Years ago it was possible to read a newspaper and circle jobs that suited ones qualifications. Tenacity was a key element, references were a quick phone call away and the interview, often arranged in person with the shaking of hands was a final piece to becoming gainfully employed. This is no longer the case. Rules for job applications have changed and tenacity, while still evidence of one's drive, isn't enough to get the proverbial foot in the door. It's also not enough to list places of employment and a job title on a resume. Some details from example resumes are:
ABC Company, Relationship Agent 9/2010 - present.
The above is naturally followed by a brief paragraph that explains what a Relationship Agent would be expected to do for ABC Company and that the candidate has been doing that job since September of 2010. While this is information that must be included in a resume, it is limiting and doesn't say much about what the candidate does well. Because customization is now a requirement for every job, vague or sparse description is no longer useful.
A resume isn't merely a list of job titles; it is an article about the candidate that reflects not only skills and talents but personality and image. It is the story of a career. It is eye-catching and interesting to see a change to this standard. Rather than the example resume above, consider a more descriptive expression:
9/2010 - Current As a Relationship Agent at ABC Company of NY, an internationally recognized event coordinator, I complete extensive research for clients and create reports in MS Word at a rate of 20 per day.
That's if the resume gets into the hands of human resource recruiters by sharing enough key words with the job description that the electronic system reading the resume doesn't kick it out right off the bat. Words like client in place of customer can mean the difference between an introductory phone interview and an instant decline letter. Prior to submitting a resume on-line, one should review the job description and replace words wherever possible to include key words from the description. Some interchangeable descriptions are also
Representative and Agent
MS Word and Microsoft Word
Events and Programs
The description now becomes:
9/2010 - Current As a Representative at ABC Company of NY, an internationally recognized program coordinator, I complete extensive research for customers and create reports in Microsoft Word at a rate of 20 per day.
Add to the above any key accomplishments such as "Employee of the Month" or, "Interviewed by local magazine". These are items employers will notice before one arrives for the interview, so he or she should be prepared to discuss the subjects with specific examples.
Length of the resume can be a point of debate, though unless one is applying for the executive ranks, which typically means the inclusion of transition plans and more one should plan to keep their resume at one page or less. Because of the customization required, it is feasible to limit job details to three relevant jobs. Gaps in employment can be addressed at the interview but one must have room for an introductory paragraph, education and additional skills.
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Thomas Roberts is a professional who has studied the art of resume writing to improve his own career, although he does not claim expertise. If you need help with your resume and want excellent example resumes to guide you he highly recommends the e-book "101 Before-and-After Resume Examples" written by one of the top resume pros in the nation. You can download the e-book now at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com/
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