1. Choose Your Format Correctly - There are two main resume formats - chronological and functional. If you are seeking a job in a field in which you already have work experience, you will probably want to choose a chronological format where you will be able to showcase your job history. If, however, you want to transition into a different field, you definitely need to use a functional format. This will allow you to focus on your strengths and transferable skills and not box yourself into a certain field.
2. Be Specific - Too often, I see resumes with experience stated this way, "Sold used vehicles" or "Negotiated claim settlements." Use real numbers to improve your resume. "Sold 20 used vehicles in first 3 months of employment" or "Increased overall customer satisfaction by 25% in claim settlement negotiations."
3. Be Accurate - Don't stretch the truth just to impress. Make sure you use completely accurate numbers in your claims. You cannot build a solid career on a shaky foundation.
4. Be Precise - Always proofread your resume. Spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors will disqualify you quicker than anything. A well crafted resume is an essential tool in the job search process. Find someone else to proof it for you as well. Often, other people will catch something you overlooked.
5. Be Brief - Be careful to write a resume that is not "wordy" or "superfluous." It is very obvious to anyone reading one of these resumes that there is not much substance to them. Make each word count.
Ultimately, even a well crafted resume rarely gets you hired by itself. Click here for more info on the 3 Step Job Search Process that always gets results.
To access the links in this article, go to www.careercalling.com/Archives.htm and read the February 25, 2005 edition of The Coach's Career Tips and Resources!
Do What You Love!
... as I drove back from ... I listened to an ... on the Dave Ramsey Show between Dave and ... ... author Frank Peretti. With over 15 million of his ... novels
Creative Income From Your Hobby
"Work and Play are words used to describe the same thing under ... ... - Mark TwainOur work really should be an ... of ... we enjoy. You have probably thought this many
Don't Fear Failure
What a great admonition - Don't Fear Failure! It sounds so simple and so easy to achieve when you see it like that, but when it comes to life changing decisions that we all face, we often get sweaty palms, weak knees, and panic attacks at the thought of failing. But, unfortunately, failure is unavoidable. All successful people have failures in their past, and many will tell you that their failures have led them to the success they have today. It is hard to believe sometimes, though, when you see people that seem to have it all, that they have ever failed. Imagine if Thomas Edison had quit after he failed the 9,999th time in his attempt to invent the incandescent light bulb! Or what if Ray Charles had listened to the advice of one of his teachers..."You can't play the piano, and God knows you can't sing. You'd better learn to weave chairs so you can support yourself." Or what if Mary Kay Ash had listened to her attorney just weeks before she opened her first store..."Liquidate the business right now and recoup whatever cash you can. If you don't, you'll end up penniless."
