Secrets for a High-Caliber Resume
An Article by Sharon Graham, CRS, CIS, CPRW, CEIP, Graham Management
Group
A prospective employer will spend less than 30 seconds reviewing
your resume. You must keep it clear, concise and focused on selling
yourself. Here are some secrets that you can use to develop a high-caliber
resume that will effectively sell you.
Close the sale on the first half of the first page
Most recruiters will scan your resume on-line. If they do not immediately
see something that they want to see on their computer screen, they
will not print your resume. The section of the resume that is visible
on a computer screen without having to scroll down (the first half
of the first page) is the most important part of your resume. If
you want to be seen, your resume must close the sale there.
Make your objective a power statement
Start with a “power statement” to showcase yourself.
Rather than using verbs, focus on telling the employer in quick,
dynamic way,
- The job that you are looking for
- Your exceptional skills, education and/or experience
- And what you can do for the company
An effective power statement may look like this: “Highly
respected General Manager with a Master’s Degree is both Finance
and Business Administration, and proven success in exceeding organizational
targets.”
Use action words carefully
Action words are verbs that are used at the beginning of sentences
for added punch. Use action words to highlight your skills and accomplishments.
When creating a bullet list, avoid repeating the same action word
too often. Always make sure that your action words are in the same
tense. It is important that your resume does not look like it was
slapped together in a haphazard way without regard to simple grammatical
rules.
Whenever possible quantify your statements
Numbers stand out and communicate clearly and openly the results
you produced. When you cannot use exact or estimated figures, try
using percentages and hard facts to highlight what you will bring
to the company.
Spotlight your most important sales points only
Your most impressive and relevant qualifications should be highlighted
in italics, boldface type or underlined. Do not highlight items
excessively or your important sales points will not be apparent
to someone scanning your resume. Make sure that there is an appropriate
amount of white space so that your highlighted qualifications stand
out. If your resume is too long for one page, it is best to go to
two.
Employ the right keywords
In order to be selected on-line, you must have a keyword-rich resume.
The best place to find relevant keywords and key phrases for your
field is in job descriptions and employment advertisements. Your
keyword list should be inserted in your resume so that an on-line
search will find your resume and a recruiter can easily read your
text on-screen. Place your keywords creatively throughout your resume
to transmit your message effectively to computers and humans.
With the changing times, there are few rigid rules for every situation.
So, use these secrets effectively to make informed decisions in
developing your resume. Your ultimate goal is to create a resume
that showcases your skills and sells you to your prospective employer.
Sharon Graham is a certified professional resume writer, employment
interview strategist, and author of Best Canadian Resumes. She assists
job seekers though her consulting firm Graham Management Group,
www.GrahamManagement.com and is executive director of Career Professionals
of Canada. You can reach Sharon by e-mailing info@GrahamManagement.com
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