Here are five fairly easy résumé writing tips that you can use to quickly enhance your résumé and increase the chances of landing that dream job.
- Descriptive. When writing your résumé, it is a good idea to be descriptive. Paint a picture for the person reading your résumé so they are aware of what you did in each of your positions. Also, focus on keywords that are relevant to the particular industry you're seeking to enter. Many times companies run résumés through a software program that searches for specific keywords, then pushes qualified résumés through to a person who will review your résumé.
- Concise. Keep the layout and design of your résumé clean and consistent. Don't clutter the document with too much text. White space is helpful. Less really is more. If you place one job title in italics, then do the same for all of the job titles. Also, keep your language concise and use the active voice.
- Results. The content of your past positions should be focused on what you accomplished. How many people did you manage? How many projects did you coordinate? How much did you increase sales or revenue? Employers want to know that you are a results-driven professional. So, when you write your résumé, be sure to focus on what you delivered.
- Review. Once you've finished writing your résumé, have another person review it for errors and typos. After investing time in developing your résumé, you don't want to have it rejected because you used the word 'principal' when you should have used 'principle'. The details are important, and paying attention to them provides a positive message to employers.
- Electronic Files. Of course, you are going to save your file electronically and probably email it to potential employers. When you save your file, be sure to save it as a descriptive file name (e.g., john_doe_resume.doc; not myresume.doc). Similarly, if you email your résumé, use an attention-getting, memorable subject line.
These are some general tips that can help you write an effective résumé; however, each situation is unique. For strategic and professional assistance, contact Targeted Positioning.