Top Ten Resume Must Have’s
October 26, 2009
What does it take to land your ideal job? It is important to prepare for the interview, sell yourself and how your experience can benefit the organization, and of course have the necessary skills for the position. But, the first step in finding a new job begins with a solid resume. Your resume is the first opportunity for employers to review your qualifications and assess if you could be their next hire. Writing a strong resume can be challenging, so we thought that we would provide a few tips about how to create that one-of-a-kind resume that will help you get the interview.
1. Name and contact information – This is the starting point. Be sure to clearly list your name and all relevant contact information at the top of the resume.
2. Create a summary - A summary should appear at the top of the resume just below your contact information. The summary should be a paragraph giving a brief overview of your experience and what you are looking for in your next position. Summaries should also include specific skills you have that directly relate to the position.
3. Reference education and achievements - List any formal education that has been completed, or that is in progress, just below your summary. Include the school(s) where you earned your highest degree(s) and your field of study. Also, list any educational and professional achievements, certifications, or awards.
4. Customize it as necessary - One size does not fit all when it comes to writing your resume. It is important throughout your resume to include keywords, phrases, technologies, and responsibilities that match the position to which you are applying. It is acceptable to have multiple versions of your resume as long as core information is consistent.
5. Quantify your achievements - Support your current or past job responsibilities with specific figures to help highlight your professional achievements and how those achievements benefited the organization(s) for which you worked. Describe your role on important projects and how your contribution impacted the company; did it increase revenue or lower expenses? Be specific about the impact on the business.
6. Use action words - Words such as designed, managed, developed, etc. have a more powerful impact to the reader than passive language. Be sure to avoid using the same verb several times throughout the resume. Avoid using general descriptions such as “team member on X project,” that does not describe your specific involvement and contributions.
7. Use bullet points - Bullet points provide an easy to read format which allow for concise assessment of skills. Although summaries can take paragraph form, it is recommended to have bullets in the work experience section. White space on a resume is acceptable. Be sure you avoid run on sentences.
8. Stick to the truth - It is important to paint an accurate picture of your experience and job tenure. Arrange your resume in chronological order providing months and years. List your most recent position first and then work backwards in your career. Include technical skills that you feel confident explaining and have used, rather than those that were just in the environment in which you worked. If an employer questions you about a specific technology listed on your resume, you want to be able to provide a detailed answer.
9. Save your pictures - Let the employer focus on your skills, not your looks. Allow your qualifications to secure you the interview. A resume with a photo is more likely to be screened out for consideration.
10. Proofread - A well proofread resume shows employers that you focus on quality. Proofreading is not just checking to ensure proper spelling and grammar, but also making sure dates, fonts, and margins are consistent.
11. Let someone else review - After spending time writing the perfect resume, have someone else review to double check proofreading and offer suggestions.
If you are in the IT field and have put together that perfect resume using these tips, do not hesitate to send a copy to careers@vistechs.com and allow Vision to deliver in finding your next job opportunity.
