you received your CPR certificate 10 years ago, and now you're going for a job as a CEO.

  • Grammar mistakes and typos

People read this point and think, "Obviously my resume isn't going to have spelling mistakes and typos." I can tell you from experience that 1 in 5 resumes will make this vital mistake. When an employer has 100 resumes, the first 20 are eliminated because of grammar mistakes or typos. These mistakes are glaringly obvious on a resume. Make sure you use spell-check, but more importantly, re-read your resume. Even give it to someone else to read over.

  • Fluffy

You may think that using words such as "diligent," "meticulous," or "industrious" to describe yourself may make you sound smart, but unfortunately they are seen as "fluff" words. Focus your resume. A fluffy resume is going into the same place as a resume which has incorporated any of the above points – the trash bin!

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