Resume Format - How to Do it Right

Resume Articles : Resume Format - How to Do it Right by Mike Woods

Your resume format is something that you should give importance aside from all the details in your resume. In this highly competitive job market, it is very probable that for every position you apply to, you will be competing with a number of hopeful candidates. It is no wonder then that most employers would only give submitted resumes a quick scan and decide whether to continue reading or not. Aside from all the usual skills and experiences being thrown at him, the resume format is one thing that he will normally notice first.

You may send your resume by mail or as an email attachment. Whatever the case, if your resume format is not very appealing, chances are the employer will reject it outright after giving that quick scan.

The internet is teeming with programs and templates promising to offer the best resume format applicable to today's job market. It is just a matter of doing your careful and thorough research. While these easily accessible resume formats are a good guide in making your own, there are a few items you need to keep in mind to ensure that your resume is worth reading.

Guidelines for a Good Resume Format

Avoid writing a resume that feels and looks like a novel. Your resume format must be arranged so that you will have at most two pages. Come on. Employers are busy people. You won't really expect them to spend their whole time reading your resume. Even if you have a lot of other stuff you want to include, focus on putting only the experiences and skills that will apply to the position you are seeking.

If you are contemplating on adding some images on your resume, don't. It is completely unnecessary and will distract the employer from your most important assets. You can present your creativity in other ways. The best resume formats are those that are simple but professional.

Allow for margins on your pages. A good resume format uses a margin of about an inch on all sides, and the top and bottom of the content. Use left-justification. Do not make all your resume content centered. It doesn't look very professional. Keep the font size and style uniform. It is best to use one font style while varying the font size among headlines and other content. Presentable resume formats normally have headlines that are set at a maximum font size of 14 points while the font size of other contents are generally set at a 12-point maximum.

Know how to make effective use of tabs and spaces. Understand that the employer might be reading your resume using another word processor. Consider this when formatting your resume or otherwise he will be reading a disoriented jumble of content. That is why it is best to use basic fonts, styles, spacing and markers.

After you have finished modifying the resume format to your satisfaction, get a print out. Don't use colored papers. Use a white and clean paper. Ensure that the resume format from the print-out appears exactly like the one set in your computer - correct margins, font styles and spacing. Make good use of white space. Avoid crowding the contents on one side while leaving another side with plenty of white space. It won't appear attractive.

After you are completely satisfied with the resume format you are using, ask for constructive criticism from your friends or family. Their view may differ from yours and you will definitely be able to gain a lot of useful insight. This is especially true if they have some experience regarding resume writing.

Following these basic guidelines will ensure that your resume format is pleasing to the reader.

About the Author
Most of the resumes submitted will end up as trash. Don't let that happen to you. Learn about effective resume writing and how to make a good resume format.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=868389

Resume Objective - Should You Have One?

Free Resume Articles : Resume Objective - Should You Have One? by Mike Woods


Every time we submit a job application, we are oftentimes confronted with the predicament on whether to put a resume objective in our CV or not. If you go and ask career experts, you most probably will get varied views and opinions. Some career advisers would say that a resume objective must be included to provide the employer an idea on what types of roles you are interested in and would likely perform best. Other advisers, on the other hand, would be saying that including a resume objective would be a complete waste of time as it is often ignored by employers and sometimes would turn their interest off.

Whatever the case, the decision to put a resume objective in your job application is a matter of personal preference. While it is true that some employers would regard it as nothing more than hype and would ignore it, there are also a number of employers who want to see a resume objective in place to get an immediate insight on whether you are the right person for the role being offered. The reality of the matter is, you can never please everybody. But by making that early decision on whether or not to include a resume objective will make the process of job seeking one step easier.

If you do make the decision to write a resume objective, there are a few important points that you need to take into consideration to make sure that it is up to standard and not be the reason why your application will be declined.

Make sure that your resume objective is relevant to the role that you are seeking.

Do not include a resume objective for the simple reason of just having one. Prospective recruiters can immediately identify whether the resume objective addresses the key competencies required of the position. If found to be irrelevant, it usually ends up in your application being declined on the spot. This is not what you want to happen. You want to get the position so you need to ensure that your resume objective encourages employers to know more about you and discuss your competencies through an interview.

Your resume objective must be simple and must be clear.

You don't want it to be too vague to be understandable only by you and not your prospective employer. Keep in mind that you are trying to sell yourself to them. The resume objective must clearly define your potential without being boastful. While it is perfectly fine to give them an insight on your key skills and competencies that your can bring to a role, be honest. Outright lies can easily be found out during the interview and gone will be your chances of being hired. Honesty still pays but it is not good to be too modest either. Your resume objective must also be written to sell.

Ensure your resume objective focuses on what you can bring to a role.

You are the one seeking for a position so it will be in your best interest to make sure that your resume objective puts you in a positive light in the employer's view. It should clearly communicate the message that you have something beneficial to offer if ever hired. We are not referring to monetary items but specific competencies and skills required of the role.

While the preference to write a resume objective in your CV depends entirely on you, these important points can make the decision process a whole lot easier. However, you have to remember that your goal is to acquire the job you desire and while there are a lot of other factors that bear an impact on that goal, a properly written resume objective can bring you one step closer to achieving that.


About the Author
Fact: Most resumes end up in the trash before spending any useful time in the employer's hand. Don't let yours end up with the same fate. Learn how to write a resume that works and how your resume objective can play a part in finally getting that interview.


Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=868383

IT Resume Tips For More Interviews

Free Resume Articles : Information Technology (IT) Resume Tips For More Interviews by P Johnson

As the recruitment firm that introduced Information Technology (IT) contracting to Australia we have put together a list of do's and don'ts for your next resume. If you are in IT and want more success out of your applications then you need to follow this advice. The fact is we still only work in the IT industry, and our advice is what is getting results for our clients today. So these tips are not theoretically, they are what work in real life situations everyday. You should use these tips yourself to ensure your resume stands out over all the other candidates when you apply for an attractive job.

As you know, IT work is generally technical in nature, which can sometimes make it is easy for candidates to get lost in the detail of their work and forget about formatting and the nature of the content. The goal of this article is to provide you with advice that will increase the probability that you'll be selected for an interview. That is after all the only goal your resume should have. After that its up to you to showcase your skills and experience in person. Therefore, without any more time, here are some very important resume tips that you should follow when putting together your next resume.

* Use bullet points, rather than having big chunks of text that is hard to scan through.

* Use MS Word, in preference to a pdf file.

* Use standard font types and minimal effects such as fancy borders or colors. Use only several font type and size combinations throughout the whole document. This will minimize potential compatibility issues between different Word application versions and minimize reader distractions.

* Tailor each resume and cover letter for the position you are applying. If possible, try to use similar terminology that which was used in the advertisement or job description.

* A resume of between 3 and up to a maximum of 10 pages is reasonable if you have an established career. Beyond this, it may be worth reviewing and removing irrelevant information.

* Remember, 'white space' is important. Set out your resume so that it does not appear cramped, and ensure there is enough space between relevant sections.

* Providing a technical skills matrix means that whoever is reviewing your resume can see at a glance your areas of expertise. You may wish to indicate your skill level for each skills listed (e.g. Advanced, Intermediate etc.), or indicate how many years of experience you have for each.

* Providing information on the technical environment per position gives an idea of how relevant and up to date your skills are, and the depth & breadth of the environment in which you worked.
* Give an insight into the organization/ company you worked for. Is it a large multi-national? How many employees? What is the nature of the business? Don't assume the reader has heard of the company or understands what it is the organization does.

* If you were working on a particular project, provide details of the size and budget of the project, in terms of how many resources were involved and the dollar value of the project.

* Personal skills - you can either incorporate your key strengths in your personal profile, or list these separately. This gives the reader a more in-depth understanding of exactly what you as an individual can offer.

* Avoid putting a photo on your resume. Keep other graphical images to a minimum.

* Use the past tense and choose strong descriptive verbs - i.e. Managed a team of 8 Developers.

* Avoid speaking about yourself in the third person. i.e. John Smith is an IT Professional ... , rather it should read ... An IT Professional with 8 years experience

* SPELL CHECK your resume. Additionally, get another person to check that it reads correctly and that there are no other errors or grammatical mistakes.

If you are looking for an IT position in Australia (or elsewhere), be sure to follow these exact tips, as they will help you to stand out over your competitors and land you more interviews.

About the Author
ADAPS IT Recruitment specializes in IT Recruitment in Sydney and Melbourne Australia. Click here to visit www.adaps.com.au for jobs and tips on how to get your next IT job.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=867901