Resume Writing Tips

Almost everyone has a resume. So how do you write your resume to set yourself apart from all the other resumes out there? Your resume should be a concise representation of your qualifications.

You start by determining what job you want based on your experience, qualifications, and education. If you are qualified for multiple jobs, you should have several resumes targeting each position. Based on this information, you establish an objective statement. Your objective statement should be very powerful and direct. Keep in mind that this may be the only thing anyone reads on your resume.

Think about what a hiring manager would be interested in knowing about you. Highlight your most impressive qualifications. Did you manage a budget? Did you reduce costs or shorten the sales cycle? Don’t forget community/civic involvement or memberships in industry organizations.

Your resume should not tell your life story. It is a marketing tool to help you get an interview. However, too much marketing fluff or industry jargon will turn the reader off immediately. It should be short and focused. There typically is no need to go back more than 10 years. If possible, keep it to one page, but no more than two pages. Keep in mind that the formatting should be easy to read. It won’t help you if the font size is extremely small or your margins don’t allow enough white space.

Make sure your resume is current. Your resume is a live document that you should update on a regular basis. This is especially true if you do contract work. You want the hiring manager to know what your most recent experience. Always review your resume before you submit it to any job!

Make sure your resume is truthful. You won’t gain anything by extending the timeframe of a previous job to hide a gap. The job market is too competitive to risk a misstatement. Human Resources will check your facts!

Always remember that spelling and grammar counts! If you use bullets, make sure they are parallel action statements. Proofread your resume or have a friend proofread it for you. The best way to proofread is to start at the bottom and go backward. This is easier for your eye to catch mistakes. And the most important of all, spell check, spell check, spell check!