Resume Writing Secrets From the Pros: How To Write a Rockin' Resume

You only get one chance to make a first impression - and that impression is incredibly important when it involves applying for a new job. Because potential employers will only get to "meet" you initially through your words on your resume, you have to make sure that your resume stands out from the rest - in a good way. When beginning your resume writing or editing, here are a few secrets that really should be not-so-secret.

Before putting words down on paper, think about what you want to say about yourself as a whole, and what message you want to convey to anyone reading your resume. Your professional experience shouldn't just be a mish-mash of jobs, skills, and education - it should tell a story and describe you as one complete entity in relation to your career goals. Are you looking to head in a new direction? Then write for that position. If you want to get a promotion, accent your accomplishments that are key to that new role and tweak your other points to match. Or, if you just need a change, make sure your text incorporates the most relevant points in relation to that goal.

When resume writing, here's another important aspect: say a little, say a lot. Too many words and your abilities get lost. Too little and you may leave out important details. Simply, you need to make every word count. If you aren't sure what is a little and what is a lot, then don't re-invent the wheel; career descriptions exist everywhere - gather those that correspond to what you want on your resume and incorporate them into your resume writing. This also helps you determine both current and out-of-date lingo and can help with resume writer's block. Remember not to use any job description word for word - it's a helpful guideline only.

Some people like to state an objective on their resume. This can be useful in certain situations, for instance, a recent graduate or someone with a large variety of work experience in various industries. But if you are not that person, then your objective is better implied in a professional summary that focuses more on what you offer your future prospective employer than on what you want.

Your resume is more than just a collection of words on several pages. Two aspects that can really make your resume stand out are design and consistency. Design involves that first glance, the initial appearance of your resume. Potential employers will unconsciously form an opinion about your resume even before they read those words. Is the text too squished? Too much or too little white space? Are bullets and headings aligned? And your text - is everything spelled properly? Check your capitalization and punctuation. While they may seem minor, these points can prove whether you truly demonstrate attention to detail, or merely think you do.

Finishing your text is not the end of your resume writing. Now you need a second opinion. Give yourself a few days, then pick up your resume and look it over as objectively as you can - would you hire yourself? Maybe your resume is good, but does it say what you want it to say? If not, determine why and make the changes. Don't forget to get opinions from others too. The critique may be hard to take, but better now than with rejection letters.

Ultimately, you are a professional, so make sure that your resume reflects that in all regards. Take your time and make your resume as clean as possible - you only get one chance, so use it wisely.


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Michelle Dumas runs of one of the longest-standing and most respected professional resume writing firms on the internet. Since 1996, Michelle and her team have empowered thousands of professionals with resumes that get results and win jobs fast. Get insider resume writing tips, example resumes, and more articles like this one at her website. Go now to http://www.distinctiveweb.com


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