Resume
Tips
As per Last year survey, 25 percent
of employers said that on average, they received more than
75 resumes for each open position; 42 percent received more
than 50 resumes. In addition, 38 percent of employers last
year said they spent one to two minutes reviewing a new
resume and 17 percent spent less than one minute.
Human resources managers serve on the front lines of a
company's recruitment efforts and are often the gatekeepers
of the interview process. Because they can receive a large
volume of applications, you may only have a matter of
seconds to make a lasting impression. You should always have
a current resume and portfolio ready to go
Top
10 Tips for Your 2010 Resume
As per Last year usrvey, 25 percent
of employers said that on average, they received more than
75 resumes for each open position; 42 percent received more
than 50 resumes. In addition, 38 percent of employers last
year said they spent one to two minutes reviewing a new
resume and 17 percent spent less than one minute.
Human resources managers serve on the front lines of a
company's recruitment efforts and are often the gatekeepers
of the interview process. Because they can receive a large
volume of applications, you may only have a matter of
seconds to make a lasting impression. You should always have
a current resume and portfolio ready to go,
You want employers to see you
differently this year. Here are 10 ways to get your resume
noticed in 2010:
1. Start from scratch
A new year means a new resume. Even though it might not
sound like fun to rewrite your whole resume give it a try.
Rearrange some sections, try a different format and use a
different font.
2. Use a different format
Many Students don't realize that there are different
formats to use when writing a resume. The most common form
is chronological, which lists each job/ trainings you've had
in reverse sequential order, so you start with your most
recent job / training.
A functional resume focuses on your
skills versus your work experience. For this, you would list
a pertinent skill for the job to which you're applying,
followed by a list of accomplishments that demonstrate that
skill. If you don't have relevant skills or a strong work
history, you could use a combination resume, which combines
elements of both a functional and a chronological format.
For a combination resume, you should
list your applicable skills and the accomplishments that
demonstrate each one. Below that, you'll list your work
history, starting with your most current job and working
backward, but you won't list your job description. Doing
this allows you the chance to play up your skills while
proving your solid work history.
3. Ditch the empty words and
vague phrases
Many Students fall prey to a common mistake that irks
most employers: using cliche keywords. In a survey,
employers cited these common phrases as overused and often
ignored by hiring managers:
- People person: 39 percent
- Go-getter: 38 percent
- Team player: 33 percent
- Hard-working: 29 percent
- Multitasker: 28 percent
- Self-starter: 27 percent
- Results- or goal-oriented: 22 percent
These words are just empty fillers
that don't say anything about your achievements. For an accountant position, for example, keywords might include
"accounts
payable" or "month-end reporting" -- words that actually
say something about what you can do. Look over your resume
and find where you have listed generic qualities about
yourself and replace them with keywords that match the job
to which you are applying.
4. Make your achievements stand
out
Many job seekers list their job duties on their resumes,
but not their accomplishments. Although your past duties are
important, employers care more about your ability to produce
results. Try separating your daily functions from your
achievements by first listing your job duties in a paragraph
format, and then incorporating a bulleted area below that is
titled "key accomplishments" to list your successes.
5. Quantify your accomplishments
Applicants often don't know the difference between
quantifying results and just stating a job responsibility. A
job responsibility is something that you do on a daily
basis; a quantified achievement is the result of that
responsibility. By quantifying results, you show employers
what you can actually do for them. So, if your current
resume is a block of words and you don't have one number in
there, whether it's dollars, percentages or comparative
numbers, you need to make some revisions.
6. Include a summary or objective
Including a summary on your resume is one of those steps
that many job seekers forget to take -- and if they do
remember, they usually include the wrong information.
Employers want to know if you're a good fit for their
organization, so writing something like, "To gain experience
in X industry," doesn't say much about you or what you can
do for the employer. Your career summary should portray your
experience and emphasize how it will help the prospective
employer. It should be specific and include explicit
industry-related functions, quantifiable achievements or
your areas of expertise.
7. Fill in the gaps
Most people will tell you to wait to explain any gaps in
your work history until you get to the interview. But
there's a good chance that you won't get that opportunity if
there are gaps in the first place. If, for example, you were
laid off at the beginning of 2008 and are still unemployed,
try using the functional resume format we explained earlier.
Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, explain what you were
doing during lapses between jobs. The employer will know you
aren't trying to hide a sketchy past.
8. Keep it simple
How many times do we have to tell you? Do not, by any
means, format your resume with crazy fonts or colors or
print it on fluorescent paper. Find an uncommon, yet
attractive and simple layout to catch the employer's eye,
instead of his wastebasket.
9. Double-check for the basics
Silly as it sounds, many people get so caught up in
formatting and proofreading that they don't check for the
most basic information, such as an e-mail address, phone
number and permanent address. Double-check that your resume
has this information -- none of your hard work will pay off
if no one can get ahold of you.
10. Check for consistency
Take a look over last year's resume and make sure there
are no inconsistencies. If you decide to include periods at
the end of your sentences, for example, make sure they are
at the end of each one. If you chose to list your job
duties, followed by an accomplishment in that duty, make
sure you do so throughout your resume. Use consistent fonts,
sizes, bullets and other formatting options. Employers will
notice your attention to detail and assume your work quality
is of the same standard
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