How to Write a Good Resume

Your resume is a prospective employers first impression of you. Make it a good one. A resume should be clear, concise and coherent. It should reflect the skills you can offer an employer and interest them enough to invite you for an interview. There are eight steps to writing a successful resume, as follows: 1. Read, read, read. Read as many resumes as you can, particularly ones that are tailored toward the type of job for which you are applying. Bookstores abound with books about resumes. Information is also available at libraries, job/career centres, and on the Internet. Some industry associations have job banks on their web site and post some example resumes. Read these resumes to become familiar with appropriate formats, styles, terminology, key phrases, layout and design. Remember to write down key words specific to the job for which you are applying. Some employers sort resumes by computer using key words, so your resume may never be scanned by a human eye if you dont use the proper terminology. 2. Brainstorm. Once you have chosen a format, write all of your ideas on paper under the appropriate headings. Typically, headings will include: objective, education, experience, computer skills, and professional development. It is not important to fine-tune your ideas at this point, but to dump your entire mental load onto paper. Dont be bashful about promoting yourself in your resume. If you dont, nobody else will. Let your creative juices flow. 3. Write the rough draft. After you have completed the idea phase, you are now ready to write the rough draft. In this step, you will delete extraneous information, replace weak adjectives with strong ones, and use active verbs . Note: Extraneous information not used in the resume can be saved for probing interview questions. Accuracy is very important at this stage. Be certain about the accuracy of the information you are including. 4. Let the ink dry. When you finish writing the draft put it away for a few days. By this time you will have become so familiar with its content that you can no longer look at it objectively. 5. Ask other people to critique your resume. Honest feedback can dramatically improve a resume. Ask your reviewers if they would interview this person for a job. If not, why not? You may want to first ask friends and family to critique your resume, then people in the field. Call your industry association or prospective employers and also ask them to critique your resume. Either fax them a hard copy to edit, or preferably, arrange an information interview.

Copyright 2003 by Writer Types Inc.

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Arrange an information interview. An information interview provides an opportunity for you to hear immediate feedback on your resume from a prospective employer. An information interview can als o serve as an informal interview. At the very least, you will have established another contact in the field and gained valuable resume tips. If you notice a trend in the feedback, you will know that the comment is generally acknowledged to be true in the field.

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Complete the finishing touches. Your resume is almost ready. Now you need to proof it a final time. Are your abilities and strengths highlighted? Is there enough white space? Is it pleasing to the eye? Would you read it if you were sitting in the hiring chair? If so, your resume is now ready to present to an employer.

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Relax. At this stage you have completed all of the necessary steps to writing a good resume and you are now ready to apply for jobs . Note: A resume is never truly finished per se, but is a continually evolving product and should always be considered a work in progress.

Copyright 2003 by Writer Types Inc.