| The rules have changed. Shopping for | | | | 7. Make Your Own Headlines |
| employment is a hybrid of automated filter | | | | Create a short paragraph to define yourself and |
| applications, on-line search engines and good old | | | | use this as the opening of your resume. It should |
| fashioned human interpretation. To be effective | | | | only be four or five sentences long, chock full of |
| you need to make sure that your resume is | | | | keywords and buzzwords. Use action verbs like |
| designed to perform in all of these areas. In the | | | | "Managed", "Directed", "Accomplished", or |
| hunt for a new job, a better job, or just keeping | | | | "Achieved". These are sentences, not bullet points. |
| your Resume current, use these ten simple steps | | | | If you get beyond the automated applications and |
| to draft a stellar resume. | | | | filters, this will be the first thing that a person |
| 1. Create a Personal Portfolio | | | | reads. You never get a second chance to make a |
| This is the easy part. Begin by making a list of | | | | first impression, so summarize yourself in the |
| accomplishments, education and previous positions. | | | | opening paragraph in such a way that the reader |
| This is your own private list. Do not be concerned | | | | would be compelled to scan the rest of your |
| with the order or the appearance. You can use | | | | work history in you resume. |
| scratch paper, word processor or collection of | | | | 8. Add Spice |
| documents. Gather, create, collect and document | | | | Review the entire document from start to finish. |
| your history with important facts, figures and | | | | Modify your bullet points with action adverbs and |
| milestones. Collect the relevant highlights from | | | | exciting adjectives where appropriate. For |
| your life, education and career. | | | | example, "In charge of four employees, reduced |
| 2. Choose a Standard Outline | | | | expenses 12%" can be more effective and |
| Select a standard Template to use as your | | | | exciting worded as "Managed a dynamic |
| outline. Resist the urge to be creative or unique in | | | | department that dramatically reduced overall |
| the format of your resume. Do not waste time | | | | expenses by 12%". Which description sounds |
| with colorful bullets, images or watermarks. Why? | | | | more appealing and energetic to you? |
| Web sites like and provide the option to upload a | | | | Read each sentence as if you were the big voice |
| resume in standard format and can automatically | | | | of a radio announcer. If the bullet points sound |
| identify job titles with associated accomplishments. | | | | exciting, then you have written them well. If the |
| Your resume gets cut and spliced into pure text | | | | description sounds ridiculous in your big announcer |
| data and loaded into a "Monster" database that | | | | voice, then you might need to write the bullets |
| can be accessed by recruiters, human resource | | | | again. Just in case, don't use that big announcer |
| departments and agencies. Many companies and | | | | voice in public until you are really confident about |
| organizations either use the on-line database | | | | your resume. |
| application or have similar software for managing | | | | 9. Check Your Name and Contact Information |
| the pure text from resumes. These filters do not | | | | Make sure that it is easy to find your name, email |
| support colorful bullets, images, icons or | | | | address and phone number. It would be a shame |
| watermarks. If you do not want to spend your | | | | to have a stellar resume that is a perfect match |
| time copying and pasting pure text for every | | | | for the job of your dreams, and the employer |
| on-line opportunity, then make your life easy and | | | | can not get in touch with you. Don't laugh, it |
| use a standard template. | | | | happens. Make sure that your name, email and |
| Organize the documents and thoughts from your | | | | phone number are prominently visible on both |
| personal portfolio into a chronological timeline and | | | | pages of your resume. |
| type them into a standard resume outline. Be | | | | Do not include personal or private information like |
| sure to keep track of the accomplishments that | | | | a social security number. Do not use more than |
| best define your ability. | | | | two pages for your resume, no matter how |
| Sample Professional and Standard Outlines can be | | | | many jobs you have worked. If you are using a |
| found at | | | | professional resume format, you will be prompted |
| 3. Work Backwards | | | | for placement of your contact information. Make |
| The typical resume starts with a short paragraph | | | | sure that it is your contact information on every |
| about you, followed bullet by points of your | | | | page. |
| highlights, and then lists your career starting with | | | | 10. Review and Repeat |
| your current or latest job. While that is meaningful | | | | Review your resume for correct spelling, |
| to a potential employer to see the most current | | | | grammar and punctuation. Nothing says careless |
| and relevant information first, it is opposite of the | | | | better than a resume that is full of errors. I have |
| order of events. Most people tend to reflect on | | | | seen managers promptly discard resumes due to |
| their life with greater precision in chronological | | | | spelling or grammar. The resume is a reflection of |
| order, like a story unfolding and progressing | | | | you, and the employer assumes that you took |
| through the eyes of your memory. | | | | time to craft this document with great care. Your |
| Start at the end of your resume and work | | | | future opportunities may be based on your |
| toward the beginning. This will enable you to follow | | | | resume, so it should be treated that way. If you |
| your own career path and build up to the current | | | | do not have confidence, then it may be well |
| status. It will make more sense to you as you | | | | worth the investment to hire a professional to |
| put it together. Like building blocks of personal | | | | correct these errors and spice up the document |
| development, it will make more sense to | | | | for you. Consider it a one time investment that |
| someone reading the final product and | | | | will bring you continual rewards by earning a |
| understanding how you got to where you are | | | | better job and better pay. |
| today. | | | | Once you have a resume that gives you |
| Start with your education. Then update the bullet | | | | satisfaction and confidence, then it is time to |
| points for the first job or oldest career position | | | | change it. Save that version of your resume, and |
| that you are going to include. Keep working | | | | make another copy that you can modify with a |
| forward in time, from the end of your resume to | | | | different theme. Use the copy of your resume to |
| the beginning. Pay attention to how the | | | | change keywords, buzzwords and highlights from |
| responsibility and experience of each position | | | | a different perspective. In many cases there are |
| contributed to the success of the subsequent one. | | | | aspects of your experience that may be more |
| 4. Concise, Precise and Measured | | | | closely associated with different job markets or |
| Bullet points with short sentences and specific | | | | industries. Adjust the language of your resume |
| measurements are excellent. For each job, use a | | | | according to different job markets so you can |
| series of bullet points to make your statement. | | | | submit a fitting resume to a target position. Do |
| Punctuate the highlights with measurements. | | | | not try to make your resume "one size fits all", |
| "Good sales skills" should be "Increased sales 45% | | | | but rather make several variations of your |
| in first Quarter", "Increased sales 15% | | | | resume with different themes. |
| year-over-year" or "Directed Regional Sales | | | | For examples of how to use different themes, |
| Growth of 7% in Sixteen Months". Service related | | | | compare the following on-line versions of these |
| measurements may be related to "Improved | | | | actual resumes: |
| Customer Satisfaction from 87% to 95%", or | | | | Sales and Marketing Theme |
| "Managed a Call Center with less than 2% | | | | Service and Operations Theme |
| Abandon Rate". Accounting and Finance may | | | | References |
| include estimated average size of portfolio | | | | Do not distribute a list of references unless asked. |
| managed, outstanding receivables in days, or | | | | References should only be presented during an |
| similar measurements. Dates, Completion and | | | | interview, not distributed in advance. |
| Milestones are also a method of measurement. | | | | Ask permission from each person to be a |
| The bottom line is that every position can be | | | | reference for you. Do not ever list someone |
| measured. Identify measurements and provide | | | | without prior consent. Employers are obligated to |
| quantitative details. | | | | call and verify references, and you do not want it |
| Do not make up measurements. Include the data | | | | to be a surprise. |
| if you have it or you are confident in the | | | | Be courteous to the people who are generous |
| accuracy. Do not make up numbers if you do not | | | | enough to be a reference, ask them for a written |
| know them. Use bullet points to be concise, do | | | | endorsement or letter of recommendation. This |
| not use paragraphs. Avoid using "I" or "We". Use | | | | enables the reference to endorse your capability |
| personal accomplishments with supporting data. | | | | or experience without the interruption of a phone |
| 5. Select Your Highlights | | | | call until it is time for an employer to check and |
| Select highlight from your personal portfolio. | | | | verify references. This is a courtesy to your |
| These may or may not be included in your career | | | | references as it will minimize the potential number |
| bullet points. You can emphasize specific | | | | of people who may call. It also gets your |
| accomplishments from your career, or you can | | | | endorsement in the hands of the potential |
| use this opportunity to highlight outside | | | | employer that much faster. It is a great way to |
| achievements. For example, this might be your | | | | be courteous and build credibility at the same |
| opportunity to mention volunteer work for | | | | time. |
| charitable contributions. Use highlights to draw | | | | Submit Your Resume |
| attention to specific individual talents, skills and | | | | Don't be shy. Upload your resume to the on-line |
| experience. Highlights should also be listed in bullet | | | | web tools and be prepared for quick response. |
| form, above the individual career descriptions. | | | | Check your email every day and respond quickly |
| 6. Keywords and Buzzwords | | | | to opportunity. Do not think of it as being |
| Above the bulleted Highlights, create a section of | | | | over-eager, it is being enthusiastic and responsive. |
| bulleted Keywords and Buzzwords. What are | | | | Recruiters and employers have a need and |
| keywords and buzzwords? These are common | | | | incentive to fill positions with qualified individuals in |
| words associated with your desired profession. | | | | a prompt and efficient manner. They do not have |
| For example, a programmer might include | | | | time to wait if you take your time, so be at the |
| reference to "UNIX", "LINUX" or "ORACLE". An | | | | front of the line and demonstrate your aggressive |
| administrative assistant might include expertise in | | | | and enthusiastic desire. |
| "WORD, POWERPOINT, EXCEL", or the number | | | | Prepare for Your Interview |
| of "WPM". If you know which skills, tools, degrees | | | | If you took this much time and care to prepare a |
| or experience are relative and important for your | | | | stellar resume, then do the same preparation for |
| profession, then be sure to list your capabilities. | | | | your interview. A professional resume will get you |
| Do not take this for granted or assume that this | | | | past the on-line filters, the company internal |
| is common. The recruiter and employer can not | | | | applications and the front-line reviews. If you get |
| assume that all applicants have the necessary | | | | to the personal interview, make sure that you are |
| skills, so make sure that you include as many as | | | | adequately prepared. |
| possible. | | | | You need to be confident in the final versions of |
| Why is this so important? The on-line tools and | | | | your resume. If you are not sure, ask for review |
| application filters will search your resume for | | | | from trusted and respected colleagues. If you do |
| keywords related to specific jobs, just like search | | | | not want to do that, you might want to consider |
| engines search for keywords to identify relevance | | | | using a professional service to assist you. |
| in a web page or web site. The more matches to | | | | Remember, the time that you spend on your |
| keywords, the higher your score. Typically the | | | | resume is an investment to open new doors to |
| highest scores are used to select individuals for | | | | career opportunities that could dramatically change |
| personal interviews, and the lowest scores are | | | | your life. Invest a little extra time for long lasting |
| discarded before a human ever reads the | | | | rewards. |
| resume. To avoid being discarded by an | | | | Still looking for a little motivation, inspiration or |
| automated attendant, improve your score with | | | | guidance? |
| relevant keywords. | | | | |