Joe's Jobs: Employment for Veterans

Top 10 Tips for Writing a Resume

Page 1

A resume is usually the the initial piece of information a prospective employer will recieve about you. For this reason, it is paramount that your resume be your best work. While your resume won't necessarily earn you a job, a good resume will get you to the next step in the job seeking process: the interview. Employers normally have specific things they look for when analyzing a resume, and knowing what they look for, or want to see in a resume, will greatly help you target your resume for the job your want. Use the following tips to create a resume that will get you an invite to a job interview:

1. Target your resume to your potential employer’s needs.

   If you’re interviewing for a specific position or with a specific employer that interests you, think about writing your resume in such a way that would stand out to your potential employer. Try to find out as much as you can about the company, and then tailor your resume to reflect as much. Know what characteristics and qualities the employer is looking for and think about how your qualities match those attributes.

2. Sell yourself.

   There’s more to a resume then just providing background on where you’ve worked before. Your resume should read like an advertisement, meaning that if the employer hires you, these are the benefits the employer will receive. Make sure you include any accomplishments you might have had at previous jobs. If you increased sales 3% at your old firm make sure you mention it. Quantify your achievements in terms of percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames to make your accomplishments more concrete. Don’t worry about coming off as arrogant. Bragging on a resume is good. Read the resume over when you’re done and think to yourself, “If I was an employer, would I hire me?”

3. Grammar is key.

   While a grammatically correct resume might not get you the job, one that is full of misspellings and typos could sure cost you. Employers want to see how seriously you are taking the application process and a resume with grammatical errors as over the place shows that you just don’t value the job enough. Enlist a couple of friends to proofread your resume for you. The language you use within your resume is also very important. Use strong, energetic words and avoid the use of personal pronouns such as “I” and “me.” Avoid the use of phrases such as “responsibilities included” or “duties included” as employers want to hear about your accomplishments, not how well you carried out your assigned duties.

4. Always fill up the entire page.

   If you don’t have enough accomplishments and accolades to fill up an entire page, odds are you aren’t getting the job. Leaving blank space will seem to employers like you really haven’t accomplished much. Plus, if an employer is looking at 300 resumes that are all complete, and then come across one that has a bunch of open space or looks like a person used large font to try to take up space, what do you think the employer is going to do with that resume? This is your one opportunity to impress the reader, don’t hold back.

5. Include the essentials.

   If you want to get creative in the resume writing process go right ahead, but don't forget that there are a few essential items that employers will be looking for on your resume:

   • An objective statement: This should be 1-2 sentences describing what you are looking for in a job, and what you hope to gain from being hired.

   • Education: You should list any degrees you have completed or are working on, your GPA if it is flattering, and any courses you may have taken that will show your expertise in the job area you are applying for.

   • Experience: List your past employers and work experience. If your prior work history is extensive, include those jobs that pertain most to the position you are applying for.

   • Technology Summary: You should list any programs with which you are familiar and skilled with. Examples include being proficent in Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or HTML. This is important particularly if you are going to be working with computers. If you have taken a technology training course, list it here.

Page:  1 2

Next »