Tips on writing an effective resume
Overview: Before you write the resume, take some quality time to do an informal self-assessment on paper. Simply list your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and accomplishments, certifications, academic projects and extracurricular activities. Make it as elaborate as possible. This informal list will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume. This paper explains some quick tips on how to prepare an effective resume.
General Information:
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The main purpose of a resume is to secure an interview. Interviews lead to jobs. A good resume is a marketing tool of you. You need not have to include everything in the resume. Keep in mind every word counts.
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Most recruiters read resumes in only 10 to 30 seconds. Keep it very powerful.
Here are some quick tips to help you write an effective resume.
Make it Short and Simple. Create the resume that fits one or two pages, not any more. In most cases, a busy person will not read all of a resume that is longer than two or three pages. Have all your most important information on the first page itself, namely your career objective or profile, and most importantly your achievements.
Focus on the Job Accomplishments, not Job Duties. Use action words and stress accomplishments, not job responsibilities and duties. Employers want to know what you can do for them, how you can help them solve their problems, reach their goals, and edge out the competition.
Quantify and Use Power Words. Use power words and be as specific as possible. Using numbers and quantifying creates vivid images in our mind when we read them, whereas general statements are easy to skip over or forget. Remember that a strong statement which uses power words will affect every statement under it. Write clear and concise sentences.
Prioritize the Content. When listing essential information of your job descriptions, prioritize them by importance, impressiveness and relevance to the job you are applying for. Some of your past work experiences or accomplishments will be more relevant to the job than others. Put what is more relevant higher on the page or first in an enumeration.
Use Professional Language. Use professional language in your resume to convey the impression that you are presentable, reliable, and professional. If you have a specialization, use terminology specific to your area of expertise. Bear in mind to keep it short. Other tips to keep in mind: • Spell check your resume to prevent any typos. • Always include an email address in your contact information. • Make your name bigger than anything else on the resume. • Do not use the word “I”.