Resume Writing
In today's job market an employer can receive dozens of resumes for every available job. It is vitally important that your resume stand out in the crowd.
These days, job hunters downplay their resume as a piece of paper that usually doesn't work. Maybe you're one of those who believe, "My resume isn't perfect, but I'll explain myself in the interview." But there's the catch: You may not get the interview for any other reason than your resume, which often gives employers their first impression of your professional standards and talents.
Even topflight executives can have trouble writing a resume. They're not sure how to make the link between what they really want to DO in their next job with the needs of potential employers. An effective job hunt means having a complete, professional job search strategy and your resume must be a key part of that strategy.
How To Be Effective
Effective resume writing gives you the chance to present all of the information that proves that you have the required skills and experience for the job. Writing an effective resume takes time - you need to ensure that you have included all the desired information clearly and concisely.
When writing a resume, remember that its purpose is to persuade an employer to consider you for the position over the other applicants. It is a compilation of your skills, achievements, employment history and personal interests, and provides the important first impression of you and your skills and experience.
Employers will scan a resume for about thirty seconds to two minutes to decide if whether to consider the applicant for an interview. That is the period of time it is estimated an employer will devote to reading a resume to decide whether to consider you further as a potential candidate. Some may use an automated scan instead to short list resumes. Having decided this, they will probably re-examine your resume in more detail, but it is this first impression that can make or break your initial application. Get your resume in the for consideration pile.
A resume is a "snapshot" of you and needs to be:
- Written with the employer's interests in mind
- Professional in appearance
- Targeted for a particular job or organization with your experience and skills matching what the employer is looking for
- "Letter-perfect." Spelling and grammar mistakes can mean an automatic trip to the reject pile
- An honest and clear demonstration of your skills, abilities and achievements
- A clear indication of what you offer to the employer
