How to Write a Resume That Stands Out From The
Crowd
by: Rumki Sen
Todays job market is competitive. Many companies receive
hundreds of resumes a year, making it difficult for yours to stand
out from the crowd. However, that should not keep you from getting
interviews. The following 10 tips will help you learn how to get
employers to read your resume and get your phone ringing.
1. Include a profile
Begin your resume with a profile, which contains a synopsis of
your varied skills and educational qualifications. This profile
should match the particular job you want to apply for. State your
career objective clearly so that the reader gets an overall idea
of your background and areas of expertise. Write this section
in such a manner that it immediately catches the attention of
a hiring manager, and he calls you instead of someone else.
2. Keep the resume short
No one has the time to go through elaborate detailing about your
past jobs and experiences. Therefore, keep the resume short. Make
a list of the most important jobs you have held and give a brief
of your previous job-oriented experiences. However, in the case
of technical people, resumes can extend to three pages in order
to include relevant technical information.
3. Give more importance on content than on looks
One of the major mistakes people make while creating resumes
is in the use of fancy fonts. Avoid using fancy fonts and do not
change font regularly throughout the resume. Changing fonts regularly
will distract and confuse a hiring manager. Do not use underlining
or italics to add emphasis. Make your document eye appealing so
that your reader can review it with ease. Use white paper and
make the thoughts flow smoothly.
4. Clearly identify your skills
Do not be modest in mentioning your skills. Clearly identifying
your skills will distinguish you from the other job seekers and
eventually help your potential employers to select you from the
rest. Remember, all you have to do is to stand out from the crowd.
5. List your educational and professional qualifications
Include any relevant education or training that might relate.
Provide details of only those qualifications that match your current
job search. This will help you to get short-listed more easily.
6. Focus on your job responsibilities
Starting with your present position or most recent job, mention
the title of every job you have held, along with the name of the
company, the city and state, and the years you have worked there.
Under each position, make a list of your job responsibilities.
Use descriptive verbs, such as created, increased, performed,
initiated, developed, led, improved or reduced to begin each statement
of your duties and accomplishments. Producing a document that
is well presented, detailed and targeted will attract the attention
of your hiring manager.
7. Add related qualifications and interests
Think about anything else that might qualify you for your job
objective and place it at the bottom of your resume. It may include
licenses, certifications, awards and achievements, and sometimes
even your hobbies and interests if they truly relate. If you seek
a job in a music company, for example, stating on your resume
that you are a pianist will increase your chance to get that interview
call.
8. Be honest with your resume
If you did not actually do what you said you did, it would be
called a lie. Numerous surveys show that job applicants lie most
frequently about education and employment, particularly about
job responsibilities and dates of employment. Hiding gaps in employment
and jobs where they were forced to leave by the respective employers
is also common. There are many risks involved in lying, but many
job applicants do not seem to get the message about the risks
of lying. Once you are caught with a lie, you will be fired then
and there. So, DONT lie be honest with your resume.
9. Always attach a covering letter
A cover letter is a letter of introduction that highlights your
key achievements and skills and entitles you for a job opening.
It reflects your communication skills and your personality. The
main purpose of this document is to introduce yourself in such
an interesting manner that the reader will not only continue reading
your resume but also be willing to call you for an interview.
If you want to create cover letters for any career situation,
position, and job level, I recommend a unique resume/ cover letter
tool on the Internet today called Amazing Cover Letter Creator
(http://pes2004.amazingcl.hop.clickbank.net). I recommend this
tool, because it solves the frustrating problem job seekers have
when trying to write an effective resume cover letter. You can
use it over and over again for all your cover letter needs.
10. Proofread your resume
After you have finalized your employment documents, check them
repeatedly for errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Spelling
and grammatical errors can automatically disqualify a resume from
consideration. If you make mistakes on your employment documents,
hiring managers might presume you will be equally careless on
the job - no matter how important your qualifications and experiences
are. Proofread your resume and cover letter carefully.
Make your resume positive and completely error-free. If you are
seeking two or three different positions, prepare two or three
separate resumes, each tailored to the job you are targeting.
Make your resume exclusive and unique so that it stands out from
the crowd. Good luck for your career!
About The Author
Rumki Sen is the founder of Perfect Editing Solutions http://www.perfectediting.com,
a professional firm providing Resume Writing, Proofreading and
Copyediting services. Get your resume and cover letter prepared
or edited at highly affordable prices by her companys resume
writing services. Submit your information online and receive your
perfect resume and cover letter within 2-3 days. Contact Rumki
Sen at rumki@perfectediting.com. Visit her blog at http://wordshavepower.blogspot.com.
rumki@perfectediting.com