10 Tips for Resume Writers

Whether you are happily entrenched in a job, engaged in an active job
search or thinking about a career change everyone who is working today
needs a current updated resume even if the job you are at is your first!
It is worth the time and effort to update your resume at least once
or twice a year. Add more recent accomplishments to it. Keep a file of
accomplishments you have removed so that you can use them if they are
appropriate for a particular position you are applying for. Those who
have a ready resume can immediately respond when that perfect
opportunity presents itself. Here are some ideas to think about when writing
that resume

1. It’s a Marketing Document – Remember your resume is your
introduction to the hiring manager. Its purpose is to convince the manager that
you are someone worth interviewing. Put yourself in the hiring
manager’s shoes. What is that person looking for? How do you attract his/her
attention?

2. Show Your Accomplishments – Every accomplishment on your resume can
be written in a format: Problem, Solution, Result. Sometimes the
problem is understood and doesn’t need to be stated but the solution and the
result must be there. If you can quantify the result in some way that
really adds to your resume.

3. Grab Their Attention Immediately – Use the top third of the first
page to attract their attention. Give a summary of the achievements that
makes you the ideal candidate. Depending on the job you are applying
for, this might include skills that you have or even achievements in a
particular skill. Use whatever works for your particular job level.

4. Customize Each Resume – It is rare that you will use exactly the
same resume for two jobs. Look at the job ad and familiarize yourself
with the job description. Use some of the words that they use to
highlight your experience. Keep a copy of the resume and the job ad you send
to each company and/or position. Be a good record keeper! You’ll want to
bring the right resume to your interview.

5. Use Action Words – Your resume paints a picture of who you are.
Action words make the picture more vivid and dynamic. Words such as led,
delivered, achieved, slashed, transformed etc. give the hiring manager
a more desirable picture of your talents.

6. Eliminate Passive Tense – Using the passive makes it sound like you
didn’t do much. The active voice makes the action yours. Example:
passive –“was chosen to head team that…” or active – “Led team that… “

7. Use Key words – When applying on line be sure to use words from job
ad. Today most companies use software to scan resumes. If you haven’t
included the words from the job ad, your resume won’t even be read!

8. Resumes Are Scanned – Some resumes especially snail mailed ones are
put in a pile on the desk of the hiring manager. This person has many
resumes to look at. He or she spends 15 to 20 seconds looking at
yours. Make it easy for the person to scan it for the information they are
looking for. Use bolding appropriately. Make the resume look
attractive with lots of white space. Dense resumes discourage the reader.

9. Maximum of Two Pages – The objective of your resume is to get the
interview not tell your life story. If you are recently out of school
one page is fine. For people with a long career, two pages, highlighting
the last 10 to 15 years, is sufficient.

10. Use Appropriate Accomplishments - Pick accomplishments that are
appropriate for the job you are applying for. Show that you have had the
exact experiences the company needs.

About Alvah Parker

Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker’s Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. To subscribe send an email to join-roadtosuccess@go.netatlantic.com

Parker works with successful attorneys who feel overwhelmed by their work and are willing to take action to create a more profitable practice and a more fulfilling life. Alvah also helps attorneys and others who want to change careers and find the work that is more meaningful and fulfilling. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com She may also be reached at 781-598-0388