RESUME WRITING SECRETS
As a professional resume writer, I've devised
a resume writing system that always gets results. Here are
some of my secrets ...
Resume Writing Secret #1 - Target Your
Message
I spend more time planning a resume than I do actually
writing it. That's because I want to make sure I have the right
message for the audience. The best resume writing happens when
the client
knows exactly what he or she wants to do next. That's because I
can target their resume with pinpoint accuracy.
To use this resume
writing
secret on your own resume,
spend some time really analyzing your target employers. What
issues do they face? What concerns might they have? Why would they
hire
someone like you?
Now structure your resume to show them why you
can solve these issues. Use the headline and resume profile to
highlight exactly
why you are the best candidate for the job.
Check out our resume
samples for examples that might spark some resume writing ideas.
Resume
Writing Secret #2 - Less is More
A common resume writing mistake
is to try to say WAY too much. Remember: your resume is the brochure,
not the whole
catalog. That means you don't
have
to tell
employers
everything
about
yourself
- just
enough to
get their interest. So, keep resume writing secret #1 in mind as
you
develop your content and try to ensure that you give selected highlights
to meet the needs of
potential employers.
Resume Writing Secret #3 - Focus on Your Impact
Another
common resume writing error is to focus
solely on job responsibilities but these are not particularly helpful
in letting
an employer know
about
you. Think about it - if you tell an employer about your job
responsibilities, you're really telling him what you were supposed to do - not what you did do.
Employers are hiring because they
want something done - a problem solved, an opportunity exploited,
more
money, better
customer service - there is always a reason. And in order to make
sure that you get interviews, you need to show them that you are
the right person for their organization.
You can do that by talking
about the impact you've made on past employers.Your past behavior
is the best predictor of what you'll do in the future, so make
sure you show your accomplishments all
the way through your resume.
Resume Writing Secret #4 - Accentuate
the Positive
When I'm writing a resume for a client, I often find
that they have got "stuck" on
the downside of their background, and that is stopping them from
seeing the good things.
If you have concerns, write them down. Now
make a list of all the good things you bring to the table. See
how much longer
the second list is?
Put a big line through the concerns, and focus
on the positives. Look for ways to design a resume that will
shine a spotlight
on the great things you have to boast about.
In my book, The Complete
Guide to Resume Writing, I take readers through a
step-by-step approach to applying each of these
principles, but I hope this introduction has been helpful.
To get more tips like these, and learn how to completely transform
your resume, sign up for my free
resume writing course. We promise
never to send sales spam.
Louise Fletcher is the President of Blue
Sky Resumes, and author of the eBook, The
Complete Guide to Resume Writing. Louise is also Managing
Editor and Co-founder of the preeminent careers blog, Career
Hub. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and many of
her resumes have been published in the JIST "Expert Resumes" series.
She has contributed to many online publications including About.com,
Monster.com, The Ladders, and Net Temps.
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