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Are you looking for a job? Do you have a quality resume or have you half heartedly put together some non descriptive words on a piece of paper. The importance of a good resume can not be stressed enough. Sometimes your resume may be the only thing to get your foot in the door. The following article will give you a little more background on the importance of a quality resume.

Your résumé represents you and
your personality, but even a well-focused and informative résumé can get you
only the chance to appear for an interview. Before you get that chance to speak
with your prospective employer, it’s your résumé that reaches the table. Even a
single infelicitous sentence can reduce your chances of being invited to
interview. So before sitting down to write, consider the following to make your
résumé a powerful and effective statement.
Objective
Before creating your
statement of objective, be clear about the difference between a job and a
career. Ask yourself what jobs you’re prepared to do to
build the career you’re after. Write a specific, one-sentence career objective
that describes your short- and long-term career objectives.
The order in
which you assemble the rest of the elements is up to you.
Tailor the order
depending on the specific job you’re applying for.
Education
Start with
your most recent certificate, diploma, or degree program, including the degree,
the name of the school and its location, the number of years you attended, the
major field of study or some courses you took, and your grades or average
grades.
Work Experience
The record of your professional experience shows
how well you’ve performed
in the past and indicates to the prospective
employer how you’ll do in the future. Write down what you did at each job,
including responsibilities, major accomplishments, and duties you performed. Try
to group your duties and skills into three or four general skill areas. You can
list the number of years worked, positions held, and organization names and
locations in a section called Relevant Skills and Experience. Starting with the
most recent employer, describe your work history by listing the name of the
organization where you’re currently employed and then previous employments.
Include dates of employment, positions held (job titles),
responsibilities, and accomplishments.
Honors and Achievements
If you
have been awarded scholarships or work-related or sports awards or honors,
include them in this section.
Additional Highlights
You can add further
résumé sections so as to highlight achievements, extracurricular activities, and
special skills. Examples are sections called Community and Technical Services,
Volunteer Experience, Military Experience, Special Training, Leadership
Experience, Special Skills and Interests, Research Experience, and Personal
Interests (of a nonreligious nature). Even such an expression as “Training in
firefighting” or “Training in first aid” can make a big difference in your
favor.
Also list your memberships in professional and nonprofessional
organizations. Memberships in professional associations show your commitment to
a career field; memberships in nonprofessional organizations demonstrate other,
wider interests that say you’re well-rounded.
Do not include a reference
list with your résumé, but do state the following, centered, at the end of the
résumé:
References available on request.
That way prospective employers
can inquire about you. Be sure to ask your references in advance for their
permission to include them on your list so that when they’re contacted to speak
on your behalf with a prospective employer, they’re prepared to describe your
(great!) qualities. If you learn that they were contacted, send a message of
thanks.
Important Factors
A résumé should be concise and specific. If
possible, limit your résumé to a maximum of two or three pages. Your résumé
should say the most about you in the fewest words. There should be a reason for
everything in it. Leave out personal information such as race, sex, age, height,
weight, marital status, and political and religious affiliations.
The only
time to include photographs is in a very extensive portfolio and if the job
description requires it.
Be careful not to include a large number of jobs even if
you have had a large number of jobs. Try to keep the employment section relevant
or specific to the position you’re seeking.
Be both precise and truthful
about all information you’re providing, because incorrect or false information
could become a reason for termination once you’re on the job.
And there’s
not usually a need to use fancy binders or folders; they add nothing to the
résumé’s substance.

About the Author:

PAULA PLANTIER is a recognized expert in the field of executive resume review

and resume writing services.

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