| The Internet and bookshelves filled with advice on | | | | initiatives, and effectively training staff." |
| how to create them. Unfortunately, very little of | | | | 2) INCLUDE A CORE COMPETENCIES SECTION |
| it is actually based on what recruiters/hiring | | | | A "Core Competencies" section is basically a |
| agents tend to look for. Here are some expert | | | | bulleted list of keywords, such as Account |
| tips on how to create a resume that not only | | | | Management, Staff Training/Mentoring and others. |
| presents you effectively, but lands you interviews: | | | | Again, look through relevant job postings to |
| 1) CREATE A SIMPLE OPENING | | | | discover them, and make sure you can back |
| Jumping straight into your work history simply | | | | them up in your work history. Quick tip: listing |
| DOES NOT WORK in the current marketplace. A | | | | keywords in horizontal bullets saves space. |
| large part of this comes from the fact that a | | | | 3) LIST YOUR WORK HISTORY IN REVERSE |
| typical hiring agent assesses dozens of resumes | | | | CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER |
| per day (if not more). If yours doesn't CLEARLY | | | | Start with your most recent position and go |
| STATE what type of position you're looking, along | | | | backwards. Here's a structure that's been shown |
| with a summarization of what makes you unique, | | | | to work: |
| it will get tossed. | | | | -Start every position with 3-4 lines describing |
| -Start the resume with the boldfaced title of the | | | | UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES. List these in order of |
| position you're applying for, in a font that's larger | | | | descending importance, and steer clear of tasks |
| than the rest of the text. This safeguards against | | | | taken for granted like attending meetings, etc. |
| any confusion on the part of the reader. Be sure | | | | -After describing responsibilities for every job, |
| to swap out this title between submissions. | | | | create a "Key Accomplishments" section or similar |
| -Beneath this, include what's known as a | | | | listing successes in bullets. If you have any |
| "Summary" section, a 3-4 line paragraph | | | | metrics, be sure to include them. |
| DEMONSTRATING key attributes. Look through | | | | 4) KEEP CLOSING SECTIONS BRIEF |
| job postings you're interested in to see which skills | | | | The "Education" section should come immediately |
| are in demand (and which you possess). Then | | | | after your work history. If you possess |
| describe them in succinct language. For example, a | | | | professional certifications, RELEVANT |
| candidate for a Sales/Marketing position could | | | | memberships, or technical proficiencies, create |
| begin with a sentence like, "Versatile professional | | | | separate sections for them. Everything else, such |
| with a track record of building new client | | | | as hobbies, personal details, etc., should be |
| relationships, executing high-impact marketing | | | | excluded. |