Resume Basics

Keep It Simple

Recruiters want resumes that are simple to understand, especially when it comes to the skills needed to perform the job and employment history.

Be sure your resume clearly communicates that you possess the knowledge and experience needed to perform the job in question. Use the job description to tailor your resume to the position. Try to avoid industry jargon and Dilbert-esque words such as "facilitated" or "value-added" when describing your skills and experiences.
Your resume should also include your dates of employment. The absence of dates makes recruiters scrutinize your employment history even more closely.

Features Versus Benefits

Your resume should show how you could benefit an employer -- not just list your features and skills.

Past performance is often an indicator of future performance. Explain how you made a past employer money, saved them money or improved a process or product.
Think about instances where you went above and beyond the call of duty. Look at past performance reviews to refresh your memory. Employers want the best employees, and your resume should reflect your value.

Truth in Advertising

People say that it's the sizzle that sells the steak. That may be true but, when it comes to job searching, you have to have done what you claim on your resume.
Many employers today take steps to ensure that you have the background you claim. They have a wide variety of background checking tools at their disposal.
Background checks can include:

• reference checks,
• credit checks,
• criminal background checks,
• past employment verification,
• education verification and

If you're dishonest in the hiring process, odds are that you'll be caught. Rather than waste the recruiter's time -- and your time -- be truthful on your resume. It's not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing.

It Takes Two

You can't create a strong resume alone. Everyone needs help.
Don't rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate circle of family or friends can help, try other resources. Writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback. But once you get the basics down, interviews are sure to follow.

Summarizing Your Skills

Not 100 percent sure what job you want? Then you may find a summary statement more effective than an objective.

While an objective focuses on the job, a summary statement focuses on the job seeker.

A summary statement is a one- to two-sentence overview that captures the essence of your skills and experience. It highlights what makes you a qualified candidate as well as what makes you different (and better) than other applicants.
Tailor your summary statement to highlight the experience that is most relevant to the job.

Here's an example of a strong summary statement.
Summary: Public relations professional with five years of experience managing PR campaigns across multiple media, working with national and local press and coordinating large-scale events.

Highlighting Your Achievements

Sometimes a job objective is too targeted. And sometimes a summary statement is too short to highlight all your accomplishments.

If that's the case, you have another option: A summary of qualifications.

A summary of qualifications is similar to a summary statement, but differs in two key ways:

• It's formatted as a list of items rather than a single statement, and
• It highlights specific accomplishments rather than general achievements.

It's most useful for job seekers who have a long work history or who are applying for senior positions. It's an effective way to highlight the most important, relevant parts of a long, detailed resume.

This section goes by many names, like "Key Accomplishments" and "Career Highlights." It's placed just where a job objective or summary statement is, under your contact information.

A summary of qualifications is a list of your most significant career accomplishments. For maximum effectiveness, the list should include no more than five items and be results-oriented.

The summary of qualifications is usually a list of short phrases. You can use a bulleted list, with each qualification on its own line. Or, to conserve space, you can arrange them in paragraph format, with a period after each one.
Here's an example of an effective summary of qualifications.

Summary of Qualifications:

• Skilled pharmaceutical sales manager/executive with nine years sales experience and         
• advanced degree in biology.
• Consistently surpassed annual revenue goals by 35 percent-plus.
• Named 2001 "Salesperson on the Year." Managed regional sales staff of 175.

Job objectives, summary statements, summaries of qualifications -- all are useful resume options. Your best choice will depend on your experience and the type of job you're interested in.

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Cover Letter for Resumes

When applying for a job a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume. If you are not sure what to write, review these cover letter samples. Your cover letter should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those noted in the job posting. Your cover letter is your first (and best) chance to make a good impression!

An effective cover letter should explain the reasons for your interest in the organization and in the job you are applying for. Take the time to review cover letter examples, then make sure that your letter explains how your skills relate to the criteria listed in the job posting.

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First Send a Resume, and then Follow Up

Send a Short E-Mail Message

E-mail is a great follow-up tool because it not only lets you remind the recruiter that you've applied for a job, but it also lets you submit a resume again without seeming too pushy.

A week after you've submitted a resume, send the recruiter an e-mail to follow up.
Use these tips to write your follow-up e-mail:

• Put your full name and the title of the position you've applied for in the subject line.
• Write a professional note that reiterates your qualifications and interest in the job.
• Attached your resume again. (Don't make the recruiter have to dig though old e-mails to look for it.)
• Include your full name in the file name of your resume.
• Don't forget to proofread carefully before you hit "Send"!

Phone With a Friendly Reminder

If you decide to follow up on a resume over the phone, be sure to rehearse what you want to say to the recruiter.

Keep it short and sweet. Introduce yourself and remind the recruiter that you submitted a resume recently. Make sure you state exactly what job you're interested in. You can also ask if they received your resume and if they're still considering candidates for the position.

If you get a recorded message, you may want to call again later. Call a few times in hopes of speaking with a real, live recruiter before resorting to leaving a message.
You also need to know even to put down the phone. Calling recruiters repeatedly isn't going to make them more likely to call you back. It's probably just going to irritate them.

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Resume Template

Contact Information

The first section of your resume should include information on how the employer can contact you.
First Last Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone (Cell/Home)
Email Address

Objective (optional)

What do you want to do? If you include this section it should be a sentence or two about your employment goals.

zSB(3,3) A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition.

Career Highlights / Qualifications (optional)

A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements, skills, traits, and experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes. It highlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job.

Experience

This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements.

Company #1
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements
Company #2
City, State
Dates Worked
Job Title
Responsibilities / Achievements
Responsibilities / Achievements

Education

In the education section of your resume, list the colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned.
College, Degree
Awards, Honors

Skills

Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills.

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