The Perfect Resume

"Resume" is the French word for summary, and a summary is exactly what your resume should be. A good resume is a very important component in a job search. While a resume by itself does not guarantee you a job, the fact is, a bad resume may cost you one. A successful job search cannot be conducted without a well-written resume. Anyone can write a good resume if he or she knows what to do. A resume is not a story or an autobiography. It is a concise listing of your education and work history. A listing of what you have accomplished and what training and skills you have to offer.

You get to decide what your resume says about who you are, and why you are capable of doing the job that you're after. Employers receive many resumes and usually spend about 10 seconds screening each one. Your resume should effectively capture the employer’s attention and earn you more than 10 seconds of screening time.

Preparing To Write Your Resume

Start by making a rough draft listing of all your skills, accomplishments, education and work history.(see work sheet) It is very important to keep your job objectives in mind when you are putting your resume together. Keep in mind that your resume will usually be viewed by an employer before they see you in person. This means that your resume must make the right first impression for you. It must be neat, professional and easy to read. Your resume must present you as an organized, and competent candidate with strong skills to offer. You want to avoid misspelled words and typographical or grammatical errors.

What Information Goes Into A Resume?

Generally speaking, all employers expect to find certain amount of basic information in a resume. The order in which this information appears varies according to how the writer wants it, but certain categories are standard in any resume. The standard categories are.

* Name, address and telephone number.

* Job objective or summary (if necessary)

* Record of employment history

* Record of education and training

* Languages spoken (if relevant)

* Computer skills (if relevant)

* Publications or presentation (any relevant publishing or professional presentations)

* Professional memberships (if relevant)

* Hobbies, personal interest or volunteer work (if relevant)

* References (Acceptable to state references available upon request)

Other categories that you may include

NOTE: Only include a particular category if it is relevant and to your advantage to do so.

* Personal data

* Military history

* Career summary

* Summary of or highlights of qualifications

* Skills acquired or skills developed

* Areas of knowledge and expertise

* Honors and awards

* Travel

* Union Memberships

* Licenses held

Writing Your Resume

Here Are Some Tips To Help Make Your Resume Perfect.

1) Have a clear job target in mind. If you are still having trouble writing your resume it is probably because you have not clearly defined your job target. Redo your self-analysis if necessary.

2) Use a chronological resume if your career has been progressive in the same field, and the job you seek is with in that field. Use a functional format if time and order place you at a disadvantage.

3) Ensure that your name is prominent at the top of your resume. If your name is difficult to pronounce put a pet name or short form in brackets.

4) Only include personal data on your resume if some special advantage is gained by doing so. For example, if you are seeking a job as a bouncer it might be to your advantage to list your height and weight.

5) Always state or imply your job target or job objective early in the resume, also state any relevant specialization.

6) Place the things that you want to emphasize close to the top of your resume.

7) If you are short on work experience, indicate your education before your work history.

8) If you have a college or higher degree, only list high school or lower education if relevant.

9) Always list education history in decreasing order, listing your highest degree first.

10) Specify any professional training, high school or trade diploma, if you have no higher level of education.

11) Be very detailed on your degrees, specify both your graduate as well as your under graduate degree if applicable. In all cases indicate dates, major, minor, specializations and institutions.

12) Hobbies, Interest and extracurricular activities should be included on your resume only if they a) support your job target or job objectives and b) give evidence of your honesty, responsibility or personality.

13) As you advance in experience give fewer details of your earlier work and education history.

14) Indicate duties, responsibility, number of persons managed and accomplishments in your work history.

15) It is not necessary to indicate on your resume every job that you have ever held.

16) Your resume should be attractively laid out with lots of white spaces. Ensure that your resume is properly centered on the page.

17) Nothing on your resume should ever be handwritten, also avoid poor quality printing and photocopying.

18) A standard resume is one page, but if you need an extra page for relevant information use it.

19) Never repeat any information on your resume. Be concise and precise.

20) Keep the layout and look of your resume as simple as possible. Simple is easy to read.

21) Bold or capitalize headings but stick with one type or font.

22) You may want to prepare more than one resume. Tailoring a resume to a specific industry or to a specific job can be advantageous.

23) Never lie on your resume. Nobody wants to hire a liar.

24) Type your resume in single space, leave at least double space between categories.

25) Only print your resume on letter size paper.

26) Avoid the use of colored paper. White is always acceptable. (Standard photocopy or print paper)

27) Insure that your resume will fax and photocopy easily. Colored paper and shaded or reversed printed areas can present problems.

28) Maintain a uniform type throughout your resume. "Standard" type is best with at least a 10 point size or font, 12 is preferable.

29) Leave a minimum margin of at least half inch on the left and right side of the page, and a minimum margin of at least one inch at the top.

Resume Don'ts - Sure Resume Killers

1) A lie, even a small one can cost you a job.

2) Misspelling and grammatical errors

3) Anything handwritten, even one word

4) Not having an up to date address or telephone number on your resume

5) Fancy type face or colored paper

6) Information that is vague or evasive. (Hiding the name of your previous employer)

7) Exaggerating your credentials and your experience

8) Unrealistic salary expectations (Never list your salary expectations on your resume)

9) A resume that is longer than 3 pages (one page is best)

A Good Resume Is Action Oriented

Your resume should be confident, enthusiastic and action-oriented. Use action-oriented words that identify you as a doer. Using plenty of action verbs will help you to achieve this.

Here is a list of frequently used Action Verbs.

The Perfect Cover Letter

Resumes with good solid cover letters get more attention, this is a fact. Therefore knowing how to write a good cover letter is an essential part of the job search. A well-written cover letter will give the reader a compelling reason to read your resume, and call you in for an interview. It should also help to set you apart from other candidates. A good cover letter focuses on what you have to offer the would be employer.

The cover letter is best viewed as a sales letter because you are selling yourself and your skills. Simply put, this is your chance to convince the employer that you are exactly what they are looking for. This is why your cover letter should highlight the most impressive items in your resume or the skills and accomplishments that most qualify you for the position.

A cover letter should be as personal as possible. Whenever possible use the name and title of the person to whom you are writing to. This is usually easily achieved with a little leg work and research or by simply calling the company and asking. An effective cover letter will tell the employer exactly what he or she wants to hear. Be detailed and personal, for example if an employer is looking for a manager who can train and manage people, if you are qualified for this, state in detail how many people you have trained and managed and what great results were achieved.

Good cover letters or sales letters take planning and thought. Do not cheat your letter of either, because you will only be cheating yourself. An effective cover letter usually follows the following guidelines;

a) A typical cover letter is 3 to 4 paragraphs

b) The first paragraph should stress your desire to work for the company (Always state the name of the company if possible)

c) The second paragraph should describe the reasons why you are perfect for the job. (Give two or three examples using specific details of your skills or qualifications)

d) Show conviction and confidence, (it helps to state why you would like to work for that company)

e) Always end by requesting an interview.

Tips On Writing The Perfect Cover Letter

1) Get the readers attention quickly. Make the first words of your first paragraph "strong"

2) Try to address the letter to a specific person. This may mean doing some leg work or research to get the name and title.

3) Always verify the spelling of the name as well as the proper title. If you cannot get the name, keep it simple "to whom it may concern"

4) Do not rehash your resume in the cover letter. Focus on the 2 or 3 skills or qualifications that you think the employer wants to hear about.

5) Do your homework, show that you have genuine interest and knowledge in the company and its industry.

6) Check and recheck for errors every letter that you send out. Errors are a sure way to send the wrong message.

7) When responding to an advertised job always mention the advertised position that you are applying for.

8) Your letter should be real, not pretentious. Be professional and courteous, not overly friendly or arrogant.

9) A good cover letter is 3 to 4 paragraphs. Never more than one page, unless you are writing to some one who you are closely acquainted to.

10) Use the same good quality paper and print that you used for your resume.

11) Never send a handwritten cover letter. This would be very unprofessional.

12) Never send a resume without a cover letter.

13) Personalize and plan a specific cover letter for every company you apply to. Do not use a form letter.

14) The opening and closing paragraphs should contain the key point of your cover letter. The first paragraph must convince the reader that the whole letter and the accompanying resume are worth reading. The closing paragraph must motivate the reader to call you in for an interview.

15) If the job lead was referred by a contact who is known to both you and the reader, mentioning that person's name can be a very effective opening for your letter.

16) Keep the language and tone of your letter fresh and straight forward. Avoid overused buzz words and phrases.

17) Your cover letter should always be written in the format of a "standard" business letter.

18) Use wide margins (at least one inch) and leave a generous amount of space at the top and bottom of your "centered" letter.

19) Close your letter with something simple, "Sincerely" or " Cordially" are perfect.

General cover letter guideline 1234 Street Address City, State\Province Postal\Zip code Month Day, Year Name of the person you are writing to Title of said person Company name Company address Dear (name of person you are writing to): First paragraph,

Stress your desire to work for the company (Always state the name of the company if possible)

Second paragraph,

Describe the reasons why you are perfect for the job. (Give two or three examples using specific details of your skills or qualifications)

Third paragraph,

Show conviction and confidence, always end by requesting an interview.

Sincerely, or Cordially

(Your signature)