5 Tips to Successful Resume` Writing

5 Tips to Successful Resume` Writing Are you afraid of stepping outside of your box? Don't be! Most people are nervous making a career change. Even a business professional like Donald Trump had to start somewhere. And now you too can learn 'how to' write a resume` that guarantees success. Look at the Industry Let's start with researching your interests. What industry do you enjoy working in? Do you have the skills and knowledge to work well at this position? Will the job of choice also provide a substantial income? What is the hourly rate for an entry level position in this industry? Take a piece of paper and write down your answers to the above questions. Be honest with yourself, after all this is your future. If you can answer with clear facts, you're ready to start creating a target resume. Create an Objective Next, develop your objective statement. The objective statement is no longer than 170 characters (2 lines of content), and clearly states 'what' you hope to achieve at your new position. For instance, "To obtain a position in a fortune 500 company that will recognize my skills and encourage growth within the company." This is your opportunity to sound impressive. Turn the table and look at yourself from an employer's perspective. The more you understand an employer, the better you'll get at writing a resume`. Direct your resume towards the employer's needs, because that's what an employer will respond to. List Your Attributes Use the heading Summary of Qualifications to list all of your attributes. The employer reviews your resume` for 'highlights' of you skills. For instance, applying for an office job would require some skill in clerical duties. Instead of saying, "I've worked in the clerical field for six years as a receptionist, data processor, and word processor," be creative and sound professional. Such as: Administrative Support (6 yrs) - Responsibilities included answering the phones, data entry, and word processing for the CEO. Your Summary of Qualifications should consist of a maximum of 4 major attributes. Use descriptive words and stay within 2 lines of content. The best way to do this is to turn your job duties into a titled attribute. For instance, if you entered payables and invoiced customers you could create attribute titles like accounting clerk and customer service. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier to 'fluff' up your resume` with true facts. List Your Technical Skills In today's world of technology, it is important that you're equipped with computer skills. Take some time to bullet point the technical knowledge you've obtained over the years. This includes the software programs you can operate (i.e. Word, Excel, Peachtree Accounting, and Internet Explorer). Although this section isn't a requirement, this will eliminate extra interview questions and help the employer evaluate your skills. Fluff Your Employment History How you list your employment, history depends on the type of position you're applying for. Sometimes, you should eliminate the less significant positions to increase the odds of your resume` being noticed. Here is an example: Joan worked at a retail store for 9 months and an ice cream shop for 3 months. Both jobs required her to deal with customers directly. Joan had an opportunity to apply for a job in sales for a major manufactory, but she was afraid she couldn't write an impressive resume` from her employment history. By combining the months spent on both jobs, the employer's eye picks up she has worked in customer service for a year verses 9 months in retail and 3 months serving ice cream. April 2000 to March 2001 Customer Service Nu-Lady Retail and Macs Ice Cream Shop Again, put yourself in the employer's shoes. What are you looking for in an employee? A job history that shows you've moved from one job to the next will not win you an interview. Closing with Education & Certificates In the end, your employer will want to know how much education you have, where you went to school, and if you're trainable. End with a 'bang' and include any continuing education courses you've taken and certificates you've achieved. Summer High School 3.0 Grade Average Computers Business School 4.0 Grade Average Management Smith College 3.0 Grade Average Associate Degree People Skills Certificate of Achievement Most target resumes` are clear cut and only provide the employer with information that pertains to the position you're applying for. Don't be afraid to 'fluff' up the content with truthful facts. Never exceed one page of content if you can help it, and write the content so it is easy to read using layman terms. You can impress them with your personality at the interview.