Resume Tips & Information

If you are like most people, writing your resume is not one of the favorite things to do. But there is no escaping the fact that if you are planning a job search, you need one fast! And because the resume is such an important tool, planning and writing it usually generate unhealthy doses of anxiety and stress.

Don't allow your resume, or your lack of one, to get in your way. Get it done, and get on with your search!

What your resume does for you?

• Your resume is an essential career management tool that showcases you and your achievements. It serves as a bridge to conversations and interviews that may eventually lead to a job.
• Your resume should open doors. It has to create quick and lasting impressions.

Tips to develop a resume that works

In the job search process, a well-written and well-designed resume is crucial. There is no single formula for representing yourself in a resume, however, there are some components of information that belong in every resume, and there are some formats that are expected. As the reader devotes less than ten seconds to a first look at a resume, you should follow the rules and be original at the same time.

How to achieve the requirements?

• Write down what you have to offer. Your challenge is to be as thorough, convincing, and persuasive about yourself as possible. Your resume must showcase your skills clearly and convincingly. Analyze your strengths. Be truthful about your accomplishments and emphasize them!
• Use numbers, dollar figures, and percentages to present your accomplishments. Describe revenues, profits, savings of cost or time, number of projects, number of team members, and so on.
• Use present tense verbs for current job and past tense for previous jobs.
• Carefully format your resume. Experiment with various formats to achieve readability, emphasis, and attractiveness. For example, use upper cases for resume sections, show job titles in bold, and bullet experience items.
• Try to keep your resume two pages of length. However, the best advice is to make your resume as long as needed to sell your skills.
• Revise your resume several times. There is no excuse for typographical errors, misspelling, or faulty grammar. Have someone proofread your resume!

One way to develop a resume and cover letter that are memorable and persuasive is to look at our samples or other resume resources available online or in print. Be sure that the samples you use as a guide reflect your career level - roughly the equivalent number of employment history and equivalent educational background. It is not necessary to use samples that describe the same career background or objectives as yours.
 Review resumes and cover letters to compare and contrast the different approaches to expressing professional experience, and decide which elements you like and which you don't like. When writing your resume or cover letter, however, use your own thoughts and words, and don't try to fit your background into someone else's format.