Does Your Résumé Work As Hard As You?
An Article by Martin P. Buckland.

Let’s discuss how you can develop a successful, winning résumé.

Most people cringe at the thought of preparing their résumé. Why? It’s hard to write about yourself. For most people, it goes against their nature to aggressively market themselves. The résumé is their career history, written succinctly in a strict format; the more professional experience you possess the more difficult this task then becomes. It is a document that is viewed, initially, for 30 seconds; it must be dynamic to compel the reader to continue.

As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, I find that executives, with an impressive results background, have a difficult time portraying their working experience on this critical 1 or 2 page document. They do not SELL themselves correctly! So let’s begin at the top and outline the steps necessary to create your winning résumé.

Choose a format that is appropriate for you. If you are currently employed or recently unemployed, the résumé format of choice in North America is a “combination”. We will assume that you fit into this category.

Contact Information
The first step will be to identify you. Your name should be noticeable but not too obtrusive. Use your full name in a bold, 12-16 point size (depending on your font selection), using either a capitalized or initial title case format. Next, include your contact and communication information. Although a critical element in the overall structure, too many people highlight this area more than they do their professional experience, education and the other components of a winning résumé. The reader does not care whether you live in Waterloo or Wawa; if you send your résumé to a company in Toronto, for a Toronto position, it shows that you are willing to relocate.

So the professional rule of thumb is: never waste space in this section. Your address should take a maximum of 2 lines with your contact information on the next line. Be sure to provide the reader with as many communication mediums as possible. You don’t want to miss that call for the interview! Your home phone number should always be included, but be judicious in choosing your other contact numbers; use only cell or pager numbers if they are available to the caller 24 hours a day. An email address is essential, it shows the reader that you are current with today’s technology. Here are a few examples for your header information:

Sample 1:
1223 Westmount Road, Milton, Ontario L6X 2P1
Phone: 905.555.1234 Cell: 905.555.3445 Janet Wilson

Sample 2:
PAUL MASTERSON, BA, M.Sc. Ed.
Suite 321, 123 Ontario Street
Toronto, Ontario M2J 9B4 Home: 416.555.1234
Email: pmasterson@rogers.com

Sample 3:
CHRISTOPHER PORTER
99 Dundas Street, Toronto, Ontario M8H 0C5
Phone: 416.555.9987 Email: cporter@sympatico.ca

Objective Statement
With the exception of students graduating from high school or university, it is my opinion that the objective section of the résumé can be omitted. Most of what I have seen written in this area does not portray a positive, definitive image. The amount of clients who state in their résumé, “I seek a challenging position in sales management capitalizing on my skills and experience”, must number in the hundreds. My professional strategy is to approach this area boldly; by that I mean, state the position you are seeking (e.g. SALES EXECUTIVE or VICE PRESIDENT SALES).

Executive Summary
The next section, the Executive Summary or Profile, is a vital ingredient in “selling yourself” to a prospective employer. This is your advertorial, what you could bring to the table: your strengths, skills, attributes, experience and expertise. Many of the words encompassed within this bulleted list or paragraph style format will be “keywords”. This area is also vital if you should post your résumé on the Internet, or if it is scanned by sophisticated technology which picks up “keywords”.

This is where the brainstorming begins! Examine yourself, ask others to assess you and note all comments down in priority. Take these notes and build up powerful, concise statements about your assets and attributes. For instance, if you are goal oriented, results oriented, or a strategic thinker with impressive sales, you could punch up this statement by writing: “Results driven professional, with an exemplary record of developing strategic initiatives to enhance sales”.

Highlighting Your Professional Experience
Now we arrive at the Professional Experience section, which clearly outlines each company, company location, the dates of employment, position, responsibilities and most importantly, your accomplishments. Your positions should be listed in reverse chronological history. This section is an integral component of your résumé and a great deal of thought should be given to it.
Show the company you work or worked for in lower case, initial capitals, then location and province. In the right hand margin show the overall dates of your tenure. Immediately below the company name, show your position. It is more important that you highlight the position you hold more than the company name. The reader wants to see progressive or lateral job positions at an easy glance. By bolding and capitalizing the position it attracts the eyes. The example below displays this section.

Cadbury Chocolate Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario 1975 – 2002
SALES EXECUTIVE – Confectionery

In a bulleted list immediately below the job title, create the accomplishment and responsibility section. This has to be powerful text, as it is a catalogue of your work history. Each bullet should begin with a positive action verb, for example: “managed,” “directed,” “created,” “established,” “increased,” or “generated.” If you are employed use the present tense; all other positions should be in the past tense. Follow these words by a detailed description of how you achieved this accomplishment or what exactly you completed.

A résumé is your marketing tool. You can tell a prospective employer, “I’ve done this, I’ve done that. Hire me!” Tell the truth, elaborate on your accomplishments but don’t exaggerate.

Education
Now we move on to the Education section. Be proud of whatever education you have completed. This section should be placed before Professional Experience if you are a recent graduate or have little work history.
It is paramount that you follow the same format as the company and position you have worked for. The reader is not looking for the high school or university name they are looking for the diploma or degree. Follow the example below:

University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario 2001
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario 1997
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE

George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario 1992
DIPLOMA – Marketing

This is your formal education. Seminars, workshops and other courses fall under another category: Continuing Education. List again, in reverse chronological order, the most important completed courses or seminars. Do not list inappropriate personal courses such as woodworking, knitting, etc.
To complete the résumé there are other critical sections that can be included. If you can speak other Languages show them under a separate section, stating your level of competence. Are you fluent, intermediate or basic? Membership and Affiliations: show that you are a member of the Professional Association or any other association pertaining to your career path.

Last but not least is the Community Involvement or Volunteer section. Human resource professionals are looking for your participation in the community. It displays your willingness to give of your valuable time, without financial compensation, to help others in various disciplines.

These guidelines are just a basic outline of the elements you require for a winning résumé. As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, I regard a résumé as the most important document you are going to create in life. It can make or break you, can mean the difference between winning your dream job or settling for a mediocre position. Spend many hours compiling the ingredients necessary to produce this powerful two page document. It will sell YOU!

Martin Buckland and his company Elite Résumés has gained a reputation across North America as a leading résumé writer, career coach, job search strategist and interview tutor. Based in Oakville, Ontario, Martin currently holds the following credentials: Certified Professional Résumé Writer, Certified Employment Interview Professional and Job & Career Transition Coach. You can contact Martin through his website at www.AnEliteResume.com.

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