How to Write a Resume: 10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Create a Professional Resume Every Time

Resume Articles : How to Write a Resume: 10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Create a Professional Resume Every Time by Adam Waxler

Remember the old Head & Shoulders commercial..."You only get one chance to make a first impression."

Well, with so many people searching for jobs these days it is of the utmost importance that YOU make a great first impression.

How?

Simple. Your resume.

In most cases, the only thing you have to create that first impression with is your resume. And, it is your resume that will get you the interview.

Here are ten tips on how to write a resume...these are resume writing tips that will help you create not just any resume, but a professional resume that clearly stands out amongst all the other applicants...a resume that will help you create that great first impression.

1. When writing a resume use a professional resume format. The two most accepted resume formats today are chronological and functional. Personally, I prefer chronological. From the interviewer stand point I find it much easier to read and follow.

2. Create your resume in the proper order and with correct punctuation. Resumes with grammatical errors drive recruiters crazy. You can use spell check on Microsoft Word to check for spellings and grammar, but that is NOT enough. Print out your resume and re-read the hard copy AND then let a friend or colleague read your resume as well. It is amazing what a fresh pairs of eyes can find.

3. Organize your resume properly under headings (such as education, skills, work experience, training, etc.) and put those headings in bold.

4. Write your resume in such a way so that it matches YOUR skills and experience to the skills and experience needed for the available position. Highlight the details that match the employer's requirement. This will make your resume look as if it was created for this particular job rather than one generic resume you send out to everyone.

5. Use "industry-oriented" words in your resume. You want to make sure you are using the jargon (keywords) of the profession...this gives the impression that you are an expert in your field.

6. Avoid using "I" in your resume. Make use of action verbs like collaborated, managed, established, etc. A good resume uses both action verbs such as analyze, achieve, etc. and nouns and adjectives like capable, resourceful, etc.

7. Make your resume presentable. Print your resume on high-quality resume paper and print your resume using a laser printer.

8. References, references, references. When writing a resume make sure to list your references. Never state "references available upon request". Why make more work for the person reading your resume? Instead, list your references at the end of the resume. Also, make sure to include the job title AND the phone number with each and every reference.

9. When writing your resume objective, make sure to be as specific as possible. State the specific position you desire and one to two sentences why you would be the best candidate for that position.

10. Be specific with the rest of your resume as well. Far too many resumes are filled with generalizations. This is not a good way to show your experience and skills. Instead, your resume should contain relevant information for the job you are applying for.

Often times, employers only look over your resume for a few minutes...so use these resume writing tips to make your resume stand out from the others.

Remember, your "one chance to make a first impression" may just be your resume.

About the Author
Want to discover some of the greatest "think-outside-the-box" job search strategies ever revealed? Then sign up right now for our FREE one-of-a-kind Cover Letter e-Course @ http://www.Write-Impressive-Resumes.com

Source: http://phorcys.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=526348

3 Tips For Writing A Great Resume

Resume Articles : 3 Tips For Writing A Great Resume by Adam Thompson

In most job interview situations, your resume will provide your potential employer with his or her first impression of you. If your resume makes a good first impression, you will move on to the next step in the hiring process. If not, your resume will likely be filed and you will never have the opportunity to progress to an actual interview. For this reason, it is essential that you take the time to create a resume that will make the first impression you need it to make.

Stay Clear and Concise

Before you even start writing your resume, you need to be clear on what your objectives are. This means having a solid idea of the type of job that you want and the types of skills needed to obtain that job. By having a clear idea of the job you are hoping to get, you can structure the rest of your resume around this objective.

When actually creating your resume, be clear about your objectives as well as the talents you can offer to the company. Don't go into a great amount of detail about these talents - you can do that at your interview. Rather, provide the potential employer with a brief overview. Creating bulleted lists with short sentences is generally the best way to go. Remember, your potential employer will be scanning over dozens of resumes. Make it easy for him or her to read the highlights of what you offer to the company.

Use Action Words

Your resume should also contain action words such as monitored, managed, prepared, and developed. Not only will this help your resume stand out, it will also make it more likely to be picked out by the computerized resume scanners many companies are now using. With these scanners, the hiring manager inputs certain words that relate to the position and the computer searches for these words on the resume. If there are no matches, you resume will be overlooked.

Do Your Homework

You may very well have a number of skills and talents, but not all of them are necessarily valuable to the company. Do your homework so you are aware of what the company does and what it is looking for in the person it is hiring. Be sure to highlight these strengths in your resume in order to match the needs of the company.

By following these simple tips, you will be more likely to get an interview. From here, it is up to you to "sell" yourself to a potential employer.

About the Author
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Source: http://phorcys.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=516549

Qualities Of An Effective Cover Letter To Catch Your Future Boss' Attention

Resume Cover Letter Articles : Qualities Of An Effective Cover Letter To Catch Your Future Boss' Attention by Mario Churchill

When a vacancy for a certain job is posted, it is expected to attract a number of applicants. Among these applicants, more than half will surely be qualified for the position. Just like you, their goal is also to be hired. So aside from the resume that you submit in applying for the job, the cover letter is also attached.

The cover letter is usually a one-page letter that is written to invite the employer to read on to your resume. For a busy employer who had been hectic all day reading typical application letters, which of those will leave a mark to you? This scenario must be taken into consideration by the applicant because it will also serve as a determinant whether your application will be dumped to the rejected files or files to be considered.

The cover letter aims to stir the interest of your prospected employer. With the knowledge in writing a strong cover letter, you can face the fierce competition in the job market. In fact, an effective cover letter can make you an outstanding candidate for the job more than those who are more qualified in skills than you.

A good cover letter must be able to awaken the weary mind of an employer. They must be interested to read more and subsequently be engrossed to call you for an interview upon reading your cover letter. If most of the application letters in the bulk of files receives only a glance, then yours should be read from start till the end.

When applying for the job, you have to advertise yourself to the potential employer in the form of an application letter. But it is through the cover letter that you give them a peek at your assertions for being a qualified employee. Therefore, the cover letter must give the employer an idea of the advantages of hiring you. The cover letter must be able to make them realize the direct and specific benefits that you can give the company. And it must speak in your behalf on what it takes to be proficient for the position.

In writing the cover letter, you must establish professional standards such as in the organization of words and ideas, design and formatting, neatness and even in the class of paper where you will print the cover letter. According to some, the signature also makes some implications about your personality and some employers observe this.

Your resume already states your job history and qualifications. So what is the purpose of the cover letter? The cover letter purports the salient points that must be highlighted to prove that you are worthy for the position. And it is because of the cover letter that the employer gets hooked to your qualifications. Since it is an attachment to the resume, it should not be a total recopy of the contents.

The cover letter generally states your interest for the job and to work with the company. This also introduces you and your skills and expertise to the employer so that he will recognize your potentials to fit the position.

So if you want the company to distinguish you from among the qualified candidates for the job, make an effective cover letter which will represent you without personal contact.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter or cover letters checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://phorcys.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=313381