Saturday, 16 March 2013

// // Leave a Comment

The Ultimate Seven Suggestions For A Great Resume by James Malinchak

By Liam Martin


There is no official way to write a resume. If you asked the opinion of ten people about your resume, then you will receive 10 different opinions. Likewise, if you ask the opinions of the very best resume writers and resume professionals, then you will get ten different opinions. Therefore, concentrate on the ultimate top 7 tips that set up your resume to advertise, market and sell YOU. Your resume should grab the attention and interest of the employer in learning more about you.

When creating your resume always remember one crucial point: employers only care about what you can do for the company. Ask yourself two questions, "How could I benefit the company?" and "Why should the employer hire me over other candidates?" It's vital for you to understand these questions as crucial to your future employment. Rather than just list random facts on your resume, your objective is to create an instrument which will sell the employer on you.

The resume has one objective - to get you an interview. To get an interview and get employers interested, you must draft a creative tool. Your resume must make them perceive you to be an exceptional candidate. The following are a few basic suggestions for creating a resume that sells your abilities and professionalism.

The 7 Tips

1) Limit it to one page

Employers review several resumes and won't read a long, drawn-out resume. A lot of employers don't have the time to read a resume composed of many pages. Microsoft, for instance, gets 1,500 resumes per week. Therefore, only list the key points on your resume. As an old clich suggests, "Sometimes less is more."

2) Make the layout readable

Always use the same typeface and size. You are trying to sell yourself and your abilities in a professional manner. Do not get creative with different fonts and sizes. The employer needs to be able to skim through your resume with simplicity. Make sure to type your resume on a computer. Typewriters are out of style for a reason.

3) Make the layout readable

Resumes are skimmed, not read. Studies indicate employers skim a resume for approximately 20-30 seconds. Outline your resume in a simple format so employers can easily locate the pertinent facts. Do not deter them with long paragraphs.

4) Select the right paper and ink color

Your resume should be printed in black ink and on a conservative-colored paper, such as white, off-white, ivory, gray, etc. Make sure the paper is good quality. Stores such as Office Depot and Staples sell various types of paper at a reasonable cost that are appropriate for a resume.

5) Highlight certain areas

Highlight the areas of your resume that should stand out by CAPITALIZING, ITALICIZING or using BOLDFACE type. The employer's eyes will be drawn to these areas. Underlining does not look as professional and is not recommended.

6) Check your spelling and grammar

Nothing is worse than misspelling words or using poor grammar on your resume. Both show carelessness and will create a negative image with the employer. Your resume could get tossed in the trash if it contains spelling or grammatical errors.

7) Check your spelling and grammar

Your resume will be difficult to read if not properly aligned. In addition, it may look "sloppy." Remember, you are trying to make a positive and professional impression.

One Final Thought On Resumes

As previously stated, there's no official way to write a resume. In certain instances, it may be appropriate to tailor your resume in a unique fashion for the position you are pursuing. For example, one candidate was seeking a position in the department of marketing and sales of a recording company. To display his marketing talents, he had his resume printed on the inside of a record album cover.

Yet another candidate was going after a marketing position for a large, upscale hotel chain. To be unique, he printed his resume on bright pink neon paper. Additionally, he had bright pink neon shirts and baseball hats printed with his name and the phrase, "_____ Hotels' Top Marketing Director!" He sent out his resume, shirt and hat to the employer and was hired after the first interview.

It's your discretion as to whether the basic resume format or a unique format is suitable for the position you're pursuing. Note that the more you professionally separate yourself from the other candidates, the better chance you have of standing out in the employer's mind. The ability to standout is exactly what you must try to accomplish.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment