15 Strategies For Writing Effective Resumes:
Learn
how to “Market Yourself” by applying the proven approaches outlined in
our effective job-hunting guide, “Knock 3 Times.”
When you implement our time-tested system – and start lining up interviews with prospective employers –
use our “Effective Interview Techniques” CDs, Parts I and II, to ensure
you make an impressive first impression. Part I provides inside tips from a senior
Human Resources Director at a major international corporation, and Part II provides
you with solid answers for the 20 toughest interview questions.
1. Determine
your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have determined your objective, you can structure
the content of your resume around that objective. Think of your objective as the bull’s-eye to focus your resume
on hitting. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will likely come across as unfocused
to those who read it. Take the time before you start your resume to form a clear objective.
2. Think of your resume as a marketing tool.
Think of yourself as a product, potential employers as your customers, and your resume as a brochure about you. Market
yourself through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What makes you unique? Make sure to convey
this information in your resume. Especially, what benefits you’ll bring to the job.
3. Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job.
You don’t need to go into detail about every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose
of your resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for an interview. Use the interview
to provide a more detailed explanation of your accomplishments and land a job offer.
4. Use bulleted sentences. In the body of your resume, use
bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted sentence
format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it.
5. Use action words. Action words cause your resume to pop.
To add life to your resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action words like “prepared,” “developed,”
“monitored,” and “presented.”
6. Use #s, $s and %s. Numbers, dollars, and percentages stand out in the body of a resume.
Use them. Here are two examples: “Managed a department of 10 with a budget of $1,000,000.” “Increased
sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.”
7. Lead with your strengths. Since resumes are typically
reviewed in 20-30 seconds, take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective.
Put those strong points first where they are more apt to be read.
8. Play Match Game. Review want ads for positions that interest you.
Use the key words listed in these ads and match them to bullets in your resume. If you have missed any key words, add
them to your resume.
9.
Use buzzwords. If there are terms that show your competence in a particular field, use them in your resume.
For marketing people, use “competitive analysis.” For accounting types, use “reconciled accounts.”
For technical backgrounds, use “risk management, systems engineering, and strategic planning.”
10. Accent the positive. Leave off negatives
and irrelevant points. If you feel your date of graduation will subject you to age discrimination, leave the date off
your resume. If you perform duties in your current job that don’t support your job search objective, drop them
from your resume. Focus on the duties that do support your objective. Also, avoid irrelevant personal information
like your height, weight, or marriage status.
11. Show what you know. Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight your
breadth of knowledge. Then, use the interview to provide details.
12. Show who you know. If you have reported to someone important –
such as a vice president or department manager – say so in your resume. Having reported to someone important causes
the reader to infer that you are important.
13. Construct your resume to read easily. Leave white space. Use a font size no smaller than
10 point. Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages. Remember, resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader
scan your resume, efficiently and effectively.
14. Have someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult
for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search
objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their questions
can help you discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Revise your resume to include these items.
Their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on
this input.
15. Submit your
resume to potential employers. Have the courage to submit your resume. Think of it as a game where your
odds of winning increase with every resume you submit. You really do increase your odds with every resume you submit.
Use a three-tiered approach. Apply for some jobs that appear to be beneath you. Perhaps they will turn out to
be more than they appeared to be once you interview for them. Or, perhaps once you have your foot in the door, you can
learn of other opportunities. Apply for jobs that seem to be just at your level. You will get interviews for some
of those jobs. See how each job stacks up. Try for some jobs that seem like a stretch. That’s how
you grow – by taking risks. Don’t rule yourself out. Trust the process.
Good luck in your job search!
