Monday, April 6, 2009

How to write a Resume? Three Basic Rules

In today's job-search market, you are often competing against large numbers of job seekers, and your CV or resume has to be good enough to make it past the first screening. The first people who read your CV or resume are often looking for a fast way to weed candidates out of consideration.

To reduce the possibility of your resume being eliminated during this round by following three simple rules described below.

One: Include Relevant Keywords.

If posting your resume on the internet or submitting it in digital format, make sure the search engines can find your resume and flag it resume for closer examination. Do this by including several keywords that are relevant to your desired position and your job skills. Include keywords specific to your industry. Also, include the names of major companies you worked with or for, as this often is important to employers. Include those in the "experience" section, as appropriate.

For example: Adobe Photoshop, International Standards (ISO), MBA, copy edit, CPMs, medical device, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and search engine marketing (SEM). Some job seekers add a separate "keywords" section at the bottom of digital-format resumes, or others list keywords as part of a "skills" section. These are possible catch-all areas specifically for the search engines to recognize.

Two: Remember that Less is More.

Your resume should read like a billboard, not an encyclopedia, so don't reveal everything. A good resume should leave the prospective employer with a desire to meet with you to find out more. So don't fill in all the details just yet. Save that for the interview. Do, however, paint a big picture of who you are and what you can offer.

Skip the hobbies and personal information. Avoid too much detail that will cause a reader's eyes to glaze over. One page is ideal -- two pages only if you are a 15- to 20-year veteran with a significant growth and promotion history.

Three: Be specific.

Don't just tell them what you did, but more importantly, ecplain the benefits of your accomplishments. For example, you may want to include several specific ways you helped your employer make money or save money. Identify measurable results; use numbers, or better yet dollars (or whatever currency is used where you live). Remember, the only benefit you can bring to the table is past performance.

Present examples of some of your accompishments. How can an employer think of you as a problem solver? If at all possible, state them in terms of money. When you interview (either phone or in person) this is what will be discussed.

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Read more tips on How to write a CV, Resume and Cover Letter main page.

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